An Improved Hydrostatic Apparatus for Multiplying Power.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hydrostatic Apparatus for Multiplying Power.
I FRANÇOIS HENRI IDELPHONSO LEQUES, of Noumea, in the French Colony of
New Caledonia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This Invention relates to an improved Hydrostatic Apparatus for Multiplying power
based upon the following well known principles of statics, viz. That fluids transmit
in every direction and with an equal intensity the pressures which bear on any part
whatever of their volume or bulk. That pressure borne by fluids, enclosed in a
receiver is transmitted perpendicularly to the sides of the receiver.
That pressure is
proportionate to the extent of the surface.
In practice I multiply the power of a small ordinary steam cylinder whose length
is say equal to twice its diameter with its piston rod guided as in all steam engines by
elides. Motion is given by means of an eccentric rod fitted to the fly wheel of this
steam engine to a piston in my improved apparatus having a reciprocating motion and
by this apparatus I am enabled to maintain so to say an unlimited increase of power.
This apparatus consists of two parallel cylinders and a third cylinder at right angles
of the same diameter and in which are an arbitrary number of pistons with a stiff
uncompressible fluid between them.
In Figures 1 of annexed plan I have adopted a preferable disposition of my
apparatus in case of its being driven by a vertical engine and in Figures 2 of the
same plan a preferable disposition of my apparatus when driven by a horizontal
engine. It will be easily seen that the starting of my apparatus is very simple for it
would not differ from that of an ordinary steam pump. I will now explain how I
obtain the increase of power of any engine used in connection with my apparatus.
In order to better understand I will designate by letters the pistons and cylinders.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of annexed plan A and Care two parallel cylinders and
B the other cylinder at right angles to A and C. The first piston in the cylinder A is
marked a and the set of other pistons in the same cylinder a' a 'a ana". The
first piston in cylinder will be designated by c and the set of other pistons in
this cylinder by cell cell c". Cylinder B has but one piston b. The pistons a
and care cylindrical and straight their surface is within a hair's breadth that of
a ring of the same diameter as the cylinder. Pistons a al all all and the
pistons ce are not alike on both sides one of their sides has a superficial
area from four to seven times larger than the other. To better understand the
mechanism I will call the "top side" that facing the driving engine and "bottom
side" that towards the cylinder B. The surface of the top side is greatest and has
several times the area of the bottom side. This difference arises through the top side
having a geometric shape totally different from the bottom side. The top side has the
shape of a hemisphere or a cone or an ovoid or any other geometrical shape or even
these shapes combined whose whole surface bearing pressure contains several times
the area of the bottom side whose area is invariably that of a circle of the same
diameter as the cylinder or nearly so. The top side of these pistons independently of
their larger surface on account of their geometrical form is further increased by means
of corrugations or kilting similar to that on a paper funnel used in filtering chemicals.
These corrugations also contribute a great deal to this increase of surface which
undergoes the pressure of the liquid. The cylinders are hermetically closed and filled
with castor oil.
In operation, the engine by means of rods, at whose extremity are the pistons a
and impart to these pistons a reciprocating motion in the cylinders A and C. Let
it be supposed that the cylinders are filled with oil and hermetically closed. and that

page_text: there is used a 10 horse power engine (horse power hereinafter will be denoted by the
symbol "HP") We are aware that the pistons a and c are cylindrical in shape and
straight or slightly tapered. The area of these pistons is within a hairs breadth of that of
a ring having the diameter of the cylinders. When the piston a descends there is a
10 HP pressure on the oil contained in the cylinder whilst the piston c will rise in the
cylinder C. The piston A¹ will undergo this pressure and as its area is at least-
three times greater than that of piston a it will undergo a pressure three times
greater, viz. 10 × 3 = 30 HP. The top side of the piston a' is three times greater
than that of piston a. Its bottom side is equal to that of piston a being circles
of same diameter. The bottom side of piston a¹ will transmit a 30 HP to piston all
and as the top side of piston all is at least three times greater than the bottom side
of piston a the piston a will undergo a pressure three times greater viz.
30 × 3 = 90 HP. In its turn the piston a will drive by its bottom side the oil towards
the piston a with a 90 HP and as the top side of piston al has a superficial area
three times as great as the bottom side of piston all it will undergo a pressure three
times greater viz. 90 × 8 270 EP. Next the piston all will drive the oil which
separates it from piston all with a 270 HP and as the bottom side of piston a has
a surface three times smaller than that of the topside of piston at the latter will
undergo a pressure three times greater viz. 270 x 3 = 810 HP. Let it be supposed
four intermediate pistons are sufficient between a and b the fourth piston will undergo
a pressure of 810 HP which power being transmitted to piston will also be three
times greater seeing that the bottom side of a is three times smaller in area than the
top side of piston b. The top side of piston will therefore undergo a pressure of
2430 FP, which will be transinitted to the shaft. Therefore these four intermediate
pistons convert the 10 FP to that of 2430 HP on to the propeller. Now allowing
there are 8 instead of 4 pistons I will obtain a fantastical increase of power for the
10 HP of a small engine would be converted into a 196 830 HP as per following
demonstration.
