AN ELEMENTARY. POWER ENGINE, OR A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE FOR IM- PARTING POWER AND MOTION TO ATT KINDS OF ME
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, of Fitzroy
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN ELEMENTARY.
POWER ENGINE, OR A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE FOR IM-
PARTING POWER AND MOTION TO ATT KINDS OF ME"
Sealed the 19th September 1865, and dated the 23rd March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Bernhard Baron
Von Rathen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd March 1865.
I, ANTHONY BERNHARD Baron VON RATHEN, of Fitzroy Square, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN ELEMENTARY POWER ENGINE, OR A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE
FOR IMPARTING POWER AND MOTION TO ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists of a motive power wheel, the motor being compressed
air or other elastic fluid. The power wheel is so constructed that the motor
is retained in permanent activity without removal and renewal. Its motion is
rotary. The wheel can only rotate in one direction, and in order to provide
for a reverse movement in the contrary direction I employ a second wheel to
be used as and when required, as herein-after stated. The only loss of the
motor, compressed air, that can arise may be from want of tightness in the

page_text: parts; this loss can only amount to a small per-centage of the effective
working, and is supplied by the engine itself working an air compressing
apparatus. To constitute the elementary power engine and provide for its
efficient and continuous working, I combine with the power wheel (as
above stated) an air compressing apparatus, a reservoir for compressed air, a
regulator of forces, a feed box, and a box for transferring the motor from one
wheel to the other, all as shown on the accompanying Drawings and hereafter
to be described. The manner in which the wheel is put in motion is as
follows: As will be seen in the annexed Drawing of the power wheel
(Sheet 4), there are two chambers each formed on the opposite side of the
wheel. Each of these chambers is closed in by a division on the surrounding
fixed cylinder, and the opening towards the interior of the wheel is closed by
a counterbalancing contrivance. The chambers contain compressed air which
presses with its expansive force upon the surface at the end of the diameter,
in one chamber downwards and in the other upwards; and the reacting force
being counterbalanced the wheel must of course move with a force nearly
equal to the united expansive force displayed in both chambers, and must
continue to move and work in the same direction as long as the parts are in
good order, or as the attendant allows its movement to continue. The
counterbalancing, as will be seen in the Drawing, is effected in the following
way: The openings of both chambers lead towards the interior of the wheel
in opposite directions, and may therefore counterbalance on the other by being
conducted (as shown in the Drawing) one against the other at the centre or
otherwise. The description hereafter given of the power wheel will suffice for
the full comprehension of the nature of my Invention, but I do not confine
myself to the details, neither in the power wheel nor the apparatus and
machinery connected with it, as the same may be varied without departing
from the nature of my said Invention; I reserve therefore also the right to
substitute for the compressing pumps shown in the annexed Drawings other
air-compressing apparatus.
It will be gathered from the Drawings and description that the regulator
will maintain a constant equal force or nearly so in the moving chambers, and
that the attendant can during the working of the engine increase or diminish
the force in the regulator, and consequently in the power wheel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Elementary Power Engine.-Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation, and
Figure 9 a plan of my elementary power engine.

