CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FELICITÉ
RAISON SELLIQUE, of No. 6, Boulevart Beaumarchais, in the City of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Widow, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the eleventh year of Her
reign, did, for IIerself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Felicité Raison Sellique, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Felicité Raison Sellique, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Felicité Raison Sellique, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonics and Plantations
abroad, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING, AND IN THE
MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," communicated to me by my late husband
Alexandre François Sellique; in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that I, the said Felicité Raison Sellique, should cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Fellicité Raison Sellique, hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed (as communicated to
me by my late husband Alexandre François Sellique), are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
The nature of the said Invention. consists in obtaining an available
mechanical power from the inflammation of hydrogen gas, mixed with the
necessary quantity of atmospheric air to render it explosive, and in means or
machinery suitable for applying the same to propelling or motive purposes
generally. It is preferred to employ hydrogen gas alone, or in combination
with other gases, to render it cheaper; but any other explosive gas may be
substituted and employed in precisely the same manner as hydrogen gas,
although generally at a much greater expence.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the annexed Drawings is a longitudinal elevation in
section, and Figure 2, Sheet 1, an exterior stern elevation, of a 74-gun ship,
shewing the mode of applying the said Invention to propelling vessels, and
the machinery requisite for the purpose, Figure 1 being a section on the line
x, y, of Figure 2.
In the stern of the vessel, and partially above the line of floatation, are placed
two chambers A, A, in which the gas is caused to explode, and which are nar-
rowed towards the upper ends, as shewn at d, and closed by the cock or tap E,
while the lower ends, passing through the sides of the vessel, are open to the
water, and are fitted with large circular collars 6, which lap over the side of
the vessel, to which they are made fast by bolts and screws, so as to render the
space between the chambers and the wood-work perfectly water-tight, and also
to keep the chambers firmly in their proper position. The chambers are
further strengthened by the employment of suitable stays or supports a in the
interior of the vessel. The mouths or openings of the chambers should be
placed far down beneath the line of floatation, in order that the water which
flows into them after the gas has exploded may do so at a speed greater than
that of the vessel itself through the water, and so prevent any diminution of
the effect resulting from the explosion, that is to say, of the speed of the
vessel.

page_text: In order to avoid repetition, I will describe the apparatus suitable for one
chamber only, it being understood that both chambers require precisely the
same parts and arrangements. The chamber A, which should be strongly
made of any malleable metal, is fitted at its upper extremity with one or more
cocks or taps E, by which the atmospheric air is made to enter. B is a second
cock, fitted to the side of the contracted or tubular portion d of the chamber
A, and shown on an enlarged scale. in Figure 3, Sheet 1; G, G, is the barrel,
which is pierced with three holes, as indicated by the dotted lines; H, the
plug, to which is fitted a lever for opening and shutting the tap; I is an arm,
which is fixed at one end to the lever, and carries at the other a small cup K,
which at each closing of the tap is, dipped into the reservoir L, containing
alcohol, or other easily inflammable liquid, and takes up a portion thereof. At
the opening of the tap the cup K. is brought back, and empties itself into a
funnel O, which conveys the alcohol or other inflammable liquid through the
centre of the hole in the tap into a sponge M, the flame of which is by this
means maintained. The sponge M is composed of a net-work of platina wire,
filled with amiantus, which retains the liquid by the force of capillary attraction.
The sponge. is fixed to the interior sides of the hole of the barrel of the tap,
but in such a manner as not to prevent the free access of a current of air to
feed and maintain the flame of the sponge; or, in place of the sponge, there
may be substituted a gas burner or jet, placed in the interior of the plug of the
tap, and supplied by means of a flexible tube from a gasometer, or a small
alcoholic lamp, the wick of which terminates in the centre of the hole of the
plug. N is another gas burner or lamp, which is kept constantly lighted and
placed underneath the centre of the hole of the tap, the office of which is to re-
light after each successive explosion the interior gas jet, or to ignite the alcohol
held by the sponge or wick. of the alcoholic lamp. Again, instead of any of the
preceding methods, the gas in the interior of the chamber A may be ignited
by means of a voltaic pile, or other electric machine, and a slide valve may be
substituted for the cock or tap. Figure 4, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation on
an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the chamber, shewing the contracted
or tubular portion & thereof, and the adaptation of the tap B and air taps E, E.
One of these taps should be always placed in the top of the chamber A, in
order that the gases, such as azote, &c., which remain after each explosion may
be more speedily expelled, and the entry of atmospheric air easily effected.
C, Figure 1, is the furnace for the production of the hydrogen gas; D, the
gasometer, which is furnished with an escape valve; and B', the tap by which
the hydrogen gas is forced into the chamber A. All the taps or cocks; except
the one by which the gas is ignited communicate with pumps, which differ

