IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ENGINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Dreisörner, of New York, in the United
States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC
PRESSURE ENGINES."
ول
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by, the said Jacob Dreisörner at the
Office, of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
September 1865..
I, JACOB DREISÖRNER, of New York, in the United States of America,.do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ENGINES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the arrangement of a disk or piston secured to
a shaft and fitting in a suitable cylinder, said piston. being provided with a
concentric groove in its periphery, having a partition in one part, and provided
with suitable packing to be hereafter described.. A wedge held firmly in the
cylinder and provided with suitable springs is made to fit into this groove.
perfectly tight in such a manner that when water or any other fluid under
pressure is admitted above this wedge the fluid will act upon one side of the
partition in the groove, the wedge being stationary, in such a manner as to
turn thereby the cylinder around until the partition comes near the under
side of the wedge, when by suitable gearing the position of the slide valve is
reversed, so as to allow the-fluid.which has acted above the wedge to escape

page_text: and to admit the pressure under said wedge so as to act now upon the opposite
side of the partition and thereby turn the piston around its axis in the opposite
direction, producing thereby a reciprocating rotating motion of the piston and
consequently of the shaft backwards and forwards. Upon the same shaft another
piston is secured working in a suitable cylinder provided with heads, through
which the shaft passes through suitable stuffing boxes, which at the same time
act as supports or bearings for the same. This second piston is provided on its
periphery with a groove running spirally similar to a screw nearly once round
its circumference. Into this groove a block or small piston is fitted perfectly
tight. The upper side of this block is provided with a guide or friction rollers
working-in-a-groove-made longitudinal-in-the-cylinder-in-such-a-manner-that-
when the piston is turning around its axis this block will be prevented turning
around with the same, but can move horizontally, corresponding to the incli-
nation and position of the spiral groove. This piston is provided near the
sides as well as at the ends of said spiral groove with suitable packing, and
this block working in the spiral groove is likewise' provided with suitable
packing to keep the same tight against the 'inside of the cylinder and in the
spiral groove. That part of the shaft from where this second piston is.
fastened or attached to nearly its outer end is made hollow, and a passage is
'made at each extremity of the spiral groove into this hollow part of the shaft,
each passage being provided with a self-acting valve opening outwards or into
this hollow space, or channel way in the shaft. At each extremity or end of
the spiral groove other channel ways or passages are made, so as to form a
communication between one end of the spiral groove and the head of the
-cylinder, as well as between the other end of said spiral groove and the other
head of the cylinder, and provided likewise with self-acting valves opening
inwards or into the spiral groove. Above this cylinder a chamber or reservoir
is placed connected with the heads of the cylinder, from which, in connection
with the above-mentioned channel ways and valves, the water or fluid.may
pass into the spiral groove in the piston at either end of said groove, and then,
pass or be forced out of the same again into the hollow part or channel way;
in the central part of the shaft. The end of the shaft passes through suitable
stuffing boxes into a chamber, between the central part of which and the,
cavity or hollow part of the shaft a free .communication, is made. This
chamber-is-again-connected with a strong and perfectly tight closed_box_or
chamber, the connection between said chamber, and pressure, box being
provided with a self-acting valve opening into the pressure box; this pressure
box is connected through a pipe with the slide valve case on the first-mentioned.
cylinder. The water or fluid is compressed in the pressure box either, by
לי