page_text: for moving in the reverse direction; B is the axle which is supported on
bearings b, b, and which is fixed to the wheels and moves round with them.
Where a reverse motion is not required then one power wheel only will be
necessary. Both wheels are mounted on the same shaft, that one in action
carries round the other empty, and out of action with it. To effect the change
of motor from one wheel to the other, the motor is allowed to escape from,
say A', into the atmosphere, and compressed air from the regulator by moving
the handle g¹ of the transfer box G¹ will pass through the pipe n¹ into the
transfer box G³, and from it through the pipe n into the feed box H³, and
then through the pipe into the wheel A². As before stated, no removal or
renewal of the motor takes place (like in the steam engine at every stroke of
the piston), consequently no loss of power can take place, except by escape
from want of tightness in the parts, and such loss is supplied to the reservoir
D as follows: Part of the effective power of the power wheel is applied to
work an air-compressing apparatus, shown in the Drawing as consisting of
two air pumps C. The pump of the larger capacity receives air from the
atmosphere, and after having compressed it drives it into the smaller capacity
pump, wherein it is further compressed and driven into the reservoir D. From
the reservoir it enters the regulator E, shown separately at Sheet 2, and here-
after described, which is so constructed as to regulate the expansive force of
the motor to such degree as may be required by the attendant engineer.
From the regulator the compressed air is conducted through the pipe e to a
small magazine of regulated compressed air F, and from thence through the
pipe finto the transfer box G¹. From this transfer box the air enters through
the pipe n', the feed box H', and from thence through the pipe ', the power
wheel; h1, h2, are handles on the feed boxes H', H. It is evident that if all
the parts are kept in proper working order the power wheel will be constantly
supplied with a regulated motive power of the same force; and as it will bo
shown that the construction of the power wheel is adequate to keep the motor.
in permanent activity, then in consequence thereof the power wheel must and
will continue to work with the same effective force till it is stopped by the
attendant engineer.
Regulator. Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a vertical section, and Figure 2, Sheet 2,
a horizontal section on the line x, y, of Figure 1 of the regulator.
B is the regulating spring. The regulator consists of a cylinder A, A, in
which is another shorter cylinder b, b, in which a liston k is free to play up
and down to close or open the entrance for compressed air into the cylinder
A, A; the play of the piston is regulated by the spring B. The power of this
spring is set to be equal to the expanding force of the compressed air in the

page_text: wheel which determines the effective power of the engine. The following is
the manner in which the regulator acts to maintain a constantly equal force
in the power wheel :-Supposing a higher degree of pressure is maintained in
the reservoir D, Sheet 1, than required for the working power, the admission
tube d of the regulator when at work is in constant communication with the
reservoir, and the tube e leads through the feed box to the power wheel, and
when the engine is at work is constantly in communication with the power
wheel. If the space G, G, in the cylinder has been filled with compressed air
from the reservoir of higher expansive force than the power of the spring B
can resist, then the hollow piston D, D, will be driven upward and through
the rod x, will raise the lever C in the guide S, and this extend the spring B.
This upward rising is limited by the stop P on the hollow piston rod. As
soon as any escape or leakage may take place from the motive power wheel,
the degree of expansive force becomes less in power than that of the spring,
the spring then acts upon the lever C and depresses the piston k, and fresh
compressed air will enter tho regulator through the apertures c, c, in the
cylinder b. By the short play allowed to the piston k the working pressure in
the power wheel will be kept as nearly as possible constant. The chamber
a, a, surrounding the inner cylinder 6 is constantly full of compressed air of
the same pressure as that in the reservoir. By variously weighting the lever C
the attendant can regulate the power required. St is a handle for raising or
lowering the spring B.
Feed Box. The object of the feed box shown in section at Figure 1 and
in plan at Figure 2, Sheet 3, is to receive from the regulator compressed air
at a certain fixed degree of expansion, and to transmit it to the working
power wheel. The feed box is in constant communication with the power
wheel, but it only communicates with the regulator when the power wheel is
in action; when this wheel is out of action a valve closes the communication.
A is a pipe connected to the transfer box G', Sheet 1, through which the
compressed air enters the chambers D and E. From the chamber E it
passes through the pipes h, h, (as shown at Figure 1, Sheet 3), fixed on or to
the cover of the power wheel round the axle F, and turns round with it. The
pipes h, h, lead the compressed air into two working chambers (shown at
Sheet 4) inside the power wheel. The axle F passes through the feed box,
which is firmly fixed. g', g, are two stuffing boxes to prevent the escape
of air round the axle and round the pipes h, h. In the chamber D are two
valves ',, which are never open at the same time. When the valve v¹ is
open to allow the compressed air to enter the valve
working power wheel should be put out of action, or
is closed. If the
if the air is to be

