A Hydraulic Motor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Hydraulic Motor.
I, LUDWIG GROTE, of Landsberg-on-the-Lech, in the German Empire, Manager
of Works, temporarily residing at 84B, East India Dock Road, London, E., in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This improved motor-engine is adapted to be operated by means of a wheel,
cylinder or drum in the interior of which a vacuum is created, or which is filled
with gas, mounted on a shaft and forced into a fluid body, preferably, of greater
specific gravity than water, in such a manner that one side or part of the said wheel,
cylinder or drum,-say one half of it,-is immersed in, or surrounded by, the fluid,
the result being, that the upward pressure of the fluid contained in the main
reservoir is exercised a little further on one side than on the other, thereby
imparting rotary motion to the drum or wheel.
In setting the engine in operation, the quantity of the fluid medium employed
should in all cases be small, though it must necessarily vary according to the
nature of the fluid used, such as mercury, glycerine, oil, acids, or, in some cases,
water.
The invention is based upon the observation (the accuracy of which may be
readily tested by anyone) that if there be immersed with the requisite pressure,
into a vessel or chamber of any description, filled with water, an empty vessel of
smaller size, the water of the first vessel will be displaced; while, as soon as the
second or smaller vessel is relieved from pressure, it will be suddenly raised by the
water in the first vessel.
But if the second vessel; instead of being left empty, be charged with a small
quantity of sand, water, or the like, it will float on the surface of the water; in
other words, the weight of the sand, or the like, will exactly correspond to the
elevating power of the water, or more strictly speaking, be equal to the weight of
the water displaced by the immersion of the second vessel.
The same result will be attained if the vessel or glass, filled with sand or the
like, be placed in a larger quantity of water. In fact, whatever the amount of
water or other fluid used, the glass in question will, under the same circumstances,
float in the same manner, i.e., neither plunge more deeply into the water, nor be
raised to a higher level above it.
This naturally leads to the conclusion that the pressure or elevating power of
fluids remains the same, irrespective of whether the experiment be tried with
but a limited quantity thereof, or in an almost boundless liquid mass, such as
the sea.
According to one method of carrying out this invention a motor wheel, cylinder
or drum is enclosed in a preferably somewhat narrow reservoir or casing divided
by a partition and adapted to receive in one of its compartments a fluid of as great
specific gravity as possible. Into this fluid the drum is immersed under pressure
and then secured to its shaft, so that the said drum is on one side only, and to the
extent of about half of its circumference, surrounded by the fluid.
In accordance with the well-known law of hydraulics, that fluid has the tendency
to elevate hollow bodies forced into it, with a power equivalent to the weight of
the volume of fluid it has displaced, the drum immersed under pressure into the

page_text: fluid mass will be raised; and, inasmuch as it is surrounded by fluid on one side
only, and at the same time retained in position by its shaft, it is set in motion in
the lateral direction as the fluid exercises the elevating power above referred to.
As has been ascertained by practical, experiment, the elevating power of the
fluid is so much the greater, as the specific gravity of the fluid is higher, and as
the weight of the wheel, cylinder or drum immersed in it is less.
For the purpose of transmitting, the motive power thus generated, the shaft of
the cylinder is fitted with a driving pulley.
In order to facilitate the one-sided raising of, and the lateral initial rotary
impulse given to, the cylinder, such cylinder is provided at different points of its
circumference with hinged flaps or paddles, so as to offer convenient surfaces for
the driving fluid to act upon, such paddles being arranged to remaiu normally in
close contact with the periphery of the cylinder, so as not to interfere with the
packing employed in tightly closing the joint below.
It will be readily understood that the motor drum, cylinder or wheel should
form a tight joint, both, laterally, with the partition, and more particularly, below,
so that none of the fluid may escape into the empty space or compartment of the
outer casing or reservoir.
Dated this 26th day of March 1895.
A Hydraulic Motor.
I, LUDWIG GROTE, of Landsberg-on-the-Lech, in the German Empire, Manage
of Works, temporarily residing at 84, East India Dock Road, London, E., in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in wha
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to motor engines, and more particularly to hydrauli
engines, and consists in the construction of a novel type of engine of that class
which is adapted to be operated by means of one or more hollow bodies of light
.construction and of any suitable shape or outline, which are connected with one or
more cylinders, mounted upon a central spindle, and are placed in a volume of
stagnant water or other fluid in such a manner that a number of them are immersed
in the water to a comparatively great depth; the said water or liquid, being
enabled, by this peculiar situation, to raise to the surface the bodies immersed
therein, so that the floating bodies, together with the vertical spindle with which
they are connected, are thereby set in rotary motion.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
:drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine constructed in accordance with this
invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of an engine in a modified form, and
Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof;
Figure 5 is a side elevation of an engine in a modified form; and
Figure 6 is a front elevation thereof.
