CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROPNEUMATIC ENGINES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCOIS.
JUSTIN DUBURGUET, of Cahors, in the Republic of France, 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 Twenty-second day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of
Ier reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Francois Justin Duburguet, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Francois Justin
Duburguet, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said.
Francois Justin Duburguet, my exors, adiñors, 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 lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in
all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROPNEUMATIC ENGINES;" in which said Letters.
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Francois Justin Duburguet
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under ny hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after, the.

page_text: 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
Francois Justin Durburguet, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being
made to the several Figures of the Drawings, in which the same letters of
reference represent similar parts, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in the improved construction of forcing, sucking, and
other hydropneumatic engines by a new application of the syphon for raising
water by means of the rarefication and pressure of air.
In the Figure of the Drawing A, A', B, B¹, is a natural or artificial reser-
voir, kept at nearly the same level n, n', by a spring, river, or any other
natural or mechanical means. This reservoir furnishes a fall of water, and
this fall is the fundamental condition of the motive power. a, a¹, b, b¹, is a
pipe or casing chamber, the lower orifce of which plunges into the vessel V
placed in the reservoir n, n'. This tube a, a', b, b', rises a little above the
upper surface of the vessel V, to which it is fixed, and is prolonged in the
direction of the lower surface of the said vessel V without touching it, being
removed from the latter about an inch or two., R, R,-is the periphery of the
tube;a; a, b, b.I, I, is a pipe concentric, to the tube a, a, b, b', being open
like the latter at its two ends, and passing through the bottom of the vessel .V.
This is the pipe through; which flows' the water, from the fall of which it takes
all the height. e is a small roof or covering suspended over the upper orifice
of the tube I, I. It prevents the water when entering the vessel. V through
the pipe a, a, b, b, from falling direct into the opening of the tube I, I'. It
serves at the same time as a point of support to an helix.spring, keeping the
valvė d, d, in a suspended position, and which forces the latter to close the
orifice of the tube a, a, b, b', when lowered, and to open the
same orifice when
rising. This valve d, d', is provided in the centre with a directing rod t
sliding at its lower extremity in a hole made in the top of the small roof e after
passing through the spiral-spring, and at its upper extremity it slides into a
hole: prepared in the transversal part of the frame. K, K¹, made on purpose,
and having its point of support on the prolonged periphery of the pipe a, a',
b, b. m, m' is a tube cranked at top, fitting at the lower end with the upper-
part of the vessel V, and adapted at the other cranked extremity to the summit
of the vessel P, which it therefore puts in communication with the said
vessel V. It is through this tube m, m', that the air circulates and passes
from one vessel to the other, that is to say, from V to P. P is put in com-

page_text: munication with the surface of the water to be elevated (that of the reservoir.
A, A, B, B', itself, or in any other basin further removed) by a pipe, the
lower orifice of which is provided with a valve opening from bottom to top.
T is the discharge pipe of the basin P. It is likewise provided with a valve at:
its point of junction with the preceding basin P; which opens from bottom to
top. This discharge pipe T inight only consist of a small tube forming a part
of the basin P; but in that case it is necessary for the valve of that small tube'
to be so adapted that the external air could not pass through it when the
vacuum is formed in P. S is a compression screw. traversing the small frame
c, c, and bearing direct on the top of the valve d, d. That screw has for
object to maintain more or less open the orifice of the tube a, a', 'b, b',
underneath the 'said valve d, d, and to regulate therefore the quantity'
of water to be admitted from the reservoir A, A, B, B; in the basin -V:
herein before described. The machine being placed in the water of the
reservoir A, A, B, B, and the valve d,.d', of the tube a, a, b, b, being
opened by means of the spirit spring, or of a counterpoise lever if neces-
sary, which raises it, the water passes through' the, pipe a, a, b, .band
fills the vessel V. Care has to be taken to let the air in the vessel V
escape from it through the pipe m, m', previously to fixing it to.the.vessel.P.;
so that it may only contain air when the vessel V is full of water. This pre-
caution being taken, and the vessel V.filling with water, as herein before
described, the pipe a, a', 'b, b', likewise must fill, as the water is compelled to
rise to the level it occupies in the reservoir A, A, BB; then the water rises
above the upper orifice of the fall I,-I', it runs off by that pipe; for immediately,
this discharge commences the valve d, d', below which a vacuum is obtained,
falls down by the weight of the atmosphere, and closes hermetically the opening
of the pipe a, a, b, b'. This is the way in which the vessel V. is emptied:i'l In
proportion as the basin Vis emptying, the air contained in P. is attracted into.V,
and with so inuch the more energy that the length of the tube I, I, is greater;
the external pressure of the atmosphere raises the water of the reservoir A, A;
B, B, in the vessel P, which is filling, and which is above the level of the
water in A, A, B, B', at a height nearly equal to the length of sthe-fall-
pipe I, I. The quantity of water raised at P. is theoretically the same as that
which has run out by the fall I, I, because the vessels are equal in dimentions;
but practically the quantity is a little less, in consequence, that at the moment
when the valve: lowers a certain quantity of water passes through, which does
not form part of that contained in V. When the syphon ceases: toractiafter
having emptied the vessel V, the external air enters freely through. the lower
orifice of the pipe I, I', and re-establishes the equilibrium under the 'vàlverd, d',