page_text: transferred to the other power wheel, then on turning the
proper direction the valve v will be closed, and the valve
handle C in the
will be opened,
for the escape of the compressed air from the wheel and the feed box into the
pipe B, and thence into the atmosphere. To insure the prevention of any
escape from the pipe B during the time of action, it is provided with a stop-
cock or other means of closing.
Description of the power wheel, Sheets 4, 5, and 6.-Sheet 4 is a vertical
front section of the power wheel revolving inside a truly bored cylinder G.
A1, A2, are air chambers closed in air-tight from all sides. The elastic
force presses upon the surface at the end of the diameter of each of these
chambers, and finds its useful resistance on the internal surface of the stationary
cylinder G; a limited part of the turning wheel equal to the extent of the
height of the chamber is closed in through the whole length by two ribs,
projections, or piston rods f¹, ff, f, with packing to keep them tight.
Instead of an ordinate to close the chambers in the Figure on Sheet 4, a
triangle b' is used. This triangle would move round its axle a¹ if space were
left; it closes the inner side of the air, or force chamber A' air-tight with its
vertical side, while with its oblique side it presses upon a piston c¹, which
transfers the pressure received to the centre piece e¹, and is there counter-
balanced by a precisely similar contrivance through pressure received from the
air chamber A². D is the axle on which the wheel is firmly fixed.
The counterbalancing contrivances used here may be altered, as, for instance,
in manner shown in Sheet 5, where instead of a triangle I use a divided
hollow piston; this piston closes the side of the air chamber A¹ by its face
a, b', compressed air being supplied to the capacity between a, b, and b, c¹; it
will resist at the back of a, b', the pressure received on the face from the
chamber A', and will press upon the division b, c', which rests firmly upon the
centre piece, and is in a similar manner counterbalanced by the opposite
contrivances through the reacting force of the air chamber A. The counter-
balancing may be modified in various ways, but the air chambers and the
resistance on the internal surface of the stationary cylinder must remain ; I
intend therefore to claim forming the power wheel with such air chambers
having their useful resistance on the interior surface of a stationary cylinder,
and with some contrivance counterbalancing the reaction of one chamber by
the resisting force of the other. The other letters in Sheet 5 refer to the
same parts as similar letters in Sheet 4.
Sheet 6 shows a view of the cover of the power wheel. The circle round
the axle D is the end of the tube H fixed to the cover and open to the feed
box, by which the motor is conducted into the receiver R, and by the branch

page_text: tube T it is conducted into the chambers A1 and A2, indicated by red dotted
lines, and shown at Sheet 4. In the Drawing shown at Sheet 5 the com-
pressed air is also conducted by this tube T into the capacities in the hollow
piston between a, b', and b, c. Yet for the important object of cooling the
internal surface of the stationary cylinder I intend to cut away so much of
the cover, as shown by the red colored section of the circle, to let in atmo-
spheric air; the turning wheel is constructed like a drum closed air-tight
everywhere, and only open at the chambers towards the internal surface of the
stationary cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTHONY
BERNHARD Baron VON RATHEN, of Fitzroy Square, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, Her special licence that I,
the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von
Rathen, 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 "AN ELEMENTARY POWER ENGINE,
OR A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE FOR IMPARTING POWER AND
MOTION TO ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, my executors or admini-
strators, 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 Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in a motive-power engine constructed and and acting
as hereafter described. The motive-power engine is invented and constructed on
such principles and methods that the motor (compressed air or any other.
clastic force) remains in permanent activity without requiring to be removed
or renewed, as is the case in the steam engine. But the power wheel or
engine moves only in one direction, wherefore in cases, as on railways, where
a return or reverse motion is wanted, another wheel, which is constructed to
turn in a different direction, is carried along with it, or on the same axle as the
driving wheel where the propelling power wheel is fixed, or on the axle of a
separate pair of driving wheels. Or for preventing collisions a separate loco-
motive with a returning wheel could be attached to the end of the train and
carried along with it, only to be put in motion when danger or other causes
demand it. The only loss of the motive power (by preference compressed air),
which can arise is through escape from the wheel by want of perfect air-
tightness; but this loss can can only be a small per-centage, which is casily
supplied by the elementary engine itself working a pair of air pumps, or any
compressing air apparatus. To constitute the full elementary power engine,
and provide for its efficient and continuous working, I combine with the power
wheel (as above stated) an air-compressing apparatus, a reservoir for com-
pressed air, a regulator of forces, a feed box, and a box for transferring the
motor from one wheel to the other, all as shown on the accompanying
Drawings, and hereafter to be described. The manner or method in which
the power wheel is put in motion, and imparts motion to all parts of its
engine and to other machinery connected with it is as follows:-The wheel is
so constructed that on two opposite sides at the extremities of the diameter a
triangular chamber is formed in which compressed air is admitted, and each
of those two chambers is closed outside by a division of the surrounding
cylinder, on which the compressed air contained in the chambers finds its
useful resistance. The elastic force presses on the basis of those chambers on
the superfices fixed to the wheel at the extremity of the diameters. The
reaction is annihilated or counterbalanced in the following way :-A cavity is
cut out through the whole length of the wheel on both sides towards a centre
piece sliding down closed parallels from both sides. In this cavity a metal
box is slidden, which I call an oblong parallelogram, two forms of such a box
or parallelogram are given in the Drawings (Slicet 8). The principle is that
those boxes are not connected or fastened on the wheel, otherwise than merely