page_text: hand or any other mechanical means, and is then allowed to enter into the
concentric groove in the first-mentioned piston between the stationary wedge
and the partition in said groove, and as the wedge is stationary and the
partition fast to the piston, this pressure will act against the one side of the
partition in a manner similar as against a piston and will cause thereby
the piston to turn around its axis in the cylinder case. By this operation
the second piston, fast on the same shaft, will be turned around, and as in the
spiral groove. of this piston the block which acts as a piston in this spiral
groove is held stationary, with the exception only of the longitudinal motion
resulting from and corresponding with the inclination or rise of the spiral
groove, the space between the end of this spiral groove and this block will
gradually. increase at one end and diminish towards the other end of said
spiral groove, in consequence of which the water or fluid will be drawn from
the reservoir situated above the cylinder into that part of the spiral groove
from which the block is receding, while the water or fluid which was behind
the block in said spiral groove will be forced out of the same through the
valve and passage way leading from that end of said spiral groove into the
channel way in the central part of the shaft, and from the same through
the box near the end of the shaft into the closed pressure box. When the
first piston has been moved by the pressure of the fluid so far around that
the partition in its groove has come near to the under or opposite side of the
stationary wedge the position of the slide valve is reversed, so as to bring the
pressure under the wedge and between the under side of the same and
the other side of the partition, while the water or fluid which has acted before
on the opposite side of said partition, and caused. the piston to move into this
position, is allowed to escape out of the groove into the reservoir situated
above the second cylinder, and the piston in the first cylinder is then turned
the other way around, and consequently the second piston is likewise moved
now in the contrary direction around, whereby the water drawn in at one side
of the piston block into the spiral groove is now forced out of the same and
through the channel in the central part of the shaft into the pressure chamber,
while the other part, of said spiral groove on the opposite side of the piston
block is now filled from the reservoir. This action being continually repeated,
the pressure in the pressure box will gradually increase, or at least be kept at
a certain fixed pressure if a regular quantity of the water or fluid is drawn
away from said pressure chamber for the purpose of propelling the piston in a
rotary engine, or for any other purpose desired.
On the top of the pressure box or chamber a safety valve may be placed to
regulate the pressure in said. chamber, the escaping water or fluid passing

page_text: through a pipe back into the reservoir situated above the second cylinder. The
packing of the pistons on the sides of the grooves is made by inserting metal
rings diagonally to the surface of the cylinder or to the circumference of the
piston, and are provided with, india-rubber or other suitable springs placed
underneath the same, by which arrangement a broad surface is produced
rubbing against the surface of the cylinder to form a joint to prevent the
water or fluid from escaping out of the groove, while the surface of the spring
towards the groove will be sharp or pointed, preventing thereby the pressure
in the groove from acting sideways on the packing, whereby its practicability
would be partially destroyed. Instead of placing both pistons on one and the
same shaft as above described, the same may be placed-on-different shafts and
the shafts connected together by gearing, but I prefer if possible to place both
pistons upon one and the same shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacob' Dreisörner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JACOB
DREISÖRNER, of New York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of September, in the year of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jacob Dreisörner, Her special licence that I, the said Jacob
Dreisörner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Jacob Dreisörner, 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 HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Jacob Dreisorner, my executors or administrators,
_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.
- 5

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacob Dreisörner, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters of reference and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
•
The nature of my Invention consists in the arrangement of two circular
disks or pistons rotating backwards and forwards, and placed upon the same
shaft in suitable cylinders. One of these pistons is constructed with a con-
centric groove or cavity in its periphery, which is divided by a partition,
against the one or the other side of which, in combination with a stationary
wedge fitting perfectly tight in said concentric groove, a pressure of water or
fluid is made to act alternately so as to rotate said piston first in one direction
and then in the opposite direction, making each time not quite one revolution.
By the rotation of this piston the second piston fast to the same shaft is
moved in the same direction. This second piston is constructed with a groove
or cavity in its periphery or circumference running spirally similar to a screw
of any desired pitch, and closed at each end. In this spiral groove a block
or small piston is fitted tightly, and held stationary from revolving with the
piston by means of slides or friction rollers working in a groove cut horizon-
tally and longitudinally in the cylinder, whereby, while this piston block will
be prevented from turning with the piston, sufficient motion will be allowed
to the same longitudinal or sideways corresponding to the inclination of the
spiral of the groove. Both ends of this spiral groove are provided with
channel ways communicating with the heads of the cylinder and with a
channel way made in the central part of the shaft; these passages or channel
ways are closed by self-acting valves opening from the cylinder heads into this
spiral groove to allow the water or fluid to run or be drawn into said spiral:
groove from a reservoir placed above this cylinder, and connected with the
cylinder heads and with valves opening from the ends of the spiral groove.
into the channel way through the central part of the shaft, to allow the water-
to be forced out again from said spiral groove. The end of the shaft passes
through or into a box, with the central part of which the channel way through*
the shaft has a free communication, and said box is again connected with a
strong and perfectly tight pressure box, into which the water or 'fluid forced
out of the spiral groove passes, producing thereby a pressure in said pressure
box which is used to drive the first-mentioned piston in the manner above
described, while any surplus pressure in said box may be used to drive.a rotary
engine, or for any other purpose whichi
be desired.
may
1
In order to explain my Invention as completely as possible I now proceed

