. METHOD OF COMMUNICATING OR IMPARTING MOTION BY MEANS OF FLUIDS ACTING CENTRETAL
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Joseph Slade Graham, of Northumberland.
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A
. METHOD OF COMMUNICATING OR IMPARTING MOTION BY MEANS OF FLUIDS OR
Sealed the 20th May 1864, and dated the 8th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Joseph Slade
Graham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th January 1864.
I, ALEXANDER JOSEPH SLADE GRAHAM, of Northumberland Street, Strand; in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention-
for "A METHOD OF COMMUNICATING OR IMPARTING MOTION BY MEANS OF FLUIDS
OR VAPOURS ACTING CENTRIPETALLY," to be as follows:-
The communicating or imparting a revolving motion to a shaft or shafts,
and to spur or other gearing or machinery fixed thereon or connected therewith
by means of the action of steam, water, air, or other fluids or vapours caused
to act centripetally or to gyrate in a closed circular chamber or vessel by
being admitted at the circumference thereof, and allowed to escape at the
centre; the fluid or vapour thus acts on arms or vanes fixed on that part of
the shaft which is within the vessel or chamber, the shaft itself extending
through the ends of the latter and working in bearings external thereto, and
being made hollow for the purpose of allowing the escape of the fluid or
vapour through it. A reference to the accompanying Diagram will explain
the Invention more fully.

page_text: B is the chamber or vessel which is made fluid or vapour-tight, having the
entrances A, A', at the circumference for the admission of the steam, water,
air, or other fluid or vapour, and central apertures in the ends through which
the shaft C passes; D, D, D, D, are arms or vanes fixed to or on that part
of the shaft C which works within the vessel or chamber; these vanes extend
radially to the circumference, and from end to end of the latter, and being
carried round by the gyrating or centipetal action or force of the fluid or
vapour actuate the shaft. These arms or vanes may be of any number, and
flat or curved, as may be required; C is the shaft, which passing through the
centre of the circular vessel or chamber B at right angles to its ends works
in bearings external to the vessel or chamber, and transmits the motion to the
necessary gearing or other parts attached to or in connection with it. This
shaft is made hollow for the whole or any portion of its length, so as to allow
the fluid or vapour to escape through it, longitudinal apertures.being, made
between the vanes in that part within the. vessel or chamber for that purpose.
The entrance A¹ is shewn in the diagram. to explain that the direction of
the motion may be reversed from that shewn by the arrows when the fluid or
vapour is admitted.through it; in that case the entrance A being closed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said Alexander Joseph Slade Graham in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 8th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL COME, I,, ALEXANDER
JOSEPH SLADE GRAHAM, of Northumberland Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters, 2
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh, year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander Joseph Slade: Graham, Her special-license that. I,, the said
Alexander Joseph Slade Graham, my executors, administrators, and assigns,, 3
or such others as I, the said Alexander Joseph Slade Graham, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with; and no others,.
from time to time and 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 8
Isle of Man, an Invention for "A METHOD OF COMMUNICATING OR IMPARTING,

page_text: my
MOTION BY MEANS OF FLUIDS OR VAPOURS ACTING CENTRIPETALLY," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Joseph Slade Graham,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
hand
and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 Alexander Joseph Slade Graham, 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 (that is to say) -
My method for communicating or imparting motion to machinery consists
principally in causing any fluid or vapour entering at the circumference of an
enclosed circular vessel or chamber to act centripetally in gyrations until it
escapes through apertures into a hollow axle passing through the centre, the
latter having vanes, arms, or flanches on that portion of it which is within the
enclosed vessel or chamber. By the aforesaid action of the fluid or vapour
these vanes, arms, or flanches are caused to revolve and move the axle, with
such machinery as may be placed in connection with it, whereby economy of
power and much simplicity of construction, rapidity and uniformity of motion,
and diminution of friction are obtainable.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed to describe the method more particularly, as well as the Figures on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, forming a part of this Specification.
Fig. 1 represents the elevation; Fig. 2, the plan; Fig. 3, the longitudinal
section, and Fig. 4, cross section of the machine, generally described above,
for use with what are commonly known as elastic fluids or vapours. In these
Figures the same letters of the alphabet refer to similar parts of the apparatus
on the elevation, plan, and sections.
1, n; is the framework, upon which the machine is supported; a represents
the induction pipe, having a slide valve at c, or other convenient valve, by
which the fluid or vapour passes from it into the enclosed vessel or chamber
d, e, f, g, Fig. 3. By raising or lowering the slide valve at c, the branch h, i, is
opened for giving forward motion, or the branch h, j, for giving reverse motion
to the vanes or arms o; p, q, r, and the hollow axle y, z. The enclosed vessel
or chamber d, e, f, g, consists of a hollow cylinder, having a cone in the cir-
cumference extending from k to m, or farther, with one or more ports as at k
&n. This cylinder has flanches all round the circumference, to which tho