page_text: to turn with it. But the compressed air from the chambers enters in the
whole length of their fronts into these parallelograms, and is as if it were
impressed in it. It balances itself in those boxes in all directions, and can
make no effect on the sides of the wheel; and all the reactive pressure of the
triangular chambers touching the cylinder is conducted by those boxes (which
may have more or less internal divisions) to the central piece, and there the
reactive force of one chamber is counterbalanced by an equal force of the
other chamber, and can have therefore no reactive power. Care must be
taken that outside the covers of the boxes must be carefully made air-tight,
in manner that no compressed air can enter from the chambers (or even from
the central piece) between the covers of those boxes, and the side arms of
the wheel, which include the boxes in its cavities. There can be no difficulty
to protect the small spaces between the covers of the boxes and the sides of
the wheel against all entrance of compressed air, as the boxes are immoveable
in themselves. Therefore it is evident that the elastic pressure on both the
superficies at the chambers must produce a continued movement with the
necessary force, which will press upon them according to the elasticity of
the compressed air, and the area and extension of those superficies fixed upon
the diameters of the wheel.
It will be seen from the Drawing and its description in Sheet 6 that I
have also another method to counterbalance the reaction of the chambers
even more simple than the method with a parallelogram, even if not so
efficient. I use a triangle, and I close by its vertical side the air chambers,
and the pressure on the area of the vertical side of the triangle is transferred
by the other side of the triangle upon a metallic piece (i.e. kind of piston),
which reposes or is fixed to the centre piece of the wheel, and is counter-
balanced by the equal pressure of the opposite chamber transferred in a
similar manner to the opposite centre piece. The description hereafter given
of the wheel will suffice for the full comprehension of the nature of my
power
Invention, but I do not confine myself to the details neither in the power
wheel nor the apparatus and machinery connected with it, as the same may be
varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention. I reserve
therefore also the right to substitute for the compressing pumps, shown in the
annexed Drawings, other air compressing apparatus.
It will be gathered from the Drawings and description that the regulator
will maintain a constant equal force or nearly so in the moving chambers, and
that the attendant can during the working of the engine increase or diminish
the force in the regulator, and consequently in the power wheel.

page_text: Elementary Power Engine.-Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan of my elementary power engine with all its parts.
A', A', are two power wheels, the former for moving in one and the latter
for moving in the reverse direction; B is the axle, which is supported on
bearings b, b, and which is fixed to the wheels, and moves round with them.
Where a reverse motion is not required, then one power wheel only will be
necessary. Both wheels are mounted on the same shaft, that one in action
carries round the other empty and out of action with it. To effect the change
of motor from one wheel to the other, the motor is allowed to escape from,
say A', into the atmosphere, and compressed air from the regulator by moving
the handle g of the transfer box G' will pass through the pipe n into the
transfer box G, and from it through the pipe n² into the feed box II, and_
then through the pipe into the wheel A³. As before stated, no removal or
renewal of the motor takes place, (like in the steam engine, at every stroke of.
the-piston,) consequently no loss of power can take place except by escape
from want of tightness in the parts, and such loss is supplied to the reservoir D.
as follows:-Part of the effective power of the power wheel is applied to work
an air-compressing apparatus, shown in the Drawing as consisting of two air
pumps B and C. The pump of the larger capacity receives air from the
atmosphere, and after having compressed it, drives it into the smaller capacity
pump C, wherein it is further compressed and driven into the reservoir D.
From this reservoir it enters the regulator E, shown separately at Sheet 2,.
and hereafter described, which is so constructed as to regulate the expansive
force of the motor to such degree as may be required by the attendant
engineer. From the regulator the compressed air is conducted through the
pipe e to a small magazine of regulated compressed air F, and from thence
through the pipe f into the transfer box G¹. From this transfer box the air.
enters through the pipe n', the feed box E', and from thence through the.
pipe k to the power wheel; h¹, h2, are handles on the feed boxes H1, H2. It
is evident that if all the parts are kept in proper working order, the power
wheel will be constantly supplied with a regulated motive power of the same
force, and as it will be shown that the construction of the power wheel is.
adequate to keep the motor in permanent activity, then in consequence thereof
the power wheel must and will continue to work with the same effective force,
till it is stopped by the attendant engineer.
Regulator. Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a vertical section, and Figure 2, Sheet 2,,
a horizontal section on the line x, y, of Figure 1 of the regulator; B is the

