A METHOD OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND CERTAIN PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Mathieu de Amezaga, of Bordeaux,
in the Empire of France, Captain in the Sardinian Navy, for the
Invention of "A METHOD OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND CERTAIN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Mathieu
de Amezaga at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 4th July 1853.
I, FRANÇOIS MATHIEU DE AMEZAGA, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of
France, Captain in the Sardinian Navy, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A METHOD OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND
CERTAIN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in utilizing the force obtained from a falling
body, which, unlike all other powers, increases with the motion of the
body. The apparatus or machine which I employ to apply this power
consists of an arrangement of drums and lovers so arranged as to rotate
or move by the change in the position of weights.

page_text: I start, and maintain the action of the machine by a steam engine or
other prime mover, the speed of which is lessened with the increase of
speed in the apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said François Mathieu de Amezaga in the Great
-Seal Patent Office, on the 4th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I.
FRANÇOIS MATHIEU DE AMEZAGA, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of France,
Captain in the Sardinian Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Fler reign, did, for Elerself. Her heirs and successors.
give and grant unto me, the said François Mathieu de Amezaga. Her
special licence that you, the said François Mathieu de Amezaga, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as you, the said
François Mathieu de Amezaga, my executors, administrators, and'
assigns, should at any time agreo 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 METHOD OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER,
AND CERTAIN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the
condition (amongst others) that you, the said François Mathieu de
Amezaga, by an instrument in writing under your hand and seal.
should particularly describe and, ascertain the nature of the said Inven-3
- tion, and in what manner the same wis to be performed, and cause
-the same to be filed in the Great. Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and 'iminediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said François Mathieu de Amezaga,
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

page_text: In all scientific work. it is generally acknowledged that the force of
power developed by the fall of a heavy body is an active force, sus-
ceptible of being infinitely augmented, and. the law or doctrine of its
augmentation is now-a-days taught in the most elementary theories of
physics and mathematics. This peculiarity so remarkable of the force
of gravity, that is to say, that of being augmented by itself, exclusively
belongs to it, and it is not found in any other of the forces that nature
contains. All known forces, this excepted, always tend to diminish, ånd
their action is soon finished when not continually fed. The force of
gravity, therefore, has an immense superiority over all others. Until
now several vain efforts have been made with the idea or object of
employing and making it useful or profitable to man's wants.
particular cases, altho not numerous, they have succeeded; neverthe-
less, no machine has yet been imagined or thought of on the principle
of employing the force of gravity and to enable it to be applied to all
the works man is obliged to accomplish.
M Amezaga's machine resolves this problem. Like the steam
engine, this is of an absolute generality. It constitutes a new motor
or motive. By using the known mecanic instruments we may transmit
its effects and power to make all the apparatus to which we may wish
to apply them act accordingly. We are going to give the description
of this machine, and, in order to proceed with method, we shall first
describe the pieces of which it is composed.
In all scientific work. it is generally acknowledged that the force of
power developed by the fall of a heavy body is an active force, sus-
ceptible of being infinitely augmented, and. the law or doctrine of its
augmentation is now-a-days taught in the most elementary theories of
physics and mathematics. This peculiarity so remarkable of the force
of gravity, that is to say, that of being augmented by itself, exclusively
belongs to it, and it is not found in any other of the forces that nature
contains. All known forces, this excepted, always tend to diminish, ånd
their action is soon finished when not continually fed. The force of
gravity, therefore, has an immense superiority over all others. Until
now several vain efforts have been made with the idea or object of
employing and making it useful or profitable to man's wants. In some
particular cases, altho' not numerous, they have succeeded; neverthe-
less, no machine has yet been imagined or thought of on the principle
of employing the force of gravity and to enable it to be applied to all
the works man is obliged to accomplish.
M Amezaga's machine resolves this problem. Like the steam
engine, this is of an absolute generality. It constitutes a new motor
or motive. By using the known mecanic instruments we may transmit
its effects and power to make all the apparatus to which we may wish
to apply them act accordingly. We are going to give the description
of this machine, and, in order to proceed with method, we shall first
describe the pieces of which it is composed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE.
The plan of these
They must be of a
The machine is composed of 4 pieces, which are, viz.,―
1º, a system of two equal and parallel wheels.
wheels is vertical. Their dimension is not constant.
diameter proportionate to the importance of the machine, and to the
force it should have to produce. The weight of these wheels must
equally be in proportion to this force. In conclusion, these wheels are
joined or grafted together round the axis which supports them, as well

