A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Semple, of Axminster, in the County of
Devon, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING
MOTIVE POWER, AND THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 16th November 1866, and dated the 19th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Semple at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th May 1866.
I, MATTHEW SEMPLE, of Axminster, in the County of Devon, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in employing the weight of an engine, carriage, or
other apparatus as a means of obtaining a continuous supply of compressed
air, which is the power I use for driving or propelling such engine, carriage,
or apparatus.
My Invention may be carried into effect in various ways; but the follow-
ing are the arrangements I prefer to adopt, and I proceed to describe them
as applied to a railway engine:-
My first arrangement consists in mounting one wheel or one or more pairs
of wheels of the engine or carriage upon a hollow axle which is in communi-
cation with a reservoir for compressed air; these wheels I call "power-
creating wheels." Around one half, more or less, of the outer periphery of

page_text: this wheel I secure a tube of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material of,
say,
10 inches in diameter, more or less, and I carry the ends of
this tube through the periphery of the wheel to the hollow axle, or connect
them to the outer ends of hollow spokes which are fitted into the hollow axle,
or otherwise. I secure a similar tube in the same manner to the other half
of the periphery of the wheel; this wheel is fitted inside a hoop or wheel of
larger diameter (which may be closed or partially closed on one or both
sides), so that the inner wheel does not bear upon the rail or road, but upou
the inner periphery of the outer wheel. Thus whichever tube on the inner
wheel is secured to that portion of the periphery which is lowermost is com-
pressed between the two wheels, while the other tube is expanded to its
normal size. Each tube is fitted with one or more inlet valves to admit air
from the outside, and with one or more outlet valves to allow the air in the
tube to be forced into the hollow axle. The action is as follows:-As the
wheel revolves the tube which is filled with air becomes compressed between
the two wheels by the weight of the engine or carriage, so that the air therein
is forced through the outlet valve or valves into the hollow axle; then as this
tube advances towards the top air rushes in through the air inlet valve or
valves and expands the tube to its normal size, while the other tube is being
compressed, and so on, the compression and expansion of the two tubes taking
place alternately. The air forced into the hollow axle passes on to the air
reservoir, from which it is conveyed as required to the cylinders of the
engine; a valve or valves is or are fitted between the hollow axle and the air
reservoir. The air inlet valves are fitted, by preference, to the inner periphery
of the inner wheel, so that as soon as each has passed the lowest part of its
revolution it may be free to fall and admit air to the tube. To prevent injury
to the tubes by the pressure of the wheel I form round the inside of the outer
wheel two ribs of the thickness of the tube when compressed, or a littlo more.
Sometimes I heat the compressed air to give it greater power by leading it
through a heating chamber between the reservoir and the cylinders.
Another arrangement consists in the employment, in lieu of the india-
rubber or other tubes before mentioned, of cylinders fitted to the power-
creating wheels; these cylinders are provided with pistons, which are actuated
from the centre or other part of the wheels or axles either vertically or
laterally by excentrics or otherwise. The cylinders are fitted with inlet
valves and with outlets in communication with the compressed air reservoir.
When I employ cylinders with pistons actuated vertically the outer wheel or
hoop may be dispensed with. To prevent the cylinders, tubes, or other
working parts before described from becoming over heated I adopt an arrange-

