Improved Motor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Motor.
GEORGES JUSTIN JOSEPH LEGRAND, Merchant 343 Holloway Road London N.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Improved motor consisting of a wheel or wheels placed in a tank or recipient
containing water or other liquids and mercury or other dense or heavy liquid at
bottom or under lighter liquid or with light liquid alone the wheel being provided
with vanes or pockets or cylinders, etc., of any shape material metal or substance
containing air or any other fluid that will form on one side of the said wheel a
light or buoyant power causing it to revolve upon its axis, the said air is caused to
enter the cylinders etc., on wheel by the action of the mercury bottom of tank
recipient or reservoir, that enters into cylinders top ends being closed, through their
having an open pipe attached to their upper ends said hollow pipes being in open
communication with an open cone shaped top entering into the center of hub of
wheel and provided with open pipe going out above the level of liquid in the tank
being a fixture there, the wheel revolving round it the liquid pressure causing the
mercury to ascend in cylinders to a given height and as the wheel revolves the
cylinder with its open hollow pipe or spoke passing the open port of the cone
closes, receiving no more air the end of said cylinder rising out of the mercury
allows that mercury contained in it to drop out allowing the water or other liquid
to take its place compressing the air in said cylinder to a given degree as the
cylinder ascends the pressure becoming less and less and when reaching the top
line or nearly so of the water all air goes out of the cylinder and water takes its
place thus having filled up all the cylinders on the going down side of the wheel
until such cylinders again reaching the level of the mercury line the cylinders fill
with mercury expelling the water therefrom and the same operation takes place in
all the cylinders one at a time on the ascending side of the wheel or wheels;
instead of the air admitting cone center of hub of wheel any flat or cup shaped
surface to surface piece of metal with cuts or passages for air admittance through
to the hollow pipes or spokes of wheel can be used.
Pistons can be placed in the cylinders which will upon said cylinders rising
remain after a time stationary the mercury being upon their under surfaces and at
a given point of their course down the cylinders a catch mechanisni will hold them
down so that on mercury leaving cylinders and water taking its place no pressure
will force back the air that has entered cylinders. With such pistons the cone shaped
or other form of valve air inlet can be dispensed with and a plain open pipe can
enter at center of hub of wheel its end going out of the water tank level to admit
free air into cylinders as they ascend allowing also same air to escape freely out of
cylinders and said pipe when the cylinders descend on other side filled with water.
Instead of air being taken from center or hub of wheel or wheels a circular rim or
pipe can be placed around the outside periphery of the wheel and the air can be
taken therefrom into the ascending cylinders and forced or pumped therein from
the descending cylinders; the whole center of wheel may be hollow, or compressed
air or any other kind of fluid can be used in the same manner. The air admitting
pipes attached to top ends of cylinders can be supplied with a heavy metal ball so
that when they assume a position above the horizontal the weighted ball or valve
or cock coming into contact with a fixed abutment will close said cock or weighted
valve or ball will fall by weight and close up pipe or a valve in each end of pipes
will be closed near the cylinders by eccentric at center of wheel actuating rods
attached to valves as in the feathering mechanism of paddle wheels closing up said

page_text: air ways and this will suffice for both the operations of admitting the air to the
cylinders and cutting it off at a given time and also preventing water or other
liquid entering such pipes as the said cylinders empty of their air contents as they
fill with water or other liquid on the wheel revolving and descending on the other
side. Any other closing mechanism may also be used for this purpose. To ease the
filling action of the cylinders as they reach the level of the mercury at the bottom
of tank a valve operated as it comes against a fixed abutment or by any other
means can open which will admit water or air above the level of the mercury that
has entered the cylinders to a given height as the cylinders ascend in the lighter
liquid thus allowing the mercury to drop out of the cylinders after it has done its
work, or the cylinders top ends may be made to open and shut as a flap or other
valve and once the mercury has filled them expelling the water therefrom such
flap valves or cocks or weighted balls, etc., etc., will close hermetically and the air
entering the cylinders through the action of the mercury acting as buffer said
cylinders will ascend in the water as previously described; the cylinders can be
made also with two pistons working from their outer ends to their centers the air
and mercury acting as already described or the cylinders can be made in several
parts and collapsible as the folds of a telescope or to ease their passage into the
mercury they can revolve upon their centers and receiving their charge of mercury
to reassume their former position, the air water and mercury acting as already said.
