IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND ACCELERATING MOTION, APPLICABLE FOR PROVISIONAL SPEĊIFICATION FOR THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND VEHICLES, AND FOR DRIVING MACHINERY AND THE LIKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND ACCELERATING MOTION, APPLICABLE FOR
PROVISIONAL SPEĊIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
AND ACCELERATING MOTION, APPLICABLE FOR THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND
VEHICLES, AND FOR DRIVING MACHINERY AND THE LIKE." [A communication
from abroad by James Schofield, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to convert slow or slight motion into rapid or
extended motion by the intervention of ropes or chains and sheaves for the purpose
of propelling boats, vehicles, machinery, and the like.
The Invention consists essentially of a sliding carriage containing several
sheaves, and fixed on a reciprocating rod, while over said sheaves and sets of
corresponding standing sheaves fixed opposite, and at a distance, a rope or chain
is passed back and forth in such a manner that a slight movement of the carriage
will produce a very extended or accelerated movement of the bight of the rope or
chain, or of objects attached to it; and it consists further of a novel arrangement of
sheaves and ropes for the transmission of the slow motion of the tides, and its
conversion into rapid rotary or other motion.
I will first describe the means for producing intermittent or reciprocating motion.
In this case the mechanism is mounted in a framework, having standards through
which the sliding rod moves, and the carriage is firmly fixed on the rod, and
provided with sheaves, which-are-fitted to revolve on pins in the carriage. The
groups of standing sheaves are fixed in convenient and opposite parts of the frame,

page_text: and the rope or chain is made fast to the standards, and is passed back and forth
over the sheaves on the carriage and the frame.
In this instance, and in order to demonstrate the operation of the device, the
bight of the rope is passed over sheaves which are carried on a bar, which may
represent the keel of a steam boat, said rod being provided with floats that
"feather" when moving in one direction, and oppose their full surface when
moving in the other to serve as propellers. When tho carriage is moved a short
distance by the sliding rod (which rod may represent the piston rod of an engine)
the floats move through a much greater space, and as a reciprocating motion is
given to the carriage the floats or propellers also nove with a reciprocating motion.
If the bight of the rope be passed around a pulley mounted on one of the wheel
axles of a wheeled frame a forward motion of the sliding carriage will give motion
to the wheel through the medium of a ratchet and pawl, while on the reverso
motion of the carriage the wheel will remain stationary because of the disengagement
of the pawl from the ratchet.
Two ropes or chains may be used instead of a single rope, in which case ono
would be made fast at one of the standards and terminate at the other standard,
while the other rope would be made fast on one side of a post that supports the
sliding carriage, and after passing over some of the sheaves terminate on the
opposite side of the said post. In this case the principle of gearing is the same as
before described, and the result is the same, excepting that for a like movement of
the carriage with its sheaves moro extended or accelerated motion is obtained by
the bight of the ropes, because of the increased number of turns made by the ropes
over the sheaves, the relative speed of the bights of the ropes as compared with
that of the carriage being determined by the number of sheaves over which the
said ropes pass.
A constant rotary motion may be transmitted by means of a double geared
wheel set with a sheave and a ratchet on each side of it on the axle. A bight of
one of the ropes that hangs between the sheaves is put around the sheave of the
double geared wheel, so that when the carriage is put in reciprocating motion the
said wheel by means of pawls and ratchets has imparted to it a constant rotary
motion, which rotary motion may be transmitted by cord or belt to a sheave that
is connected with a pulley or truck which may serve as a driving pulley for
machinery.
The slow ebb and flow of the tide may by means of this Invention be applied for
producing accelerated motion. To this end a post is securely fastened in the bed
of a river, and is provided with a sheave which is journalled on it and revolves in
a vertical plane, and a float of the desired dimensions and buoyancy is employed,
having passed vertically through it a standard, on each end of which is a vertically
revolving sheave. Above the level of the water is a horizontal frame, having 3
downwardly projecting hangers, one at either end and one in the centre. These
hangers support shafts, each of which are furnished with sheaves, the said shafts
and sheaves being intended to represent a simple arrangeinent of mechanism by
means of which the slow movement of the tide may be converted with an
accelerated motion, and applied to driving inachinery, through the intervention of
what may be called a "double geared device," similar to that above described.
