IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS WORKED OR ACTUATED BY HELICALS OR SPIRALS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theodore Schwann, of Neuss, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Doctor in Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Sealed the 21st November 1854, and dated the 23rd August 1854.
tion, on the 23rd August 1854, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEODORE
SCHWANN, of Neuss, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Doctor in Medecine, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS WORKED OR ACTUATED BY HELICALS OR SPIRALS," and
have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Ier Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
declaration that I verily believe myself to be the true and first Inventor
thereof:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Theodore Schawnn, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully

page_text: describes and ascertains the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawing hereunto annexed, and forming part of my Specification, and to the
letters of reference placed upon the Diagrams drawn thereon:-
In works of art or constructions on the banks of, in, or near rivers, canals,
or other bodies of water, pumps are used for the purpose of drawing or draining
off the surplus or the whole of the water. These pumps are so placed that the
water is often obliged to be raised 3 or 4 times higher than the real level of
the two waters. The same end may be obtained without this waste of means,
by employing a syphon, combined with a propulsive, centrifugal, or helical
spring apparatus, that shall give an impetus to the water contained in the
syphon, causing it to ascend a little above the positive level of the two waters.
My Invention first particularly refers to a syphon, combined with helicals or
spirals, and in my experiments I have made several discoveries, by which the
effect of such helices or helicals or spirals are considerably augmented; amongst
others, that the best form of helix or helical is not the ordinary helecoid sur-
face, but that of a helicoidal cone, as follows:-In an ordinary helical or helix
all the radii are perpendicular on the axis, and their centres form a straight
line in the middle of the axis. In the helicoidal cone all the radii have an
inclination towards a single point of the axis. In the ordinary helix the dis-
tances are the same for all the points of the radii. In the helicoidal cone the
distances increase as soon as they recede from the axis; thus, the angle
under which the water is struck, or, in other words, the angle which forms the
surface of the helix or helical, with the plane of the rotation, is the same in
the helicoidal cones for all the distances from the axis, while in the ordinary
helical it is very great near the axis and very small towards the periphery.
The angle at which the helical cone works in the water with the greatest
advantage is that of which the sine is equal to . Further, the helical not
only lifts water, but produces at the same time a rapid circular movement
thereof, and thus a great portion of the power employed is lost.
To remedy
this, I place above the moving helical a helical fixed on the side of the cylinder
in which the moveable helical turns. This fixed helical makes but a half turn,
and its plane, at first little inclined, becomes in the end a perpendicular half
turn on the plane of rotation. The circular movement of the water above the
moveable helical becomes thus an ascending movement. As the water below
the moveable helical prevents also the rotatory movement, but in a less degree,
I place a fixed helical, forming a quarter turn, below the moveable helical.
. Again, the application of the helical fixed above the moveable, helical, in
diverting the current of the water in the direction of the axis of the 1 helicals,

page_text: allows the application of a second moving helical on the same axis, and imme-
diately above the fixed helical, and this may be surmounted in its turn by a
second helical, and these helicals may thus be placed over each other as often
as desired. The effect produced by this combination of helicals is the same as
would be produced by using the same number of helicals separately, and by
this means water may be raised to any required height. The helicals, even
without the aid of a syphon, are capable of being used instead of pumps
everywhere and for every depth. If my apparatus be used instead of pumps,
which may be only required to work momentarily, a valve should be placed
where the exit pipe leaves the cylinder containing the helicals, to stop the
descent of the water while the apparatus is in a state of repose. It is evident
that these improvements in helicals, or rather these helicoidal cones, fixed
moveable helicals, and multiplied helicals, are also applicable to the machi-
nery of steam boats; for this purpose it is sufficient to surround the helical
of the boat by or with a cylinder fixed on the boat, and carrying behind
the moveable helical a fixed helical, of a similar curviture as that herein.
before described; behind this fixed helical another moveable helical may
be applied on the same axis, and so on, to any extent required. In the appa-
ratus herein-before in part described, it will be seen that it is the helical
which receives the motive power, and which produces the movement of the
water. But without departing from the principle of my Invention, an appa-
ratus can be constructed on the reverse method; as, for example, if a column
of water descends into a cylinder, it may be made to act on the helicals, pro-
duce the movements thereof, as also the rotation of the axis, by replacing the
turbinates by an helical apparatus. The water descending into the cylinder
acts on the first moveable helical, producing a slight rotation, but the water
will now itself receive a rotatory impetus below the helical; it is, therefore,
necessary to place below the moveable helical pallets, fixed on the side or
partition of the cylinder, and so curved as to transform the circular or spiral
movement of the water in a perpendicular movement on the following moveable
helical, and thus successively all the moveable helicals are to be arranged, the
number of which on a single axis will depend upon the height of the column
of water to be disposed of.
:
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 shews a side view of the apparatus
5 for draining or exhausting water, .A being the metal cylinder containing
the helicals, and may be considered as plunged a little above its centre in
the water to be raised, the cylinder being open at its bottom. B, B, B, a
inetal syphon, of variable height or length, according to the requirements
of each case; C is the valve, which is opened when the helicals have