page_text: covers a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, or sides, by which it is closed in at each end;.
are firmly bolted, rivetted, screwed, or otherwise fastened with proper packing.
as shown at s, t, u, v, Figs: 2 & 4, so as to render the joints perfectly fluid or
vapour tight. These covers are flat, curved, cruciform, or of any form to suit.
the vanes or arms o, p..q, r; and have stuffing boxes and glands in the centre as
shown at w and x, for admitting the hollow axle y, z, to pass through on each.
side and revolve fluid or vapour tight. Raised ribs as at a, b, c, d, e, f,.
g³, h¹, extend on the outside of the covers from the circumference to the
stuffing. boxes, and are proportional in size and number to the diameter of the
enclosed vessel or chamber, and the amount of pressure acting on its inner-
surface. When steam is used and the size of the enclosed vessel or chamber
is large, it may be packed on the outside with felt or other suitable material
to prevent the evaporation of heat. The vanes or arms o, p, q, r, are bolted,
screwed, rivetted, or otherwise fastened to the flanches i, j, k, l, Fig. 3,
projecting from that portion of the axis which is within the enclosed vessel
or chamber. These vanes or arms may be also of one piece, with or an
extension of the flanches i¹, j, k, l, and may be of any suitable number or
convenient form, plane, curved, cruciform, or fan shaped. In the Drawings
they are connected by segments m³, n¹, o¹, p¹, and closely fitted for the whole
or a portion of their perimeter to the inside surface of the enclosed vessel or
chamber, with packing on both sides consisting of vulcanized indian-rubber,
having steel facings or other suitable materials, so as to prevent the passage.
of the fluid or vapour between such portion and the inner surfaces of the
enclosed vessel or chamber.. In this case that portion of their perimeter
which is not-packed, as also the segments is notched on each side as shown
on the sections Figs. 3 & 4, so as to admit of the circulation of the fluid
or vapour round the hollow axle and between it and the inner surface of the
covers to the adjacent apertures, holes, or slots q, r, s, t¹; but when the
vanes or arms are packed for the whole of their perimeter, or for a portion of
their perimeter and the whole of the segments, these apertures, holes, or slots,.
as well as the hollow in the axle with which they communicate, must be
larger than shown on the Drawings. y, z, is the hollow. axle, having flanches
i, j, k, l, projecting from that portion of it which is within the enclosed.
vessel or chamber d, e, f, g, and apertures, holes, or slots g¹; r², s¹, t¹‚.
Figs. 3 & 4, in the circumference.between these flanches, and communicating
with the hollow in its centre. The remainder of the axle extends beyond the
bearings u¹ and v³, and is hollow also for the whole or a portion of its length,
so as to admit the escape of the fluid or vapour externally to the enclosed
vessel or chamber d, e, f, g, as shown by the arrows Figs. 3 & 4.. The axle.

page_text: revolves. fluid or vapour tight in the stuffing boxes w and x, and evenly in
closely fitted. bearings. at u¹ and v¹, at y & z, w & a, inside and outside the
bearings, so as to prevent the vanes or arms from rubbing against the inside
surface of the said enclosed vessel or chamber. Nipples of various diameters
as.at.y & z.may be attached to the extremities of the axle, when hollow.
for. the whole of its length, on one or both sides of the enclosed vessel or
chamber to regulate the issue of the fluid or vapour.. But when. the axle iš
hollow only for a portion of its length on one or both sides of the enclosed:
vessel or chamber d, e, f, g, the fluid or vapour escapes through apertures in.
its circumference, round which a proper box, with an escape pipe. and valve;.
may be placed to receive and regulate the. issue.. When steam is used, these:
pipes, or pipes fixed to the extremities of: the axle, or to the nipples with:
revolving joints, can convey the steam into a tender. or condenser in order to
cause a vacuum and save caloric.. Also. when much. motive power, is required
and the hollow in. the axle is large, a slide valve similar to that, shown at c;.
Figs. 1, 2, & 3, or other suitable valve in which the extremities, of. the axle.
can revolve, may be applied instead of nipples for regulating the issue of the:
fluid or vapour.. A drum, pinion, or spur wheel,. or crank, or other gearing.
is to be keyed or otherwise fastened to the axle y, z,. inside the. bearings u¹
and v', or outside them between a and, z, for transmitting the motion. to.
machinery. The framing 1, n, upon which the enclosed vessel or chamber.
d, e, f, g, and the axle bearings u³ and: rest may be of any suitable material,
and of the form shown on the Drawings, or any other convenient form..
.. According to the method now described the fluid or vapour being admitted
from the. induction pipe a by the valve at c, enters the enclosed vessel or,
chamber.d, e, f, g, through the ports.at k & m; leading from the core in or on
the circumference (see Figs. 3 & 4) and seeks the centre in gyrations as
shown by the arrows, until it passes through the apertures q, r, s, t, and.
along the hollow axle y, z, and escapes at any point. in its length external
to the enclosed vessel or chamber.. It thus causes the vanes or arms o, p; q.™‚.
to revolve, as well as the hollow axle, and any pinion or spur wheels, drums;
cranks, or other gearing connected with it.
}
Fig. 5 represents the elevation; Fig. 6, the plan; Fig. 7, the vertical, and
Fig..8, the horizontal, section of the machine for use with what are commonly;
known as non-elastic fluids. In these Figures, the same letters of the.
alphabet refer to similar portions of themac hine, on the elevation, plan, and
sections...
1, n, is the framework, upon which the machine is supported; a represents.
the induction pipes, having slide valves at c, by which water or other non-
.

