IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING POWER
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARNAUD
NICOLAS FRECHE, Merchant, residing in the City of Paris, 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 Twelfth day of August
(One thousand eight hundred and fifty), in the fourteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Arnaud Nicolas Frèche, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial license,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Arnaud Nicolas
Frèche, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arnaud
Nicolas Frèche, my exors, adññors, 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, my Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING POWER;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Arnaud Nicolas Frèche, 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 my hand
and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said

page_text: in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Arnaud Nicolas Frèche, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the creation of a principle of action of several
levers producing by one another such a progression of power that the inventor
thinks it susceptible of being applied to all the necessities which are supplied
by steam. By examining the Drawing herewith joined it will easily be
understood that with these levers it will be easy to obtain what the inventor
expects; but, that it may be still better understood, he is about to describe,
with all the minute details, how these levers will work. Beginning with that
designated in the Plan by the letter a, the inventor explains that the weight
placed on this lever will be trebled at the point which unites this lever to that
designated by letter o; and that this last will increase it sixfold, because it will
double the power given to it by lever a, which will cause on the first of the
multiplying levers e a weighing equal to six times the weight with which the
lever a is loaded. This first multiplying lever having for point of support an
axis bearing a-sector, which will thus be directed by it, and the radius of this
sector only being the fifth part of the length of this lever, it is evident that
the power given by this sector to the first multiplying lever will be five times
greater, which will make it represent thirty times the weight which will load
the lever a; but, as the cam that this sector causes to work to give a weighing
on the second multiplying lever designated in the Drawing by the letter i,
cannot be conveniently worked unless it be at some distance from the centre
of the pinion which make it move, the thirty power above cited will be reduced
to twelve and a half, causing the weight which will be operated on the second
multiplying lever. Now, proceeding to this second multiplying lever, and
stating that by the reason that the length of its arm will contain three times
the radius of the sector which it will impel, the twelve and a half power which
will belong to this one will be trebled on this sector, and the power of this
last will be equal to thirty-seven and a half times the weight which will load
lever a; but as the cam which this sector will impel to make this third
multiplying lever yield (marked on the Drawing by letter m) its power as the
preceding one will take place at some distance from the centre of the pinion

page_text: arts, so that one of these parts may alternate with the oth
he inventor thinks may be expected from such a disposition:-
The first of the six rows beginning the action which pro
duces the power should give
The second, whose levers will then bo at a point lower
The third, whose levers will be still lower
The fourth, whose levers will be equally lower than thes
The fifth, whose levers will also be lower
Lastly, the sixth, whose levers will be at the last poin
of the space, divided in equal distances by these six
There would be then eighty power, each equal to one of the twelve weights
with which the levers a would be charged, which the harmony of the working of
the levers of these six rows would bring continually to the driving shaft. But,
as the raising of the levers opposite those of the six rows would cause to speed
eighteen power, and the rubbing would absorb two, the effectual power which
will be obtained by this mechanism will be reduced to sixty power; let it be
sixty horse power if the load placed on each lever represent what in mechanism
is taken for basis of the effect that is produced by the strength of a horse, of
one hundred and twenty horse power if that load is double, &c. power that
might still be more increased by doubling or trebling the line of levers of each
row, as it might be done by carrying over these lines the effect produced by
those which precede them. Then this mechanism might be applied to the
propelling of ships and other uses requiring great power. The inventor
observes that he does not mean to fix by the example above set down the
number of levers which will be used for the application of this principle of
motive power.
Thus, whether according to the different uses of this
mechanism he wishes to place more or less than six rows of levers alternating
with as many others, or he composes his rows of a greater number of levers
than the Plan shows, he should always have the exclusive right of so doing as
aaquired by his privilege.
Here follow the descriptions of the different pieces which will compose each
row, and of which the Drawing herewith annexed gives the figure:--a principal
lever, which will be charged with a relative weight according to the power to
be produced. a, a, a, a, a, point at which it is placed, each of the
levers a of the five rows placed next that whose figure is given by the Drawing,