page_text: in no respect from the ordinary force or lifting lumps, and should be closed at
the moment of explosion. The inflow and outflow of the gas is regulated
by slides. Before ingress or egress is given to the gas, it is necessary that the
taps or cocks should be either opened or shut; and for this purpose two
motions are given to the slides, one to and fro in a horizontal right line, and
the other vertical, which is effected by shifting at the end of the horizontal
movement the gear of the guide pinion. A small steam engine or manual
power may be employed to work the pumps, and give motion to the different
parts of the apparatus. The chamber A is furnished with one, two, or three
pumps, according to either of the following conditions of such chamber:-
When the water inside the chamber A is at such height as just to leave
sufficient space at top for the quantity of atmospheric air necessary to produce
the explosion, then one pump only is used, and this for the purpose of injecting
the hydrogen gas after the gas remaining from the previous explosion has
been driven out through one of the taps E by the entry of the atmospheric
.air, which is driven in through the other tap by a fan blower or other suitable
.contrivance, Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 1. The hydrogen gas is not of course
injected until the preceding conditions have been fulfilled, and it is then
injected in the proportion of one part to cight parts of atmospheric air con-
tained in the chamber A. When the injection is completed, the piston in
ascending closes the tap B in respect to the permanent gas burner or lamp
N, while it brings the gas jet inside the plug into contact with the explosive
gas in the chamber A, and causes the explosion to take place; after which,
the piston in descending opens the tap B, and the sponge, which is saturated
with alcohol, is ignited by the flame of the lamp or gas burner N, Figure 3,
Sheet 1. The Inventor considered this arrangement as the most simple
of all, and one which would be most advantageously employed in vessels of
light draught; but when the water reaches in the chamber as far up as the
contracted or tubular portion thereof d, which is occupied by the gas remain-
ing from the previous explosion, and which escapes on the upper tap E being
opened in consequence of the under pressure of the water, two pumps are
employed, one to force in atmospheric air, which is seven or eight times larger
than the other, which is employed to force in bydrogen gas; when the water
which was previously in the chamber has been thus displaced by the entrance
of atmospheric air and hydrogen gas combined, the same movement as is
described in the preceding case takes place, and explosion ensues. The con-
tracted or tubular portion d of the chamber A may be increased or diminished
in length, according to circumstances, without affecting the force of the explo-
sion; for by lengthening the tubular portion, d, the chamber A may be

page_text: shortened, and a greater facility in working be thereby obtained. When the
chamber A is placed entirely below the line of floatation, and the tubular por-
tion d thereof is dispensed with, then three pumps are employed. The third
pump is in this case used to withdraw the gases remaining after the preceding
explosion. By increasing the capacity of each pump the proportions of
hydrogen gas and atmospheric air may be varied, and by changing the direc-
tion of the pistons that proportion which produces the greatest or medium
force of explosion may be obtained. From what has been stated, it will be
seen that the operations to be performed are, firstly, to exhaust the gases in
the chamber A, after the explosion has taken place; secondly, to inject into
the chamber A atmospheric air and hydrogen gas; thirdly, to turn the tap B,
so as to shut off communication with the lamp or gas burner N, and to
bring the small gas jet in the interior of the plug into contact with the explo-
sive mixture in the chamber A, A; fourthly, to open the tap B as the explosion
takes place, and so on for each successive operation. The explosions are to be
effected in the chambers alternately, and they will take place as regularly as
the ascent or descent of the piston of a steam engine. When the pumps are
opposite to each other, and the slide travels to and fro, one of these pumps
exhausts one chamber, while the other injects the other, so that no time is lost.
The number of the chambers A, A, their diameter, length, form, and place in
the vessel may be varied, according to circumstances; and in some cases it is
proposed to place two additional ones in the bows, to drive the vessel astern.
The hydrogen gas may be obtained by the cold process, of evolving it from iron
or zinc, steeped in a suitable acid, diluted with water, or by the hot process,
namely, from the decomposition of water by incandescent coal. The last
method is considered to be the most economical. Next to propelling, perhaps
the most useful application that can be made of the motive power so obtained is
to hydraulic purposes, and the following arrangement of machinery is proposed
as the most suitable for these purposes:-A, Figure 5, Sheet 1, is the chamber
in which the gas is caused to explode; it is fitted with the tube X, through
which the water is forced upwards by the explosion, and with a valve S, by
which the water enters after the explosion, and attains the level, indicated
by the dotted line U. E, E, are two taps, which answer the same purposes
already described in reference to Figure 1; B is the tap, by which the is
ignited; and D, the gasometer; P is a pump, which exhausts the bydrogen gas
from the gasometer D, and forces it into the chamber A; R is a connecting
rod, to shut and open the taps; and T, a water tank; V, V, shews the height
of water in the chamber A after the atmospheric air and hydrogen gas have
.been introduced therein. The mode of action is the same in this application of
gas