page_text: regulating spring. The regulator consists of a cylinder A, A, in which is
another shorter cylinder b, b, in which a piston K is free to play up and down
to close or to open the entrance for compressed air from the cylinder A, A ; the
play of the piston is regulated by the spring B. The power of this spring is
set to be equal to the expanding force of the compressed air in the wheel
which determines the effective power of the engine.
.
The following is the manner in which the regulator acts to maintain a
constantly equal force in the power wheel-Supposing a higher degree of
pressure is maintained in, the reservoir D, Sheet 1, than required for the
working, the admission tube d of the regulator when at work is in constant
communication with the reservoir, and the tube e leads through the feed box
to the power wheel, and when the engine is at work is constantly in communi-
cation with the power wheel. If the space G, G, in the cylinder has been
filled with compressed air from the reservoir of higher expansive force than
the power of the spring B can resist, then the hollow piston D, D, will be
driven upward and through the rod x will raise the lever C in the guide S,
thus extending the spring B. This upward raising is limited by the stop P on
the hollow piston rod. As soon as any escape or leakage may take place from
the motive power wheel, the degree of expansive force becomes less in power
than that of the spring; the spring then acts upon the lever C and depresses
tho piston k, and fresh compressed air will enter the regulator through the
apertures c, c, in the cylinder b. By the short play allowed to the piston k,
the working pressure in the power wheel will be kept as nearly as possible
constant. The chamber a, a, surrounding the inner cylinder b is constantly
full of compressed air of the same pressure as that in the reservoir. By
variously weighting the lever C, the attendant can regulate the power required.
St is a handle for raising or lowering the spring B.
Feed Box, Sheet 8.-The object of the feed box shown in section is to
receive from the regulator compressed air at a certain fixed degree of expansion,
and to transmit it to the working power wheel. The feed box is in constant
communication with the power wheel, but it only communicates with the
regulator when the power wheel is in action; when this wheel is out of action
a valve closes the communication. A is a pipe connected to the transfer
box G¹, Sheet 1, through which the compressed air enters the chambers D
and E. From the chamber E it passes through the pipe h, h, fixed on or to
the cover of the power wheel round the axle F, and turns round with it. It
will be seen from the external front view of the power wheel, Sheet 7, that
the pipes T1, T2, lead the compressed air into two working chambers inside
the wheel, as shown at Sheet 4. The axle F passes through the feed box,

