A NEW MOTIVE POWER, SO CALLED REBOUR'S MOTOR
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Joseph Napoléon Rebour, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW MOTIVE POWER,
SO CALLED REBOUR'S MOTOR."
Sealed the 14th August 1560, and dated the 30th June 1860.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Claude Joseph Napoléon
Rebour at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 30th June 1850, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDE
JOSEPH NAPOLEON REBOUR, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "A NEW MOTIVE
POWER, SO CALLED REBOUR'S MOTOR," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first
and true Inventor thereof:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Claude Joseph Napoléon Rebour, do
hereby declare thatthe following Complete Specification under my hand aud scai
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the ao
panying Drawings, and to the letters aud figures in irked thereon, that is
to say:

page_text: My Invention refers to a new motive power, which I wish to be called
"Rebour's Motor."
Ever since the first dawn of civilisation gravity was considered as an
inherent difficulty or obstacle to all movement, to all locomotion, and all
ancient and modern inventions tending to aid the work of men or the locomo-
tion of things only served to decompose gravity, or to overcome its effects by
means diametrically opposed to the conditions which are peculiar thereto.
The said motor in utilising gravity is a new application of the laws of the
descent of bodies; it is consecrated by experience in two different ways.
The first manner consists in causing two cylindric weights of a power
superior to that required, in order to overcome the inertia produced by any
charge to rest upon two carriage wheels, said weights or solid wheels being
connected by an axis, which sets them apart at the same distance as the
carriage wheels. When these two solid wheels are on the vertical line passing
through their centre of gravity, and on that of the wheels upon which they
rest, they remain stationary, but if they are removed from that line by the
hand of man, and if their axis is made to rest upon any point animated with a
continual motion ever reproduced at the same point, and consequently unable
to afford a rigid support, a breaking out of the equilibrium will naturally ensue,
and the two wheels will produce a motion opposite to this change of the centre
of gravity.
Let us suppose a man at rest. When he wishes to move he is compelled
to break the equilibrium, by carrying his body out of the vertical line passing
through his centre of gravity. When he wishes to increase his speed, he is
compelled to augment the change of the same centre of gravity, and if at that
moment the motion of his legs were not quicker, the fall of his body would inevi-
tably result therefrom. The displacement of a man's legs merely represent
two radii of the periphery of a circle set apart from each other in a manner
nearly alike; the breaking of his equilibrium produces the motion in the
direction of the breaking, whilst thenpplicationof that principle to my Invention
produces the movement in an opposite direction.
This Invention is adverse to all the ideas admitted up to this day, the
learned still pretending that a weight whatever cannot produce au effect unless
it operates a fall. But new ideas beget progress; and have not new ideas been
brought to light these centuries past, and may not new ones again spring
besides those admitted to this day? God's work is not at au end. Let us
consider the motion of a man traversing a space, and we will see that there is no
falling of his body; displacement is only owing to his equilibrium being broken;
it is not his muscular strength, nor his wish of displacement, which produce

page_text: his backward or forward motion, for he would stand motionless on the
perpendicular line if he could not break his equilibrium. If, beside the point
of contact of the two cylindrical weights or wheels, there were no empty space
the breaking of the equilibrium would prove impossible, and so would it
equally prove if out of their centre of gravity the axes of the two superposed
wheels could meet a rigid fulcrum; in such a case the weight of the two wheels
wouldbedecomposedinthreedifferents ways,one part on thevertical line passing
through their centre of gravity, and two parts froin the fulcrum, back to front, or
front to back, inertia would be the consequenceof thatdecomposition. Thesame
result would be produced in the progress forward of a man ceasing to make
use ofhis muscular force, the placing of a finger on his forehead would poise the
change of centre of gravity, which was determining his displacement, and he
would stand motionless. This observation I would exemplify. Supposing both
basius of a scale loaded with an equal weight if you only add one grain to one
of the basins, the equilibrium shall be broken; one grain of resistance will then
suffice to re-establish the equilibrium. The confirmation of the principle
upon which I ground my Invention may also result from all displacementand
tracting attempts, which can yield no effective work unless they act out of the
centre of gravity of the object to be displaced.