A rope, which has one end made fast to the top of the post in the bed of the river,
is passed up over one of the sheaves of the float, down around the sheave on the
post, thence up through the float, and connected with a rope which passes around
the sheaves on the shafts above, and is connected with a rope which passes down
around the other sheave of the float, and thence upward to be secured to the lower
end of the central hanger. The float rises and falls with the tide, and as it rises
the rope which is fastened to the post is pulled down, and as the sheave at one
end of the frame is of much greater diameter than the other sheaves, over which
the above mentioned ropes pass, proportionately increased speed or motion is given
to the mechanisin which may be connected therewith. On the fall of the float
with the tide the motion of the ropes is reversed, and with it the sheave which

page_text: transmits motion to the machinery, but the motion of the mechanism connected
therewith may be continued in the same direction by the application of well
known devices. Mechanism may also be connected with the sheave at the other
end of the frame to be operated in the same manner, and like connections may be
added almost indefinitely.
It will be readily seen that this device of float and connected ropes and sheaves
resemble that before described for producing continuous rotary motion, and can be
applied to move similar mechanism by attaching the sheave on the central hanger
to the post (which post would in such instance be immovable), and connecting
the ropes.
In another application of the Invention a frame is employed in which a shaft is
journalled, said shaft carrying sheaves, and between said sheaves a grooved wheel,
together with ratchets attached to the inner faces of the sheaves, said ratchets
having their teeth turned in opposite directions, while on each face of the wheel is
fixed a spring pawl that engages with the ratchets. A rope is passed around the
sheave on the shaft in the end hanger, and an end is turned a number of times
around each sheave in the frame, and made fast thereto. A rope is also turned a
number of times around and mado fast to the said sheaves, and the bight thereof is
passed around a sheave that is journalled in the frame below and at right angles to
the grooved wheel. When the sheave on the shaft above is put in motion the
grooved wheel has imparted to it a constant rotary motion in one direction. As
the rope moves in one direction ono pawl engages in the ratchet and pushes tho
grooved wheel around, while the other pawl slips over the teeth of its ratchet,
and when the rope moves in a reverse direction the action of the said pawls is
reversed and continues the motion of the wheel in the same direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th December 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
AND ACCELERATING MOTION, APPLICABLE TO THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND
VEHICLES, AND FOR DRIVING MACHINERY AND THE LIKE." A communication
from abroad by James Schofield, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to convert slow or slight motion into rapid or
extended motion by the intervention of ropes or chains and sheaves for the purpose
of propelling boats and vehicles, and for driving machinery and the like.
The Invention consists essentially of a sliding carriage containing several sheaves,
and fixed on a reciprocating rod, while over said sheaves and sets of corresponding
standing sheaves fixed opposite, and at a distance, a rope or chain is passed back
and forth in such a manner that a slight movement of the carriage will produce a
very extended or accelerated movement of the bight of the rope or chain or of
objects attached to it; and it consists further of a novel arrangement of sheaves
and ropes for the transmission of the slow motion of the tides, and its conversion
into rapid rotary or other motion.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a partial plan of the device, showing
it as applied to produce intermittent or reciprocating motion; Figure 2 is an
clevation of the parts shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial plan of the device,
showing it as applied to produce a continuous or rotary motion; Figure 4 is a
front elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a peripheral elevation
of a double geared wheel hereafter described; Figuro 6 is an elevation of the
device, showing it as applied to transmit the motion of the rise and fall of the tide,
aud Figure 7 is a plan view of the same; Figuro 8 is a front elevation of the
device, showing the manner in which the rise and fall of the tide is converted into
rotary motion; Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of the same; Figure 10 is an
enlarged cross section of a sheave shown in Figures 6 and 7. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is a framework for the support of tho mechanism; B, B, are
standards provided with holes a, in which the rod C is supported and moves;
D is the sliding carriage firmly fixed on rod C, and provided with sheaves b that
revolve on pins c; E are the groups of standing sheaves fixed in convenient and
opposite parts of the frame A; and F, the rope or chain whose ends are made fast
to the standards B, B, at d, while the rope or chain F itself is passed, as shown,
back and forth over the sheaves b, E.
