IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND TRANSMITTING POWER
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND TRANSMITTING
POWER." -A communication from abroad by James Joseph Gorman, of
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio State, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st June 1864, and dated the 9th February 1864..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th February 1864.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
5 in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND TRANSMITTING
POWER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of two weights suspended from
or secured to arms which project from an oscillating frame with a variable
fulcrum in combination with a rolling or moveable weight, which moves or
inclines, and is made to bear alternately on the oscillating frame in such a
manner that by the aid of the variable fulcrum and moveable weight the
oscillating motion of the frame and two main weights is facilitated, and a
power is obtained capable of imparting motion to a hoisting apparatus or to
any other desirable machine or mechanism.

page_text: The Invention consists further in the employment of automatically rising
and falling guideways in combination with the oscillating frame, moveable or
rolling weight, and with a stationary frame in such a manner that by the
action of the guideways the moveable weight is made to bear alternately on
the oscillating frame and this again on the stationary frame, and thereby the
motion of said oscillating frame is facilitated.
The Invention consists further in a dog hinged to the rod or pitman, which
transmits the motion of the oscillating frame to the working machine, said
dog being provided with two studs in combination with a cam furnished with
two or more cavities corresponding in position to the studs of the dog and
secured to the end of the shaft, to which the motion is to be transmitted, and
with a spring acting on the dog in such a manner that whenever the pitman
arrives at one of the dead centres the position of the dog in relation to the
cam is changed by the action of the spring, and the dead centre is avoided in
the simplest and most effective manner.
The Invention consists finally in combining the spring and the hinged dog
Iwith a rocker arm and with a lever catching on excentric wrist pins projecting
from a disc secured to the shaft to be driven on opposite sides from its centre
in such a manner that by a simple change in the position of said lever from
one pin to the other the motion of said shaft can be reversed without
changing the motion of the oscillating frame. It must be remarked that the
connecting rod or pitman which transmits the motion of the oscillating frame
to the working machine as above mentioned may, instead of being connected
to the oscillating frame, equally well be connected to the cross head of an
ordinary steam engine, and the reciprocating motion of the steam piston can
thus be converted into continuous rotary motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED 3
VINCENT NEWTON; of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant, unto

page_text: me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 OBTAINING AND TRANSMITTING POWER," being
a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, consists
in the application of two weights suspended from or secured to: arms which
project from an oscillating frame with a variable fulcrum in combination with
a rolling or moveable weight, which moves on inclines, and is made, to bear
alternately on the oscillating frame in such a manner that by the aid of
the variable fulcrum and moveable weight the oscillating motion of the frame
and two main weights is facilitated, and a power is obtained capable of
imparting motion to a hoisting apparatus or to any other desirable machine or
mechanism.
The Invention, consists further in the employment of automatically rising
and falling guideways in combination with the oscillating frame, moveable
or rolling weight, and with a stationary frame in such a manner that by the
action of the guideways the movable weight is made to bear alternately on
the oscillating frame and this again on the stationary frame, and thereby the
motion of said oscillating frame is facilitated.
The Invention consists further in a dog hinged to the rod or pitman, which
transmits the motion of the oscillating frame to the working machine, said dog
being provided with two studs in combination with a cam furnished with two
or more cavities corresponding in position to the studs of the dog and secured

page_text: to the end of the shaft, to which the motion is to be transmitted, and with a
spring acting on the dog in such a manner that whenever the pitman arrivés
at one of the dead centres the position of the dog in relation to the cam is
changed by the action of the spring, and the dead centre is avoided in the
simplest and most effective manner.
:
The Invention consists finally in combining the spring and the hinged dog
with a rocker arm and with a lever catching on excentric wrist pins projecting
from a disc secured to the shaft, to be driven on opposite sides from its centre
in such a manner that by a simple change in the position of said lever from
one pin to the other the motion of said shaft can be reversed without changing
the motion of the oscillating frame.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig.
1 represents a side elevation of the improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the
same; Fig. 4 is a diagram shewing the means employed for overcoming the
dead centres; Fig. 5 is a modification of the same. Similar letters of reference
in the several views indicate corresponding parts.
A represents a frame made of wood or any other suitable material, and
composed principally of two side pieces a, the upper edges of which are pro-
Ivided with notched plates b, which support the knife-edge bearings c, c¹, c¹¹, of
the oscillating frame B. This frame B is made of metal or other suitable
niaterial, and it consists of two side pieces c*, which are connected to each
other by cross bars d, and each of which is supported by three knife-edge
bearings c, c², cl, as above stated. On imparting an oscillating motion to the
frame B, its fulcrum changes from one of the bearings to the other, and
it is obvious that if the frame is in equilibrium and supported by the middle
bearing c¹, the balance will be immediately destroyed when said frame is
brought in an inclined position so that it rests on one of the bearings c or c¹¹.
C, C¹, are two arms which project from the frame B in opposite directions,
being made adjustable by means of set screws, so that they can be drawn out
or pushed in as may be desirable. Secured to outer ends of these arms are
two heavy weights D, D', which oscillate with the frame B, and impart to the
oscillations of the same a certain momentum or living force capable of over-
coming obstructions or of doing some work. A spring d*, which is connected
at one end to an arm D*, projecting from the main frame A, and at its other end
to the end of the oscillating frame B, serves to ease the motion of the weights
D, D', and to prevent undue strain at either end of their stroke. If the weight
'D' descends in the direction of the arrow marked near it in Fig. 1 the bearings
c, c'; are relieved, and the whole pressure exerted by the frame B and weights

