IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND DISTRIBUTING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Seiler, of 166, Faubourg Saint Martin,
Paris, in the French Empire, and of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the
City of London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Sealed the 15th May 1863, and dated the 20th November 1862.
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic. Seiler at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th November 1862.
I, FREDERIC SEILER, of 166, Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, in the French
Empire, and of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND DISTRIBUTING
MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
One part of my Invention consists in certain novel applications of enclosed
compressed air, which by means of suitable machinery and apparatus is used
for communicating motive power to other machinery or apparatus more or less
distant from the prime mover. The said compressed air after having been
thus applied or used, is not discharged into the air and lost, but is returned
again to the prime mover and used over again, and only such portion of the
compressed air as is lost by leakage has to be replaced. The following are.
some of the modes in which I carry out this part of my said Invention.
Firstly, an air cylinder is connected with and its piston actuated by a steam
engine or other prime mover, the two ends of this air cylinder communicate

page_text: with the two ends of a second air cylinder situated at the required distance
from the first by means of two pipes or tubes. That end of the first cylinder
at which the piston rod enters communicates through its pipe, say, with the
opposite end of the second cylinder. The other ends of the two cylinders are
connected in a similar manner. The two cylinders and the pipes connecting
them are filled with air of a uniform pressure; and I may here state that the
greater the pressure of the air consistent with the strength and proportions of
the various parts of the apparatus the more perfect will be its action, it follows
that when the piston of the first cylinder is moved in one direction, the air
will be forced out from that part of the cylinder, and acting upon the air in the
corresponding pipe will cause the piston in the second cylinder to move to the
same extent, the motion of the two pistons in the two cylinders is therefore
simultaneous. The first cylinder may in this manner be connected with two
or more smaller cylinders, provided the contents of the several small cylinders
are equal to the contents of the first. The piston rod of the second cylinder
may be in direct connection with, for instance, the piston rod of a pump, or
through suitable gearing with any other kind of machinery. When the air in
the several cylinders and pipes is of a uniform pressure no valves are required
in the cylinders and pipes.
Another mode of carrying out my Invention consists again in connecting
one air cylinder, whose piston is actuated by the prime mover, with a second
cylinder situated at the required distance. In this case the first cylinder is
fitted with valves similar to a double-acting pump. The two cylinders are
again connected with two sets of pipes, and as near the first cylinder as may
be practicable the said pipes pass each through an air reservoir or regulating
accumulator. Now, instead of having both cylinders with their pipes and
accumulators filled with air of the same pressure, one pipe with its accumulator
is filled with air, say, at a pressure of six atmospheres, whilst the two cylinders
with the other pipe and its accumulator are filled with air at a pressure of
only three atmospheres. Now, supposing the piston of the first cylinder is set
in motion, it will when at half stroke have compressed the air before it to six
atmospheres, and cause it to escape during the completion of its stroke through
the corresponding valve into the accumulator, whilst the space behind the
piston will refill itself from the three atmosphere accumulator; at the same
time air of six atmospheres will pass through the slide valve to one side of the
piston in the second cylinder, whilst the air of three atmospheres is forced out
at the other end of the cylinder through the valve to the three atmosphere
pipe and accumulator. Instead of one second cylinder, two or more smaller
cylinders may be used. In this arrangement the motion of the pistion in the