page_text: to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively, as follows:
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet I. Figure I. represents a vertical longitudinal section of my machine;
Figure II. represents a horizontal section of the same.
Sheet II Figure III. shews an outside view of the driving cylinder and
valve chest shewing the arrangement of working the slide valve; Figure IV.
is a cross-section of the same; Figure-V. is a top view of part of the driving
piston, shewing the. packing rings on the sides of the concentric groove and
the packing plates in the partition piece; Figure VI. is a section through the
slide valve case, shewing the ports into the cylinder; Figure VII. represents.
a cross section of the force cylinder and piston; Figure VIII. represents part
of a top view of the second or force piston, shewing the packing rings on the
sides of the spiral groove and the packing plates in the ends of the groove.;
Figure IX. shews a top view of the piston block working in the spiral groove;
Figure X. represents a section of the grooves and of the packing rings on
the sides of the grooves. Similar letters represent similar parts in all the
Figures.
:
In the accompanying Drawings represents A, a shaft, near one end. of
which a circular disk or piston B is securely fastened, working in a cylinder.C,
provided at one side with suitable ports a and b to admit the, water or fluid,
and likewise a side port c for the water to escape after having been used;
these ports a, b, and c are covered by a suitable slide valve S arranged in a
casing W in the usual manner. The slide valve case W is connected through a
pipe Y with the pressure box Z, and to the end of the passage ca pipe d is. con-
nected to conduct the escaping water or fluid into a reservoir D. (see Figure I.),
situated above the cylinder Ę. The circular disk or piston B is made with
a groove or cavity F in its periphery concentric with the line, of motion.
of said piston; this concentric groove F is divided by a partition J (seo;
Figures IV. and V.) The piston B is provided with packing rings on each
side of the concentric groove F to prevent any escape of water or fluid,, and;
for the same purpose-the-partition-J-is-provided with packing plates, the con
struction of which will be, hereafter described. In the cylinder C a wedge.
piece or block G is arranged between the ports or passages, a, and b, fitting.
perfectly water-tight into this concentric groove E, and forced, tight, into. the,
same by means of india-rubber or other suitable springs of placed behind

page_text: said wedge block (see Fig. II. & IV.) By the partition J fast to the
piston B and this stationary wedge block G in the cylinder, and working in
the concentric groove F, said groove will be divided in two parts. Upon the
shaft A a second circular disk or piston H is arranged and firmly secured or
attached to said shaft, and working in a cylinder E provided with suitable.
heads K, K', which are provided with suitable stuffing boxes, through, which
the shaft A passes perfectly water-tight, and which said stuffing boxes may.
partly support the shaft. Above this cylinder E a reservoir D is arranged,
communicating through the passages g and g' with the ends of the inside of
the cylinder E; this piston H is made with a groove or cavity L cut in its
periphery, and running spirally with the line of motion of the piston similar.
to a screw thread.. The length of this spiral groove is a little less than the.
circumference of the piston, and the ends of this spiral groove are provided
with packing plates, and on the sides of said groove are likewise packing rings
arranged to prevent any escape of water or fluid out of this spiral groove; the
construction of this packing will be hereafter described. The shaft A, from
the place where the piston H is situated to within a short distance of its
extreme other end, is made hollow so as to form a channel way or passage M
In the piston H passage ways are arranged from each end of the spiral
groove L, communicating with each end of the cylinder and with this hollow
part or passage M in the central part of the shaft A. The passages.commu-
nicating between the ends of the spiral groove L and the cylinder heads are
closed by self-acting valves N, N1, (see Figure H.) opening inwards or
towards the spiral groove L, and the passages between the ends of the spiral.
groove L'and the channel way M through the shaft are closed by self-acting:
valves P and P¹ opening towards the passage M (see Figures I. and II.)
The outer end of the shaft A passes through suitable stuffing boxes through:
a chamber R, with the central part of which the channel way or passage. Mi
bas a perfectly free communication by means of the openings m and m.. This
chamber R is connected with a strong and perfectly tight-pressure box Z with.
a self-acting valve T, placed at any convenient position in the connecting,
pipe or branch between the chamber R and pressure box Z, said valve opening!
outwards or into the box Z (see Figure II.) Into the spiral groove L a block
or piston Qis fitted perfectly water-tight. The upper end of this piston block:
Qis provided with slides or friction rollers w, fitting and working in a groove.
h made longitudinally in the cylinder E; by this arrangement the block Q:
will be held nearly stationary, when the piston H is made to revolve by means
of its slides or friction rollers to working in the groove h in the cylinder, and
is only capable of a slight motion sideways or longitudinal with the cylinder,.