Let us refer to the effects produced by a locomotive.-Its construction and
weight rest upon a frame, which is itself supported by six wheels. The setting
apart of the wheels depends upon the said frame; when the steam is concen-
trated in the boiler it acts powerfully against the sides of the said boiler, but
as soon as the engineer lets the steam into the cylinder a pressure isexerted on
the piston, which is caused to move to and fro on the whole length of the
cylinder. Should the action of the same piston be concentrated on the centre
of the wheels which are to be set in motion, the pressure would be equally
distributed to the centre of the back train wheels, and to the center of the
wheels which are to be rotated, and therefore all motion would be impossible
owing to this joint liability. The motion of the earth is also a proof of the
same principle; might not its rotation upon itself be owing to a change of its
centre of gravity produced by the sun acting on its circumference, whose rays
dry and lighten the surface, and thus determine its motion. Let us suppose a
ball resting ou anaxis, and having a wet coating over its whole circumference
if any part of it should be dried by any suitable means, the part of the cir-
cumference,undried, and consequently heavier, will take the place of thedried
part, for this very reason, that the weaker must ever yield to the stronger;
all that bears same connexion with this ide. is termed by the learned perpetual
motion. But it is not the perpetual motion that I ave invented, such, at

page_text: Teast, as the learned understand it. I suppose, when they declare it to be
impossible, that is to say, a self-generating motion perpetuated by a never
wearing out machine, for, could we only admit this condition of everlasting,a
wheel placed in the stream of the Seine would rotate eternally.
The Drawings annexed to the description will show this new application of
the descent of bodies out of their centre of gravity, which they will tend in
vain to find again.
The second manner of utilising gravity applied as productive of motion to
stationary machines, both on sea and land, slightly differs from the first given,
though it is still grounded on the same principle. Instead of supposing the
wheels superposed I make use of the load placed on a two wheel carriage
requiring, asis usually the case, a tracting power to make it move. This load
will become a power by raising the shafts to a desired height, and in such a
manner that the change of the centre of gravity of the load will determine the
forward motion. In this still prevails the application of the same law, the
descent of bodies, which, on falling down, ever tend to follow the vertical line
passing through their centre of gravity, and only stop when meeting a rigid
support in the same line.
Fig. A demonstrates geometrically my Invention, it will show theorically
the principle thereof, and from mathematical law its power will be inferred.
The description which follows by showing, with reference to the Drawings, the
construction of my new motor applied to traction, will furthermore ascertain
the truth of the principle upon which my Invention is grounded; Fig. Bis
the ground plan, and Fig. C the elevation plan, both having, like the detached
pieces, similar figures standing for the like parts. Those figures or numbers
indicate the construction of the pieces, at the same time the description
explaining their use, their peculiar motions, and the general movement of the
machine.
1 & 1, common carriage wheels, shown in various figures the better to
ascertain their construction; 2 &, the axes of the wheels 1 & 1; their
ends differ from those usually employed, 1, instead of packings they are
provided with grooves in which rings are engaged, which adhere to the
lubricating box in order to prevent the leakage of the oil, causing, at the same
time, the sa'daxlest fit jointly with the lubricating box; 2, a slot is pro-
at cachend for the introduction of a hollow p:n therein; 3, wooden
frame of the carriage, with a slight difference only in the arrangement of the
cross pieces, and some grooves provided for the lodging of four guard plates;
4, two guard plates of a peculiar form, which are not fitting with the frame 3,
but allow of its following the flexibility of the springs 15; those plates have

page_text: no other support on the frame 3 but such as is necessary to keep them apart;
they have two slots in them in which four rollers 9, are lodged, which serve to
diminish the friction caused in the movement of theframe 3 by the flexibility
of the springs 15, and also two openings for allowing of the free passage and
motion of the ends of the axle 26 of thesuperposed wheels 25, which are kept
properly apart by four grooved plates 7, and five iron bars 19, 24, 30, & 40,
the latter being at its upper end fitted rigidly. The use of those pieces I will
describe hereafter. The support which they meet on the lubricating boxes 5
fitted opposite to the axle 2 of the wheels 1, and on that of the axles 11 of the
small wheels 10, will serve to keep them in a rigid state.