page_text: ment for lifting one or more wheels which carry such tubes and other parts
off the ground, so as to throw them out of gear, and for lowering another
wheel or wheels on to the ground to commence to work. This arrangement
consists in connecting a screw or lever to the wheel axle or bearing spring,
such screw or lever being actuated by a hand wheel or otherwise.
Another method of throwing the power-creating wheels into and out of
gear consists in fitting a pair of such wheels in the body of the engine or
carriage between the driving wheels, and in working them by gearing or
otherwise from the driving or other wheels. Only one of these wheels is
in gear at one time, and I connect a clutch or similar apparatus thereto to
give them a sliding motion, in order that the wheel which is in gear may
be thrown out of gear, and vice versa.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Semple in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. MATTHEW
SEMPLE, of Axminster, in the County of Devon, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Matthew Semple, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew Semple, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Matthew
Semple, 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 "A NEW METHOD OF
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Semple, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Matthew Semple, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statenent thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in employing the weight or the movement of an
engine, carriage, or other apparatus as a means of obtaining a continuous
supply of compressed air, the clasticity of which is the power I use for driving
or propelling such engine, carriage, or apparatus.
My Invention may be carried into effect in various ways; but the
following are the arrangements I prefer to adopt, and I proceed to describe
them as applied to a railway engine:―
My first arrangement consists in mounting one wheel or one or more pairs
of wheels of the engine or carriage upon a hollow axle which is in cominuni-
cation with a reservoir for compressed air; these wheels I call "power-
collecting wheels." Around one half, more or less, of the outer periphery of
this wheel 1 secure a tube or tubes of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable
flexible material of, say, ten inches in diameter, more or less, and I carry the
ends of this tube or these tubes through the periphery of the wheel to the hollow
axle, or connect the ends to the outer ends of hollow spokes which are fitted
into the hollow axle or otherwise. 1 secure a similar tube or similar tubes in
the same manner to the other half of the periphery of the wheel; this wheel
is fitted inside a hoop or wheel of larger diametor (which may be closed or
partially closed on one or both sides), so that the inner wheel does not bear
upon the rail or road, but upon the inner periphery of the outer wheel. Thus
whichever tube or tubes on the inner wheel is secured to that portion of
the periphery which is lowermost is or are compressed between the two
wheels, while the other tube or tubes is or are expanded to its or their
normal size. Each tube is fitted with one or more valves to admit air froin
the outside, and with one or more outlet valves to allow the air in the tube
to be forced into the hollow axle.
The first arrangement is shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a wheel constructed substantially as above
described, and Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
A, A, is the wheel, having four tubes B, B, of vulcanized india-rubber on its
periphery, each tube covering about one-fourth of the periphery. The tubes are
perforated at one end, as shown, for the admission of air which issues through
apertures a, fitted with valves b in the rim of the wheel near the other end of
the tubes; and it passes theuce through the spokes c, which are made hollow,
or through pipes provided for the purpose to the axle C, which is also hollow.

page_text: From the hollow axle C the air is conveyed by pipes to reservoirs or receivers
on the engine or carriage to be used for propelling the carriages along a rail
or road. The wheel A. is fitted inside a hoop or wheel D of larger dimensions,
so that the inner wheel A does not bear upon the rail or road; this outer
wheel may be closed or partially closed on one or both sides to prevent it
leaving the inner wheel when travelling.
The action is as follows: As the wheel A revolves the tube or tubes B, B,
which is or are filled with air, becomes or become compressed between the
two wheels A and D by the weight of the engine or carriage, so that the air
therein is forced through the outlet valve or valves & into the hollow axle (;
then as this tube or these tubes B, B, advances or advance towards the top,
air rushes in through the air inlet valve or valves a and expands the tube or
tubes to its normal size, while the other tube or tubes is or are being com-
pressed, and so on, the compression and expansion of the tubes taking place
successively. The air forced into the hollow axle C passes on, as before
stated, to an air reservoir, from which it is conveyed, as required, to the
cylinders of the ongine; a valve or valves is or are fitted between the hollow
axle and the air reservoir. Sometimes I attach the flexible tubes to the inner
poriphery of an outer wheel instead of to the outer periphery of an inner
wheel.
Figure 3 shows an elevation of a wheel A with the tubes B, B, fitted to
the inside of the rim.
The arrangement of the inlets and outlets for the air are similar to the
wheel above described. In this case the compression of the tubes is effected
by a small inner wheel or roller bearing on them; this roller D is carried
by bearings or brackets on the axle C or on the framing of the engine. The
air inlet valves may be fitted in either wheel, but by preference to the inner
periphery of the inner wheel, so that as soon as each has passed the lowest
part of its revolution it may be free to fall and admit air to the tube.. To
prevent injury to the tubes by the pressure of the wheel, I form round tho
inside of the outer wheel , as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, two ribs of the
thickness of the tubes when compressed, or a little more. Sometimes I heat
the compressed air to give it greater power by leading it through a heating
chamber between the reservoir and the cylinders.
Another arrangement consists in the employment, in lieu of india-rubber or
other tubes before mentioned, of cylinders fitted to the power-collecting wheels;
these cylinders are provided with pistons which are actuated from the centre or
other part of the wheels or axles either vertically or laterally by excentrics or
otherwise. The cylinders are fitted with inlet valves and with outlets in com-

