AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATING POWER TO MACHINERY BY WATER, SPIRITS OF WINE, QUICKSILVER, OIL, OR FLUIDS, WHICH IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1819

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DICKSON, Lapidary, Gilmore Place, in the County of Edinburgh, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fourth day of December, in the sixtieth year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Dickson, His especial licence that I, the said James Dickson, my exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Dickson, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also within all His Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR
IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATING POWER TO MACHINERY BY WATER, SPIRITS OF
WINE, QUICKSILVER, OIL, OR FLUIDS, WHICH IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said James Dickson, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months after the date of the said recited Letters

page_text: Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Dickson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained
in the Plan drawn in the margin of these Presents, and the following explana-
tion thereof.
The Invention consists in applying a liquid obtained from a height above, on
a level with, or below where it is meant to work the machine, confined in a
pipe, to lift and depress a piston or pistons in a cylinder or cylinders, by which
a reciprocating or rotatory motion is given to machinery; and also in receiving
the benefit of the liquid to an extent less or equal to what the atmosphere will
support, by retaining it in a pipe after it leaves the cylinder or cylinders; and
in removing difficulties attending water or other liquids confined in that way
arising from their slight compressibility. It may likewise be used as a
powerfull crane by forcing the water into one or two cylinders by one or two
forcing pumps. The Invention may be described as follows:-Suppose the
water coming from a height above the level of, on the same level, or below the
top of the cylinder C, and conveyed to it by a pipe attached to it through the
stopcock I, which is open, the stopcock Q being shut, the water goes up the
pipe B, and enters the bottom of the cylinder by the valve E. This pipe,
which is supposed to be attached to or a continuation of the pipe A, may be
joined to B, or anywhere from B to F, according as convenience or inclination
direct. It would be a convenience in that case to have a stopcock upon it
before it joins. I prefer the forner method. When the water, by pressing on
the under side of the piston, has lifted it nearly through the whole range of the
crank, the valves E & G, being connected as in a steam engine, are shut;
and upon the piston beginning to descend the valves F and H, which are also
connected, begin to open. The water now runs in at F, and presses down the
piston, and that which in the upward stroke went in at E is now issuing out
by the valve H, down the pipe L, and through the cock 3, which is open, and
along the pipe M, to the place where it is discharged, which need not be more
than thirty-four or thirty-five feet perpendicular below the bottom of the
cylinder. This pipe M may be attached to the nozel G, H, or to the pipe L,
provided there is a cock upon it. After the junction it may even do without
the cock; but I would prefer it with it, or as formerly described. That no
water may be wasted by not having entered the cylinder, one set of valves
must be shut before the other is opened; and as water is only slightly com-
pressible, every time that it is stopt or its course altered, when confined, as

page_text: in this machine, it would give a shock to its several parts, & tend to loosen its
joints. To counteract those effects in the upper column, an air vessel is placed
on the pipe that leads to the cylinder (or it may branch off from that pipe);
the nearer the more effectual; and when any sett of valves are shut, the water
in the column A rushes into O, and condenses the air in it more than the
natural weight of the column A now at rest would do; therefore, when the
next set is opened, part of the water in O is pressed out, and a current is also
continuing to descend along A. This air vessel may receive the same effect as
if increased in size by inserting a small cock anywhere in the body of the
vessel;
I prefer near where it joins the pipe A; and by injecting air in it till
the water is expelled below the level of the cock, or till the air has nearly
filled the whole of the vessel, there while then be a great range for the water;
and if in the bottom of the vessel were fitted a hollow stopper that would float
in water, whenever the air pressed the water nearly out the stopper would
then sink, and prevent the air from escaping. As the piston is always either
ascending or descending, let the space of time be ever so short between the
shutting of one and the opening of another sett of valves, the piston will have
moved; therefore, to allow the piston to travel this short space during the time
the valves are shut, and no water getting in or out of the cylinder, there is a
small cylinder D placed anywhere round the circumference of the larger one,
having a communication with the large one at top and bottom, into which
there is fitted a piston with a screw'd rod that can be lengthened or shortened,
so that this piston with its rod, which is completely inclosed, may have a range
just sufficient to contain the water that remains to be displaced from the upper
side of the large piston, after the valves are shut when ascending, or from the
under side of it near the bottom. The stroke of this piston may be regulated
from the outside by a rod through its cover for the piston to butt against.
The same end may be gained by two air vessels, one at the top and another
at the bottom of the cylinder, placed in the outside or inside of the cylinder,
having floating stoppers as mentioned in the air vessel O, and the air injected
in the same manner; the one to receive that which remains to be displaced
upon one side of the piston after the valves are shut, and the other to give out
water to supply the place the piston has moved from. If the large piston is
calculated to travel slow, which I prefer, one sett of valves may be shut
about one or two sixteenths of an inch before it arive at top or bottom;
and the other sett commence to open when it begins to descend or rise. The
purpose of the air vessel P, which may be joined to the upper or under side
of the pipe leading from the cylinder (I prefer the under side, and as near
the cylinder as convenient), as to give to that pipe a more equal current than