5, two lubricating boxes of a peculiar form, fitted at the ends of the axle 2;
those boxes answer two different purposes, 1, they secure the position of the
axle 2, as above said; and, 2dy, they have grooves in them for securing the
lower end of the guard plates 4, sliding freely therein. Hollow pius 6, fitted,
as aforesaid, at their centre lead the oil which they contain into the cylindric
holes provided in the centre of both ends of the axle 2. The said lubricating
boxes afford also a support for the guard plates 4, which, as may be seen,
have two grooves resting on the upper part of the boxes. 6, hollow pins
of a suitable diameter, so that the oil contained in the boxes may through
them drop into the cylindrical holes provided at each end of the axle 2,
where they are lodged in order to secure it in its position; 7, four plates with
grooves, in which slide the guard plates 4, which they keep apart; they are
placed at the extreme end of the said guard plates, and bolted on the frame,
the motion of which they follow; S, four other plates, each provided with two
axles, upon which are fitted rollers 9; those plates are, as the above mentioned,
bolted on the frame 3; 9, eight rollers, supported by the plates S, and lodged
in the slots provided in the guard plates 4, serving to diminish the friction in
the movement of the frame 3, which attends the supple movement of the
springs 15, upon which it rests; 10, eight small wheels, fitted two by two on
the axles 11, and serving to diminish the friction; they rest upon the axles
2 & 2b, and turu inversely with the latter; they are kept in the vertical
position by their axles 11 placed in the lubricating box es 12, & by slide
supports 13, acting as fulcrums to the springs 15. 11, four axles, serving
to unite two by two the eight wheels 10; they have holes pierced through their
centre for the oil in the lubricating boxes 12, which secure them in their
position passing through them, aud thence spreading itself on the centre of the
wheels, where friction takes place; those axles are fitted between the
lubricating boxes 12 and the slide supports 13. 12, two lubricating boxes,
serving to secure the axles 11 of the wheels 10 in the position they are to

page_text: occupy. The oil in the said lubricating boxes traverses the length of the
axles 11 on going to lubricate the wheels 10. The same boxes also serve as
supports to the guard plates 4. 13, four plates with slide and hook, serving as
support and fulcrum to the springs 15, the elastic motion of which they do not
tbwart. The guard plates fit in their groove, and by them the axles 11 of the
wheels 10 are also secured. To prevent the hooks from undergoing too great
strain a ring bolt 50 is made to cross the springs 15 that both the hooks and
the axles 11 may work jointly (see the detached pieces 15, where the cou-
struction of said plates is better shown). 14, four guard plates, bolted to the
inner sides of the frame 3, and attending the motion thereof; they are placed
in the grooves reserved in the frame, and lodged within the grooves of
plates 13. 15, four commou springs; instead of resting upon lubricating
boxes, they rest upon hook plates 13, which transmit the pressure of said
springs on the axles 11 of the wheels 10; they are pierced through at the
centre, so that by means of a nut the hook of the plates 13 may work jointly
with the axle 11 of the small wheels 10. 16, eight hooks, the upper end of
which is cylindrical worined, and fitted into the guard plates 4; they support
each of them a roller 17, upon which rest two racks 18, to which said hooks
serve as guides. 17, eight rollers, upon which slide the racks 18, in order to
render their to-and-fro motion easier whenapplied forbreaking theequilibrium
of the superposed wheels or re-establishing it. 18, two racks, at the centre of
each of which are two cheeks, between which are loosely placed out of contact
the ends of the axle 26 of the superposed wheels 25. The racks intended to
push forward or draw backward the superposed wheels 25 are set in motion