page_text: of the pipe a, a, b, b'; the valve being risen by the action of the spiral spring,
the water is forced to re-enter and fill the basin V like the first time, and at
the same moment the vessel P empties through the tube T; a little time
after the syphon re-opens, and the same operation recommences. Thus; in
emptying the lower vessel by means of a syphon, and an upper basin being
filled, the contents may be directed anywhere. The discharge is intermittent,
but it may be rendered continuous by the well-know processes.
Figure 1 represents a complete sucking engine, which may be rendered a
forcing one, as seen in Figure 2, by the application of the same principle. It
is merely necessary, to obtain that result, to prolong the pipe a, a, b, 'b', so as
to bring down the vessel N at the lowest part of the fall, and to prolong the
lower extremity of the tube I, I', beneath this vessel V of the length necessary
for its acting as a syphon, and finally to place afterwards the vessel P in the
water of the reservoir A, A¹, B, B', where it fills of itself by means of the
valve S¹. The basin V fills and empties as herein-before described when
speaking of the sucking engine. But it is owing to the column of water con-
tained in the pipe a, a, b, b¹, pressing the air with all its weight (from V to
P), that the water in the vessel P is forced to rise up through the ascension
tube T, and raises the valve S. It is, however, obvious that the two above-
described 'systems for constructing sucking and forcing engines may be united,
and a machine constructed combining these two systems at the same time.
The dimensions of the pipes and basins are proportioned to the sources the
water is to be drawn from, to the height of the fall employed, and the quantity
of liquid to be raised. It becomes, therefore, useless to set down any precise
dimensions; and it will, therefore, suffice to give as an essential basis the
following proportions :-
Firstly, the two vessels (especially for the forcing machine) are made of
nearly equal capacity, and of such a thickness of metal that they may be
enabled to resist the enormous pressure they have to support. That pressure
is easy to calculate, as it is proportionate to the surface of the vessels, and to
If the column of the fall were thirty-two
the height of the fall of water.
feet, that is to say, equivalent to the atmospheric column,-every inch
of the surface of the vessels would have about two pounds weight to support.
Secondly, the rising of the valve above the edges of the tubes a, a, b, b', has
to be regulated so that there may pass through it as much water as the tube T
discharges out at the same time when P is emptying, and as is necessary for
drawing in rapidly the tube I, I, of the syphon.
Thirdly, the tube I, 1', ought to have such a proportion with the capacity of
the vessel V, that if the pipe. I, 1', represent the half, third, fourth, or tenth of

