IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND MECHANISM FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Adderley Sleigh at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
April 1869.
I, ADDERLEY SLEIGH, Knight of the most Noble and Ancient Order
of the Tower and Sword, formerly R.N., Captain late H.M. Army
Transport Corps, M.R.H.S. and M.R.S.L., of 224, Lancaster Road,
Notting Hill, London, County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
MECHANISM FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
I fix vertically two discs or wheels with spokes of the same diameter
and size on one common horizontal axle at any desired distance apart,
and unite those discs or wheels by transverse bars so as to make them one
wheel which I shall call the "main wheel," the axle of which rests on
and revolves in bearings supported by a perpendicular framework. The
periphery of the main wheel is divided into several equal segments. I
adapt eight at present, externally to each of those segments. Round
the main wheel are adapted oblong square blocks which I term
"segment blocks" of any heavy substance, the size of cach being equal

page_text: in width to the transverse breadth of the main wheel.. In length to the
extent of each segment, and the radial depth from the periphery of the
main wheel, outward, may be more or less than five-eighths the semi-
diameter of the main wheel. Viewing the main wheel from one
transverse point, the lower corners nearest the axle of each segment
block on the right-hand side of the main wheel, which corners are the
upper ones on the left-hand side of the main wheel, are fitted with eye
loops, by which the segment blocks are attached to eye bolts at the
division of each segment round the periphery of the main wheel. Thus
attached the upper parts of the segment blocks on the right-hand side
of the main wheel tilt over and fall off, and outward from the periphery
of the main wheel to a distance of nearly one-half their radial depth.
Links attached to the upper corners of cach segment block restrain
them at this distance from the main wheel, while on the left-hand side
of the main wheel, the eye loops of the segment blocks being uppermost,
the segment blocks conscquently lie close to and rest against the
periphery of the main wheel. To the upper moveable corners of each of
the segment blocks are fitted latches which catch the moveable corners
of those blocks at the moment they are brought in close contact with
the periphery of the main wheel, and disengages at the moment that the
blocks are about falling from, the main wheel. I fix to the bearings
inside the framework a circular disc of the diameter of about one-tentli
of the diameter of the main wheel.. The centre of this disc is perforated
with a round hole through which the main axle revolves freely. The
one-fourth of the segment of this dise, which is contained between
an angle of forty-five degrees elevation and of forty-five degrees
depression from the axle of the main wheel on the right-hand side, is
toothed with projecting cogs from its periphery. On each spoke of the
main wheel corresponding to the eight segment blocks I place vertically
on a round pivot close to the disc a small pinion wheel about half the
diameter of the fixed circular circular disc, the teeth of which pinion wheel
works in the cogs of the fixed disc round the main axle. Each of those
pinion wheels have fixed to them, a drum of equal diameter to the
pinion wheel. To each of these drums is. attached one end of a strong
band or flat chain. The other end is attached to the moveable corner
of each segment block which bands or flat chains are of sufficient length
to allow the moveable corners of the segment blocks to fall out from the
main wheel as before described. On the transverse opposite side of the
main wheel round, and to the bearings inside the framework I fix as