page_text: it would have without it; for when one sett of valves are shut, and the other
not opened, the whole column in M would be instantly suspended, and would
give a concussion to the whole machine; therefore, before the machine is put
in motion, the stopcock 3 is shut, and 1 and 2 opened, and the water running
into P expells the air through a small cock in the top of the vessell, whose
end goes down about one or two inches into the vessel, more or less, according
to the height of the column and size of the vessel. I prefer a vessel of capacity
to contain double the quantity that would be discharged when the valves are
shut, but it may be more or less; the larger it is it will better answer the
purpose for which it is intended. Now suppose one set of valves shut, a
current will commence to flow out of P, and the air will be delated at the top
of the vessel. Therefore, when..the other set of valves open, the air being
expended beyond what the column M at rest could keep it, water, will be
drawn in, to be given out when the next sett of valves shutt. If no valve is
put on the water, or if the height of the fall and quantity of water is greater
than what is necessary for the power wanted, one sett of valves may com-
mence to open before the other sett is shut; the air vessels O and P may
then be wanted, as also the back cylinder D; or if two cylinders are adapted, &
their cranks connected at a right angle, a fly wheel may be dispensed with,
and one set of valves shut before the other open; and although there is less
occasion for the air vessels, I would prefer retaining them, and the back
cylinder to each of the working cylinders. Were air left in the cylinders, either
in the under side of the piston or between the piston and cover, it would
cause a halt at the top and bottom, when the crauk turned the centre, for the
air would be alternately condensed and delated by the pressure of the upper
and suction of the under column, and a space of time would elapse before their
combined efforts had power to move it, there would also be a loss every half
stroke of a quantity of water equal to the difference of bulk between the
contraction and expansion of the air. Therefore, that the air may not only be
émptied at first, but continue to discharge any that may be disengaged by the
water coming in contact with the metal, by being drawn in through the joints
of the machine or other causes, the piston is turned on.. the under side, to
bring all the air to one point, and a small hole being there (about the thirty-
second part of an inch in diameter, more or less, I préfer less), by which the
air is transferred from the under to the upper side of the piston, and the cover
being turned in the same manner, the air is all collected at one point in the
cover, and through the under side of the flanch of the cylinder is introduced
a tube, the end of which goes into the hallow of the cover where the air is
collected, and in the discent of the piston the water pressing it down presses