page_text: D; D', is supported by the bearings c", and if the weights D, D', at the beginning
of the operation are equally balanced on the middle bearings c³, it is obvious that
the balance is destroyed as soon as the fulcrum is transferred from the central
bearings to the bearing c. As soon as this takes place the weight D'over-
balances the weight D' and the motion of the frame B is reversed. Motion
is imparted to the frame, B and weights D, D¹, by means of a crank shaft_e,
which may be rotated by hand or by other competent power, and which
connects by a rod or pitman e' with the frame B, and its motion is facilitated.
by the action of a rolling weight E. The axle of this weight passes through
two arms f, which are connected to the ends of a pin.f¹ that has its bearings
in the upper end of the arm g of a double elbow lever g, g¹, g, and said axlė
is supported by. two double-treaded or broad-faced wheels h. The double
elbow lever g, g', 9", has its fulcrum on a pivot g*, which is firmly inserted in
the inner surface of one of the side pieces of the main frame A, and the arms
9', g, are of unequal length and curved, as clearly shewn in Fig. 2, they are
loaded with weights g*, g*, and by reason of the unequal length of the arms
g', g, and of their peculiar shape, they cause the rolling weight E to travel
up the inclined guideways on one and the incline 9 on the opposite side, and
thereby assist in producing and keeping up the oscillating motion of the frame
B and weights D, D¹. A rod 9 connects. the elbow lever with that end of
the frame B nearest to the weight D'; and the motion of said frame is thereby
communicated to it. If the machine is at rest, or if the oscillating frame. B
with the weights D, D', is placed in a horizontal position, the rolling weight
places itself beyond the centre of the frame B towards the weight D; as shewn
in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing, and it's wheels rest on guideways i, which
are supported by the curved edges of the frame B, and project over, the same
sufficiently far to reach the wheels h, said wheels being placed so close together
that they pass freely down between the sides of the frame B. The guideways.i
are pivotted to a stirrup i, which embraces the frame B, being attached to
the same by means of pivots i*, and it is subjected to the action of a spring i"
which has sufficient power to raise. those ends of the guideways.i.nearest to
the weight D whenever said guideways are relieved from the pressure of the
rolling weight E. If the crank shaft e.is. turned in the direction of the arrow
marked near it in Figures 1 and 2 the weight D. descends and the rolling
weight E passes up the inclined guideways. i, bearing down upon the frame B
and assisting in turning said frame from the central bearings. C¹ on the
bearings c. As soon as the rolling weight E passes beyond the guideways i
the wheels h. drop down upon the stationary frame G, and said guideways
being relieved from pressure are raised by the action of the spring ¹¹ and

page_text: brought in such a position that the wheels h of the rolling weight can pass
back under the same without obstruction. The stationary frame G projects
up through the oscillating frame B, being supported by arms g³, which are
rigidly attached to the main frame A, and it is obvious that when the weight
D has descended. low. enough to throw the wheels of the rolling weight
upon the stationary frame G the effect of said rolling weight on the oscillating
frame ceases. and the weight D¹ descends with considerable force, due to the
.difference in the distance of the two weights from the bearings c. which
support the oscillating frame B at the moment it is relieved from the action
of the rolling weight E. The momentum of the weight D' which it acquires
by the time it reaches, a horizontal position carries the same down and throws
the fulcrum of. the oscillating frame upon the bearings c¹¹, and at the same
time by the action of the rod on the elbow lever g, g', 9", the rolling
weight E is carried up the inclined plane at the end of the stationery
frame G nearest to the weight D', and by the time said weight D' has reached
its lowest point the rolling weight E reaches its highest point on the inclined
plane ready to descend with some force. In this position the fulcrum of the
frame B. is on the bearings c, and the weight D, being further from said
bearings. than the weight D', will descend, with considerable force, being
assisted by the rolling weight E, which descends over the incline g³ and
ascends the curved guideways i, which will be depressed on the edges of the
frame B and take up the pressure of the wheels h. The momentum of the
weight D, acquired by the same, by the time it reaches a horizontal position
assisted: or augmented by the action of the rolling weight E bearing down
upon the frame B, carries said weight D. down, the fulcrum changes from the
bearings c¹¹ to the bearings c, and the weight D¹ rises. In this manner the
motion of the weights D, D', and rolling weight E is continued, and the motion
derived by this arrangement is transmitted by means of a rod or pitman H,
dog I, and. cam J, to the shaft K. The dog I is attached to the loose end
of the pitman H by means of a pivot j, and it is provided with two studs k, k¹,
which catch into corresponding cavities 1, 11, 1, 71, in the cam J. This cam
is firmly secured to the end of the shaft K, which may be provided with a
drum to receive the hoisting rope, or through the action of which motion may
be transmitted to the working machines. The cavities 1, 1, 1, 1*, are equi-
distant.from the centre of the shaft K, and either one pair or the other may
be, brought into working position.. In the Drawing the dog is shewn in
contact with the cavities 1, 11, and the cavities *, *, are held in reserve to be
used alternately with the cavities 1, 1', as may be desired.. The distance of the
cavities 1,, from the centre of the shaft K or the stroke of the cam J may