=
•
Unlimited power may be thus obtained and this power is subordinate only to the
number of pistons which the size and solidity of the structure would warrant.
In ordinary practice one or two intermediate pistons will suffice. In the foregoing
demonstration for the increase of power by transmitting the pressure by fluids I have
only spoken of the set of pistons a al all all all and it is evident that my system
applies equally to the set of pistons c¹ cell c¹ &c. I can see that power is
transmitted according to a geometrical progression whose ratio is 3. This geometrical
progression could be higher but I prefer to remain under the power that I can obtain
after taking into consideration resistance due to friction and abnormal pressure. By
this means I guard myself against disappointment and at the same time prepare the
way to success by obtaining higher results than those claimed. I only have adopted 3
as a ratio of the geometrical progression for transmitting power whereas among the
different types of pistons I could select one with a ratio of 6-7 or nearly 8. By
adopting either one of these types the dimensions of the machine would be greatly
reduced for I could limit the pistons to one or two only in the cylinders although still
possessing the same power on the driving shaft.
It must also be remembered that the piston a of the cylinder A of Figure 1 and
the piston a of Figure 2 differ as follows. The piston a of Figure 1 presses on the
fluid from one side only viz. in descending whereas the piston a of Figure 2 has two
sides and presses on the fluid in ascending and descending. One single piston
rod communicates the successive motion to all the pistons of the hydrostatic
apparatus.

page_text: I cannot state before hand precisely the dimensions of my apparatus either for the
length or diameter of my cylinders for all depends upon the length of the piston
stroke which it is desirable to obtain and of the power the machine should possess.
The dimensions of the diameter of the cylinders cannot influence the amount of power
it is desirable to obtain and they are to be considered only in reference to the means
for transmitting power to the shaft and in order to avoid any cause of damage to
these organs.
In the building of my machine when there is no inconvenience
in lengthening the piston which lengthening would necessitate a greater length in the
cylinders A and C the bottom side of the piston can be reduced according to the
power which is to be obtained but we must recollect that the rings are as the square of
their radius. In case of lengthening care must be taken that the lateral surface of
the slightly tapered part of the piston is on a very small angle with the cylinder in
order to avoid any pressure of this lateral surface on the fluid. Should any maker
prefer to fix the leathers on or in the thickness of the cylinders the disposition
indicated in Figures 3, 3× on annexed plan will have to be carried out. By this
system the cylinders will be made of several parts joined together which circumstance
I have endeavoured to avoid by fixing the leather on the pistons. By this means the
cylinders can be made of one single piece from one tube to the other. The joints of
the cylinders will also have to be placed as indicated in Figure 3, viz. on the same level
as the top side of the pistons and by so doing the leading piston reaches the joint
without coming into contact with the cylinder at this spot, for this reason that it is
the slightly tapered part of piston which reaches the joint. Leathers being fixed in the
thickness of the cylinders compel me to employ the piston denoted on the drawings as
Type 8. In the space between each piston the cylinders have a small circular opening
1 inches diameter for the purpose of pouring oil in each compartment of the
cylinders. On plan these openings are marked z and they are opened and closed with
a screwed stopper with square head by means of a spanner. For pouring the oil in
the cylinders a funnel with triangular tube must be used for the escape of air as the
oil is poured in the cylinders by the segments comprised between the internal surface
of the circular opening and the sides of the funnel tube. The section made perpen-
dicularly to the axis of the opening while the funnel is in its place would represent
an equalateral triangle inscribed in a circle. The triangle would be the section of the
tube of the funnel and the circle would be the section of the circular opening which
serves for pouring in the oil. These openings are situated in front of bottom side of
each piston and at a tangent to the plane which passes by the said bottom side.
Diametrically opposite the openings for the introduction of the oil are situated escape
cocks the latter are marked on the plan y and are used to empty the cylinders
and for the collection of oil during repairs. The pistons are placed in the cylinders
on the side marked o and o¹ of the cylinders A and C each piston is kept in its
place in the cylinder by an iron pin or any other metal, which pin is driven in
the opening for pouring in the oil this pin once in place abuts in the tube of escape
cock which is opposite the opening and is thereby momentarily a fixture.