page_text: commenced their action; D shews a pipe, on which a small pump may be
attached to fill the syphon at the commencement of the operation, but this
is not necessary when the helical force is great; E, a metal arm, serving to
fit the upper extremity of the axle or axis of the helicals; F and 7, the axle
or axis of the helicals (made of wrought iron or other suitable material),
composed of two pieces, F being the portion traversing the cylinder; it
commences below by a steel point, passes upwards through a stuffing box, and
is furnished at its upper extremity with a head, having therein a hollow
square g in the upper portion of the axis, carrying a wheel h, which receives
motion from the steam engine; this wheel may be fixed at any convenient
height. Figure 2 shews the lid of the cylinder, and Figure 3 shews a section
of the cylinder with the helicals therein. The bottom of the cylinder is
open, and is crossed with a strong transverse rod or bar A, which supports the
axle. The lid of the cylinder B has in its centre a stuffing box C, through
which the axle passes; it is surmounted by the beginning of the pipe, which
forms the syphon D; the syphon is of half the diameter of the cylinder. The
axle is made of a cylinder of wrought steel E, fixed at its base on the transverse
bar aforesaid, and similarly at its upper extremity by a hollow cone F. Around
this fixed cylinder there is a hollow cylinder g, which carries the moveable
helicals, as herein-before described; this hollow cylinder may be screwed
above into a ring H. This ring is traversed at its lower extremity by the fixed
cylinder. Across the upper portion of the ring a point (made of case-hardened
steel) is screwed, which turns with the hollow part of the axle in the hollow
cone J; the ring is surmounted by a piece embodied with it, and presenting a
square hole in its centre to receive the superior axle, as before described, this
axle being acted upon by the steam or other power. The axle is thicker in
the cylinder when it supports the helicals, until it nearly meets the stuffing
box; it then tapers off and passes through the stuffing box as thin as the
solidity of the apparatus will permit, so as to exercise as little friction as
possible therein. K is a fixed helical, forming the quarter of a spiral; at its
external edge (indicated by the dotted line) is fixed on the edge of the cylinder
another quarter of a spiral, is shewn on the other half of the cylinder. L is a
moveable helical, which turns with the axle; it is composed of 4 quarters,
constructed on the system of helicoid cones. It will be seen on the right wing
that the radii of the helicals are not perpendicular on the axle. M is a fixed
helical attached to the sides of the cylinder, and forming a half turn. A like one
appears in the other half of the cylinder; it begins like the first fixed spiral,
but tapers off' more and more, and finally becomes alınost perpendicular. N is
a second helical, exactly similar to that first described. O is a new spiral fixed

page_text: on the sides of the cylinder and is unique; it resembles in its spiral direction
the helical M, with this modification, that its upper portion or half begins to
leave the cylinder in the direction of the tangent, to conduct the water into the
pipe or conduit D.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the means by which
I carry the same into effect, 1 wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to
the various parts of machinery or apparatus mentioned in the foregoing
description when taken as parts and not in combination for the purposes of
my Invention, except as they may be separately herein-after claimed; but I
declare the results of my "Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus Worked
or Actuated by Helicals or Spirals" to be, and I claim,―
Firstly, the use of the apparatus or machine for draining, exhausting, or
discharging water, consisting of a combination of syphon and helicals or l:clices,
as herein-before described.
Secondly, the application of helical apparatus instead of ordinary pumps
without syphons.
Thirdly, a new form (as herein-before described) of helical or helix, which I
call an helicoidal cone or conical helical, as herein-before described.
Fourthly, the use and application of fixed helicals or helices above and
below moveable helicals, as herein-before described.
Fifthly, the use and application of several moveable helicals or helices
seperated by fixed helicals or helices on the same axle.
Sixthly, the application of the helices or helicals to steam boats, in the
mode or manner herein-before described.
And, lastly, the mode of causing a column of water to act on helicals or
helices, so as to produce rotation of their axis.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theodore Schwann, have hereunto
affixed my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
HYPOLITE BIEBUYCK,
Bruxelles.
THEODORE SCHWANN. (L.S.)