page_text: second cylinder is independant of the motion of the piston in the first cylinder,-
and not simultaneous with the latter. The second cylinder is in fact supplied
with the high-pressure air of six atmospheres from the accumulator and pipe
in the same manner is the ordinary steam cylinder is supplied with steam from
the boiler.
A further mode of carrying out this Invention consists in acting with the
compressed air upon water, and forcing the latter into a turbine water wheel.
This can be accomplished in various ways, for instance by connecting the high-
pressure and low-pressure pipes from the accumulators with two air vessels
half filled with water. The bottom of ex. vessel is connected with a joint pipe
leading to the turbine. As the high-pressure air acts upon the water in one
vessel it will be forced into and set in motion the turbine, and from the
turbine it will enter the other air vessel till the latter is nearly full; when the
action will be reversed. Instead of using two air vessels as described, I can
also use only one air vessel. In this case the vessel is again partly filled
with water. The low-pressure pipe is through the top of the vessel con-
nected with the air space. Just above the water level, and either outside
of or within the vessel, I place a turbine, and a pipe from the bottom of
the vessel, and reaching outside the vessel to the level of the turbine, will
supply the latter with water to drive it. The water is passed through an
injector into the turbine forced by the air from the high-pressure accumulator.
The water and air on entering the vessel through the turbine will now again
separate the water falling into the reservoir, and the air mingling with the air
in the air space and pipe leading to the three atmosphere accumulator and
first cylinder. The turbine would act if placed below the water level of the
vessel, but I consider the placing of it above the water level an important
improvement, as the turbine and the water escaping from it will find less
resistance in the air space than if submerged, although the water and the air
are under the same pressure. The two apparatus first described in this
Specification may with advantage be applied to the raising of water, for
instance from the bottom of a mine by placing the second cylinder refered
to at the foot of such mine, and there connecting it with the pumping
machinery; but I consider the following apparatus, which forms the second
part of my said Invention, as more particularly suited for this purpose.
An upright cylindrical vessel, similar to a vertical steam boiler, is half
filled with water, and the air space above it is again connected with the
low-pressure pipe and accumulator inentioned in the description of the several
former apparatus, and in which I will suppose to have a pressure of 5 atmo-
spheres. The water to be raised passes from a tank through a pipe to an

page_text: injector leading into the vessel above the water level, and the air from the
high-pressure accumulator and pipe of seven atmospheres pressure will force
the water through the injector into the vessel, and. a. corresponding quantity of
water will escape through a pipe passing from the bottom of the vessel to a
height proportionate to the air pressure of five atmospheres or 164 feet. In
this case I again inject the water into the air space of the vessel, where it will
meet with less resistance and therefore flow more freely than if discharged into
water under the same pressure as the air.
A modification of this last described apparatus consists in entirely dispensing
with the air cylinder, motor, accumulators, and pipes mentioned, and forcing the
water through the injector direct by steam into the upright cylindrical vessel.
In this case the said vessel is again partly filled with water, and the air space
with compressed air of a pressure corresponding to the height to which the
water is to be raised. I am aware that the apparatus known as "Giffard's
injector" has before been used both for discharging water upon and setting in
motion turbines and for raising water, but the idea of discharging the water
into compressed air instead of into water as regards turbines, and of discharging
water into compressed air instead of having the water column pressing direct
upon the injector as regards the raising of water, has never before been pro-
posed or attempted, although the advantage of having an air vessel is well
known when applied for instance to fire engines. Instead of the ordinary
air cylinders as described, rotary engines or exhausters can be used, or any
apparatus answering the functions of a double-acting air pump where
obtainable of the required dimensions. I prefer to use high-pressure india-
rubber tubing for conveying the compressed air.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Seiler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
SEILER, of 166, Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, in the French Empire, and 3
of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of 3
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Frederic Seiler;. Her special licence that I, the said Frederic
Seiler, my executors, administrators; and assigns, or such others as I, the
the said Frederic Seiler,. 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 "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND DIS-
TRIBUTING MOTIVE POWER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederic Seiler, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Frederic Seiler, 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:-
My Invention relates to certain novel modes of applying compressed air, and
to arrangements of machinery and apparatus for conveying and communicating
motive power to machinery more or less distant from the prime mover, for
raising and forcing water and other fluids, and for other useful purposes. The
compressed air is not permitted when thus employed to escape after having
once performed its work, as in air engines hitherto employed, but is enclosed
or confined in the apparatus, and constantly used over again, and only such
small portion of air as is lost by leakage has to be replaced, and is, when
required, forced into the apparatus by means of a force pump; and I would
here observe that the greater the pressure of the air (consistent with safety)
the more perfect is the action of the various apparatus hereafter described.
In carrying out my said Invention, I make use of compressed air of one
uniform pressure, or I use volumes or bodies of compressed air varying in
pressure, I also use compressed air in conjunction with water or other non-elastic
fluids, and lastly I use steam in conjunction with water and compressed air.
But in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood, I will
proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Diagram Fig. 1 represents one mode of communicating power. by means
of compressed air of one uniform pressure. A is part of the prime mover,