page_text: corresponding to the inclination of the spiral groove L, and accommodating itsel
always to the position of the spiral groove. The manner of packing the sides
of the concentric groove F and of the spiral groove Lis shewn in Figures I. and
II., and in an enlarged size in Figures V. and VIII., as well as in an enlarged
section in: Figure X., where p.pl, represent the metal packing rings or bands;
these packing rings p; p', on the sides of the concentric groove F form a
regular, circular ring, and may be joined, at their ends and overlap each other
(see Figure V.), similar to the metallic packing, rings at present in use in steam
pistons. The rings or bands p; p', on the sides of the spiral groove L must be
-made-of-the-same-spiral form.as.the groove L. and are made a little longer so
as to pass each other (see Figures II..and VIII.) These metal-rings are in-
serted into the piston diagonally to its surface about at an angle of 45 degrees,
more or less; below these rings india-rubber or other suitable springs r, r,
(see Figure X.) are placed to press these inetallic packing rings outwards
against the inner surface of their respective cylinders. By this, arrangement
of placing the metallic rings p, p, diagonally to the surface; a broad working
surface is obtained on the face, while the sides next to the groove-in which
the pressure is contained presents only a sharp point or, edge, against which the
said pressure of the water or fluid in the grooves will have no action or hold.
The upper surface of the partition. J in the concentric groove F and the
ends of the spiral groove. L are packed tight by an arrangement of packing
plates n and x, 2, with india-rubber or other suitable. springs placed below
the same to force said. plates outwards against the surface of the cylinder.
Between the plates a, a, india-rubber or other suitable springs. v are placed, to
force said packing plates x, x, at the same time sideways, and prevent thereby
any escape of water in these parts. In the same manner the upper surface
of the piston block Q is packed (see Fig. IX.), where q and q', q', represent
the packing plates; and t the spring between the ends of the plates 9', q', to
force the same sideways. Suitable springs as above mentioned are placed below
said packing plates, to press the same upwards. The lower and end surfaces
of said piston blocks Qare supposed to be ground perfectly water-tight into.
the spiral groove L, but the said surfaces may be packed in the same manner.
The slide valve S, whereby the water or fluid is made to pass either through
the porta or through the port b, is operated by means of the ball lever. U
turning on. a fixed. centre e. Against the side of the slide valve case W, a
sliding bar k, is arranged; having an arm y projecting towards the centre: of.
the piston B; on the upper end of this sliding bar k two arms. 3, 3, are
attached, between which, the arm of, the ball lever is held; on the slide valve.
rod 4 similar armis 2, 2, are placed, one on each side of the arm of the ball
0.