page_text: Each of these wheels is composed of two concentric crowns, separated
by traverses or cross pieces directed towards the centre and joining
these crowns to each other. The interval between these crowns and
traverses is generally void. The axis of the void answers to the
angles 0°.45.90, 1, from 45°. to 45., Starting from the vertical. The
espace comprise between the interior crown & the centre is full,
but it is strengthened by some rayonant mouldings, especially, from
45° to 45°, corresponding to the axis of the voids, and having the
thickness of the crowns. In conclusion, the part of the wheel that
surrounds the axis is of a force proportionate to the weight of the very
same wheel. These two wheels are furnished with three weights placed
between them. The first of these weights, that of the middle, is fixed
at the top of the vertical that runs through the axis; the other two are
placed before and behind of this, and at the same distance. This
distance shall be measured in the greatest number of cases by an angle
of 45°. It is to be well understood that these three weights must be
equal & of the same matter. In the ordinary-power machines a single
wheel may be employed; in such case the weights must have the thick-
ness of the wheel and placed in the voids comprised hetween the
crowns and traverses or cross-pieces. In conclusion, the weights might
yet be diminished by employing only a part, that is to say, that which
should be in rapport to the desired force. The excess of the void must
be filled by a solid matter, tho' light, such as of wood.
2°, a cast or metal piece, called lever or railway, the plan of which is
vertical, and parallel to that of the wheel. This piece is adapted to
and fixed invariably by its center of gravity on the same axis of the
wheel. It is symetrical in consequence of this axis, and extends in
length by both sides. The two branches that compose it are equal in
form and weight, so as to form an exact equilibrium round the axis.
These two branches contain each a groove in a strait line, which runs
them through all their thickness, and the direction of which passes
by the axis. This piece turns with the wheel and accompanies it in
all its motions. It must surpass the centre of gravity of a length in
proportion to the resistance. With respect to the groove, it must
have the length of two thirds of one of the branches, and part from

page_text: the third of the length of cach branch, to extend itself as far as its
extremity. The lever must be placed in the following manner :-
When the wheel, and, of course, the machine, are at rest, that is to
say, that the middle weight is at the top of this wheel, the level must
be placed at 45° of this middle weight, or, what is the same, in the
direction of the centre of gravity of one of the two extreme weights.
3º, a piece called the arm of the machine. This piece, with respect
to form, is exactly a like the lever, but with this difference, that that
has no groove. This piece turns with an horizontal axis independent
of the first. Its plan is perpendicular to this axis. This axis, in the
greatest number of cases, is placed at the same level as that of the
lever. This piece turns in the same sense or manner as the wheel and
lever. Its axis is placed at a distance from the first axis equal to the
third of length of one of the branches of the lever. This piece is in
length equal to the two thirds of the lever; it carries in one of its ex-
tremities a galet or pebble perpendicular to its plan, which must be
placed in the groove of the lever, and which, in the several motions of
the machine, passes successively through all the points of this groove or
railway. When the lever is horizontal, that the weight descends, the
centre of the arm must be, with respect to the wheel, on the side oppo-
site the groove. The ensemble or whole of the motion of the lever
and the arm forms a system of biscentric levers.
4, a motor, whatever. Be it a steam engine destined to communi-
cate its force by the ordinary means to the axis of the machine.
EXPLANATION OF THE MARCH OF THE MACHINE.
When the machine is at rest, that is to say, when the middle weight
is at the top of the wheel on the vertical of the axis, if the slightest
motion or push is given to the wheel the weight immediately carry it
forward; they go down and reasend in consequence of the impul-
sion acquired by the descent. The arm of the machine, moved
by the auxiliary force applied to its axis, transmits all the action of
this force to the lever by means of the galet or pebble encassed in
the groove of the lever. This lever being able to run without obstacle,
all the points of this groove during entire revolutions of wheel and

page_text: lever exercises or gives a constant and undisturbed pressure on the
lever. This invariably joined to the wheel helps the weight in its
march, and makes it perform its complete revolution with the greatest
ease or facility.
This first revolution being finished, the gd and the following produce
themselves successively with a velocity always increasing. The first
revolution has been executed by the help of a force of no consequence.
or of a small consideration, in consequence of the described incchanism,
and, nevertheless, after few instants the weights move or act with such
an acceleration of velocity that in order to regulate the motion it is
necessary to slaken the march of the auxiliary motor or power until its
force becomes in proportion to that which the movement of the weights
develops.
In the Amezaga's system the auxiliary force is constantly weaker
than the useful force produced by the machine; it is this circumstance
that constitutes the superiority and the advantages of this systein on all
the other machines. The remarkable result is the effect of two causes;
the first consists in the principal roll being attributed in this system to
the force displayed by a weight that, by the acceleration of its motion,
and in consequence of its own essence, is able to give place to the de
velopment of an useful force, always increasing and susceptible to sur-
pass the most considerable forces, and to make good use of a stroke of
piston in each revolution. The 2ª consists in the mechanism imagined
or invented by M' de Amezaga, and composed of the leveror railwa
and the arm of the machine. The ensemble or whole of these two
pieces form a system of centre levers, double, which alone, by its par-
ticular action, will allow the profiting of the force of gravity produced
by the motion of a weight.
In its details it consists,-
1°, in the use of the force of gravity acting according to a volontary
motion.
2, in a system of bicentric or double centre levers.
M de Amezaga begs that it be granted to him the privilege for the

page_text: of gravity, but of the system of bicentric or double centre levers, of
which he is the inventor and proprietor.
He reserves to himself the faculty or power to make use of niany
systems of bicentric levers, to augment or diminish the proportions of
the picces of which his machine is composed, to construct this machine
and these pieces in all materials in which they may be worked, such as
wood, metal, forged iron, &, to put and adapt to his machine weights
of every heavy matter.
M de Amezaga reserves equally and expressly to himself the use
and application of his machine for every class of establishments or work-
shops, for railways, navigation, both maritime and aerial, &".
He equally reserves to himself the right of prosecuting every counter-
feit of his machine, as well as of the pieces which compose it.
10:0
Bordeaux
December
Ne varietur.
10:0
FRANÇOIS DE AMEZAGA. (L.S.)