page_text: which actuates the piston of the first air cylinder B; C, C', are the pipes
which connect the air cylinder B with the air cylinder and engine D, which
latter is supposed to be situated at such a distance or place as would render
the transmission of motion by ordinary means from engine A impractible or
difficult. The cylinders B & D and pipes C, C', are filled with air of the
same pressure, which I will assume to be 60 lbs. per square inch. Supposing
now the piston of cylinder B to be moved in the direction of the arrow, the
air on this side of the piston will be forced out through port B', and passing
through pipe C, it will enter cylinder D through port D', and force piston of
cylinder D likewise in the direction of the arrow, whilst an equal volume of
air from the opposite side of piston will pass out through port D", and cause
a like volume of air to enter through port B" in the rear of piston of
cylinder B; the motion of the pistons in the two cylinders B and D is there-
fore simultaneous. Instead of one cylinder D, two or more smaller ones may be
connected with cylinder B; in this case the volume of air displaced at each
stroke by the piston of cylinder B must be equal to the united volumes of air
displaced at each stroke of the pistons of the several smaller cylinders.
Diagram Fig. 2 shows one mode of transmitting motive power by means
of high-pressure air in connection with low-pressure air. According to this
mode the cylinder or cylinders situated at the required distance from the
prime mover are supplied with high-pressure air in the same manner as a steam
cylinder of a condensing engine is supplied with steam, and the motion of the
piston or pistons in these air cylinders is not uniform with, but entirely
independent of the motion of the piston in the first cylinder. The cylinder B
is fitted with bigh-pressure ports and valves a, a', and low-pressure ports and
valves a, a, and is connected with the cylinder or cylinders to which power
is to be conveyed by means of the high-pressure pipe C passing through the
high-pressure reservoir or regulating accumulator C', and by the low-pressure
pipes C passing through the low-pressure reservoirs C. Assuming the high-
pressure air to be equal to 80 lbs. per square inch, and the low-pressure air
equal to 40 lbs., the low-pressure air with which the cylinder is filled will,
when the piston has moved in the direction of the arrow through half its stroke,
be compressed to half its volume, or to 80 lbs., when the valve a will open, and
allow the 80 lbs. air to enter pipe C and accumulator C. As the piston
moves in the direction indicated, the space behind it will fill itself with 40lbs.
air from pipe C", and accumulator C, through valve a". When the piston
is moved in the opposite direction the high-pressure air will be forced out
through valve a¹, and low-pressure air will enter at a¹. From the high-
pressure accumulator the air will pass to the air engine D which is worked by

page_text: it as if by steam, the high-pressure air on the one side of its piston forcing the
low-pressure air on the other side into pipe C" and accumulator C¹¹. It will
be seen that the air circulates constantly through the cylinder and pipe. It
enters at the pressure of 40 lbs. into cylinder B, becomes compressed to 80 lbs.,
and having passed through cylinder D is again lowered to 40.lbs. I have in
this Fig. 2 shown a system of pipes such as might be required for working
two or more smaller engines D, D, from the large cylinder B.
Fig. 3 represents one mode of transmitting motive power by means of high-
pressure and low-pressure air in conjunction with water or other non-elastic
fluids.
A & B represent two cylindrical vessels partly filled with water, which are con-
nected by a set of high-pressure pipes C and a set of low-pressure pipes C', and
these two sets of pipes are supposed to be supplied from an air cylinder through
high-pressure and low pressure regulating accumulators as described with refer-
ence to Fig. 2; D represents the casing of a horizontal reaction wheel or tur-
bine, which latter is in communication through the necessary channels with the
lower parts of the two vessels A & B. The high-pressure air of 80 lbs. acts upon
the water in vessel A, and forces it in the direction of the arrows through the
supply pipe D' into the turbine D, and driving the turbine in the usual manner
escapes from the same and enters at B¹ into vessel B, the. 40 lbs. air from the
latter escaping in the same proportion through pipe C¹ to low-pressure accumu-
lator. When the water in vessel B reaches a certain height, the air valves
will by means of floats or similar apparatus become reversed, and the water
from vessel B will again return to vessel A through supply pipe D" and the
turbine D, the latter continuing to revolve in the same direction. The dis-
charge pipe or tail race E from turbine D is connected with vessel A as well
as with vessel B, and is fitted with valves which alternately open the passage
from turbine D.to that vessel which is connected with the low-pressure accumu-
lator.
Fig. 4 represents another mode of transmitting power by means of compressed
air and water or other non-elastic fluid. A represents a cylindrical vessel
similar to A & B in Fig. 3; A is partly filled with water, and above the level of
the water a turbine wheel B is placed, with its shaft or spindle reaching through
the top of the vessel. The high-pressure pipe C communicates with the vessel A
through the injector D, which latter is connected with the water in vessel A
through the pipe D'. The low-pressure air pipe C¹ enters into vessel A through
the top. When the bigh-pressure air is admitted to the injector D through
the cock or valve D", the water from the vessel A will be drawn into the
injector, and forced through the same upon the turbine. The air which enters