page_text: lever. To the side of the piston B two projecting pins 5 and 8 are fastened;
when the piston B has been turned nearly around the pin 5 will come in
contact with the lower side of the arm y, lifting thereby the same as well as
the sliding bark, and consequently moving the ball lever U, so as to bring the
ball on the top of said lever past the perpendicular centre line, when the weight
of the same will cause the lever U to fall suddenly backwards; and lift thereby
the slide valve so as to open the lower port b; when the piston B bas turned
around in the opposite direction nearly as far as required the pin 8 will come
.in contact with the upper side of the arm y, pushing the same downwards
until the ball at the end of the lever U has again passed the..centre line;
when the same will fall in the other direction, and move thereby the slidė
valve downwards so as to open the port a for the admittance of the water or
fluid.
On the top of the pressure box Z a safety. valve will be arranged with the
escape pipe leading into the reservoir D, to bring any excess of water back
again into said reservoir.
Instead of placing the two pistons B and H upon one and the same shaft;
which, if circumstances will allow, I consider the most preferable, each piston
may be placed on a separate shaft, when said shafts must be connected together
by means of suitable gearing.
The self-acting valves which I employ are made with a sharp or pointed
edge as valve seat, whereby the pressure on both sides of the valve will be
nearly equalized.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Into the pressure box Z water
or any other fluid is forced, either by band or any known mechanical
power,
until sufficient pressure is therein obtained to turn the piston B. The reservoir
D is likewise filled with the same liquid. The piston B being in the position
represented in Figure IV., with the partition J a little above the stationary
wedge block G, and the slide valve S in a position to allow the water or fluid
to enter through the port a, .this liquid will enter through said port into that
part of the concentric groove F between the top of the block, G and the
partition J, exerting its pressure against said partition J. As the block G is held
fast in the cylindrical case C in such a manner as to turn thereby the piston
B around its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow, the water or fluid
which is contained in the other part of this concentric groove F, between the
opposite side of the partition J and the under side of the wedge block. G,
escapes through the port 6 and passage into the pipe d, and from there back
into the reservoir D.

page_text: :
This motion given to the piston B by the pressure of the water or fluid out
of the pressure box Z is communicated through the shaft A to the piston H,
turning thereby said piston H in the same direction. During this motion of
the piston H the end 13 of the spiral groove L will move away from the piston
block Q, held fast in. the groove h in the cylinder E, creating a vacuum, in
consequence of which the weight of the water or fluid in the reservoir D will
force the valve N open and gradually fill that part of this spiral groove L which
is moving away from the piston block Q; at the same time the water or fluid
which was on the opposite side of the piston block Qin this spiral groove L
_will_be_gradually forced out of said groove at its end 15 through the valve P
into the hollow part M of the shaft A, and from there through the openings
m, m, chamber R, and valve T into the pressure box Z. When the piston B
has made nearly one revolution and the partition J in the concentric groove F
in said piston has moved nearly towards the under side of the block G, the
position of the slide valve S is suddenly reversed in the manner above de-
scribed, whereby the lower port 6 will be opened, and the water or fluid out
of the pressure box Z made to enter now below the stationary wedge or block
G, acting therefore now upon the opposite side of this partition J, so as to
turn the piston B in the contrary direction, and during which time the water
or fluid which has acted before on the other side of said partition escapes
now through the port a, and through the passage c and pipe d into the reser-
voir D. This reversed motion of the piston B is likewise communicated to the
piston H, causing thereby now the end 15 of the spiral groove. L to move away
from the piston block Q, while the end 13 of said spiral groove will move
towards said block Q, in consequence of which water or fluid will now be
drawn from the reservoir D, through the valve N¹ into the end 15 of the
spiral groove L, while the water or fluid which was drawn into said groove
at its end 13 through the valve N by the last operation will now be forced out
at this end 13 through the valve P into the channel way or passage M, in
the central part of the shaft A, and from there through the openings m, m;
chamber R, and valve T into the pressure box Z.
The area of the concentric groove F being considerably smaller than the
area of the spiral groove L, more water will be forced into the pressure box Z
than will be required or taken away from said. pressure box Z for the purpose
of propelling or turning the piston B, in consequence of. which the pressure in
said pressure box will gradually increase if not used for some other purpose;
and the excess of pressuré will escape through a safety valve placed on the
top of this pressure box Z, and pass then back again into the reservoir. D.

page_text: This excess of pressure, or of water, or fluid may be used for the purpose of
driving a rotating or reciprocating engine, or for any other purpose desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Dreisörner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JACOB DREISORNER. (L.S.)