IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING OR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER FROM THE DISPLACEMENT OF WATER OIL OR ANY SUITABLE LIQUID AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the Reverend Henry Glen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1883.
'
The Reverend HENRY GLEN, Minister of Mitchell Street United Presbyterian
Church, Beith, in the County of Ayr [in Scotland] "IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING
OR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER FROM THE DISPLACEMENT OF WATER OIL OR ANY
SUITABLE LIQUID AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
"
This Invention relates to improved means of obtaining or producing motive
power, and to arrangements of apparatus to be employed therefor.
Motive power is obtained according to my Invention from the displacement of
any liquid, such as water or oil or mercury, by one vessel contained within another
vessel, and by imparting a rapid rising and falling motion to the liquid, and thereby
moving rapidly up and down the inner vessel which serves for a piston. The
power derived from the rising and falling motion of the inner vessel or piston is
transmitted to a crank shaft, and thereby or by any other suitable mechanical
devices to machinery and thus utilised.
The apparatus employed may be varied in construction and arrangement, but in
every case must comprise the following essentials viz:-An outer vessel or casing,
a definite quantity of liquid within such vessel or casing, an inner vessel or piston
fitted so as to work freely up and down the outer vessel, leaving only a small
perpendicular space between it and the outer vessel for the free rising and falling
of a thin film of the liquid, and means for effecting the motion of the liquid by
atmospheric pressure or valvular action, or both, or by any similar device.
In one form of the apparatus whereby power is developed by atmospheric
pressure a vessel is employed, having a pipe or conduit attached to and opening
into it at the bottom, and ascending outside to the top of the vessel, and there
terminating in a cylinder fitted with an air exhauster or piston worked by a lover.
A definite quantity of water is placed in the vessel. There is also placed in it an
inner vessel or piston fitted so as to work freely up and down, with a small
perpendicular space between it and the outer vessel for the rising and falling of a
thin film of liquid. When the piston of the air-exhauster is raised, the liquid
ascends in the outside pipe or conduit, and is drawn away from the space between
the outer and inner vessels, thus causing the inner vessel to fall, and when the
piston of the air-exhauster is reversed, the liquid returns to its level between the

page_text: outer and inner vessels, and the inner vessel is carried up along with it,
developing power greatly in excess of what is required to work the piston of the
air-exhauster. The alternate movements of that piston may be effected by manual
or other power. The inner vessel is united by a connecting rod to a crank shaft
and machinery in the ordinary ways.
In one form of the apparatus whereby power is developed by valvular action
two outer vessels, or one vessel divided by a web or partition into two com.
partments, are employed, and within each vessel or compartment an inner vessel or
piston is placed, and a sufficient quantity of liquid. One oscillating valve is
placed at the bottom between the two vessels or compartments, its axis of
oscillation being in the plane of the division between the two vessels. The valve
is borne by a spindle carried through the outer casing, and provided with a lever
handle which may be actuated by manual power or other means. The motion of
the valve to the right or to the left raises and lowers the level of the liquid in each
vessel or compartment alternately, and the inner vessels or pistons rise and fall
along with it, and thus develope a power greatly in excess of what is required to
actuate the lever of the valve. The inner vessels or pistons are united by a
connecting rod to a shaft with reverse cranks, so that the two pistons act alternate
upon the one shaft and yield greater motive power, without requiring more power
to actuate the working lever, than is required by a single form of the apparatus.
In another form of the apparatus, two vessels with pistons fitted as in the other
forms, are set upon a base or stand containing the liquid, and a box valve fitted so
as to slide backwards and forwards horizontally. The base or stand forms the
bottom of the outer vessels or casings. The box valve is made so as to fill the
whole space beneath one of the outer vessels, and as it is moved back and forward
beneath each vessel alternately, the liquid at the bottom is displaced and is forced
to ascend between the outer vessel and piston and thereby gives a rising and falling
motion to the piston. The sliding box valve is attached to a spindle which is
passed through the base at one side, and is actuated by a lever or crank or similar
contrivance, and kept in motion by the hand or other power. The piston is joined
to a shaft by a connecting rod in the ordinary way.
In the form of apparatus in which the motive power is developed by the
'combined action of atmospheric pressure and valves, the means of obtaining the
respective actions are made so that they work in unison in causing the alternate
rise and fall of the liquid between the outer and inner vessels, and along with it
the rise and fall of the inner vessel or piston. By forming a connection between
the levers actuating the valves and piston of the air-exhauster, they may be
worked in combination and by manual or other power.
In the improved apparatus described, no further supply of liquid is required than
is given to it at the commencement except to make up loss from ordinary
evaporation or leakage.