page_text: the air also out by this tube, the other end of which is fixed in the pipe leading
from the cylinder. If there is a pin put across the center of this tube, and
a sinall hole bored through it, about the size of the one in the piston, the
diameter of the tube may be thus contracted or the communication between
its two ends altogether cut off by turning this pin or cock. This may also be
done by turning the bottom of the piston, to cause the air to be collected at
the centre of the piston rod, and by having a hole bored up through the piston
rod, till, when the piston is at the bottom, the top of the vertical hole in the
rod will be higher than the stuffing box on the cover; and by having a hole
from the outside of the rod, to the centre, when it communicates with the
upright one from the under side of the piston, and by putting a small cock on
this hole, the air can be blown out; also to turn the cover, that all the air in
the upper side of the piston may be collected to one point, and by putting a
cock thereto lie also shut when the air is emptied; but I prefer the
former method, as the loss of water by the small holes in the piston* and
tube is very trifling, and were the air not taken off, or partially, as by
the last method, the loss of water would be incomparably greater, besides
the unsteadiness of motion, for the reasons previously mentioned. If any
part of the fall is leading from the machine, an air pump will be neces
sary, and it will be of more benefit if there is a communication between
the bottom of the pump and several parts of the pipe, leading from the
machine by tubes joined at. certain distances to the upper side of the
pipe. These tubes may be connected after they are raised from the pipe a
few inches, by one going along the top of the whole, which will then bear
some resemblance to a railling. It. will now be obvious that water will
not be drawn from any one of these holes in the pipe. if there is air at any
of the others. The area of the pump and length of its stroke must depend
upon the closeness of the machine, and the length and perpendicular depth of
the under coluni, for if the pipe is long, and has many joinings, more air is
likely to be drawn in; also, when the perpendicular height of the column
below is considerable, and the temperature of the water high, there will be a
quantity of steam drawn out of the water, which, if not pumped off, will take
greatly from the height and the weight of the column, and consequently from
its power upon the engine. When the pump draws up water, the area or the
stroke is too great, to increase or deminish the length of the stroke, as cir-
cumstances require, recommend a moveable fulcrum for the pump lever.
The pump may be placed where most convenient, and wrought from the crank
shaft or walking beam like a steam engine. If a certain size is preferred, to
altering it to circumstances, the tenth or twelfth part of the large cylinder

page_text: between area and stroke will be sufficient when the perpendicular height of
the under column is thirty-four feet, and for any less height a proportionable
less pump. To guard against the effects of frost, a small surface may be
erected at a short distance from the cylinder, or from any part of the pipe
leading to it, having a boiler placed in it. From the upper column pipe
should be led a pipe to the under side of the boiler, and from the top of the
boiler should be led another to join the same pipe A. By this means the pipe
that enters at or near the bottom of the boiler will bring a constant supply of
cold water, and the one that leads out at or near to the top of the boiler will
be discharging warm, which, when diffused through the pipe and cylinder, will
raise its temperature. This boiler may be merely a pipe of small or large
diameter, having its two ends joined to the pipe bringing the water; and it
would be the better of a rise in or immediately after it leaves the furnace,
although it will answer the purpose without it. When the pipe A cannot be
covered deep in the earth to keep it from frost till it come to the cock I, it
will be better to stop the end, where laid into the reservoir, by sluice plug or
other means; and by opening some of the places where air can get into the
machine, the whole water in the pipe and machine will be emptied. If the
upper pipe can be secured, then, by shutting the cock I, and opening the
cocks 2 and 3, and any air cock in the machine, the whole water will be
emptied from cock I downwards. If there is a fall both too and from the
place where the engine is to stand, and these falls differ in length of slope and
height, they must be calculated separately; for instance, if there is a fall upon
or to the surface of the cylinder of twenty feet, and the slope is such that it is
necessary to have sixty yards of pipe and a fall of thirty feet from it, that
requires only fifteen yards of pipe, and it is necessary to expend one hundred
gallons per minute on the power wanted, the twenty feet of fall and the
sixty yards of pipe must be larger in diameter than the thirty feet of fall and
fifteen yards in length, for they would bear unequally upon the engine were
they calculated that at the end of the under pipe when both were joined that
only one hundred were delivered. Hence, the pipe coming to the engine must
be able to deliver the same quantity that the pipe going from it would do
were it supplied with a reservoir level with the place where the other dis-
charges it. When the length and per; endicular of the pipes to or from the
engine (or both, if there is fall both above and below) are known, find, by the
known rules for that purpose, the diameter of pipes that will discharge the
necessary quantity, then encrease the area of each pipe & nosels and openings
in and out of the cylinder about ten times. If the pipes are less than here
stated, the friction will be more, and if longer the friction will be less, and the