by means of two pinions 20 fitted on the same axle 19, which is worked by a
lever 21, provided with two catches 23, which act upon ratchets 22 working
jointly with the pinions 20; such construction is required for changing the
point of contact of the superposed wheels 25 with the wheels 1, and of the
axle 26 with the circles 36. When the superposed wheels 25 are resting on
a point of the vertical line passing through their centre of gravity and that of
the wheel 1, inertia is the consequence; but when the same wheels super-
posed 25 are drawn back by the racks 18 upon any point of the wheels 1
without the vertical line passing through the centre of gravity of the latter,
then a breaking out of the equilibrium immediately takes place. The con-
tinuation of such rupture of the equilibrium is owing to a cause which shall be
hereafter explained, and which may be inferred from Fig. A. 19, bar, filling
the office of an axle for the two pinions 20, for the lever 21, and for the
ratchets 22, the same bar serving at the same time to keep apart the guard
plates 4. The rotary motion of this bar, determined by the lever 21 acting on

page_text: the ratchets 22 through the catches 23, is effected in either direction,
according to the requirements. It is the position of the catches 23 on the
ratchets 22, cut inversely from one another, which determines through the
pinions 20 the displacement of the racks 18, which are to secure the position
of the wheels 25. 20, pinions fitted to the bar 19, serving as axle; their
teeth are corresponding with those of the racks 18. These pinions are set in
motion by the lever 21 acting on the bar 19 through the click work 23 on the
ratchets 22; and they transmit the received motion to the racks 18. 21,
lever intended to transmit through the click work on the ratchet 22 the
received motion to the axle 19 of the pinions 20, acting on the racks 18; it
finds its rotary point on the bar 19; on each side in its thickness are two
catches 23, being to act on the ratchets 22, in order to maintain theimparted
motion, a spring fitted in its thickness secures the position of the catch, which
it is desired to use. 22, ratchets fixed on the bar 19, on each side of the one
of the pinions 20, which is placed beside the lover 21; they are cut inversely
from one another, and are to admit the curved end of the catch 23, which is
to be used for maintaining the imparted motion. 23, two catches, placed on
each side of the lever 21; they are to act either one or the other on the
ratchets 22, in order to maintain the direction of the imparted movement;
they are animated with rotary power by means of the bolt which fixes them to
the lever 21; a spring fitted in the thickness of the lever maintains their
working position. 24, bar placed parallel to the bar 19; it differs from this
in its not carrying either pinion or ratchet; it serves to keep apart and secure
the guard plates 4. 25, two solid cast-iron wheels, intended to produce
motion by the manner in which their weight is made use of; they are super-
posed on the wheels 1, their thickness & diameter being calculated so as to
produce a weight of nine thousand pounds (avoirdupoids); a groove is pro-
vided on their periphery for lodging therein without friction the edge of the
wheels 1, such construction preventing them from deviating either on rightor
left; when they are so placed that the vertical line passing through their
centre of gravity passes also through that of the wheels 1, inertia is inevitably
the consequence; but if, on the contrary, the racks 18 bring their axis 26 in
such position as the vertical passing through their centre of gravity be found
out of that of the wheels 1, the equilibrium shall be broken. In order to
maintain such constant rupture of the equilibrium it is necessary that the
point of contact of their axis 26 be endowed with such a mobility that their
may be no possibility of this point meeting a rigid centre in communication
with the frame 3, which causes the four wheels 1 & 1 to work conjointly.
