AN HYDRAULICK ENGINE FOR RAISING WATER, THEREIN DESCRIBED
Year: 1766

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DOUGLAS BOWDEN, of Marygold Stairs, in the County of Surry, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Thirteenth day of January, in the sixth year of His reign, did
give and grant unto me licence to make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Plantations,
my Invention of "AN HYDRAULICK ENGINE FOR RAISING WATER, THEREIN
DESCRIBED;" in which Letters Patent there is a proviso obliging me, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within four calendar months next after the date of the said recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may
more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Douglas Bowden, do hereby declare that my said Invention of an
engine for raising water is particularly described in the Plan, and explanation
thereof, hereunder written.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Douglas Bowden, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the sixth year
the reign of His said Majesty King George the Third, and in the year
of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty-six.

page_text: An EXPLANATION of the PLAN above referred to.
Tube 6, which is fixed in the water to be raised, in the top of which is
a box with two holes, which are parted near the top, over which holes are
fixed two cylinders 4, in which are fixed at bottom two valves which com-
municate with the aforesaid holes; in the two cylinders are placed two
pistons 10, made of any kind of metal, &c., fitted very close, fastened to a
chain or rope and carried over the wheel 11, supported by it's axis 9 and
the carriage 1, 1, the power fixed at the extremities of the handles 7, 7;
consequently, when the pistons are put in motion the water will raise in
the tube 6 as far as the atmosphere will permit, which may be at times
a little more or less than 33 feet, according to the denseness of the air;
and in order to raise the water above the pressure of the atmosphere to
any height, conveyances are made from the two cylinders 4 into the square
box 2, over which conveyances are fixed other two valves, upon which box
is fixed pipe 5, of any length, according to the power applied. 13, the wheel
or tract fixed on the leavers or handles 7, 7, on which horses, oxen, or men
walk instead of drawing or lifting.
From these principles the following corollaries (in order to construct this ma-
chine properly) may be deduced :-First, the nearer the cylinders are to the sur-
face of the water to be raised the better, as in that case it will depend very little
on the power of the atmosphere, consequently the necessity of air-tight pipes
are removed. Secondly, in proportion to the column of water to be raised the
cylinders must be lengthened and the pistons increased in weight. Thirdly,
the pistons very nearly touching the sides of the cylinder, the water between
serves the purpose of leather or quilting. Fourthly, the friction which is
found in other machines is removed, here being none but on the arbor of the
axis. Fifthly, the friction may be lessened by friction wheels. Sixthly, the
longer the handles the power will be increased, but the velocity of the ascend-
ing column of water lessened. Seventhly, the velocity of the water will be
proportioned to the power used, as in the aforegoing. Eightly, the
horses, oxen, &c., may have loads put on their backs which will increase
their power.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that on the said Tenth day of May, in the
sixth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, the afore-
said Charles Douglas Bowden came before our said Lord the King in His
Chancery, and acknowledged the Writing aforesaid, and every thing therein
contained, in form above said. And the said Writing was stamped according
to the Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King
Majesty King William and Queen Mary, and so forth.
Inrolled the Twelfth day of May, in the sixth year of the reign of His
Majesty King George the Third, 1766.