IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Geminiano Zanni at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th August
1866..
I, GEMINIANO ZANNI, of Rathbone Place, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in arranging mechanism for
the purpose of obtaining and applying motive power, and relates to the appli-
cation of the power derived by the descent of a series of weights attached to
cords or chains wound around a series of separate drums or barrels for the
purpose of giving motion to an axis passing through the whole series of drums
or barrels. Each weighted drum is so arranged as to act independently upon
the central axis; or, if desired, part or all of the series of weighted drums
may be caused to impart motion simultaneously to the axis according to the
amount of power which the central axis is required to exert.
The arrangement of mechanism which I prefer to employ in carrying out
my Invention consists of a series of drums or barrels, herein-after called
drums, mounted in a frame furnished with brackets for supporting the hollow
axes of the weighted drums at each end thereof. A central axis (supported:
in bearings at each end of the frame) passes through the series of weighted.
drums, this axis being free to revolve in one direction independently of the
weighted drums. Ratchet teeth are cut or formed upon the central axis.
opposite one end of each of the drums, and a click or catch carried by a pin.
or stud on the end of each drum falls into the ratchet teeth on the axis, and.

page_text: is the means of imparting motion thereto as the cord or chain unwinds from
each drum during its revolution caused by the descent of the weight attached
thereto. Upon one end of the central axis a toothed wheel is fixed to which
motion is imparted by a pinion and crank lever, by which the whole series of
drums are caused to revolve in order to wind up the whole series of cords
and weights simultaneously when down. A ratchet wheel is fixed on one end
of each drum, into the teeth of which a paul or click (carried by each of the
brackets or supports) drops in order to prevent the revolution of either or all
the drums by the descent of their weights until the power of the descending
weight of either of the drums is required to impart motion to the central axis.
When the cords or chains are wound upon the drums, and the weights
attached thereto are raised to their highest point, by removing one of the
pauls from the ratchet on the end of one of the drums the descent of the
weight will cause the drum to revolve, and by means of the click on its end
taking into the ratchet teeth on the axis, motion will be imparted thereto. The
motive power thus obtained may be transmitted from the axis by a suitable
train of wheels and pulleys to actuate a sewing machine, or to impart motion
for other purposes. Should more power be required than that produced by
the descent of one of the weights in succession, then two or more of the
drums may be released, causing their weights to descend simultaneously, and
so on until the accumulated power of the series of drums is expended, when
the whole series are again wound up simultaneously as before. Break appa-
ratus is applied to the mechanism in order to arrest the movement when
desired. Each weighted drum may be so arranged as to be capable of being
wound up separately and independently of the others on the same axis, and
whilst the others are stationary or in motion. Several axes combined with
weighted drums may be arranged side by side, and be connected together where
a considerable amount of power is required.