page_text: same weight of water will do more work. Then find the diameter of a per-
pendicular pipe of the required height that will discharge the necessary
quantity, and double the area of it for the diameter of valve openings. It is
of little consequence what size the cylinder is; if large in proportion to the
power, the velocity must be made with wheels. I prefer it going slow, as
sand and other sedement in the water will in course of time wear down that
part of the cylinder rubbed or scoured by the piston. The lifting of the valves,
and the form of them, may be varied in all the way adopted in the steam
engine. The round conical valve is what I prefer. A fly will also, where
there is a single cylinder, be necessary. Although I have described, for the sake
of connection, the whole machine, I mean only to secure the right to myself
for these parts of it which has not been the property of others by Patent, or
otherwise in possession of the public. I consider these to be the shutting of
one sett of valves before the others open; the letting out of the air; the back
cylinder, or other methods, to give the piston liberty to move as in a steam
cylinder; the air vessels O and P; the air pump; the using the water on a
level with or even below the level of the cylinder, and by that means impelling
the machine totally with the fall below; applying the water to two double or
single pressure cylinders, and connecting their piston rods at any angle (I
prefer a right one); and the methods by which the engine or pipes may be
prevented from injury by frost.
Description of the Invention when used as a crane-If a fly is not used,
two cylinders may be adopted, and their cranks connected. I prefer right
angles. The air vessels may or may not be used. The air may be let off as
mentioned in the second method in the former description. Oil may be used
in this machine instead of water, and in that case shoe valves should be pre-
ferred, and, if water, the conical valves. The cylinders should bear such
proportions to the pistons of the forcing barrels as to bring the vilocity at once
to the rate required, for the friction will be less if the motion is reduced by
the relative sizes of the pump and cylinder pistons than by wheels. The area
of the valves to that of the forcing barrels should be as one to ten. Were the
valves less, the friction of lifting them will also be less. The valves to be
lifted as in a steam engine. The liquid to be forced into the cylinder or
cylinders by one or two forcing barrels, wrought by one or two separate levers,
the barrels having a communication with the pipe that leads to the cylinders;
and when the liquid has passed through the machine, to be delivered by a pipe
into the place from which the forcing barrels are supplied. The back cylinder
as in the former description. The safety valves the same as in other water
presses. Least the levers may be too long, or the diameter of the forcing. barrels

page_text: too small, or the 'diameter of the cylinder or cylinder's too large for the strength
of the machine, the weight may be let down by the following method:-
Let the crank shaft that communicates between the two cylinders be round,
and upon the outside of it fit a barrel to move easily round; and on
the crank shaft at each end of this barrel place a moveable stop like
that on a lathe spindle, with a fast and loose shave; and on the centre
or anywhere between the extremities of this barrel fix an excentric
wheel, the stop surrounding which being connected with a piston in a
cylinder which has a communication between top and bottom by a pipe, in
which there is a cock that can prevent the liquor in the upper from coming
round by the cock to the under side of the piston, when the weight is lifted,
by forcing in the liquid in the cylinder or cylinders with the valves, remove
the two catches, and then the weight is transferred to the piston that is con-
nected with the excentric wheel; this barrel being turned round, the excen-
tric wheel will also turn, and lift up and down the piston; and if the commu-
nitation is not cut off between the upper and under side by the cock being
shut, the liquid will be pressed from the upper to the under side by the pipe
through the cock, and vice versa, in the discent of the piston. Hence, by
turning this cock more or less, the weight will descend as required. I
consider the lifting of the weight, not the method of letting it down, my
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Dickson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord