A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING AND UTILISING CENTRIFUGAL FORCE FOR MOTIVE POWER AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1876.
JOHANN ERNST FRIEDRICH LUDEKE, of St. Benét Place, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London. "A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING AND UTILISING CENTRIFUGAL
FORCE FOR MOTIVE POWER AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
My Invention relates to the obtaining and utilising centrifugal force, but it is
absolutely necessary. before describing a practical machine that I describe the theory
or basis on which the principle is based. For one example I take a rod moving in
a hollow or sliding shaft, on one end of which is fixed a ball, say for example, of the
weight of lb. 1, and the other end is connected with a cord which passes over a
pulley upwards and through an upright shaft or axle in suitable bearings, and the
cord is continued over another pulley and attached to a weight, say for example, of
lb. 6. If the ball is set in rotation it will be seen to move towards the extremity of
the rod with a force which is precisely equal to the centrifugal force of the ball;
now if the ball is in such a velocity that it possesses a centrifugal force of lb. 6 it
will lift the weight to that height, equal to the distance that the ball moves to the.
extremity, and if to the upright axle is connected a clock work of only sufficient
power to overcome the friction and resistance it is clear that the original or prime
power may be discontinued, and the ball will then continue in its former or
original velocity, even if the weight be shifted up and down, in which case the ball
will be moved backwards and forwards, and there will be no difference in the square
and linear or rectilineal velocity, and no power is gained or lost by the weight being
lifted up and the ball being shifted, as the same power is required to bring the ball
back to its former or original place or position.
From the foregoing example it is-evident that if the ball after having reached the
extremity could be brought back again to its original place by any construction and
without power that power would be created.
By another example I further proceed to develope my theory and to show how
the same may be effected. Let two upright axles be placed at suitable distances
from one another, and connected by gearing wheels or bands on each upright axle

page_text: at the top is a rod moving in a hollow or sliding shaft, as described in the former
example, to which is affixed a ball; this ball is released and caught up alternately
by the rods by means of catches or springs or other suitable incchanism, and so
made to travel in an ellipse or oval or in the form of a figure 8, or the ball may be
guided in a similar manner by channels or grooves in which the ball may either
run, or the same may pass through the ball, thus causing the ball when it. has
reached the extremity to leave a larger orbit and go over to a smaller orbit,
although the same is precisely the same degree of orbit as the first or original one,
so that the two orbits are traversed by the ball in or as an eccentric; this is effected
by the ball passing at the extremity of one orbit and being compelled by the rod
moving in the hollow or sliding shaft to diminish and increase its distance from the
centre although, as before stated, the orbits described are of equal degree.
I now proceed to show how a practical machine can be constructed without
limitation of power, that is to say, that if the machine be so set that the velocity of
the ball is increased, so the power will increase in like ratio.
I propose to erect on suitable foundations and standards two upright hollow
axles or shafts with double cranks to which are affixed connecting rods, the upright
hollow axles or shafts working in suitable journals or bearings; about the middle of
the upright hollow axles or shafts are two arms; at the end of each are suitable
hemispherical cups or clips or claws, so made as to readily receive and also readily
release at given times a ball or spherical body, which may be done by means of
springs or other suitable mechanism; these arms are connected by rocking levers or
cranks actuating shafts or rods which work alternately up and down inside of the
upright hollow axles or shafts; these are connected to or used to lift up and down
a lever beam which works on a pivot or centre attached to the standard or
standards; at the further end of the lever beam is a connecting rod and crank which
is attached to a fly wheel. Suitable gearing wheels or pulleys and bands are
connected or attached between one of the upright hollow axles or shafts and
the fly wheel for returning or restoring sufficient power to overcome the friction or
resistance of the machine and enable it to continue in its original speed or velocity,
and the fly wheel is available for driving any other machinery as required. Proper
strengthening rods with screws and nuts are placed to support the arms containing
or intended to contain the ball as well as at other parts of the machine where
required.
When this machine is once set in motion the action of the ball will be similar to
that described in the example immediately above. It will fly from one orbit to
another, thereby alternately lifting the rocking levers and causing them to actuate
the shafts or rods in the hollow axles or shafts, and so causing the lever beam to
rise and fall and communicate its power or motion to the other parts of the
machine, and inasmuch as these shafts or rods work from the contre little or no
disturbance takes place to the ball which continues its speed, whatever loss there
is in friction being made good as descrbied above, therefore it follows that as the
speed of the ball is increased, so the power is increased in like ratio.
It is of course manifest that many deviations may be made in the construction of
the machines without departing from the principle of the same, such as the position
and number of the arms, also the number and weight of the balls or spherical
bodies that may be used, and so with many other parts of the machine.
I now proceed to explain another part of my Invention also connected with the
obtaining and utilising of centrifugal force, and as in the former it is essential and
necessary that I explain by example the theory on which the principle of this part
of my Invention is based.
propose to place on a suitable foundation and standard or standards a hollow
vertical axle or shaft with a hollow horizontal cross piece at the top thereof; this is
placed in suitable bearings or on pivots, and is similar to a centrifugal pump; an
endless chain or band with a number of hooks at equal distances is attached to the
same, that is, working over pulleys with a ratchet wheel and pall, so as to prevent
the descending of the same. In the vertical hollow axle or shaft are placed twenty-

page_text: one balls, say for example of lb. 1 cach, and in the horizontal cross piece are seven
balls, also of the same weight each; all these balls are held or contained in the hooks
before mentioned. If an apparatus or machine of this kind be set in such a rotation
that the seven balls in the horizontal cross piece possess collectively a centrifugal force
of lb. 28, that is to say, that a prime impulse is given of lb. 28; in this case the outer
or No. 7 ball will possess lb. 7, No.
ball lb. 6, and so on. These seven balls in
such centrifugal force will then more than balance with the weight of the twenty-
one balls in the hollow upright axle by lb. 7. Now assume the outer ball No. 7 be
set free to fly off it will be seen that the remaining six balls will continue in
undiminished speed, and will then naturally balance with the twenty-one balls, by
reason of the loss of the lb. 7 centrifugal force flown off, but if the lb. 7 centrifugal
force be transferred again to the apparatus or machine then the speed will increase
to such degree that the six balls will over balance with the twenty-one balls, as the
seven balls did before; the ball No. 6 will then shift forward and occupy the place
of No. 7 and No. 5 that of No. 6, and so on, and one of the balls in the hollow
upright axle will replace No. 1; the speed will therefore diminish again to its
original one, and this operation can be repeated over and over again.
I have not mentioned friction, but it will be seen that I have only made use of
the centrifugal force of the ball flying off, but I propose to make use of its falling or
gravitation force, as will be hereafter described, I shall then not only have sufficient
to overcome the friction and resistance, but a surplus.
As before said I have set this forth as an example the better to explain my
theory, nevertheless a practical machine can be constructed in the manner mentioned,
I do not of course limit myself to the number or weight of the balls.
I now propose to describe what I term a centrifugal gyroscopical pump; for this
purpose I erect on a suitable foundation and on proper standards a hollow tube or
pipe, the lower end having a valve which dips in a tank or reservoir, the upper
part is bent over in a curve; on another standard, which may if required be solid, is
placed the gyroscopical pump, which I propose to make in the form of a gyroscope,
but hollow in the interior, or with channels having orifices on the periphery
with valves to keep the water, mercury, or fluid in (when not in motion); if found
requisite the before-mentioned curve of the pipe comes over the centre of the
gyroscopical pump, so constructed as to admit the water, mercury, or fluid passing
freely, but not interfering with its rapid rotation in any way; the lower part of the
gyroscopical pump may work on a spindle or shaft as does the upper part, the same
as an ordinary gyroscopical top upon a large scale.
I propose to surround the gyroscopical pump with a turbine on independent
standards or supports having an ordinary chute or guide for the delivery of the
water, mercury, or fluid, close to which is an overshot water wheel to receive the
same, or in lieu of a turbine I surround the gyroscopical pump with a cone, which
may be of any desired angle or incline, by this means I increase the height at
which the water is raised and increase the size or diameter of tho overshot water
wheel.
I will now show the method of action:-The tube or pipe and also the gyroscopical
pump, as I term it, are filled with water, mercury, or fluid, and also the tank or
reservoir to above the valve of the tube or pipe; the valves on the periphery of the
gyroscopical pump are made to open when in sufficient rotation but to remain closed
at other times. Upon a sufficient rotation being given to the gyroscopical pump
the fluid will issue at the orifices on the periphery, and will be thrown by centri-
fugal force either against the turbine surrounding it or against the inclined sides of
the cone;
in the former case the turbine will rotate and the fluid will afterwards be
conducted to the overshot water wheel and delivered by that into the tank or
reservoir, or into channels connected with the same; in the other case the fluid will
be thrown also by centrifugal force against the inclined sides of the cone, thereby
causing it to ascend still higher, and so gaining a greater height of fall, which will
be nearly equal if not quite to the benefit derived from the turbine; the turbine
and overshot water wheel will be connected by suitable gearing wheels or by

page_text: pulleys and bands to the shaft or spindle of the gyroscopical pump, thereby restoring
to the gyroscopical pump or machine their power given and enabling it to overcome
the friction and resistance, and the surplus power can be made available for all
purposes where power is required.
As in the former many deviations may be made in the machines or gyroscopical
pumps above described without departing from the principle.
I have not described the mode of catching the balls or spherical bodies in the
former example, and so utilising the centrifugal force, but the same may be effected
by means of a turbine or spring, or other suitable mechanical contrivance, and the
same with utilising the falling or gravitation force; in practice I think the gyro-
scopical pump and fluid will be found the best of this part of my Invention.
I propose further to show by another example how my principle of obtaining and
utilising centrifugal force may be made 'use of, and which may be termed a self
renewing movement or power which is more especially applicable to clocks and
watches, but which is also applicable to various other useful purposes where an
alternate circular motion is required, or even a continuous motion to be derived
therefrom. The movement is constructed as follows:-Assuming the movement to
be for a clock I set a vertical shaft or axis in a bearing on a foundation plate, the
bearing is made to receive a conical pointed or pivoted extremity, of the shaft (so as
to reduce friction to a minimum), and the upper end of the shaft passes through a
second bearing in a cross head or bar supported at each end by standards from the
foundation. About midway the axis or shaft is provided with a horizontal shaft
forming a cross, to each extremity of which a fixed horizontal pivot is applied, on
which are held the hollow bearing shafts of the two balls or spheres connected to
such hollow shafts by vertical arms cut with screw threads and passing through
the balls in order that their positions may be adjusted and fixed on such arms by
milled edged thumb screws.
I have thus four balls or spheres, two being supported above and two below
the level of the cross shaft on the main vertical shaft. Now from one of the upper
balls a small horizontal connecting rod is jointed to a bell-crank lever or rocking
lever, the fulcrum of which is contained by a strap or projection from the vertical
main axle, the horizontal end of the rocker passing through a slot cut in the axle
which is formed hollow above this slot for the reception of a vertical pin or stem,
the top of which bears in the under surface of a horizontal rocking shaft above the
cross head through which the pin or stem of course extends. This rocking shaft is
then joined to a descending rod, which is in turn joined to a second shaft running
horizontally a little above the foundation plate and supported by guides until
it approaches or touches, so as ultimately to gear with a toothed wheel set on
the lower part of the main axle. Finally, a helico spiral spring is attached to
the foundation plate ascending and surrounding the main axle to which it is also
fixed.
Such being the construction, it will be evident that if the main shaft is turned
against the action of the spring and then released a corresponding reverse motion
will result and the balls will be rotated under the influence of centrifugal force, but
prior to motion being given it is necessary to observe that one or both of the two
sets of balls must be prevented from assuming a relatively vertical position by
means of a stop on the cross bar (which supports them) in such manner that the
upper ball shall be slightly nearer the centre or main shaft than the lower ball, and
also that such upper ball shall be connected to the lower ball on the other side of
the main shaft by means of a cord or a diagonal rod, by which means as one ball
extends further from the centre the other shall approach, and vice versa, so as to
compensate the movement. Then it follows that the reciprocating action of the balls
will create a movement of of the rocking lever or bell crank, the rise and fall of the
upper stem and horizontal rod, and thence will operate on the lower rod in
conection with the toothed wheel, and so to the main shaft itself, to which the
power is consequently restored or renewed and a further wheel is arranged as
required for indicating time.

page_text: Having given this example it only remains to be stated that the movement on a
smaller scale is equally applicable to watches, it being immaterial in what position
the movement is worked. Whatever modifications might be necessary could easily
be made without departing from the principle of the action. The movement is of
course equally applicable to a variety of purposes where such motion may be
desirable, whether as a mere movement or as a self renewing power.