Figure 7 a side elevation of an engine in a modified form, and
Figure 8 a front elevation thereof....
Figure 9 a side elevation of an engine in a modified form, and
Figure 10,a front elevation thereof....
1
t
Figure 11, a side elevation of an engine in a modified form,
+
Figure 12 a side elevation of an engine in a modified form.

page_text: Figure 13 a cross section thereof; with air-reservoir and air pump, and
Figure 14 is a plan thereof.
As before stated, the water or fluid is the source of motive power whereby this
engine is to be driven; and a remarkable feature of the invention is that, whether
water or another fluid be used, but small quantities thereof are requisite in order
to produce the desired effect.
The following demonstration may serve to illustrate this: If an empty vessel of
comparatively small size;-say a tumbler,-be simply placed in a larger vessel
filled with water, the said smaller vessel will float on the surface of such water;
but when pressure is applied to it, so as to force it into the liquid body, it will, in
plunging into the latter, displace a proportionate quantity thereof; while as soon
as it is released, or relieved from pressure, it will suddenly rise and resume its
former floating position, the water displaying a considerable amount of power in
raising it.
Now if the tumbler be filled with sand or the like, and then placed in a larger
vessel filled with liquid, it will, instead of remaining afloat on the surface, sink to a
certain depth in the liquid of its own accord, and float on this lower level. The
weight of the sand, therefore, is exactly equivalent to the elevating power of the
water or in other words, equal to the weight of the amount of water displaced.
This result will be the same, no matter what the dimensions of the larger vessel,
filled with water, may be the tumbler, if empty, will float on the surface, and if
weighted with sand or the like, will remain afloat on such lower level as may be
determined by the weight of the sand or other filling. It follows, then, that,
whatever the amount of water or fluid used,-whether the limited quantity
contained in a vessel or tank, or whether an almost boundless liquid mass, such as
the sea, the pressure or elevating power of such water or fluid remains constant
and unchanged.
It is owing to this scientific fact, that the improved engine herein described
requires a comparatively small quantity of fluid for its operation.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cylinder or drum a is surrounded
by a casing reservoir, or tank b which is divided by a partition c, and one half of
which contains the water or other fluid. In this tank the cylinder a is secured by
means of a spindle or shaft d, in such a position that only one half of the said
cylinder is immersed in the fluid.
In accordance with the law of hydrostatics, by which we know that fluids have
a tendency to raise hollow bodies forced into them with a power equivalent to the
weight of the liquid displaced by such hollow bodies, the cylinder a, immersed in
the liquid mass e, under pressure, is raised by such liquid mass; and, inasmuch as
it is surrounded by the liquid on one side only, and at the same time is secured on
the required level by means of its central shaft d, the elevating power of the liquid
acting upon it will necessarily be converted into an impulse which will set the said
cylinder in rotary motion, in the direction of the arrow.
Practical experiment has shown that the elevating power of a fluid is in a direct
ratio to the specific gravity of such fluid, and to the size and comparative lightness
of the hollow bodies submitted to its action.
For the purpose of further transmission of the motive power thus produced,
there is mounted upon the shaft d a driving pulley f.
In order to assist the one-sided raising of, and the lateral initial rotary impulse
given to, the cylinder a there are provided, at various points of its circumference,
hinged flaps or paddles 9 covered with india-rubber at their ends and containing
small internal springs i, for the purpose of opening them, so as to offer convenient
surfaces for the water or other driving fluid to act upon. In order to readily
counteract the effect of the packing h, below, the said blades are so arranged as not
only to adhere closely to the periphery of the drum a, but if possible to penetrate
the substance thereof to a limited extent.
It will be understood that the cylinder should be fitted with suitable packing
both on the side adjoining the partition c and at its lower end, preferably by means

page_text: of india-rubber flaps h, so that little or no fluid may enter the hollow space B
within the casing or tauk b..
Another form of the engine described is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The packing is here omitted, so that the water contained in the tank
surrounds the drum or cylinder, mounted on the spindle d, on all sides. To the
blades or paddles o, however, which, here also, are connected by india-rubber bags,
hollow bodies, such as g¹ are secured, which, by the elevating power of the water,
cause the said blades or paddles y to rise with their bags, so that hollow bodies of
a pretty considerable size are obtained as a result. This happens on one side of
the cylinder a only, while the hollow bodies on the opposite side are closed by a
guiding wall m, or are placed back against the cylinder a. The hollow bodies are
raised on one side only, and, as they are connected with the drum I such drum is
set in rotary motion. The air confined within the bags or air cushions is admitted
into the cylinder through inlets 92, and is thence allowed to escape through a
hollow spindle or shaft d.