page_text: the vessel A with the water will pass through pipe C¹ to the low-pressure
accumulator, in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 3. The
turbine can be placed outside the vessel, if preferred, the discharge pipe only
in this case entering into the vessel.
Fig. 5 represents one modification of my apparatus for raising and forcing
water and other fluids. The vessel A is supposed to be placed at the bottom
of a mine from which water has to be forced to the surface of the ground.
The vessel A is again partly filled with water. B is a pipe or tube fitted
with the necessary stop valve, through which the water is raised. The high-
pressure pipe C, which conveys air be it supposed of 7 atmospheres' pressure,
opens again into an injector D, which is supplied with the water from the
mine through tube D¹ from the collector or tank D"; the low-pressure pipe C¹
passes through the top of the vessel, as in Fig. 4, and the low-pressure air is
supposed to have a pressure of 5 atmospheres. When the cock or valve of.
injector D is turned on, the water will be forced into the air space of the
vessel. A, and from this it will be forced up through the pipe B to a height
corresponding with a pressure of 5 atmospheres, or not. more than 50 metres
or 164 feet. I consider it of importance to discharge, the water from the
injector into the air space and not into the water of the vessel A, as it will
meet with less resistance than if discharged into water under the same pressure
as the air. I also intend to apply this mode of discharging water into a vessel
holding.compressed air when the injector is worked by steam instead of by
compressed air. For raising and forcing water, in place of the air cylinders
and pistons described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, rotary engines may be
used, and when water is employed in conjunction with compressed air, as
described with reference to Figs. 3 & 4, any description of horizontal or
vertical turbine wheel or other hydraulic engine may be employed. I also
employ water under air pressure for injecting or forcing water, whether it be
for communicating motive power to a turbine or other motor, or for raising or
forcing fluids, or for both combined; and for this purpose I use apparatus
similar to those described with reference to Figs. 3, 4, & 5 combined. For
obtaining blast for furnaces and for other purposes, I inject atmospheric air by
air under a greater or lesser pressure, by means of compressing air into an air
chamber, the injected air being used as blast or otherwise, and the compressed
air used for injecting being retained and used over again. Whereever
practicable, I intend to use non-elastic high-pressure india-rubber tubing for
connecting the various apparatus.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit or restrict myself to the precise details and

page_text: arrangements herein set forth and described, but what I claim as the Invention
to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent -is,―
Firstly, the mode of conveying and transmitting motive power by compressed
air of one uniform pressure, as described with reference to Diagram Fig. 1.
Secondly, the mode of conveying and transmitting motive power by means
of high-pressure air and low-pressure air combined, as described with reference
to Diagram Fig. 2.
Thirdly, the mode of conveying and transmitting motive power by means of
high-pressure air and low-pressure air in combination with water or other
non-elastic fluid, as described with reference to Diagram Fig. 3.
Fourthly, the mode of conveying and transmitting motive power by injecting
or forcing water by compressed air upon a turbine or other wheel, as described
with reference to Diagrams Fig. 4.
Fifthly, the mode of conveying, transmitting, and applying power for raising
and forcing water or other non-elastic fluid by injecting the water to be raised
by high-pressure air into the water space or air space of a low-pressure vessel,
as described with reference to Diagram Fig. 5.
Sixthly, the mode of injecting air by compressed air into an air chamber for
furnace blast and other purposes, as described.
Seventhly, the mode of forcing or injecting water by water under air
pressure for transmitting motive power or for raising water, as described.
Eighthly, the mode of injecting water by steam into the air space of a
vessel for forcing or raising water, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Seiler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
FREDERIC SEILER. (L.S.)