page_text: the Invention as in that for the propelling of vessels. On the gas being
caused to explode, the water contained in the chamber A and pipe X is forced
down the former and up out of the latter, in the direction indicated by the
arrows, and replaced by water entering through the valve S from the tank T.
A series of tappet valves may be fixed in the pipe X, to retain the water when
once forced up. The length of the portion of the pipe A, in which the explosion
takes place, should always be more than the height of the column of water to
be forced out, in order that no portion of the explosive gas may escape through
the part X. In the preceding description, the hydrogen gas has been repre-
sented as being made to explode by actual contact with the flame inside the
plug of the tap. Now, in order to render surer and safer the explosion, it is
proposed to suspend in the upper part of the plug a small spiral coil of plati
num wire, in such manner as that the flame inside the plug shall raiso the coil
to white heat during the interval between each explosion. By this arrange-
ment, the jet of gas in the plug will be kept lighted, even though it should be
temporarily extinguished, by the entry of a current of other gas, or of atmo-
spheric air, as the coil of platina will be in close communication with the jet
of gas, and of sufficient heat to re-light it, and consequently the explosions
cannot fail. In order to prevent too rapid condensation in the chamber, the
temperature (resulting from the explosion of the gas) is kept up for a longer
period of time than would otherwise be possible by superimposing a layer of
some substance, the specific gravity of which is less than that of water, such as
oil, and its boiling point higher. Figure 1, Sheet 2, (a longitudinal elevation
in section of the stern of the vessel,) shows another mode of applying this
Invention to propelling, the peculiarity of which consists in the interposition of
a piston or other suitable contrivance between the water and gas in the
chamber A. The piston G is composed of a number of metal plates, so
hinged together as to assume a horizontal position, and afford free ingress to
the water when the gas has exploded, and then to assume a vortical position
after it has been driven by the expansive force of the gas to the extremity of
the chamber and the water has flowed in, when the pressure on both sides of
the piston becomes equalized, and the piston regains its original position
(between the water and the gas), by means hereafter to be described; that is,
the piston assumes a vertical position by the effect of the weight of the plates
merely, of which it consists, which present a series of inflexible surfaces to the
expansive force of the next body of gas to be exploded. A is the exterior por-
tion of the chamber, which guides the piston G without offering any impedi-
ment to the outflow of the column of water; Bis that part of the chamber
.which carries the exterior collar that is bolted to the side of the vessel, and

page_text: holds the whole apparatus firmly and securely in its position, and on which is
fitted the piece C, connected with D. Between these two portions of the
chamber is placed a slide F, to shut off all communication between the upper
part of the chamber and the external water. Two man-holes are made in the
portion D, one above and the other below the piston, to allow of making any
repairs that may be necessary in the interior. H is an air-tight case, contain-
ing a pulley, round which is wound a chain, leading into the chamber, and
made fast to the piston G; one end of the axle of this pulley passes through a
stuffing box in the case H, and carries another and smaller pulley of about
one-fourth or one-fifth of the size of the other, around which is wound a chain
terminating in the weight I, which is small, as it will have little resistance to
overcome in bringing the piston. back, since the pressure is, nearly equal on
both sides. The difference in the size of the pulleys is in order that the largest
may unwind four times as much as the smaller, and so prevent any e
diminution
of the velocity with which the piston is driven at the moment of explosion and
any violent shock. The object of this arrangement is, when the piston has been
driven to the extremity of the chamber, and the pressure on both sides equal-
ized, to withdraw it back into its original position. The piece H is fitted with
a pipe, which passes upwards about the line of floatation, in order that when the
explosion takes place, air may be compressed therein, and any injurious effect
upon the sides of the case H prevented; or, instead of constructing the piston
in manner before described, it may be made with a number of tappet valves, so
as to afford free ingress to the water. The red lines, Figure 1, Sheet 2, shew
another modification of this Invention, which consists in attaching the piston
to a lever, which is made fast to the upper part of the hull of the vessel. The
piston rests and presses against the mouth of the chamber by its own gravity,
and is impelled by each explosion sternwise from the vessel, which is thereby
driven through the water.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, represents another method of applying this Invention to
hydraulic machines. A is the water tank; B, the chamber, in which the gas
is to explode, and which is fitted with a jet; C is a reservoir, placed at the
necessary and sufficient height to receive the water from the jet of the chamber
B, and to allow a stream to fall upon the flat boards of the water wheel D, to
which a rotary motion is thus communicated from this wheel; the steam flows
into a channel which leads on to the flat boards of another water wheel, and so
on through the whole series of water wheels, as indicated in the Drawing,
after which the water returns into the tank A; or the water may be forced up
a tube fitted with the necessary number of tappet valves.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim exclusive
right to under the said Letters Patent is, the propelling or moving of bodies
and machines by the power resulting from the explosion of a due admixture of
hydrogen gas, or other inflammable gas with atmospheric air, such power being
generated, regulated, and applied in the manner and by the means before
exemplified and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felicité Raison Sellique, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of