INCREASING THE FORCE OR POWER OF BELLOWS
Year: 1822

page_text: LINLEY'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
LINLEY, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Bellows Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS I, the said Thomas Linley, did by my petition respresent to
His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth that I had invented and
found out a method different from any that had theretofore been invented or
known, of "INCREASING THE FORCE OR POWER OF BELLOWS," which Invention was
of my own contrivance, and not known to any other person or persons except
those to whom I had communicated the same in making my experiments
thereof, and was not used by any other person or persons besides myself; that
in regard that I apprehended the said Invention would be of great use and
benefit to His Majesty's subjects, and inasmuch as I was the true and original
Inventor thereof, I most humbly prayed that His Majesty would be graciously
pleased to grant unto me, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, His Royal Letters
Patent for the sole use and benefit of my said Invention within that part of
His Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England,
His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for the term of
fourteen years, pursuant to the Statute in that case made and provided; and
His said Majesty, being willing to give encouragement to all arts and inventions
which might be for the public good, was graciously pleased to condescend to my
request, and did, of His especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twentieth day of December, in the third year of His reign,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Linley, my exors, admors, and assigns,
His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Thomas Linley, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, and every of us, by myself
and themselves, and by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or

page_text: such others as I, the said Thomas Linley, my exors, admors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of His
Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to
me, the said Thomas Linley, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or any of us, should
seem meet, and that I, the said Thomas Linley, my exors, admors, and assigns,
should and lawfully might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit, commodity,
and advantage from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by
reason of my said Invention for and during the term of years therein men-
tioned, to have, hold, exercise and enjoy the said licence, powers, privileges, and
advantages therein-before granted or mentioned to be granted unto me, the
said Thomas Linley, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, for and during and unto
the full end and term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent
next and immediately ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended, according
to the Statute in such case made and provided; and to the end that I, the
said Thomas Linley, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and every of us, might
have and enjoy the full benefit and the sole use and exercise of the said Inven-
tion, according to His Majesty's gracious intention therein-before declared;
in which said Letters Patent a proviso is contained, that if I, the said Thomas
Linley, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under
my
hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in
His said Majesty' High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the same
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted
should utterly cease, determine, and become void, anything therein-before
contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding, as by the said Letters
Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Linley, do hereby declare that I describe the nature of my said Inven-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, by the
Drawings in the margin of these Presents, and in manner following (that is to
say)-
The Drawings A and B represent perspective side views of the common
double bellows extended open, the former unleathered, the latter leathered.
C and D represent like views of the same kind of bellows so extended, with
my improvements affixed; C shewing the bellows unleathered; D, in their

page_text: leathered and covered state. E and F represent perspective views of the
common circular bellows extended open, the former unleathered and the latter
leathered. G and H represent like views of the same kind of bellows with
my improvements affixed; G shewing the bellows unleathered; H, in their
leathered and covered state.
The Drawings A and B, I thus describe :-No. 1 is the top board; f, the
hinge and staple, the latter going through the middle board; 2 is the middle
board; a, the valve hole and valve; c, c, the hoop; d, the pipe; and 6, the
spike. 3 is the bottom board; f, the hinge and staple, the latter going through
the middle board; a, the valve hole and valve; and g is the nog. The Nos. 4
are the frames of wood to support the leather; the Nos. 5 are upright
pieces of wood to support the bellows. 6 is a rockstaff, with a supporter at m,
and an iron hook at s; and 7 is a rod of iron with a hook at each end, one
end hanging on the hook at s, and the other going into a loop of iron on the
nog 9.
The Drawings E and F, I describe in the following manner:-No. 1 is the
top board, with the piston plate and rod in the centre. 2 is the middle board;
a, a, being the valves; c, c, c, c, the spikes; and 6, the pipe. 3 is the bottom
board; a being the valve; and b, b, b, b, irons screwed across the board, which
extend beyond the sides. Nos. 4 are frames of wood to support the leather.
5 is the frame of wood or cast iron in which the bellows work; m, m, are the
uprights, near the top of each of which there is a projection from the side,
having a round hole near the end, wherein the ends of the axeltree work. At
a distance from the bottom of the uprights and across the same are two pro-
jections, having round holes near the ends, which contain the spikes d, d, d, d,
in No. 2. In the centre of the top rail is a round hole, through which the
piston rod in No. 1 works. n is the top rail, and o, o, are the feet. 6 is the
rockstaff, with the bolt at h and stay at 9; 7 is the axeltree; and 8, the wheels,
chains, and irons that work the bellows.
I now proceed to describe the Drawings C and D, which represent per-
spective side views of the common double bellows extended open, with my
improvements affixed, which Drawings are accompanied by distinct and sepe-
rate representations of several of the component parts, the better to elucidate
the same. The boards Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are the same as seen in the common
double bellows, except that here the board 2 has a round hole at e, and the
bottom board 8 is without the nog g, as seen in the common double bellows.
4 is a board which I place between the boards 2 and 3.
apperture or hole at the wide end, as is seen at a, a,
cutting a piece out of the board by the dotted lines c, c.
This board has an
which is formed by
On each side of the