page_text: which makes it work, these thirty-seven and a half power will be reduced to
fifteen and a half, making the weight which will rest on the third multiplying
lever. And, lastly, as the length of this third multiplying lever will also
contain three times the radius of the sector which it will govern, and that so
the fifteen and a half power which will weigh on it will be trebled on this
sector, the power that the latter will have will be equal to forty-six and a
half times the weight which will load the lever a, power which yet will be
reduced by the effect of the distance from the point where the cam will work,
reduction which will be, however, less than the preceding ones, because the
pinion directing this cam being larger will be more powerful than the other
two, from which the result will be that the forty-six and a half power will only
be reduced to twenty-three and a quarter. It will be seen by this explana-
tion what is the progression of powers which will be given at the beginning
of the operation by the simultaneous action of all these levers. As to its
transmission on the driving shaft, it will be superfluous to speak about, since
the plan shows how this transmission will take place; but that which cannot
be left without explanation is the means that the inventor of this principle
has imagined to overcome the obstacle which has always given to believe that
it never could be attained to make a lever raise by the action of another. It
is true that at the first aspect this obstacle scemed to defy all that could be
tried to overcome it, since nature itself seemed to oppose its being vanquished.
However, the perseverance with which the inventor sought the means of
prevailing has made him find it, and this is in what these means consist :-
Since, has he said, the power which a lever gives to an excentric with the
appropriation of raising another lever, cannot give fully to this eccentric the
force necessary to it, so that it may operate this raising, as this power is more
than absorbed by the resistance when the pressure of the eccentric takes place
at a point too distant from its centre of motion, this obstacle might,
perhaps, be overcome by the creation of a system which would maintain the
permanency of all the points of power. Starting from this beam of light, the
inventor from that moment thought of using several levers, whose powers
should be distributed at equal distances on the extent of the course the
eccentric should go over, being quite persuaded that by this means the
resistance occasioned by the raising of the levers which have gone over
their course will not only be totally overcome, but that the power pro-
duced by these levers (which will overcome the resistance) will give besides
an increase of power which will be capable of answering all necessities. Thus,
by establishing a machine composed of twelve rows of levers similar to
those shown in the Drawing, and dividing these twelve rows into two equal

page_text: when the lever a is at the place seen in the Drawing; this explains that all
the levers of this mechanism should be disposed by gradation, so that their
effect may bring on the driving shaft an equal and constant power, which pre-
dominates the resistance opposed to the levers arriving at the end of their
course by the levers that they raise, and thus maintains forcibly the continual
impulse of the levers. The explanation just given for the levers a being
applicable to those who depend on them, since it is the levers a which make
them act, it is easily understood that they cannot be placed otherwise than by
gradations, as are the levers a; this is the reason the Drawings only show the
gradation of the said levers a. b, band which unites the lever a to that of
above, to give it the power produced by the lever a; c, top lever, whose power
is equal to six times the heaviness of the weight which should charge lever a;
d, tail-piece, giving that power to the first multiplying lever; e, first multi-
plier; f, sector moved by this lever; 9, pinion which engages with the sector f
to move the first cam; h, first cam; i, second multiplying lever, to which this
cam will give the effect of the first; j, sector moved by this lever; k, pinion
which engages with this sector to move the second cam; l, second cam;
'm, third multiplying lever, to which this cam will give the power which the
second multiplying lever will have given it; n, sector moved by the third
multiplying lever; o, intermediate wheel, whose use is to move the third cam
in the proper direction; p, pinion which engages with this wheel to move the
third cam; 7, third cam; r, lever to which this cam will give the power
which the preceding levers will have given. This last lever will have, similar
to all the others, a roller, which will aleviate the hardness of the tail-piece and
cams; s, crank, which will give to the driving shaft the power which will
be transmitted to it by lever r; t, wimble, which will have two uses,―
first, that of joining the crank to the driving shaft; second, that of acting by
return to raise lever a; u, wheelwork, which will facilitate this raising by
regulating it according to the course of the cranks; v, fly-wheel, which will
maintain the progression of the pieces producing the power; x, gears direct-
ing this fly-wheel, which, like the said gears, will be placed in the empty space
which will separate the two sides of this mechanism; y, driving shaft, which
will be common to all the cranks, and from whence will be taken, whether on
itself, or on other points by means of transmission, the power disposable;
z, point of support of the levers and gear trees, the whole bearing on two
frames, which will make for each row of levers a separate casing. Note, a
hanging rod beneath the weights, which will load the levers a, and which will
traverse two plates sliding between two grooves, will stop the working of this
mechanism at will, by means of a screw threaded for the purpose, which will