In order to account for a result deemed impossible to this day, some expla-

page_text: nations shall be given in due time (36), by which I intend to prove that such
result is produced by the application of a natural law, as we look upon appli-
cations which were once reputed impossible as merely simple and natural at
this day. The decomposition of the power produced by the weight of the two
wheels superposed shall be inferred from Fig. A,bymathematical supputations,
which will demonstrate that the nine thousand pounds, or the weight of the
two wheels and their axle, will produce the resistances resulting from friction
being reckoned off, an effective work amounting to two thousand two
hundred pounds (avoirdupoids), and if the diameter and weight of the said
wheels be increased, their power will be so proportionally to the augmentation
given for this motive that the force produced by a weight acting upon a lever
augments in direct proportion with the length of the lever employed and of
the weight which is acting thereon. 26, axle of the same cast with the wheels
25, its end surrounded with a steel ring 27, and passing through the opening
provided for the purpose in each guard plate 4, are engaged between the
cheeks of the racks 18. By acting upon this axle the racks effect the change
of place of the wheels superposed 25, according to the requirements. 27, two
steel rings garnishing each end of the axle 26, to which they are fitted by
screws. Those rings have a channel, into which fit without friction the
cheeks of the racks 18. They are necessary to diminish the wearing out
caused by the contact of the axle 26, with the circles 36, and above all to
prevent flaws. 28, four racks of a peculiar form, connected at their round
and flat ends to the boards 29 by bolts. They are intended to operate the
boards 29, the displacement of which is necessary to regulate the rupture of
equilibrium of the wheels superposed 25. These racks are set in motion by
means of pinions 31, fixed upon bars 30, which are actuated by levers 33,
provided with clicks 34, acting upon ratchets which work jointly with the
pinions 31; they are kept in the given position by the guard plates 4, the
pinious 31, and rollers 28, which latter besides facilitate their movement.
28, rollers, the axes of which are secured to the guard plates 4; they
support the racks 28, and render their to-and-fro motion easier. 29, eight
cylindrical plates constituting four boards by their twin union; such union or
assemblage is effected by means of three bolts 39, and a fourth 38,in the centre,
which binds them to the round and flat end of the racks 28 placed between
the guard plates 4 and the said boards. On the periphery of the cylindrical
plates a channel is provided, in which the balls 35 move. 30, two bars
serving as axes to the pinions 31, the ratchets 32, and the levers 33, also
serving to set the guard plates 4 apart. The rotary motion of those bars
effected by the work of the levers 33, acting upon the ratchets 32, through

page_text: the clicks 34, takes place in either direction, according to the requirements.
The position of the clicks 34 upon the ratchets 82, cut inversely from one
another, determines, through the pinions 31, the displacement of theracks 28.
which are to secure the position of the boards 29. 31, pinions secured to the
bars 30, serving as their axes. Their teeth correspond to those of the racks 28.
They are set in motion by the levers 33,acting upon the bars 30, through the
click work on the ratchets 32, and transmit the received movement to the
rack 28. 32, ratchets secured to the bars 30, on each side of those of the
pinions 31, situated beside the levers 33; they are cut inversely from each
other, and are to receive the curved ends of such clicks 34 as are placed on
each side of the levers 33, which must be employed in order to maintain the
movement in the direction given. 38, levers for transmitting through the
clickwork on the ratchets 32, the imparted motion to the axis 30 of the
pinions 31 acting on the racks 28. They find their rotation point by the
bars 30. On each side in their thickness fit two clicks 34, being to act on
the ratchets 32; in order to maintain the movement given, a spring esta-
blished within their thickness secures the position of those clicks that are to be
used. 34, clicks placed on each side of the levers 33. They are to act the
ones or the others on the ratchets 32, for maintaining the direction of the
movement given. Each of them is endowed with a rotary power by means of
the bolt that secures them to the lever 33; a spring fitted in the thickness of
those levers keeps them in their working position. 35, fifty-six balls placed
each fourteen in the channels provided round the circumference of the
boards 29; they are maintained in the said channels by the circles 36, inside
of which is equally found a channel; the balls, in each of which is an opening
for admitting a pin, which is to keep them at an equal distance, are firstintro-
duced into the channels of the circles 36, and upon oneof the plates that are to
be united twin by means of bolts 39. The board 37 is at last placed, armed
with its fourteen pins, which are each to enter the opening provided in each
ball. Such au arrangement will not hinder the motion of the balls, because
the boards 37 have their rotating poiut on the bolts 38. The balls are hollow,
and two advantages result from this arrangement; first, they are lighter and
require a lesser amount of strain to set them into a rotating motion; and,
secondly, such vacuity permits of introducing oil for lubricating purposes.