page_text: munication with the compressed air reservoir. When I employ cylinders
with pistons actuated vertically the outer wheel or hoop may be dispensed
with.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a wheel with cylinders having pistons actuated
vertically. A is the wheel, and E, E, are cylinders on its inner periphery;
these cylinders oscillate on trunnions and are fitted with piston rods l
actuated by an excentric G on the hollow axle; each of the cylinders is
provided with an inlet and an outlet valve, the outlet valves being in commu-
nication by pipes H with the hollow axle and compressed air reservoir, as
herein-before explained. As the wheel revolves the piston of that cylinder
which is at the bottom of the wheel is, by the action of the excentric G,
caused to drive out the air from the cylinder into the hollow axle, and as this
cylinder is carried towards the top the piston is withdrawn by the excentric
and the air enters by the inlet and again fills this cylinder; while this opera-
tion is going on with one cylinder the other cylinders follow successively
and act in the same manner.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement, in which I employ cylinders with
pistons actuated laterally. A is an outer wheel, and B is a groove formed
round its inner periphery. C, D, are a pair of bevil wheels which revolve
with the outer wheel A, their lowest part being kept in contact with each
other by working in the groove B. E, E, are cylinders carried by the
wheel C, and F, F, are pistons carried by the wheel D and working in the
cylinders E, E. G, G, are pipes or tubes leading from the cylinders to a
stuffing box H and to the hollow axle L. When each cylinder E is at the
bottom of the outer wheel A the piston is driven to the bottom of the
cylinder, owing to the bevil wheels C, D, being together at that part, and
the air is therefore forced out of this cylinder through the tube G; by
the time the cylinder is at the upper part of the outer wheel the piston is
withdrawn and air enters the cylinder by an air inlet and fills it. To prevent
the cylinders and tubes and other working parts before described from
becoming overheated I adopt an arrangement for lifting one or more wheels
which carry such tubes and other parts off the ground, so as to throw them
out of work, aud for lowering another wheel or wheels on to the ground to
commence to work. This arrangement consists in connecting a screw or lever
to the wheel, axle, or bearing spring, such screw or lever being actuated by
a hand wheel or otherwise.
Another method of throwing the power-collecting wheels into and out of
gear consists in fitting a pair of such wheels in the body of the engine or
carriage between the driving wheels, and in working them by gearing on

page_text: otherwise from the driving or other wheels. Only one of these wheels is in
gear at one time, and I connect a clutch or similar apparatus thereto to
give them a sliding motion, in order that the wheel which is in gear may
be thrown out of gear, and vice versa.
To obtain the first motion of the engine or apparatus I charge the
reservoir with compressed air at a pressure equal to, say, that of two atmo-
spheres; the engine or apparatus is thus charged for the day, and is under
the same control as an ordinary locomotive.
I call my apparatus for obtaining motive power "Semple's Pneumatic
Engine."
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, obtaining motive power by employing, substantially as herein-
before described, the weight or the movement of an engine, carriage, or
other apparatus, as means of obtaining compressed air, the elasticity of
which is employed as the motive power.
Second, the several arrangements of apparatus, acting substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Semple, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred nd sixty-six.
M. SEMPLE. (L.B.)