page_text: board 4 and over the aperture or hole a, a, is screwed or nailed fast (having
first glue put between) a piece of board, extending down the board 4 to the
dotted lines m, m, which two pieces of board make the aperture or hole into
the form of an oblong box, open at the wide end of the board, as seen at a.
On the top side of the board, and at the bottom of the aperture or hole a, is
cut a square hole through one of the boards, as seen at , over which is placed
a wooden valve covered with leather, having a leather hinge, which is fastened
to the board with screws, nails, or pegs. But I do not mean to confine myself
to one valve and valve hole in No. 4, as I shall in some bellows make two, nor
to the particular size or shape thereof, as I shall vary the position and shape,
the better to suit the purposes for which the bellows are intended. At the
narrow end of the boad is nailed the hinge with the staple b, which staple
goes through the middle board 2 and is clenched at the top side. A piece of
wood as thick as the staple extends from the board 2, and is fitted to the under
side of that board up to the staple and hinge b; it is of the same breadth as
the board 2, goes to the end of the board, and is fitted into the hoop c. This
piece of wood is screwed or nailed to the middle board 2 (having glue first
put between). Over the hinge and staple is nailed a piece of leather the
breadth of the board, and of length sufficient to cover the hinge and staple b,
so as to prevent the air from escaping by the hinge and staple to the space
betwixt the boards 3 and 4. At the wide end of the board 4 are two square iron
spikes, as seen at h, h, which go into the board on each side of the aperture or
hole a, having at the other end of each a round hole. h, k, is a piece of square
iron, having a hole at each end and one in the middle, to which is rivetted or
screwed the iron loop f; n, n, are two iron hooks, with a shoulder near one
end of each; they are made round to the ends and are screwed, and have a.
nut upon each. These hooks go through the holes in the square iron k, k,
and through the two holes in the iron spikes h, h, and are screwed at the top
side. Between the boards 3 and 4 I place one of the wooden frames, repre-
sented in the Drawings A and B, No. 4, which frames are made of segments
of wood, and secured at the joints p, p, p, by nailing or screwing on iron
plates; they are fastened to the boards by nailing a leather hinge to the
ends. q, q. One only of these frames of wood is in my improvement, namely,
that between the boards 3 and 4, the frames between the board 1 and 2 and
2 and 4 being always used in the common bellows. But I do not confine
myself to the use of one frame only between the boards 3 and 4, as bellows of
a large size might require the introduction of two frames). The frame between
the boards 3 and 4 is to keep the leather in form, and when the boards 3 and 4
are extended open for leathering it is placed at an equal distance between the

page_text: boards, and when leathered is nailed on the edges of the frames as well as
on the edges of the boards, with this difference only, that the space between
the nails on the edges of the frames is greater than on the edges of the
boards. For some kind of bellows I shall use the common hip briar instead of
the common wood frame. 5 is an elastic leather pipe, which is thus formed:-
A piece of good cow leather is sewed on a round piece of wood of the diameter
the pipe is intended to be; when the wood is taken out, two flanges of leather
are then sewed to each end, as shewn at b, b, b, b. The leather being made
wet, three iron rims, as represented at a, a, a, are put into the pipe at equal
distances, when upon wrapping cords round the leather in the spaces between
the rims and the rims and the flanges, and suffering them to remain till the
pipe is dry, the leather forms into creases, which will not go out of shape. It
may, however, be necessary in the formation of some pipes to have an addi-
tional rim or rims, as the length of the pipe must be determined by the size of
the bellows. One of the flanges is nailed over the hole e, as shewn in No. 4;
the other is nailed to the under side of the board 2 over the hole, there also
marked e. On the top side of the round hole e, No. 2, is placed a wooden
valve covered with leather, having a leather binge, which is fastened to the
board with screws, nails, or pegs. The elastic leather pipe 5 is to convey the
air from between the boards 3 and 4 to the top side of the board 2; but I
do not confine myself to the particular parts of the boards 2 and 4 on which
to aflix the elastic leather pipe, nor to the particular size or shape thereof, as
I shall vary the position and the size and shape of the pipe, the better to suit
the purposes for which the bellows are intended. 6 is a piece of flat or round
iron, two of which are required to a pair of my improved double bellows.
They are cranked near each end, as seen at a, a, and at each end is a round
hole, one of which holes is hooked upon the spike b, No. 2, the other end is
screwed to the edges of the board No. 3. These irons keep the boards 2
and 3 a certain distance from each other, as may be seen in the per-
spective elevation of the bellows D. 7 is a frame, consisting of two upright
pieces of wood. At a certain distance from the ground there is a hole in
each to admit the spikes b, b, in No. 2; near to or at the top is a piece of wood,
lettered o, fixed crossways to the uprights by screws or nails, which is to
support the rockstaff.
8 is the rockstaff, which extends over the broad end of
the bellows, and works upon an iron or wood axeltree, having round iron ends,
which go into iron thimbles put into the crosspiece of wood that supports the
rockstaff. The ends are made to fit the thimbles, so as to prevent them from
shaking when the rockstaff works up and down. At the end of the rockstaff is
loop of iron, as is seen at t. 9 is a rod of iron with a round look at each