page_text: is closed. If the
which is firmly fixed; 9', 9, are two stuffing boxes to prevent the escape of
air round the axle and round the pipe h, h. In the chamber D are two
valves, v, which are never open at the same time. When the valve v¹ is
open to allow the compressed air to enter, the valve
working power wheel should be put out of action, or if the air is to be trans-
ferred to the other power wheel, then on turning the handle C in the proper
direction the valve v¹ will be closed and the valve will be opened for the
escape of the compressed air from the wheel and the feed box through the
pipe B, and thence into the atmosphere. To ensure the prevention of any
escape from the pipe B during the time of action, it is provided also with a
stop-cock or other means of closing.
The power wheel, Sheet No. 4, with the parallelogram or the box with
parallel sides. This power wheel I introduce as an improvement of the closed
box, as described in my Provisional Specification as a hollow piston, but in
some cases the hollow piston as thereiu described may be used. The chambers
are as described in the introduction A1, A2, on both opposite sides of the
wheel; but the oblong cavity of the power wheel is filled up by a box (au
oblong parallelogram) which may be constructed and in its interior arranged
in different ways; here the box is open at the chambers and is divided in
four squares through the whole length of the wheel by the three partitions
a, b, c; other vertical divisions crossing the whole length are shown at
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 8, and hereafter described. The compressed air
from the chamber A¹ passes in between those divisions down to the bottom D
of the boxes, which is pressed with all the force of the air in the chamber A
to the central piece B of the wheel, and is counterbalanced by a similar con-
trivance from the opposite chamber A². The spaces ff, between the covers
of the boxes and the fixed arms of the wheel must be perfectly well protected
against the entrance of compressed air.
In Sheet No. 8, the parallel boxes appertaining to this kind of wheel are
shown at Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the same front view of the
parallelogram as is shewn in the wheel just described; Figure 2 shews the
vertical crossing of the horizontal division a, b, c, and are lettered d, e, g. Tho
whole Figure No. 2, in Sheet 8, is a longitudinal view of the parallelogram
used in this power wheel.
Sheet No. 5 represents a power wheel in all respects similar to the pre-
ceding wheel with the parallel box in the cavity of the wheel. The difference
is only in the interior arrangement of the parallel box. In this case the
box has no bottom, but the compressed air entering at the chamber A¹ passes
through the passages formed by the two interstices a and b, directly to the

page_text: central piece B, where from the opposite air chamber A³ through the passages
of the opposite box an equal pressure is exercised upon the central piece, and
therefore counterbalanced.
In Sheet 8, Figures 3 and 4 shew the arrangement of this kind of paral-
lelogram. Figure 3 is the copy of the front view of the box with two
horizontal partitions a and b; and Figure 4 shows that those horizontal
partitions are crossed by five vertical partitions numbered c, d, e, g, h. The whole
is a horizontal section of the parallel box appertaining to this kind of wheel
with the parallelogram. The air chambers of both those here described
wheels, Sheets Nos. 4 and 5, are closed in each of them by hollow metal
pieces which pass the whole length of the wheel in the same direction, filled
with packings, by which they prevent the compressed air of the chambers
escaping. I have marked them all alike with the letter P.
Sheet No. 6 shews another kind of motive-power wheel, by which I use
instead of a parallelogram a triangle to transfer the reacting force of the com-
pressed air in one chamber to press upon the centre piece, and be there
counterbalanced by the reacting force of the opposite chamber, by which
proceeding all reaction is annihilated in the most simple manner. A¹ and A³, are
the two opposite air chambers as described in Sheets Nos. 4 and 5; S¹ and S³
are the superficies upon which removing force is exercised, and the wheel moved
round; b¹ and 2 are the two triangles which close the air chamber air-tight
through the whole length of the wheel by their vertical side, and receive upon
this side the whole reactive force of the chamber, which they transfer by the
other side of the triangle upon metallic pieces c¹ and c, which are resting on the
centre picee B, and can make no effect upon the wheel; as the reactive force
of the one chamber counterbalances the pressure of the other chamber, there-
fore by it all reaction is annihilated. The triangles are fixed by a shaft a¹ and a²,
to the wheel; they could turn with the shaft in its bearings, or round this shaft if
left at liberty, but any pressure which might be exercised by the pressure on
the vertical side of the triangle on this shaft at a would be counterbalanced by
the pressure on the shaft at a. It is evident that the parts which touch the
standing cylinder at the height of the triangle 1 and 2, as well as at the end of
the diameter at y' and y³ must be made and maintained as air-tight as possible
either by packings or otherwise. I have given an indication in this Drawing
how packing could be fitted in.
Sheet No. 7. This shews the head cover of the power wheel. A similar
cover is on the other side of the wheel, but without the tubes h and T¹ & T,
conducting the compressed air to the air chambers of the wheel. The manner
in which the air from the feeding box is conducted into a small reservoir R