The top of the liquids containing tank can be covered over and locked securely
so that no splashing of liquids takes place and also no escape of the gaseous or
other fluids or air compressed or ambiant also that there shall be no tampering of
the wheel or wheels and no dirt gets into the tank and acting parts. I can place
in a tank or tanks full of liquids two or more wheels one above the other the vanes
pockets or cylinders etc. being attached to a band, going around the two or more
wheels, or hollow flexible metallic pipe or other pipe armoured or not for the
purpose of supplying air as explained or the ascending lot of cylinders can travel
in a tube filled with liquid having passed firstly through mercury at bottom and
descend down the tube on other side containing no liquid cylinders operating as I
have already shown and they may pass between wiping rollers to prevent water
entering the tube which is to remain empty at or near bottom of empty tube above
mercury level an opening is left to allow the liquid running down from the
cylinders to escape to waste or into small tank to be repumped into the tube or
side always kept filled with liquid or a cock and ball may act so as to always refill
the tube containing liquid for what would run to waste out of the empty tube.
Where a running stream or waterfall is always flowing and water wheels are used
the above described can be used thus giving double the power or the buckets,
vanes, pockets or cylinders, etc., can all be placed around the outside periphery of
the wheel and such wheel would revolve between two partitions the water filling
up one side of the tank in which the wheel revolves and flowing or passing over
said wheel would fill up its pockets thus forming weight and afterwards run to
waste as is the case at present therefore with this system there would be buoyancy
on one side and weight on the other side of the wheel or wheels. The usual brake
power can be applied to stop the wheels oil cups and oil supply pipes can be used
for lubricating purposes as required.
Governors can be used and by partly or wholly closing the air access to
cylinders by means of the cone or otherwise the wheel will have its speed reduced
or will be entirely stopped. Preferably to reverse the working of the motor place
another wheel into gear, as the motor as described will only revolve in one direction
unless by levers and mechanical means the cylinders on the wheel are caused to
revolve from their centers in a different direction to receive their charge of
mercury or other dense liquid at bottom and to be lifted up by the lighter liquid
atop of the mercury on the right instead of on the left hand side or on the left
instead of on the right hand side of the wheel revolving in the tank so that thus
the direction of rotation of the wheel is changed: A wheel can be made that
will be formed with a hollow rim with corrugations of any shape and sizes the

page_text: other or opposite side of the hollow rim will also have same corrugations; from
the center or hub of wheel the spokes of course support this round hollow rim,
mercury or any other kind of dense liquid, sea water, brine, etc., is poured into
the hollow rim by proper inlet, and only covers and fills the bottom part of said
hollow rim, then water or any other kind of light liquid is poured in so as to only fill
up one side of the wheel this weight of water will cause the mercury to rise a
certain height up into the side of the wheel where there is no water or light
liquid, then placing the wheel in a tank full of water or any other liquid it will
revolve upon its centers on account of the water lifting up those corrugations, etc.,
which are in contact with it on one side only of their surfaces forming thus
pockets of air or buoyancy whilst where the water touches or is in contact with
both surfaces inside and outside of the hollow rim the corrugations, etc., of metal
only form weight, to take off more of the weight of the wheel it can also have a
hollow air drum on each side from center this will cause it to revolve easily and
freely on its supports and ball bearings can be placed where the shaft rotates; the
system as described can be duplicated, etc., etc., as regards hollow corrugations
hollow boxes, vanes, cylinders, etc., etc., and also mercury and water and made of
any shape or form. and any material metal or substance.
Around the outside or inside periphery of a wheel with hollow spokes leading
to a hollow drum at center, or the wheel being without spokes but composed of two
discs forming a hollow center are placed collapsible or other kinds of cylinders or
boxes that close in two or more parts one over the other or overlapping, the larger
part is made so as to form a piston at its lower end which will encircle the small
part or other half of the round box air and water tight this smaller half of the
box has a hollow pipe attached which is fixed solid onto the wheel and admits air
from the wheel to the box; the whole wheel is immersed into a tank full of liquid
and revolves from its center on ball or other bearings, the water lifting power
presses on top and under the larger half of the box and causes it to rise away
from the smaller circular half of the box as it lifts it sucks in air from the hollow
of the wheel and therefore makes the lifting or power box twice the size on the
other side of the wheel all the boxes are closed into half size on account of the
pressure of water having acted upon the larger part or head of the box and closed
it over the under or smaller part of the box; it is obvious that the boxes can be
made with side air boxes or wings or in any manner for a lifting purpose as
described and springs, or spiral springs can be placed inside to help lifting motion
ambiant or compressed air or fluid can be used and the wheel can be placed into
a tank with light liquid alone or in combination with mercury or dense liquid and
worked as above or in the different ways I have described.
GEORGES JUSTIN JOSEPH LEGRAND.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Motor.