page_text: end; one end goes into the loop t in No. 8, and the other end of the rod goes
into the loop f in the square piece of iron k, k, No. 4. Both ends of the rod.
fit the loops t and f, so as to prevent them shaking when the rockstaff works
up and down. The hook about the centre of the rod 9, and the hooks n, n,
No. 4, are all for hanging weights upon, acccording to the strength of blast
that is required. Upon the board 4 going down the air will rush up the
aperture or hole a through the valve hole d, filling the space between the boards
2 and 4. On the board 4 going up, the air will rush through the valve hole
a, No. 8, and fill the space between the boards 3 and 4. By pulling the rock-
staff down, the air will be forced from between the boards 2 and 4 through the
valve hole a, No. 2; on the rockstaff going up again it will force the air from
between the boards 3 and 4 through the round hole e, No. 4, up the elastic
leather pipe 5, and through the round hole e, No. 2, the valves a and e
in No. 2 preventing its return. The top board No. 1 then rises, and a weight
being placed on it forces the air down the pipe d into the fire. By the rock-
staff falling and rising alternately and producing air both ways a constant,
steady, and powerful blast is obtained, and the bellows will carry more weight
and support a wider pipe than any heretofore invented or known.
And, lastly, I proceed to describe the Drawings G and H, which represent
perspective views of the common circular bellows extended open, with my im-
provements affixed, which last-mentioned Drawings are also accompanied by
distinct and seperate representations of several of the component parts, the
better to elucidate the same. No. 1 is the top board, and the same as in
the common circular bellows; 2 is the middle boad, with additional valve
holes and valves at g and f, and an additional pipe at d; 3 is the bottom
board, with an additional square hole at 6 and an additional pipe at c; din
No. 2, and c in No. 3, are two pipes, made of wrought iron, which are let into
the boards 2 and 3; and on each side of both boards another piece of board is
nailed or screwed (having first glue put between) to cover the pipes, and extend
to the dotted lines e, e, on the boards 2 and 3. On the top side of the board
that covers the pipe d, No. 2, is cut a square hole, as seen at f, which com-
municates with the pipe d. Over the square hole fis placed a wooden valve
covered with leather, having a leather hinge, which is fastened to the board with
screws, nails, or pegs; on the top side of the picce of board that covers
the pipe c, No. 3, is cut a square hole, as seen at 6, which hole communicates
with the pipe c, No. 3. 4 is a board which I place between the boards 2 and 3.
This board is made by forming two parts of a circle, as seen at c, c, c, c, from
the dots across the boards to the outer edges; over these two parts of a circle,
on each side, are screwed or nailed crossways (first having glue put between)

page_text: two pieces of board, in breadth and length the size of the circle intended to be
made, which leave an aperture or hole through the board from one side to the
other, as seen at a, a. On the top side of the board and in the centre a square
hole is cut through one of the boards, as seen at b. Over this hole is placed a
wooden valve covered with leather, having a leather hinge, which is fastened to
the board with screws, nails, or pegs. The round hole e is cut through
the board. On each side of the aperture or hole u, and on the edges of the
board, are fixed two square iron spikes, which go into the board, and have
each a collar, as seen at d, d, d, d. These spikes are rounded from the collars
to the end, and at each end have a cotter hole. Between the boards 3 and 4 I
place one of the wooden frames, represented in the Drawings E and F, No. 4,
which frames are made of segments of wood, and secured at the joints u, u, u, u,
by nailing or screwing on iron plates. This frame is intended to keep the
leather in form when put on, and is placed at equal distances between
the boards 3 and 4, and nailed on the edges of the frames as well as on
the edges of the boards, with this difference only, that the space between the
nails on the edges of the frames is greater than on the edges of the boards.
(The frames, however, between the boards 1 and 2 and 2 and 4 are always used
in the common circular bellows). But I do not confine myself to the use of one
frame only between the boards 3 and 4, as bellows of a large size might require
the introduction of two frames. 5 is the elastic leather pipe, above described
in my improvements upon the common double bellows. One of the flanges is
nailed over the hole e in No. 4, the other is nailed to the under side of the
board 2 over the hole g++. On the top side of the board 2 and over the round
hole g is placed a wooden valve covered with leather, having a leather hinge,
which is fastened to the board with screws, nails, or pegs. But I do not mean
to confine myself to the particular part of the boards 2 and 4 on which to affix
the elastic leather pipe, nor to the particular size or shape thereof, as I shall
vary the position and shape, the better to suit the purpose for which the bellows
are designed. 6 is a piece of flat or round iron, three of which are required to
a pair of my improved circular bellows; they are bent near each end, as seen at
a, a, and at the ends have round holes to admit screws. These irons are to
keep the boards 2 and 3 a proper distance from each other, according to the
length of stroke that is required, and are screwed to the edges of the
boards 2 and 3, as may be seen in the perspective elevation of the improved
bellows H. 7 is a pipe, made either round or square, or of iron, wood, or
leather, and has a turn near each end, as seen at a, a.
One end of this pipe
is slipped on the pipe d, No. 2, and the other end is slipped on the pipe c,
No. 8. The joints are then made are-tight by wrapping round them shreds