In this case, and in order to demonstrate the operation of the device, the bight
of the rope F is passed over sheaves f, f, and along the bar G, which latter may
represent the keel of a steam boat, while g may represent floats that "feather"
when moving in one direction, and oppose their full surface when moving in the
other. When the carriage D is moved a short distance by the rod C (which rod C
may represent the piston rod of an engine) it will be seen that the floats g move
through a much greater space, and as a reciprocating motion is given to the
carriage D the floats or propellers g also move with a reciprocating motion. If the
bight of the rope F be passed around the pulley h, as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 2, a forward motion of the carriage D will give motion to the wheel H
through the medium of the ratchet i and pawl k, while on the reverse motion of
the carriage D the wheel H will remain stationary because of the disengagement
of the pawl from the ratchet.

page_text: In Figures 3 and 4 what may be called a "double geared device," in contra-
distinction to Figures 1 and 2, is shown. In these Figures two ropes or chains K
are used, the one being made fast at one of the standards L and terminating at
the other standard, while the rope K is made fast on one side of the post. M that
supports the carriage N, and after passing over some of the sheaves terminates on
the opposite side of the said post. In this case the principle of gearing is the same
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the result is the same, excepting that for a like
movement of the carriage N with its sheaves 6 more extended or accelerated
motion is obtained by the bight of the ropes, because of the increased number of
turns made by the ropes K over the sheaves o, the relative speed of the bights of
the ropes K as compared with that of the carriago N being determined by the
number of sheaves over which the said ropes pass. P represents a double geared
wheel set, with a sheave m and a ratchet n on each side of it, on the axle Q.
A bight of one of the ropes K that hangs between the sheaves O is put around
the sheave m, so that when the carriage N is put in reciprocating motion the said
wheel P by means of the pawls o and ratchets n (see Figure 5) has imparted to it
a constant rotary motion, which rotary motion may be transmitted, as shown, by
cord or belt p to the sheavo q that is connected with the pulley or truck R. This
pulley R may serve as a driving pulley for machinery.
In Figures 6 and 7 is shown a device by which the slow ebb and flow of the
tide may be applied for producing accelerated motion. A' represents a river bed,
and B the water; C₁ is a post securely fastened in the river bed, and having
journalled on it a sheave D' that revolves in a vertical plane; E' is a flont of
desired dimensions and buoyancy, having passed vertically through it a standard E³,
on each end of which is a vertically revolving sheave E and E' respectively;
F is a horizontal frame having downward projecting hangers F, F, F, supporting
shafts G, G, G. On shaft Ğ are sheaves G³, G, on shaft G¹ the sheaves G5, G6,
and on shaft G the sheaves G7, G³, these shafts and sheaves being intended to
represent a simple mechanism by means of which the slow movement of the tide
may be converted with an accelerated motion and applied to driving machinery
through the intervention of what may be called a "double geared device," similar
to that shown in Figures 3 and 4. One end of a rope H' is made fast to the top
of the post C, and is then passed up over the shoavo E³, down around the sheave D¹,
thence up through the float E¹, and connected with a ropo I' which passes around
the sheave G with several turns so as not to slip around the said sheave, thence
with several turns around the sheavo C7, and then around the sheave G+, where it
connects with the rope H, which passes down around the sheave E' of the float E',
and thence upward to be secured to the lower end of the central hanger F³.