I GEORGES JUSTIN JOSEPH LEGRAND of 343 Holloway Road London N.
Engineer do bereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My improved motor consists essentially of a wheel or wheels to which are attached
a number of vanes or pockets or cylinders, open at one end and of any suitable size
shape and material, in a somewhat similar manner to those of an overshot water
wheel.
Said wheel or wheels I mount to revolve on horizontal axes in a tank or other
receptacle containing either water or other fluid alone or water and mercury or any
other two fluids the specific gravities of which differ preferably to such an extent

page_text: that the heavier fluid will retain its position beneath the lighter fluid when both are
agitated by the revolution of the wheel or wheels in them.
The vanes pockets or cylinders attached to the wheel or wheels are so arranged
the cavities formed by them are charged with air or other gas during their upward
travel in the fluid or fluids in the tank so creating a buoyancy on one side of the
wheel or wheels causing the latter to revolve.
For the purpose of allowing the air to enter the cylinders 1 connect the closed
ends of these through suitable pipes governed by back pressure valves with the
hollow spindle to which the wheel is keyed or other suitable point opening into the
atmosphere or connected with any other gas supply or instead of such arrangement
the interior of the cylinders may be connected either directly or indirectly with
ports in the hub of the wheel which in their turn communicate with ports in hollow
spindle or pivots on which the wheel is arranged to revolve, said hollow spindle or
pivots being in direct or indirect communication with the atmosphere or other
gas supplied (which if found desirable may be under pressure) whilst the ports
are so arranged as to allow the air or gas to enter or leave the cylinders at the
proper times.
The cylinders or other cavities on the wheel or wheels I so arrange that during
their descent in the receptacle their open ends occupy the uppermost position so
allowing the said cavities being filled with the lighter liquid contained in the
receptacle (where two liquids are used). As however the wheel or wheels continue
to revolve the cavities pass into the heavier fluid preferably horizontally and the
lighter is discharged from them by the entrance of said heavier fluid into them.
The subsequent movement of the wheel or wheels brings the cavities to the
ascending side of the wheel where their position is such that their open ends extend
downwards. As the cavities travel upwards the heavier fluid is discharged from
them and air or other gas 18 at the same time allowed to enter them by the
opening of the back pressure valves or ports governing the supply thereof which
air or gas not being able to escape when the cavities enter the lighter liquid will
form a buoyant power causing the cavities to rise and so revolve the wheel or wheels.
On reaching their uppermost position however the cavities are again reversed when
the air or gas, owing to its natural tendency to rise and the fact that the pressure of
the liquid becomes less and less during the ascent of said cavities, will leave them
and the liquid entering them they commence their descent as before and the whole
operation is repeated.
When found necessary the cylinder on the wheel or wheels may be provided with
pistons, of any suitable shape, sliding in them to prevent the possible entrance of the
lighter liquid as they leave the heavier liquid to the displacement of the air or gas or
other similar means may be used for this purpose and where the air pipes or conduits
are provided with back pressure valves similar valves or their equivalents should be
adopted to allow the air or gas to escape from the cylinders when these reach the
highest point of their travel.
Where however only one fluid is provided in the receptacle in which the wheel is
mounted these pistons are weighted to such an extent that as the cylinders round
the lowest point of their travel the pistons fall and discharge the fluid from them
and such air or gas into them in the same manner as the heavier fluid when two
fluids are used. It will be perfectly obvious that the motor above described may
be modified in many details without departing from the principle involved in my
invention. For instance the cylinders may be hinged to the wheel or wheels and
operated by suitable fixed guides so that they would be moved into a position, when
entering the heavier liquid, which would admit the heavier liquid passing into them
freely as they descend or the cylinders might be fixed and syphon tubes or other
means provided for this purpose.
Where pistons are used in the cylinders, catch mechanism might be provided to
retain these at the lower open ends of the cylinders during their upper travel so
dispensing with the necessity of providing means for governing the air or gas supply

page_text: or where such means are provided these might be operated in a similar manner often
adopted in paddle wheels to effect feathering.
Two wheels might also be arranged one above the other in the tank or receptacle
and a flexible endless band or the like to which the cylinders are attached placed
around these the whole operating in the same manner as in the case of a single
wheel, except that an air or gas supply is preferably dispensed with and means
provided to conduct this from one cylinder to the other. The ascending and
descending cylinders on the wheel or wheels might be arranged to move through
slotted tubes the former of which is charged with the lighter liquid whilst
the other is empty, means being provided to drain off any liquid entering the
latter tube, whilst in all cases the cylinders are arranged or protected on the
ascending side of the wheel or wheels to prevent a column of liquid pressing directly
upon them.