page_text: of linen cloth, coated over on one side with paint, and tied round the pipes
with cords. This pipe is for the same purpose as the elastic leather pipe,
and they may be used together or seperately. I shall therefore make some
bellows with the elastic leather pipe 5 and not the pipe 7, and shall make
others with the pipe 7 and not with the elastic leather pipe 5, and I shall
make some with both pipes, as occasion may require. 8 is a lever of cast or
wrought iron; two are required, and are fixed near each end of the axeltree t
by the square hole a, and at the other end of the lever is a round hole at b.
9 is a rod of round or square iron; two are required, and arè cranked at a, a,
and turned square at the ends. At b, b, the square ends are rounded, and at
each end have a cotter hole. 10 is a piece of wrought or cast iron made with
a curve; two are required. It has three round holes, as shewn at f, d, f; one
end of the rod 9 is put through the hole in the lever 8, and the other end
of the rod 9 is put into the hole d in the centre of the curve 10; the two
holes ff, are hooked upon the spikes d, d, No. 4. 11 is a piece of round
iron; two are required. The shanks a, a, have each of them a. round hole at
the end; the shank has a screw and nut at the end; the holes a, a, hook
upon the spikes d, d, No. 4, after the curve 10; the cotters being then put
into the spikes d, d, No. 4, make all fast; the shanks 6 go through the end
of the box No. 12 at b, b, and are screwed at the under side. 12 is a box,
made either of iron or wood, and is for the purpose of holding weights at a.
The box and weights are for counterbalancing the rockstaff and forcing the
air from between the boards 3 and 4, as seen in the perspective elevation of
the bellows ; but with some bellows I may not use the box, as I shall
occasionally suspend weights from the spikes d, d, d, d, No. 4. The rock-
staffs is fastened to the axeltree t by the bolt a passing through the rockstaff
and axeltree. On the under side of the rockstaff is fixed the stay r, which is
made of round iron. It has a hole at each end; one hole is for fastening it
by a wooden screw to the under side of the rockstaff, the other to go on the
the bolt that passes through the rockstaff and axeltree; the nut being then.
screwed to the under side of the stay makes all fast, as may be seen in the
perspective elevation of the bellows H. 13 is a frame of wood or cast iron
in which the bellows work, and is similar to that used for the common circular
bellows. Upon the board 4 going down the air will rush up the aperturo or
hole a through the valve hole b,. and fill the space between the boards 2
and 4; on the board 4 going up the air will rush through the valve hole a,
No. 3, and fill the space between the boards 3 and 4. The rockstaff being
pulled down the air will be forced from between the boards 2 and 4 up the
two valve holes a, a, No. 2. On the rockstaff returning it will force the air

page_text: from between the boards 3 and 4, through the round hole e, No. 4, up the
elastic leather pipe 5, and through the round hole 9, No. 2, or through
the square hole 6, No. 8, up the pipe 7, and through the square hole f.
No. 2, the valves 9 and f in No. 2 preventing its return. By the rockstaff
rising and falling alternately and producing air both ways it forces the
air through the valve holes a, a, and f, g, No. 2, namely, through a, a,
on the rockstaff falling, and f, g, on its rising, causing the board No. 1 to
rise, and a weight being placed thereon, it forces the air down the pipe b,
No. 2, through the long pipe into the fire. Thus a constant, steady, and
powerful blast is obtained, and the bellows will carry more weight and support
a wider pipe than any heretofore invented or known.
I do not, however, confine my improvements to bellows of any particular
shape or size, as they are applicable to bellows of every description, nor do I
confine myself to the particular materials of which my improvements are
formed, as I shall probably use cast or wrought iron instead of wood, or
substitute other materials not named for some that I have herein-before
mentioned if I can apply the same to equal advantage and produce the same
effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Linley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-three.