IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Muir of 143 Brockley Road New Cross in the
County of Kent formerly of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer
for an invention of IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Muir at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1882.
WILLIAM MUIR of 143 Brockley Road New Cross in the County of Kent,
formerly of Manchester in the county of Lancaster Engineer IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY THE FLOATING OR BUOYANT ACTION OF AIR TIGHT.
BOXES ARRANGED IN ENDLESS CHAIN LIKE FORM.
The object of this Invention is the production of motive power by arranging a
series of air tight boxes in endless chain like form over two axles one of which is
used for communicating motion to machinery or mechanism as desired.
For the purpose of my Invention I hinge or link a number of rectangular or
other shaped boxes or vessels to each other as to forin an endless chain of them.
These I mount on correspondingly shaped drums on axles supported in a suitable
framework as to move round therein.
About mid distance between the two drums on one side only I arrange a tank
through which the boxes pass in succession by their buoyant action in the water
contained in the tank and so produce a movement of them and of the drums.
Above and below the aperture in the bottom of the tank I fit leather or other
suitable packing to prevent the escape of water therefrom the boxes being so
hinged or linked together that they pass freely through.
The boxes have stays or partitions in them to keep them in proper shape and
these may be perforated to put the several compartments into communication or
they may be plain to keep each compartment separate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Muir in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd November 1882.
WILLIAM MUIR of 143 Brockley Road, New Cross in the County of Kent,
formerly of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineer IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY THE FLOATING OR BUOYANT ACTION OF AIR TIGHT
BOXES ARRANGED IN ENDLESS CHAIN LIKE FORM
The object of this Invention is the production of motive power by arranging a
series of air tight boxes in endless chain like form over two axles used for
communicating motion to machinery or mechanism as desired.
For the purpose of my Invention I hinge or link a number of rectangular or
other shaped boxes or vessels to each other to form an endless chain of them; these
I mount on correspondingly shaped drums on axles supported in a suitable frame-
work as to move round therein.
About mid distance between the two drums on one side only I arrange a tank
through which the boxes pass in succession by their buoyant action in the water
contained in the tank and so produce a movement of them and of the drums.
Above and below the aperture in the bottom of the tank I fit leather or other
suitable packing to prevent the escape of water therefrom, the boxes being so
hinged or linked together that they pass freely through.
The boxes have stays or partitions in them to keep them in proper shape and
these may be perforated to put the several compartments into communication or
they may be plain to keep each compartment separate.
My Invention is clearly shown in the annexed Sheet of drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation with the tank A in section; Figure 2 an end elevation,
and Figure 3 a detail view showing the form of packing B I purpose using to
prevent the escape of the water or other liquid from the tank A while the boxes
are moving through it.
In these figures the boxes C C are attached to an endless band D carried by the
rollers or drums E E which partake of a revolution in the direction of the arrow
from the upward motion of the boxes C C.
The upper shaft F which carries the drum E has preferably a rigger or pulley
from which by means of a strap any mechanism or machinery may be operated or
a pulley can be arranged on the lower shaft for a strap or otherwise.
Figure 4 is a view showing the boxes CC hinged or jointed by straps G G to
each other to form an endless series.
Figure 5 is a plan view of another shape of packing of leather or other material.
Each of the boxes C C may have one chamber only if the material is sufficiently
stiff to resist buckling; or partitions H, H, may be arranged in the boxes either to
divide each box into more than one compartment; or if desired the partitions may
be perforated to put the several compartments into communication.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :-
--
The arrangement of apparatus in or by which motive power can be obtained by
the buoyant action of boxes in endless chainlike form rising successively in and
through a water tight tank as described and substantially as shown in the annexed
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Muir have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty Second day of November, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.