IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coates, of Lower Shadwell, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
OR MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 1st November 1858, and dated the 26th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coates at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th August 1858.
I, JOHN COATES, of Lower Shadwell, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be as
follows:-
My said Invention, in one mode of constructing engines combining my said
improvements, may consist of a strong framework having one solid and one
hollow central pillar, carrying a working beam, made hollow half its length
and the other half solid. The hollow portion is connected to the hollow
upright or pillar by means of joints, with glands to make the same water-.
tight, as is also the tubular end of the beam, being attached thereby to a
tubular connexion affixed vertically to a horizontal cylinder, which has well
fitting and packed covers at each end, bored eccentrically to admit a shaft
carrying a fly wheel, and on which the cylinder oscillates. The cylinder has
at one end, at two opposite sides, valves having one connecting rod and two
valve levers, with a piston also connecting them. The oscillating of the

page_text: cylinder causes the valve levers to strike tappets attached to the cylinder
trough, but the piston rod has a rotatory motion. The hollow centre pillar or
main support is connected at bottom with a ram, the plunger kept regulated
by a suitable weight attached to a chain passing over a pulley, and a crane
may be applied to draw back the plunger, that water may be admitted without
pumping. The opposite or solid end of the working beam has a balance
weight attached as a counterpoise to the weight of the cylinder. The cylinder,
the tubular portions, and the trough are filled with water, and the working of
the piston causes the alternate admission & expulsion of the water, thereby
putting the engine into motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Coates in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COATES, of Lower Shadwell, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Coates, Her special licence that I, the said John Coates, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Coates, my executors, administrators, 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 APPARATUS
OR MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Coates, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 John Coates, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of apparatus or
machinery by means of which I am enabled to obtain motive power by a novel
application of water, and with or without the employment of steam. And for
the better understanding of the same, I will now proceed to detail the par-
ticulars thereof.
My said Invention, as developed in one mode of constructing engines com-
bining my said improvements, consists of a strong framework, having one solid
and one hollow central pillar, carrying a working beam made hollow half its
length, and the other half solid. The hollow portion is connected to the hollow
upright or pillar by means of joints, with glands to make the same water-tight,
as is also the tubular end of the beam, being attached thereby to a tubular
connecting rod, affixed vertically to a horizontal cylinder, which cylinder has
well fitting and packed covers at each end, through which pass the ends of the
piston, which is bored to admit a shaft carrying a fly wheel, and on which shaft
the cylinder oscillates. The central external portion of the cylinder for half
its upper diameter has a water channel formed upon it, equal to and commu-
nicating with the upper tubular connecting rod, which operates alternately on
the valves while the piston is performing each stroke. The piston, at one or
both ends, may be provided with one or more waste water cocks, to discharge
any water that might pass the piston. Although a fly wheel would be required
when using only one engine, two engines could be worked without a fly wheel,
as one engine would assist the other. The cylinder has at one end, at two
opposite sides, valves having one connecting rod and two valve levers, with
a piston also connected, when desired, therewith. The oscillating of the
cylinder causes the valve levers to strike tappets attached to the fly wheel
shaft, but the piston rod has a rotatory motion. The hollow centre pillar or
main support is connected at bottom with a ram or rams, the plunger or
plungers of which are to be kept regulated by a suitable weight attached to a
chain passing over a pulley, and a crane may be applied to draw back the
plunger or plungers that water may be admitted without pumping. The pump
supplied with the requisite valves may have two rams, so that while one is at
work the other charges the rani cylinder with water to obtain the power. The
opposite solid end of the working beam has a balance weight attached, as a
counterpoise to the weight of the cylinder; and the beam, therefore, acts by
the action of the balance weight thus employed to balance the cylinder and all
its appendages. The balance weights require small balance weights to lessen
the weight of the larger balance weights when diminishing the engine power.

page_text: There is also a parallel motion affixed to two guide rods to balance the weight
on the end of the beam, intended to guide the same perpendicular, to equalize
the gravity from the top stroke to the bottom. The cylinder, the tubular
portions, and an adjoining trough are filled with water, and the working of the
piston causes the alternate admission and expulsion of the water, thereby
putting the engine into motion, and which is worked from the shaft on which
the cylinder revolves coming through the piston. The trough encloses the
cylinder to collect any waste water, which runs thence into another cistern to
supply the ram cylinders. The water that supplies the engine cylinder ascends
the column supporting the beam.
Having thus described one mode of constructing apparatus or machinery in
the arrangement of engines to obtain motive power according to my said
Invention, I would here observe that I do not limit myself to materials or
dimensions, or to the precise details herein set forth, so long as in any modifi-
cation thereof the principle of my said improvements is maintained; and I do
declare that what I claim as my Invention is, the peculiar construction of
apparatus or machinery for obtaining and applying motive power, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coates, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our
Lord 1858.
JOHN COATES. (L.S.)