K' is a rope, represented with a weight K³ on each end to indicate an object to
which the transmitted power is applied, which ropo K¹ is passed with several turns
to prevent slipping around the sheave G. When the float E' rises with the tide
the rope H is pulled down in the direction of the arrow, Figure 6, thereby causing
the rope I' to move in the direction of its arrow, and as the sheave G is of much
greater diameter than the other sheaves over which the said ropes H¹, I', H², pass
proportionately increased speed or motion is given to the rope K¹ and the
weights K, or other mechanism connected therewith. On the fall of the float E¹
with the tide the motion of the ropes H, I, H2, is reversed, and with it the motion
of the sheave G, but the motion of the mechanism connected therewith may be
continued in the same direction by the application of well known and simple
devices.
Mechanism may also be connected with the sheave Gs to be operated in the
same manner as from sheave Gº, and like connections may be added almost
indefinitely.
It will be readily seen that this device of float and connected ropes and sheaves
resembles that shown in Figures 3 and 4, and can be applied to move similar
mechanism by attaching the sheave G³ to the post M, which post M would in such
instance be immovable, and connecting the ropes K, K, with the ropes 1', H².

page_text: If the sheave L', Figure 8, is substituted for the sheave Go, shown in Figures 6
and 7, and the rope L³ for the rope K', another application may be shown.
M' is a frame, in which is journalled a shaft M2 carrying sheaves N', N', and
between said sheaves a grooved wheel N³; o², 0%, are ratchets respectively attached
on the inner faces of the sheaves N', N³, and having their teeth turned in opposite
directions, while on each face of said wheel N is fixed a spring pawl P1, P2, that
engages within the ratchets. The rope L is passed around the sheavo L³, and an
end is turned a number of times around each sheave N', N³, and made fast thereto.
A rope L³ is also turned a number of times around and made fast to the
sheaves N1, N2, and the bight thereof is passed around the sheave Q¹ that is
journalled in the frame M¹ below and at right angles to the wheel N³.
When the sheave L' is put in motion the wheel N³ has imparted to it a constant
rotary motion in one direction by means of its attached or connected mechanism,
as above described. As the rope L' moves in ono direction the pawl P¹ engages in
tho ratchet o' and revolves the wheel N³, while the pawl P² slips over the teeth of
the ratchet o³, and when the rope L moves in the reverse direction the action of
the pawls is reversed, the pawl P² engaging in the ratchet O³, and continuing the
motion of the wheel N³ in the same direction.
It is obvious then that by the means of this gearing of ropes and sheaves a slow
motion at the point of applied force results in a greatly accelerated motion at the
point where the force is to be utilized; and it is also obvious that this combination
of ropes and sheaves or pulleys can be successfully applied to the propelling of
waggons, to the running of machinery of various kinds, to the propelling of boats,
to the transfer of packages from one place to another, and to various purposes.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing a
'the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The sliding carriage D provided with sheaves b, in combination with the
rope or chain F, standards B, B, and standing sheaves E, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
2nd. The sliding carriage N provided with sheaves 7, in combination with the
ropes K and standing sheaves O, substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd. The double geared pulley P, pulley R, carriage N, and ropes K, combined
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4th. As a means for transinitting the motion of the tides and converting it into a
rapid motion the device, constructed substantially as herein shown and described,
consisting of the fixed post C¹, float E', standard E², shaft G, G³, G³, sheaves D', E³,
E+, G³, G+, G³, G, G7, and ropes H, I, H², arranged and operated as set forth.
5th. As a means for transmitting slow reciprocating motion and converting it
into rapid continuously rotary motion, the sheaves L¹, N¹, N2, Q', ropes 01, 0%,
wheel N³, and pawls P1, P2, constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown
and described.
6th. The combination with the shaft M and sheaves N¹, N', of the wheel N³,
ratchets O', 0, and spring pawls P', P³, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and scal this Sixteenth day of December in the year of our