Those balls are set in motion by their contact with the interior of the circles,
which themselves receive their motion from their being acted upon by the
axle of the wheels superposed 25, which, tending by their descent to lift the
circles 36, push them in the direction of the inclination to themselves given by
the change of their centre of gravity. The mobility of the balls and of the

page_text: circles annihilate all rigid obstruction tending to arise at the centre of the
boards 29. From this combination of mobility and contact at the desired
point by the construction of the axle 26 with the circles 36, results a rupture
of equilibrium, yielding an effective work, beside the point where the wheels 1
rest upon the rails through the line O, R1, Fig. A. This necessary mobility of
tho, balls 35 and of the circles 36, obtained by the system of construction
above described, is one of the principles of which I claim the application..
36, four circles placed on the movable balls 35, upon which they are them-
selves to move freely their external circumference, which is being to meet the
axle 26, is made smooth, but they have inside a chanuel of a depth equal to
half their thickness. This channel which corresponds with that on the boards
29, forms a separate space, into which the balls 35 are to turn freely and
securely. When the circles are acted upon by the pressure produced by the
contact of the axle 26 of the wheels 25 off their resting position and on. the
way to effect their descent, and when such pressure acts upon a point out of
the vertical line. passing through the centre of the boards 29, the said circles
are actuated at their point of contact with the axle 26 by the tendency of the
wheels 25 to descend; now, as this axle, which is of same cast with the super-
posed wheels 25, tends in order to effect its descent to lift the circles 36, and
as the tendency to this descent acts in the direction of the line D; C, (Fig. A.)
the axle 26 not being able to lift the circles 36 will carry them in the direc-
tion of the line D, C, and they shall be displaced immediately on the balls 35
by a rotary motion they will at the same time impart to the said balls. The
axle 26 of the wheels superposed 25 thus tending in its descent to meet on
the circles 36 a stopping point, which it cannot find since the circles them-
selves cannot find one on the balls 35, on which they are freely placed, will
only meet with a movable fulcrum coming constantly again at its point of
contact. The weight of the wheels superposed 25, which tend to descend
through the line O, R, (Fig. A,) acts upon the wheels 1, and pushes them in
the direction of the line O, R', of the same Figure; now, as they can meet no
support in that direction they shall be displaced upon the rails represented in
that Figure by the line A, B. Should the contact of the axle 26 come much
nearer or recede too far off the intersecting point of the vertical passing
through the centre of the wheels 1, with the horizontal line passing through
the centre of the boards 29, the weight of the wheels 25 acting not entirely
or acting too far off, the vertical passing through the centre of the wheels 1
would be decomposed by being carried partly on the rigid point at the contre
of the board 29, and partly on the point of contact of the lower wheels with
the rails. The remainder being.uns ufficient a mere easing instead of motion

page_text: would only be obtained, notwithstanding the mobility of the circles, and of
the balls 35. In order to have the axle 26 resting continually on the circles
36 at such a point that this contact may produce the required effect, there
have been provided on the guard plates 4 arched openings into which are
moving the axes of the boards 29. The curvature of these openings is pro-
portional to the circumference of the wheels 1. When it is desired to diminish
the velocity the axis 26 of the vertical passing through the centre of the
wheels is brought nearer by means of the racks 18, and the centre of the
boards 29 is displaced, so that the contact of the circles 36 with the axle 26
may ever produce the same effect of rupture of the equilibriumn; 37, four
boards, each armed with fourteen pins to be lodged in the opening, provided
in each ball 35, for maintaining their separation in the channels on the cir-
cumference of the plates 29, and on the inside of the circles 36. The motion