page_text: either be made equal to or smaller than the stroke of the frame B, but in
no case can it be made larger. In Figures 1, 2, and 4 of the Drawing the
stroke of the cam is equal to that of the oscillating frame, but in Fig. 5 it is
larger. The dog I connects by means of a rod L with a rocker arm M, which
has its fulcrum on a pivot n in a bracket N, that is firmly secured to the
main frame A, and as the cam J revolves an oscillating motion is imparted
to the rocker arm by the action of the rod L, and the ends of the rocker arm,
which are armed with friction rollers m¹, strike a 'spring O, which is secured
to a small rock shaft o, having its bearings in the outer ends of the bracket N.
This rock shaft carries à crank p, which connects by means of a hooked rod: P
with one or the other of the excentric wrist pins q, q', projecting from the
outer surface of a disc Q, which is secured to that end of the shaft K opposite
the cam J. These wrist pins are arranged on opposite sides of the centre of
the shaft K, and by changing the position of the hooked end of the rod P
from one wrist pin to the other, the motion of the shaft K is reversed without
changing or reversing the motion of the crank shaft e or that of the oscillating
frame B. By the action of the spring on. the ends of the rocker:arm M, the
dog I is always brought in such a position in relation to the cam J that the
dead centres are entirely avoided, and the motion from the oscillating frame B
can be transmitted to the shaft K by a continuous direct application of the
driving power, and entirely without the aid of a fly wheel or equivalent means.
If the stroke of the oscillating frame B is larger than that of the cam J, the
dog I will assume a position such as shewn in Fig. 5 whenever the fraine
passes the extreme points of its motion, but if the stroke of the frame B is
equal to the stroke of the cam J, the dog I will be in the position shewn in
the Figures 1, 2, and particularly in Fig. 4. When that end of the frame B
which connects with the dog I has reached its highest point, the dog is raised
or its position changed by the action of the spring, so that the stud / touches
the bottom of the cavity 1, and the stud bears against the inner side of the
cavity ', and by this action the connecting rod or pitman is thrown beyond its
dead centre, and the motion of the machine continues without interruption,
and no fly wheel is needed to pass the dead centres. It must be remarked
that the connecting rod or pitman H, instead of being connected to the
oscillating frame. B, might equally well be connected to the cross head of an
ordinary steam engine, and the reciprocating motion of the steam piston can
thus be converted into continuous rotary motion. The motion of the shaft K
is reversed by changing the hooked end of the rod P from the excentric wrist
pin q to the pin q', as previously stated, and by doing so the position of the
spring O in relation to the rocker arm is changed, and thereby the action of

page_text: said spring on the dog is reversed, causing the same to pass the dead centres
in the direction opposite to that in which it acted before, and by these means
the shaft K is caused to rotate in the opposite direction.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of improvements in
obtaining and transmitting power as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
.Letters Patent I claim,-
First, the application of two weights D, D', suspended from arms projecting
from the oscillating frame B, provided with a variable fulcrum c, c², c¹¹, in
combination with the rolling weight E, constructed and operating in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shewn and described.
Second, the automatically rising and falling guideways i, forming inclined
planes in combination with the oscillating frame B, rolling weight E, and
stationary frame G with incline g³, constructed and operating in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as specified.
Third, the dog I, spring O, rocker arm M, and cam J, with cavities 1, l', in
combination with the oscillating frame B or its equivalent, and with the
shaft K, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set
forth..
Fourth, the spring O and rock shaft o, in combination with the hooked rod P;
excentric wrist pins q, q', dog I, cam J, shaft K, and oscillating frame B or
its equivalent, constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.).