page_text: The other ends of
described on the other transverse side of the main wheel, a circular dise
of the same circumference and thickness as the previously described disc.
A segment of one-fourth of the upper part of this disc is toothed with
projecting cogs, this part is contained between the angles of forty-five
degrees elevation from the axle. On the right-hand spokes I fix on
round pivots eight small pinion wheels (of the same diameter as
those at the opposite side) that work in like manner as at the transverse
opposite side of the main wheel in the upper cogged segment of the
circular fixed disc. To these pinion wheels are also fixed drums. To
the drums of each of those eight pinion wheels are attached by means
of a stud one end of a bar, which end is flexible, so as to wind round,
and on to the extent of a semicircle of the drun.
those bars are attached by a flat-headed pivot to the moveable corners of
cach segment block. Those bars are sufficiently long to allow the
moveable end of each segment block to fall off from the main wheel to
the distance of nearly one-half of the radial depth of each segment block.
Between the two discs or wheels that form the main wheel and round
the axle (at about half the distance from the main axle to the periphery
of the main wheel) I fix a periphery of another wheel whose centre is
the main axle, and its spokes identical with those of the main wheel.
To the periphery of this wheel I fix to each of the eight sections
corresponding to the eight sections of the main wheel an expanding and
collapsing water air tight chamber of the wedge shape of that vacancy
formed by the falling out of the "section blocks" from the periphery of
and on the right hand side of the main wheel, or chambers of any other
convenient shape. Each alternate collapsing and expanding chamber
and every intermediate one likewise are united by water-tight tubes
The ends of those tubes which enter the chambers are fitted with
valves that close and cut off the communication between the collapsed
chambers on the left hand and the expanding chambers on the right
hand of the main wheel. Those valves open between the expanded
chambers on the right-hand side of the main wheel. The moveable
face of each expanding and collapsing chamber is attached to the
flexible bars that unite and roll round the drums of the small pinion
wheels to the moveable corners of the segment blocks. The moveable
face of each expanding and collapsing chamber is attached to the straps
that unite the drums of the pinion wheels to the moveable corners of
the segment blocks so that the moveable face of each chamber collapses
or expands at the same time, and in unison with the falling off from

page_text: or drawing in to the periphery of the main wheel the segment blocks.
At whatever point round its axle the main wheel is restrained the
segment blocks and the collapsing and expanding chambers will occupy
the following described position, namely, the segment block on the
summit of the main wheel is slightly elevated by the flexible bar
attached to its corresponding pinion wheel drum, the corresponding
chamber of which expands to the same extent while the next but one
segment block on the right-hand side of the main wheel is drawn into
a corresponding distance by its pinion wheel, drum, band, and the
corresponding expanding chamber becomes collapsed in the same degree
by the same drum band, the intermediate section block above the last
described one has fallen out to its full extent from the main wheel
and has expanded its corresponding chamber, while the alternate or next
but one section block below the aforesaid one which is nearly under
the axle is drawn close up by the pinion wheel drum band to the main
wheel and caught there by the latch, while its corresponding chamber
becomes collapsed by the same band. In this position the main wheel
when unrestrained will at once revolve and continue to do so, its
equilibrium being destroyed by the extension of the leverage on the
right hand or descending side of the main wheel, by the principal
weight of the summit section block being thrown on the right hand
side of the main wheel and by the wheel being restored to its proper
form beneath the axle and on the left hand or ascending side of the
main wheel. This continued motion and power are increased by filling
three of the expanding and collapsing chambers and all the connecting
tubes with any fluid.
I do not limit myself to any precise dimensions in this my Invention
and improvements, or to any particular material, which Invention and
improvements are applicable by the usual means and methods to every
description of machinery and to all objects requiring motion and power.
The two Plates of Drawings form part of my Provisional Specification
and are, Plate No. 1, Figure A, shewing a longitudinal vertical section
of the engine, the circular disc fixed to the inner side of the bearings,
the eight pinion wheels fitted to the outward side of the spokes with
the closing bands or drawing-in bands attached to the drums of the
pinion wheels, and shewing at the opposite side of the main wheel
the elevating bars and the position of the interior wheel with the

page_text: expanding and colapsing water chambers, and the conducting water
tubes.
Figure B on the same Plate as the above shews a vertical transverse
section viewed from the descending end of the main wheel; on the
right-hand side are seen the elevating bars, and on the left-hand side the
drawing-in bands with the pinion wheels and discs.
Plate No. II., Figure C, shews a longitudinal vertical section of the
engine, the circular disc fixed to the bearings inside between them and
the spokes, the pinion wheels, shewing five of the elevating bars with
their flexible ends attached to the drums of the pinion wheels, also
shewing the segment blocks elevated as they consecutively arrive at
the summit of the main wheel as it revolves; one side of the main
wheel is removed to shew the elevating bars and their pinion wheels.