page_text: round the shaft F, and by the tubes T', T, connected with it introduced in
the air chambers, I refer to Sheet 9, wherein I have it more clearly described:
In this Sheet I remark that the cover does not fully close air-tight around
the wheel, but only from a to b, and from c to d, but from e to f, and
g to h, the cover has a cut by which atmospheric air is left to enter between
the cylinder and the drum or wheel for the object to cool the internal area of
the cylinder by the constant circulation of the atmospheric air.
Sheet, No. 8.-The Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, have already been noticed in
Sheets Nos. 4 and 5. I refer here to it to say that Figure 3 is certainly
similar to the front view of the box in Sheet No. 5, but with the difference
that the box of No. 5 has no bottom which must be also kept in mind by
the longitudinal section of Figure 4. In Figure 5 is the cover represented as
the box is closed quite as well at the right and downwards as on both ends of
its length.
They are in fact oblong parallelograms or parallel boxes with four
covers even when they are open at the air chambers and towards the central
piece. If the box is closed towards the central piece, then the box has
five covers or five end sides when it is closed
Sheet No. 9 contains, Figure 1, a sectional view of the feed box, and
Figure 2, a plan view of the power wheel. The object of this combination is
more clearly to shew how the motor (compressed air) enters from the feeding
box to the wheel.
The feeding box has been already fully described in Sheet No. 3. I have
here only to shew that the air passes by the tube h, h, round the shaft F into
a kind of reservoir at R on the cover of the power wheel, and is conducted
from this reservoir R by the tubes T and T, and little tubes t¹ and t2, which pass
through the cover of the wheel and bring the compressed air into both air
chambers of the wheel.
Sheet No. 10, Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a plan view of the
transfer box destined to transfer the motor from one of the power wheels (as
shewn in Sheet No. 1) to the other in case a reverse motion of the engine is
wanted. The compressed air from the regulator enters invariably the transfer
box at B, and by turning the handle h either way the compressed air may be
may be made to enter the space at the front view at c or at d. If the valve over c
is open the compressed air will pass through the tube a¹ in the wheel marked
at Sheet No. 1 with A', but if it is wanted to reverse the motion of the engine,
then by turning the handle the opening in the space c will be closed and the
space at opened, when the compressed air will pass from the space d
through the tube a³ in the power wheel noted in Sheet No. 1 with A2, which

page_text: is constructed for reversing the motion of the engine. The letters in the plan
view have the same significance as those in the front view.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the whole elementary power engine, power wheel, and all the neces-
sary apparatus as shown in combination at Sheet No. 1, without limiting
myself to the position or arrangement of parts which may be varied according
to circumstances; but I disclaim any right to the special construction of any
of the auxiliary apparatus if they are applied separately for other purposes not
in conjunction with the power wheel.
Second, the full right to the motive power wheel for itself if constructed on the
principles of construction as shewn in the parallelogram power wheels, Sheets
Nos. 4 and 5, and in the triangular power wheel, Sheet No. 6. In the appli-
cation of these power wheels I reserve to myself the right of making any
alterations in the method of making them air-tight either by separate packings
as at Sheets Nos. 4 and 5, or by making the touching parts at the cylinder
air-tight with or without packings fitted in these touching parts themselves, as
in Sheet No. 6.
Third, I claim the principles in so far as they are practically executed in
this Invention or produced by the, effect of the construction herein-before
described, viz., the principle of keeping the elastic motor (by preference com-
pressed air) in permanent activity without requiring to remove it (except by
stopping the engine) or to renew it (except by bringing it into the power
wheel at starting or after a stoppage again in motion). I claim the principles
in construction of having two air chambers at the opposite extremities of the
wheels when placed in such position and under such intermediate arrangements
that the reactive force of each chamber is made to counteract or counter-
balance the reactive force of the other chamber, thus annihilating reaction if
this is done exactly as described in Sheets Nos. 4, 5, and 6, or if the method
of counterbalancing is somewhat modified or altered from the methods here
described. I claim also the principle (which never has been done before)
that the elementary engine supplies itself any loss of the motive force.
Fourth, I claim to construct the cover of a rotary wheel only partly to fit
air-tight on the surrounding stationary cylinder, and to cut open the half or
any part of the cover for the entrance of atmospheric air to cool the internal
surface of the stationary cylinder, as is shewn at Sheet No. 7.
Fifth, I claim the exclusive use of compressed air as a motor if applied in
the manner as herein described by working as a motor in permanent activity

page_text: and without requiring removal or renewal, as compressed air has never been
applied as a permanent motor, with arrangements for being kept in permanent
activity and for supplying itself the losses by escape.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron von Rathen,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of Septem-
ber, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ANTHONY BERNHARD BARON VON RATIIEN. (L.S.)