A further modification of the machine is illustrated in Figures 7 to 10. In this
case also hollow bodies, such as l, are arranged on one side of the drum or
cylinder a, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. The hollow bodies
are here, however, formed by connecting the single pieces into pairs by means of
heavy weighting rails r, so that when they are in the vertical position, they must
sink in the water, whereby the upper hollow body is closed in, while the lower one
is open and thus affords the water an opportunity of raising the hollow bodies on
one side and consequently to set the drum, cylinder or roller in rotary motion, as
aforesaid. The form of drum or roller shown in Figures 7 and 8 is also represented
in detail in Figures 9 and 10, where it is supposed to consist of a hollow double
hoop or rings, adapted to receive the superfluous air and to allow it to escape again
through the hollow spindle or shaft d.
The same remark applies to Figures 5 and 6 with the only difference that,
instead of the hollow bodies 1, fixed to arms n, other hollow bodies o, moving on
hinges, and assuming the shape of spheres, are employed. These also, in the same
way as in the arrangement shown in Figure 7, are drawn down to the water by
means of heavy rails or weights, and are raised on one side by the elevating power
of the liquid for the purpose of setting the drum or cylinder in rotary motion.
Instead of a solid drum, cylinder or roller, such as a, there is in this case also, as
in the arrangement represented in Figure 9, a double ring or hoop s arranged in
such a manner as to be capable, on the side where the hollow bodies are not to be
raised, of bringing them into as close proximity to the central shaft d as practicable.
Thus upon the elevating side there will form comparatively long levers, and on the
other side, shorter levers.
A further modification is shown in Figure 11 where it will be seen that, instead
of hollow paddles g, tubes k¹, k2, 3, 4, closed at their ends, are employed, such
tubes being capable of readily rising in the water and taking up a floating position.
The tubes are not secured to the periphery of the cylinder a, as are the
blades g, but pass through the said cylinder a in different diametrical directions,
and are movable or adjustable therein, in such a manner as to protrude outwardly,
from the cylinder, to a greater or less extent according to requirements, so as to
act as longer or shorter levers, as the case may be; the arrangement being such
that, in each case, the longer portion of the tube is immersed in the water, so that,
as it is raised by the water, it may store up and transmit to the shaft d an increased
amount of elevating power, or of resultant rotary motion. The greater the length
of the tube or tubes extending towards the water,-taking the central spindle as
the initial point of measurement, and the greater the number of tubes arranged
in juxtaposition in the main cylinder a, the more considerable will be the elevating
power produced by the displacement of the water. This power will be first
imparted to the cylinder a, and as such cylinder is secured to the central shaft, it
is further transmitted to the latter, which is thereby set in rotary motion.
Now in order that the longer portion of the tubes k may be always on the

page_text: raising-side, one side of the casing or tank b is provided with a curved guiding
plate or wall m, so that the tube which happens to be uppermost at the time, say,
for example, the tube k,-may always be guided by the said plate or wall in,
through the medium of rollers, and be thereby forced down into the water. Whers,
however, the hollow bodies are of a somewhat heavier construction, or loa led in its
middle, they will be found capable, so long as the bodies k' retain a vertical
position, of plunging further in the water by their own weight, and without any
auxiliary pressure from the guide plate m.
A further modification is shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14 and consists in so
constructing the engine that it is operated by means of a paddle wheel, which is
fitted with hollow inflatable bodies and is placed in stagnant water, in such a
manner that the said hollow bodies, secured to its periphery after having been
inflated with air, supplied for the purpose from a suitable source, are raised to the
surface by the natural elevating power of the water, thereby imparting to the
centrally arranged paddle wheel the initial rotary motion, which may be further
transmitted as motive power, wherever required.
The hub or nave a of the paddle-wheel consists of a disc a' tightly fitting its
shaft ?, whereon it does not revolve and of a disc a², capable of axial displacement.
To this disc a², hollow spokes c, carrying inflatable bodies d are secured. The
spokes terminate in small apertures u within the non-rotary disc or nave, which is,
morcover, connected with two pipes, one g for the admission of air, and the other h
for its discharge.