page_text: the length of the atmospheric column represented by a column of water, it
ought to have in capacity a little less than the half, third, fourth, or tenth of
the capacity of the basin V; otherwise the syphon would act with difficulty, or
not at all.
Fourthly, the diameter of the tube a, a, b, b', must be double the diameter
of tube I, I', which is concentric to it, or in other words, large enough for its
annular capacity, to let as much water pass through as is discharged by the
syphon when acting.
Fifthly, the vessel P in the sucking machine ought to be placed above the
level of the drawn-out water, so that its upper surface may be at an elevation
nearly equal to the length of the fall pipe. It is, however, eligible to diminish
to a certain extent the height in favor of more rapidity. In all cases, however,
the crank of the tube m, m', must be at a greater height than that of the fall,
otherwise the elevated water might get higher than the crank of the tube m, m';
and put in action that other sypton, which would carry the water back into the
fall itself through the tube I, I', after passing through V. If all these con-
ditions be observed, larger are the falls and discharge pipes, greater will be the
rapidity in the working of the machine. .
The motive power of the machine herein-before described may be transmitted
to many other engines, and its construction may be modified in a thousand
ways, according to its particular application. I can adopt to the vessel V,
modified as represented in Figure 3, a compressible recipient, in the form of
circular bellows, made of strong leather rings. When the syphon is. in action
the external pressure of the atmosphere will compress the bellows until they
are empied; and that compression will be still more powerful if the surface of
the bellows is larger, or if the discharge of the syphon is more considerable.
The compressed bellows will draw, in their motion, the piston of a pump or
any other lever capable of transmitting this movement. These motive bellows,
if made air-proof, may be placed out of water, where the vessel P of Figure 1
is set, the vessel V remaining in principle the same. If the component parts
of the bellows were considered not strong enough to support the powerful
resistance to be produced, the bellows might be replaced by a cylinder forming
the body of a pump similar to the cylinder of steam engines, in which slidės a
piston, the rod of which would be in communication with the lever to be put
in motion according to known modes, see Figure 4. It is superfluous to state
that, the bellows and the piston cylinder may be constructed and adapted to the
vessel V in such manner that the motion takes place from top to bottom,. from
bottom to top, horizontally, or vertically. The power thus produced being

page_text: represented by the surface of the bellows or of the pistons, multiplied by the
height of the fall, a great advantage results from the contrivance, namely, that
if the fall is not very considerable, I can gain in surface what is wanting
in height. The smallest falls, however small they may be, can suffice for this
system, and the application of the hydropneumatic motive power is so much
more generalised. If the vessel V be placed at the bottom of the fall, as
shewn in Figure 2, I suppress the vessel P, when the water descends through
the pipe a, a, b, b¹. The air, being strongly repelled, will escape through the
tube m, m³, and may be directed straight towards furnaces, or into an interme-
diate reservoir. Two or three machines of this kind, with their motions
properly combined, would produce a continual draught increasing in power
proportionately as the fall is greater. A curious physical apparatus for
demonstrating the theory of the syphon, and the pressure of the air and of
liquids, and constructed in crystal on a small scale, will demonstrate the system
herein-before described in Figure 1.
This hydropneumatic motive power can be adapted to an infinite number of
other contrivances and uses superfluous to enumerate; one point, however,
deserving notice is, the facility of raising an indefinite quantity of water by
superposing the machines on the top of each other. If the second receives
water from the first, the water will be carried above the first reservoir at three
time the height of the primature fall. A third receiving water from the second
would extend the ascension to seven times the height of the primitive fall, and
so on successively doubling and adding one. This last-described mode of
raising water can be adopted with the greatest economy in mines or other large
works.
And having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein-before described so long 'as the
general features of the arrangements be retained for carrying out the principle
of my Invention. But what I do claim as new and intended to be protected
by Letters Patent is,―
Firstly, the raising water by means of the rarefication' and pressure of the
air, and its application as a motive power 'to' punips and other hydropneumá-
tive engines, as herein-before described, reference being had to Figures 1, 2,
'and 3 of the Drawing.
Secondly, the raising water by means of the syphon from an inferior into a
superior basin, and its application as a motive power, as herein-before described,
reference being had to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawing.

page_text: Thirdly, the constructing of a blast apparatus, as herein-before described
eference being had to Figure 1 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francois Justin Duburguet, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Taken and acknowledged by Francois
Justin Duburguet (party hereto),
at Paris, in the Republic of France,
F. J. DUBUR (L.S.) GUET.
This is the Specification marked A, referred to in the Affidavit of William
Armand Gilbee, made the 22d day of May, 1850, before me,
R. CROSBY.
William Armand Gilbee, of 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, maketh oath and saith, that he is acquainted with the
manner and character of the handwriting of Thomas Pickford, Her Brittanic
Majesty's Consul at Paris, in the Republic of France. And this deponent
further saith, that the signature "Thomas Pickford," set, subscribed, or
written in the margin of the Specification hereunto annexed, marked A, and
dated the seventeenth day of May instant, and purporting to be executed by
François Justin Duburguet, of Cahors, whereby it is stated that the Specifica-
tion was acknowledged by him, the said Francois Justin Duburguet, before
the said Thomas Pickford, on the said Seventeenth day of May, at Paris
aforesaid, is of the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Pickford.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the oath of William Armand Gilbee
the Specification aforesaid was enrolled word for word, as above written.:
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose...
Enrolled the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.