IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER BY CAPILLARY ATTRACTION
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, of No. 2, Stonefield
Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
Sealed the 12th January 1866, and dated the 19th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johann Ernst Friedrich
Lüdeke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th July 1865.
I, JOHANN ERNST FRIEDRICH LÜDEKE, of No. 2, Stonefield Street, Islington,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER BY CAPILLARY ATTRACTION," to be as
follows:
My Invention consists of a machine working by capillary attraction in
manner following, viz., by rotary wheels, or by perpendicular or horizontal
apparatus; the wheels or round plates I prefer.
I take two wheels or round plates, which may be perforated or otherwise,
and I set them on axles; these I place so that the edges or rims of the two
plates or wheels shall be close or nearly touch one another at one side, but be
a further distance off on the other or opposite side. I do not confine myself

page_text: to the distance that shall separate them, this being requisite according to the
requirement of a greater or less power; neither do I confine myself to two
wheels or plates, as the more wheels or plates used so will the be
power
increased. The space between the two plates or wheels I fill or partly fill as
may be necessary with sponge, felt, indian-rubber, or any other substance that
will have a like effect. The same results may be obtained by a horizontal or
perpendicular movement in the following way:-Two rods or bars increased
in size towards the ends and acting on a centre or pivot in an up-and-down
or side-to-side motion, the ends being fitted with the sponge or other material
suitable for attraction, and the ends alternatively coming in contact with the
liquid will cause an increase of weight, causing them to descend, and the
opposite ends being so constructed that they shall come together, so as to
compress or force the water out and so cause it to rise by reason of it being
lighter, but as before said, I do not confine myself to this form or method.
The wheels, plates, or apparatus I place in any vessel or tank capable of
holding water, which I fill to a distance, more or less, as may be necessary,
with water, quicksilver, or any other liquid whatever, but I do not confine
myself to the use of a tank or vessel, as the same result may be effected by the
water or liquid being poured from above in any way. Having placed my
machine in the way above described, it will be seen that the capillary
attraction will take the wheels or plates down on one side by reason of the
over-weight caused by the attraction of the water to the sponge or other
substance used, the effect of the wheels or plates being closer together at one
side than the other is, that the water or other liquid will be squeezed or
forced to the other side, thereby assisting or giving overweight, and so causing
the wheels or plates to revolve, which they will continue to do without further
power or assistance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke in the Great Seal, Patent
Office on the 17th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHANN
ERNST FRIEDRICH LÜDEKE, of 2, Stonefield Street, Islington, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord &
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-nineth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the-
said Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, Her special licence that I, the said.
Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, my executors, administrators, and assigns,.
or such others as I, the said Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, my ex-
ecutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER BY
CAPILLARY ATTRACTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My Invention or discovery consists of improvements in motive power by
capillary attraction," constructed in the manner herein-after described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is shown in horizontal section
an iron or other case or compartment in the shape of a double-blow bellows or
other convenient form marked A, one side of which from B to C works on a
pivot or centre, causing one end of the case or compartment to be open or
expanded, and the other to be contracted or closed; this is placed on a beam
or axle marked D, which may, if required, be constructed to oscillate, or the
same may work on pivot or pivots, or in any other manner, at the ends of
which may be affixed cranks, wheels, levers, bars, &c. for multiplying or
transfering power. I now take a series of sheets or plates of perforated iron
or other metal, gutta percha, india-rubber, vulcanized or not, wirework, or
other substance of such size and thickness as may be required; I put these
inside the case or compartment as marked E in a perpendicular position at
equal distances apart. On one side of each sheet or plate I fix in any manner
sponge, cotton, wool, flannel, felt, or any other material of-an absorbing
nature. I put this about an inch thick, more or less; I now fill the case or
compartment with water,.quicksilver, or other liquid, the effect of which is,

page_text: that by the movement of the moveable side of the case or compartment
(which can be done by any mechanical construction connected with the
machine when in motion) one end is closed, thereby causing the water or
liquid by means of attraction to flow to the other side; this creates an over-
weight, which will take that end of the case or compartment in the shape of
a blow bellows down, and again by similar mechanical contrivance the end so
descending is gradually closed or contracted, by which means the water or
liquid goes to the opposite side, which is by the same movement opened or ex-
panded; this is caused by attraction; as this is alternative, a movement of an
up and down motion takes place, which will be found to be continual so long
as the liquid remains. At both ends of the case or compartment are affixed a
handle or joint marked F, to which may be attached any kind of machinery
such as cranks, levers, bars, bands or straps, wheels, pistons, &c. in the usual
manner. The case or compartment may be effectually closed, so that no air
be admitted, and the sheets or plates may be arranged in an horizontal or any
other position. It will be found that the power given is by attraction, con-
traction, and repulsion. I do not confine myself to any particular kind of
sheets or plates, nor yet to the particular construction of the machine, as herein
described and drawn. I merely shew it as one of many ways by which
power can be obtained by capillary attraction. The same is adapted for all
purposes for propelling all descriptions of carriages both by road and rail, ships,
and for all machines of every description whatever where power is required,
from the smallest to the largest, and for the purposes of light and heat.
Figure 2 represents the same as Figure 1, but in a vertical section.
Figure 3 shews a similar effect or power by means of a series of wheels
which are marked A; these I use to any number according as power is
required, the same being so arranged as to revolve on one common axle
marked B; these I place in a tank, cistern, or other vessel marked C, which
I fill to about one-third or thereabouts with water, quicksilver, or other liquid;
the liquid will now be seen to rise between the wheels, caused by capillary
attraction, which takes place on the side marked D; this causing over-weight
compels the wheels to revolve. On the opposite side marked E there are
projections affixed to the tank or cistern made of iron, wood, or any other
material; these are made so that the wheels in revolving pass between them
and are so placed to prevent the rising of the water or liquid between the
wheels on this side as in Figure 1, the wheels revolve so long as the liquid
lasts. The wheels aro placed at equal distances apart sufficient to cause the
effect of capillary attraction, and to which may or may not be fixed sponge,
indian-rubber, felt, flannel, wool, cotton, and or any other absorbing material,

page_text: but in Figure 3 there is no sponge, indian-rubber, &c. fixed at all. Figure 4
represents the same as Figure 3 in a vertical section.
I claim as my discovery or Invention new improvements in motive power
by capillary attraction, contraction, and repulsion, which is applicable as
before said to all purposes where motive power is required, and to all machines,
the expense of working same being nothing must at once establish its great
usefulness. I merely illustrate in one or two ways how the same may be
effected, but I do not confine myself to these methods or to the particular
shape of the parts as drawn; they must be made or adapted according to the
size and requirements of the machine and the power required. I propose to
use wheels, plates, sheets, &c. perforated or otherwise, or with or without wire
or other substance, and any known material for padding, &c. between the
plates or wheels as above described, and in conjunction with my Invention
or part giving the power. I use every known description of machinery, such
as pistons, piston rods, levers, cranks, bars, cylinders, pipes, &c. as may be
necessary for the multiplying or transferring power as usual.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
J. E. F. LÜDEKE. (L.S.)