of the balls 35 agitates the oil they contain, projects it agaiust their inside
surfaces, and thereby the said pins are continually greased. The boards have
at their centre a cylindrical opening, through which the bolts 38 are engaged,
which serve as rotating points, and hold them by means of a shoulder in such
a position that, the points or pins with which they are armed caunot withdraw
from the centre of the balls 35; 38, four bolts for fixing the boards 29 against
the guard plates 4, and serving as rotating points. They also permit of the
motion of the said boards through the openings in the guard plates. They
also serve as rotating points to the boards 37; 39, twelve bolts, serving to
bind the plates or boards 29, two by two, when the balls 35 are placed in the
channel on their circumference; 40, iron bar, shouldered at each end, and
serving to keep apart the guard plates; 41, two-kneed guard plates, bolted on
the frame 3. They differ from the plates 4 in their working conjointly with
the frame 3, of which they attend the motion imparted by the flexibility of
the springs 15. They are also necessary to secure the position of the axles
2 of the wheels 1, and the axle of the small wheels 10 on the back side;
42, two lubricating boxes, each armed at its centre with a pin bored through
its whole length for permitting of the oil greasing the centre of the axle 2b.
They control the descent of the frame 3 by means of guard plates 41, which
are compelled to follow the grooves on the lubricating boxes. They also serve
to keep apart the guard plates 41 without supporting them; 43, two other
lubricating boxes for fixing the axles 11 of the wheels 10 greased in the
manner above mentioned at No. 12. They do not support the guard plates!
41, and are placed opposite to the slide and hook plates 13, which support the
springs 15; 44, four steel rings, fitted on the ends of the axles 2 & 3, which
they surround,such rings being necessary to diminish the wearing out caused

page_text: by the contact of the easing wheels 10; when worn out they are easily replaced
without the rest requiring any repair. Those rings or coupling boxes are fitted
by means of riyets. which make them work jointly with the pieces to which
they are adjusted; 4, six steel circles, placed on the circumference of the
wheels 1, 1, & 25; they are fitted so as to be easily replaced when deterio-
rated. These circles may be given all the necessary hardness, in order to
prevent all flaws; 46, steel circles, adjusted on the wheels 10, also easily
replaced and hardened and tempered, so as to prevent a rapid deterioration;
47, two iron bars: working conjointly with the frame 3, on which they are
bolted, and the plates 41, which they hold apart. They also keep in their
position the guard plates 4, sliding in grooves on the bars, that they may follow
the motion of the frame 3, resulting from the flexibility of the springs 15; 48,
two common foot boards; 49, two springs, working jointly with the plugsto
. which they impart their elasticity for softening collisions; 50, ring bolts
through the springs 15 necessary to establish the joint co-operation of the
hooks and plates 13 with the axes 11, and preventing the said hooks from
undergoing too great strain.
This new traction motor is worked by hand of man who should have
annexed to his locomotive waggon a level for ascertaining constantly and
regularly the position of the way he runs over in order to change the position
of the centre of gravity of the motive wheels according to the requirements of
the ascents and declivities. Were the position of the wheels constantly the
same notwithstanding the difference of ground level, such condition would
prove exactly to be the condition of equilibrium of a man whose body on
an ascent would preserve the same deviation of the centre of gravity that
be had on walking on a horizontal plane, instead of progressing he would
fall backwards if his legs did not displace themselves so as to make amends
for the difference in the ground level. The advantages resulting from the
application of the descent of bodies are incommensurable. It permits of
taking off the enormous weight of hundred thousand pounds, the required
weight a locomotive must have in the present systems for obtaining the proper
adherence for carrying a train, which weight is a powerful agent of destruction
of the yay by the shock and perturbation it causes thereon.