page_text: elastic fluid passes from them into the enclosed vessel or chamber d, e, f, g,
(see Fig. 8,) and by raising or lowering these valves the fluid is admitted to
or shut off from it. When the branch h, i, is open, and the branch h, j,
closed, forward. motion is communicated to the vanes or arms o, p, q, r, and the
axle y, z, and when the branch h, j, is open, and the branch h, i, closed, reverse
motion is.. imparted to them. The enclosed vessel or chamber d, e, f, g,
Figs..6 & 8, consists of a hollow cylinder and other parts: similar to those in
the machine described for use with elastic fluids; but the ribs on the outside
of the covers will not be required in all cases. The vanes or arms o, p, q, r,
are also. of the same description; y, z, is the hollow axle perforated with
apertures q,,s', t'; in its circumference and between the flanches i¹, j¹, k³, l';
That portion of it which extends. from the top of the inner surface of the
enclosed vessel or chamber downwards to the bearing is hollow, as shown
on the section Fig. 7, either for the whole length or to any point in its
length external to the enclosed vessel or chamber; and that portion of it
which extends from the top of the inner surface upwards to the bearing or
collar u is solid. It revolves fluid-tight in the stuffing boxes w and x, and
evenly in the bearings u¹ and v¹. Nipples of suitable diameters, as at s¹, may
be fixed to the lower extremity of the axle to regulate the issue of the fluid.
A.drum, pinion, or..spur wheel, crank, or other gearing is to be keyed or
otherwise fixed to the upper extremity of the axle at y³, for transmitting the
motion to machinery. The lower extremity of the axle revolves on a bearing
or socket v, which is permanently supported. This bearing or socket when
the lower extremity of the axle is hollow, has a circular opening through its
centre sufficiently large to admit of the nipple &¹, and the escape of the fluid;
but when the lower extremity of the axle is solid and screwed, or otherwise
fastened to the hollow part, the bearing v¹ has a pivot in the centre upon
which the axle revolves, and the nipple is fixed to the circumference above the
bearing, in order to admit of the escape of the fluid laterally. The framing
1n, upon which the enclosed vessel or chamber d, e, f, g, the bearing v¹, and
the collar u¹ is fixed, may be of any suitable material, and of the form shown
on the Drawings, or any other convenient form. The materials of which
these machines may be constructed are iron, brass, gun-metal, or any other
material strong enough for the work and capable of bearing the pressure of
fluids, steam, or other vapours in the specified mode of action.
.. Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and shown how the same may be conveniently carried into effect, I wish it to
be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details 'herein set
forth; but I claim,―

page_text: First, communicating or imparting motion to a shaft by causing any fluid
or vapour entering at the circumference of an enclosed vessel or chamber to
act centripetally in gyrations against vanes, arms, or flanches on that portion
of the shaft which is within the said enclosed vessel or chamber until it
escapes by a hole passing along the centre of the said shaft, and open on one
or both sides to the atmosphere, as herein-before substantially described.
Second, I claim the moveable axle hollow for the whole or a portion of its
length, and having apertures through the circumference and between the
vanes, arms, or flanches for the direction and escape of the fluid or vapour, as
above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Joseph Slade Graham, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
ALEX. J. S. GRAHAM. (L.S.)
Witnesses,
A. J. SMART,
GEORGE HASELTINE,
12, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London.