IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR GAINING OR ACQUIRING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Claude Jacquelin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th April
1865.
I, CLAUDE JACQUELIN, junior, of 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, in
the Empire of France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR GAINING OR ACQUIRING
MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
My improved vertical machine is composed of few pieces to avoid unneces-
sary friction which would lessen its power. Two principal wheels placed on
the same axle turn in the same direction, the wheel No. 1 being completely
immersed in a cistern or tank flat at the sides, and rounded at its circumference
in the direction of its breadth for the lodgment of balloons (filled with com-
pressed air), in such wise that they will always be kept under the teeth of the
said wheel. This tank is at its upper part in communication with a feeding
basin separated from the tank by a grating, and which maintains the water
constantly at one level so as to compel the balloons to fall into the channel by
which they are to descend on to wheel No. 2. At the lower part of the tank
is a throttled part, which will not permit more than one balloon at a time to
come under the teeth of the wheel. Beneath this throat the tank extends
along the hind part of the table of the machine, and ends in a sort of tail
piece, which hermetically closes a groove in the table which is permanent at
this spot, and prevents the water from escaping. This said wheel No. 1 is

page_text: composed of moveable teeth, which by the aid of counterweights, hidden in
the framing of the wheel, rise and fall accordingly as they approach or recede
from the centre of gravity of the wheel, thus the teeth are lifted only on the
side where they receive the balloons, and laid down in a contrary direction on
the opposite side, by which means any great friction of the water with this
hind part of the wheel is avoided. The wheel No. 2 receives the balloons at
its upper part through a channel, and descends them to its lower part in a
funnel, which replaces them in each cylinder of the table, which in its circular
movement is charged with the re-introduction of the balloons under the tank.
The table is formed of ledges or blocks, which embracing the shape of the
balloons rise and fall by means of lever arms fixed beneath the table. Each
ledge in lowering places itself level with the fixed part of the table to form
with this latter a perfect groove, to pass afterwards under the tail piece of the
tank, which closes this said groove. The ledges or blocks rise again further
on to form the cavities, and receive the balloons. When a cavity has received
its balloon it passes under the bridge of the tank, and lastly, arrives under
water when the balloon immediately quits it, this simple mechanism not
causing the least displacement of water, each block lowering insensibly to pass
under the tail of the tank, and recommence the same movement. The lever
arms in passing to lift the blocks move under a fixed plate cut in shape
of a demilune, and to lower them that they may pass under the tail of the
tank they move under another similar plate. These lever arms are guided
by ring bolts fixed to the table so that they may not deviate from their work.
A feed pump is placed on the same axle as the wheels Nos. 1 and 2, this pump
sends water into the feed basin which is placed at the rear of the tank; this
water is taken from a reservoir placed at the lower part of the machine, and
is the water lost by the flux and reflux caused by the presence of the balloons
in the water. For this purpose, that is, using the water lost by the passing
out of the balloons, a groove is made at the lower plate of this issue, which
will conduct the escaping water into the hollow cavities in the teeth of the
wheel No. 2, further multiplying its force; this water falls into the reservoir
which is beneath the machine by a conduit starting under the lower part of
the wheel No. 2, and is retaken by the feed pump, and passed again into the
feed basin, and so on. Accessary pulleys and driving bands assist in the
feeding of the machine, and a fly wheel is placed between the wheels and the
pump to steady the working and regulate the speed. The machine is started
by placing some balloons in the funnel, and then by means of a lover of any
description giving a quarter of a turn to the wheel, this causes 3 or 4 balloons
to penetrate into the tank, and place themselves immediately under the teeth

page_text: of the wheel, and is sufficient to set it at work. The motivo power is propor-
tionate to the size of the wheel bathing in the tank, as well as to the relativo
dimensions of the balloons of compressed air which cause the wheel to move
on its axle. This apparatus may work as a stationary or as a moveable
engine, and be applied whereever power is required.