One or more wheels as above described might be used in a running stream in a
similar manner to an overshot water wheel it being mounted preferably in this case
between petitions so that the buoyant power will result as well as that obtained
directly from the weight of the water. For governing the movement of the
wheel or wheels ordinary brakes or governors may be used the latter being
arranged to govern the supply of air or gas to the cylinders or cavities whilst
the reversal of the motion of the wheel or wheels might be effected by reversing
the position of the cylinders or cavities by suitable levers or other mechanical
means.
A wheel can be made that will be formed with a hollow rim with corrugations of
any shape or size the other or opposite side of the hollow rim will also have some
corrugations from the centre or hub of wheel the spokes of course support this
round hollow rim. Mercury or any other kind of dense liquid seawater, brine, etc.
is poured into the hollow rim by proper inlet and only covers the bottom of said
hollow rim, then water or any other kind of light liquid is poured in so as to only
fill up one side of the wheel this weight of water will cause the mercury to rise to
a certain height up into the other side of the wheel where there is no water or light
liquid then placing the wheel into a tank full of water or any other liquid it will
revolve upon its centres on account of the water lifting up those corrugations etc.
which are in contact with it on one side only of their surfaces forming thus pockets
of air or buoyancy whilst where the water touches or is in contact with both
surfaces inside and outside of the hollow rim the corrugations etc. of metal only
form weight; to take off more of the weight of the wheel it can also have a hollow
air drum on each side from centre this will cause it to revolve easily and freely on
its supports and ball bearings can be placed where the shaft rotates the system as
described can be duplicated etc., etc., as regards hollow corrugated rims hollow
boxes vanes cylinders and also mercury and water and made of any shape or form
and any material metal or substance. Around the outside or the inside periphery
of a wheel with hollow spokes leading to a hollow drum at centre or the wheel
being without spokes but composed of two discs forming a hollow centre are placed
collapsible or other kinds of cylinders or boxes that close in two or more parts one
over the other, or overlapping the larger part is made so as to form a piston at its
lower end which will encircle the small part or other half of the round box air and
watertight, this smaller half of the box has a hollow pipe attached which is fixed
solid on to the wheel and admits air from the wheel to the box, the whole wheel is
immersed into a tank full of liquid and revolves upon its centre on ball or other
bearings the water lifting power presses on top and under the larger half of the
box and causes it to rise away from the small circular half of the box, as it lifts it
sucks in air from the hollow of the wheel and therefore makes the lifting or power
box twice the size, on the other side of the wheel all the boxes are closed in to half
size on account of the pressure of water having acted upon the larger part or head
of the box and closed it over the under or smaller part of the box it is obvious that
the boxes can be made with side air boxes or wings or in any manner for a lifting

page_text: purpose as described and springs or spiral springs can be placed inside to help
lifting motion ambiant or compressed air or fluid can be used and the wheel can be
placed into a tank with light liquid alone or in combination with mercury or dense
liquid and worked as above in the different ways I have described.
And in order that my invention may be better understood and carried into effect
I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings
of which Fig. I. is side elevation and Fig. II. end elevation of a simple form of
apparatus for carrying the principle of my invention into effect.
In the tank a which is shown partly broken away for the sake of clearness, is
mounted a wheel. constructed entirely of tubes c and d communicating with one
another and with the hollow spindle & the ends of which project through stuffing
boxes in the sides of the tank a.
On the periphery of this wheel are mounted a number of cylinders fin brackets
cs g
projecting therefrom the interiors of said cylinders being in communication with
the interior of the tubes c d forming the wheel through tubes h connected with the
interior or the hollow trunnions of said cylinder and the hollow brackets upon
which they are mounted.
In order to cause the cylinder to move into the position shown during the
revolution of the wheel I form a crank on the outer free end of one of the trunnions
of each of said cylinders and arrange this cranked portion to slide in a slotted
guide secured in the tank a the interior of which is charged with water and
mercury or other light and heavy liquids m. n.
The supply of the air or other gas to the cylinders is preferably governed by
ordinary back-pressure valves arranged in the tubes h.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. A motor and modifications thereof formed of a number of cylinders or the like
arranged to travel round one or more points in an approximately vertical plane in
a receptacle containing a heavy or light or both a heavy and a light liquid the
interior of said cylinders or the like being either connected together or connected
with the atmosphere or other gas supply under pressure or not so that during their
upward travel said cylinders may be charged with air or gas and this discharged
from them during their downward travel substantially as and for the purpose as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 27th day of August 1894.
GEORGES JUSTIN JOSEPH LEGRAND.