The operation of the improved engine is as follows:
Alter having placed the wheel described above in a tank filled with fluid, such
as water, air is supplied to the nave from an expansible air reservoir v,-arranged
outside the water tank,-through the air inlet pipe g; with the result that, when-
ever the orifice of such air-inlet pipe comes to be situated opposite the aperture u of
one of the spokes of the wheel, one of the hollow bodies or paddles is inflated;
the operation being, therefore, repeated as many times as there are inflatable
paddles on the wheel. These paddles are consequently, each in succession, raised
to the floating position by the water, whereby the wheel, together with its shaft or
spindle, is set in rotary motion.
In order to obviate the necessity for the air-inflated bodies, which are thus
successively caused to float in the water, to be drawn down through the water
again by the revolving wheel, which would require a very considerable expenditure
of power in overcoming the resistance of the fluid, provision is made for the air to
escape from the successive hollow paddles as they re-descend; and such escape of
air takes place whenever the orifice of one of the spokes of the wheel comes to
register with the conveniently situated orifice of the air-outlet-pipe h. Owing to
this arrangement, the hollow bodies, after having discharged the air they contained,
sink down in the water, on the opposite side of the wheel, by their own weight,
without in any way influencing the rotary motion of the wheel or its shaft. With
the rotary shaft of the wheel there are furthermore connected two air pumps q, as
they communicate with the expansible air-reservoir e, at all times keep such
reservoir supplied with as much air as is required for inflating the hollow bodies or
paddles of the wheel.
In order to facilitate the admission and discharge of the air from and to the nave
or hub or from and to the bodies d, there are provided elongated slots i in the
movable portion of the nave or hub a².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A hydraulic motor engine, as hereinabove described, the main feature of
which is that it is driven by stagnant or motionless water or other fluid; such
engine mainly consisting of one or more cylinders rollers or drums, such as a, which
are mounted upon spindles or shafts d and arranged within a divided tank or

page_text: reservoir b, filled with water on one side; the said cylinder or cylinders being
closed by means of air cushions, bags or bellows of india-rubber or other suitable
material, and provided with paddles or blales, such as g; and being so immersed
in the fluid that the elevating power of the motionless fluid, which surrounds the
cylinder or cylinders a on one side only, sets such cylinder or cylinders in rotary
'motion which may be transmitted as motive power for further use.
2. A hydraulic motor engine, adapted to be driven by motionless water or other
fluid, and consisting of a cylinder, roller or drum, such as a, mounted upon a spindle
or shaft. such as d, and placed in a reservoir or tank, such as b, filled with water;
such cylinder being provided on its periphery with movable blades or paddles g,
fitted with closing air bags or bellows of india-rubber or other suitable material;
and with hollow bodies such as g'; and the said cylinder being wholly immersed
in the liquid, so that the elevating power of the motionless fluid raises the hollow
bodies open on one side, which are drawn down into the fluid by weighting rails
such as r, and thereby sets the cylinder a in rotary motion.
3. A hydraulic motor engine adapted to be driven by motionless water or other
fluid, and consisting of one or more hollow bodies such as o, which are secured to
hinged arms n, which in their turn are attached to a wheel-shaped double ring or
hoop s, which is immersed in the fluid contained in a reservoir or tank in such a
manner that the elevating power of the motionless fluid raises on one side the said
hollow bodies o which by means of weighting rails are caused to sink in the
water; whereby the said double hoop or ring, revolvably mounted upon the shaft
or spindle d, is set in rotary motion.
4. A hydraulic motor engine, adapted to be driven by motionless water or other
fluid, and consisting of one or more hollow bodies, such as k, which are so arranged
.within a cylinder or drum, such as a, mounted upon the shaft or spindle, such as b,
as to be diametrically adjustable, and are adapted to be pressed into the fluid body
by means of a wall such as m fitted within the reservoir or tank b, or are adapted,
by weights such as m² to sink in the water of their own accord, in such a manner
that the said hollow bodies k are raised upon one side by the elevating power of
the motionless fluid and thus set in motion both the cylinder or drum a as well as
the spindle or shaft d, for the purpose of transmitting such rotary motion as motive
power for further use.
5. A hydraulic motor engine, adapted to be driven by motionless water or other
fluid, and consisting of a paddle wheel provided with inflatable hollow bodies, such
,as d, which is so immersed in motionless water, that the hollow bodies secured to
its periphery, after they have been inflated through the air which is admitted by
suitable means, are raised on one side by the elevating power of the water and
.thereby set in motion the paddle wheel for the purpose of further transmitting its
rotary motion as motive power.
6. A hydraulic motor engine, substantially as characterized in the fifth claim, to
the rotary shaft or spindle of which two air pumps such as q, are attached, which
are connected with an air or wind chamber, for the purpose of feeding such chamber
with as much air as is necessary for inflating the hollow bodies d.
Dated this 24th day of December 1895.
LUDWIG GROTE.