In order to put the pistons in in the present instance I begin with piston all which
I push forward till it meets the metallic pin at 2 and y, after this piston is in
its place I withdraw the pin and place it at and y I then put in the
piston a and push it forward till it reaches the pin, the pin is then withdrawn
and placed at and yll and I proceed for the other pistons as 1 did for the first
two. Once the pistons are in place I close the escape cocks and the cylinders are
filled with oil. When the oil is level with the inlet the caps are screwed on. The
axis of these screwed caps is perforated with a circular hole quarter inch diameter for
the escape of the surplus oil as the caps are screwed on, this hole is afterwards
closed by a metallic cover, and the cylinders are then hermetically closed.
pistons are preferably constructed of phosphor bronze but any other material might
be used. With phosphor bronze and the oil in the cylinders the friction would be
nsignificant. The diameter of the piston bases could still be reduced the 25th part of
an inch to prevent even this friction against the inside of the cylinders. In order to
The

page_text: reduce the weight of the pistons they can be hollowed out in their taper end as it is
represented in the different types of pistons shown on the accompanying plan. At
each end of cylinder B there are two safety cocks or valves and below these valves and
in the prolongation of their axis two escape valves.
I will now specially describe the pistons I prefer to use confining myself to their
constituent elements and the result of my calculations. In the drawings annexed I
have represented the pistons in section and in plan. All the internal shapes of my
pistons are corrugated with the exception of Type 6. To simplify the drawings I
have represented the corrugations in the Types 9 and 10 only but all the pistons except
Type 6 are corrugated although these corrugations do not show in every drawing.
The piston of cylinder B does not appear in the series of designs which I supply for
its construction is very simple. This piston is made of two corrugated hemispheres.
One hemisphere is upon the top side and the other on the bottom side, the two
surfaces are separated by a parallel band where the leather is. The shape of the
pistons can greatly vary I supply the designs of 10 Types to select from I also
illustrate two ways in which the leathers on the piston are fixed. The piston Type 1
is composed of a corrugated hemisphere. The internal shape of this piston gives a
ratio of 3.96 to the geometrical progression for the transmitting of power. Type 2
is composed of two corrugated superposed hemispheres giving a ratio of 4.8 to the
geometrical progression for transmitting power. Type 3 is a corrugated cone
truncated at its top in order to allow the oil to pass which oil acts on the internal
surface of a small corrugated hemisphere. In its middle this piston has a second
cone truncated also at its top to allow the passage of the oil which acts on the
internal surface of a second hemisphere similar to the first. The internal shape of
this piston gives 5-7 as the ratio to the geometrical progression for transmitting power.
Type 4 is composed of a corrugated cone turned down inwardly the corrugations
of the turned down part are placed at the outward part of the cone. It is also
formed of a second corrugated cone truncated at its upper part and of two corru-
gated hemispheres placed above the cones. This piston gives a ratio of 7.9 to the
geometrical progression for transmitting power. In type 5 the piston has a corrugated
cone at its base turned upside down and hammered down internally. Inside the
piston and bearing on the base of the cone, there is a corrugated hemisphere. This
piston gives a ratio of 6 to the geometrical progression for transmitting power. In
type 6, the piston is composed of two opposite hemispheres at the base, and separated
by a parallel band wherein are fixed the leathers. A round cap is taken off the top
of each hemisphere and replaced by two small hemispheres. This type of piston
is not corrugated. This piston gives 5.5 as ratio for the geometrical progression for
transmitting power. In type 7 the piston is formed of a corrugated conc. Above
the cone trunk there is a hemisphere of the same diameter as the small base of the
cone. The cone trunk not being closed is in communication through the whole length
of its upper base with the small hemisphere. A second hemisphere with corrugations
is situated above the first and is separated from it by a parallel piece. This piston
gives 565 as ratio to the geometrical progression for transmitting power.
Type 8 the piston is simply a hollow cylinder terminated by a corrugated hemisphere.
This is the piston used in the cylinder of the apparatus shown in Figure 3. I should
advise the use of this piston enly in case it should be preferred to have leather
fitted to the metal of the cylinder instead of having them fitted to the pistons. This
piston gives a ratio of 3.96. Type 9 is composed of a corrugated cone the corruga-
tions in this case are sunken instead of being projecting as in the other types. Above
this cone and opposite its base there is a corrugated hemisphere. This piston gives
a ratio of 6.
In
My machines can be used on board Merchantmen Ships of War, and especially on
board of Ironclads, Torpedo and Submarine Boats, they can be utilized on Railways, for
emptying dry and floating docks, for Mining purposes and in Work shops, in fact
wherever great power is required with little expense. They can also be used as
industrial motive powers for testing large ordnance for pressing goods &c. &c.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In combination with a motive power machine. The use of the pressure of
liquids or fluids as a multiplier of such power for the purpose of Navigation and
Locomotion substantially as herein described and explained.
Second. The use of pistons with two faces the larger one receiving the pressure
of the liquid or fluid and the smaller transmitting the same substantially as herein
described and explained.
Third. The use of the pressure of liquids or fluids by means of a series of
pistons in geometrical progresssion substantially as herein described and explained.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
-הר דזמ ג
הנדז מ -
By Ernest de Pass,
68, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.