page_text: by these plates strongly press the hanging rod working, which will be carried
out by means of a (screw threaded for the purpose, which will, by these plates,
strongly press the hanging rod working, which will be carried out by means of
a screw) turning handle, helped by gears if necessary, and 'which at the same
time will disengage the fly-wheel. The upper lever, designated in the legend!
by the letter C, will also be loaded with a weight if thought fit, so as to have
to place on the lever a a heavy load. In order that the cogs of the gears may
constantly adhere, so that the coming and going that the levers operate may
not cause any loss of time, springs or balance weights will be used, which,
being fixed to the axes of these gears, will oblige their cogs to remain always
applied to each other. But this means will only be used as often as it will be
recognized to be necessary. If the levers should require to be poised to
facilitate their raising, they will be furnished with a tail-piece, which will
compensate, and even exceed if necessary, the weight of their arms. If it is
more convenient to assemble the powers on, the driving shaft by a different 1
means from that of the wimbles traced on the Plan, they will be replaced by
racks fixed on this shaft, and by levers furnished with catches, which will make
this shaft revolve by means of the cranks. This working would further be of
use to raise the loaded levers when their course is terminated; but for this
the two ranges which correspond should, to raise themselves successively, bes
side by side, that for the first, the lever of the rack should command a sector
engaging with a pinion, and that for the other, a similar lever, should have at
its extremity a roller, against which and underneath will carry a cam joined to
the axis of the pinion moved by the sector of the other lever, which explains
this axis being common to the two rows. The inventor thinks that this s
addition of levers would deliver this mechanism from the inconvenience of the
dead points which the wimbles cause by the position they take in their revolu-
tions. He, morcover, thinks that by these levers more power still would be
gained; but this advantage would be at the expense of the velocity. He will
see by the trial of these two means which is the best. As to the first motion
which the cams would prevent being regular, it would be remedied by
arranging the arm of the levers joined to the cranks, so as to give to the
driving shaft an invariable motion, whatever be the action of these cams on
the levers which impel the driving shaft.
Lastly, though the combination of this mechanism should seem to promise
that it will give in itself great power, that is to say, without being helped by
means foreign to it; if, however, recourse should be had to such means, the
inventor then should apply to it other steam power, or any other known means
which could reduce the advantage of this mechanism to the power which would

page_text: be had over and above that represented by the auxiliary which would be in aid
to it. In this case it would, perhaps, be necessary to change the working of
the raising of the loaded levers; but the principle of this Invention, which it is
seen to be applied for the formation of a motive power, and which chiefly
consists in the mode of progression and of arrangement by degrees of the
levers of each row, will not be less, still the same. Thus nothing will in any
way circumscribe or restrain the principal fact of the Patent granted, which
has in view to insure to the author undersigned, during the whole duration
of the said Patent, the exclusive right to apply to any uses whatever the
principle of motive power which is its object, and consequently to build, sell,
or work it out according to his choice.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arnaud Nicolas Frèche, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
ARNAUD NICOLAS (L.s.) FRECHE.
Taken and acknowledged by Arnaud
Nicolas Frèche (party hereto), at
Paris, in the Republic of France,
sworn before me, this 3d day of February, 1851.
HENRY MOWBRAY.
Samuel Carpmael, of Lincoln's Inn, 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 Britannic 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 Twenty-first day of
January instant, and purporting to be executed by Arnaud Nicolas Frèche,
à residing in the City of Paris, Merchant, whereby it is stated that the said
Specification was acknowledged by him, the said Arnaud Nicolas Frèche,