Now I will answer an objection which may very likely be made to
my system. How can eleven thousand pounds plus the weight of the
Lower wheels and of the frame, representing three thousand pounds, sum total,
fourteen thousand pounds, produce an adherence such as to yield a like result
with the adherence yielded by the weight of usual locomotive. Let us observe
that 100,000lb., the weight of a locomotive borne upon six wheels, only afford

page_text: an effective adherence on the two wheels worked by the piston, which is itself
operated bysteam, consequently these 100,000 lb. really represent the adherence
of little more than 33,000 lb. The power of steam taking its fulcrum on the
four wheels which it does not work directly the piston acts by a to-and-fro
motion, which in order to pass the horizontal line through the centre of the
operated wheels, tends to lift up the wheels to which it is coupled, and which
it works, and by this strain diminishes the adherence of the driving wheels
by yielding a part of the weight they support to the other wheels, the inertia
of which it is necessary to overcome, and therefore at this moment the
adherence of the driving wheels does not even represent the third of the
100,000 lb., the weight of the locomotive. This fact may be well ascertained
by means of a wheel on its axis provided with a crank actuated by manual
labor.
When the said crank is on the lower point of the vertical passing through
the centre of the wheel, and it is desired to bring it up again to the upper
point of the same line, this strain causes the lifting up of a part of the weight
of the wheel. Such a capital objection cannot be made to my system, for
which I demand Letters Patent; for the weight of the wheels 25 yield a
constant pressure acting upon the whole length of the lever of the lower
wheels 1, represented Fig. A, by the line O, R', such an arrangement will give
to the 14,000 lb., or the weight of the whole machine, more adherence than
the 100,000 lb. of a common locomotive can afford. Moreover there is in
the displacement of an ordinary locomotive a circumstance which in some
occurrences diminishes the adherence utilised by the two driving wheels. If
the locomotive is mounted upon six wheels the first four will in an ascent
bear upon four points more elevated than those upon which bear the wheels
that receive their motion of the piston, and then the adherence of the latter
is considerably diminished, for the weight supported by the others will tend to
fall back on them, and thence a superaddition of resistance to overcome.
The use of the wheels superposed 25 cannot be liable to this inconvenience,
since they must continually he kept in a position determined by the level of the
ground on which the machine runs. The weight of the wheels 25 may be
increased without ever attaining, however, the weight of common locomotives;
the power of the apparatus may yet be doubled by applying the same system
on the wheels 1. Notwithstanding this double application there will be
less weight, and consequently a notable saving, if not in the construction at
least in the keeping in repair of the iron lines. My improved machine will
be less heavy and will require less expense to be kept in repair than the
smaller locomotive actually in use, and above all it will consume no fuel, now

page_text: become useless, to the great benefit of travellers and attendants who will no
longer be exposed to accident caused by fire and explosion. I will not enu-
merate the numerous applications which my motor is liable to, as it would be
shorter to say in what cases its application is void; it will be a substitute for
all the motors hereto known, and will free industry from dangers and expenses
of every nature. It will considerably diminish the traction fare both for
persons and for goods, and thus facilitate commercial connections. By almost
annihilating the expenses caused in the chief industrial resorts by the usual
motors, it will cause a diminution of the objects most used. Finally, by
dispensing with the use of fuel, theprice of which increases every day,and the
exhaustion of which the skilful in the art can foresee, it will afford the people
the means of getting cheap fuel, which industry seemed as likely to confiscate
exclusively for itself.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said motor, I desire
it to be distinctly understood that I claim as new and of my Invention, the
new motor above described, charactorized by a continual rupture of the
cquilibrium.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Joseph Napoleon Rebour, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
C. J. N. REBOUR. (L.S.)