OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER BY CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS OF MACHINERY AND WATER
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmond Gibson Atherley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1863.
I, EDMOND GIBSON ATHERLEY, of Orme Square, Bayswater, in the County
of Middlesex, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER BY CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS OF
MACHINERY AND WATER," to be as follows:-
The machinery or apparatus consists of two parts, which are connected to
each other by a channel and a double-balance lever. The one part has a
vessel designated the cistern, which is in connection with another vessel desig-
nated the bucket belonging to the second part, through which channel water
passes and repasses to either vessel alternately and continuously. This
channel is provided with a flexible joint to allow of its being bent at a right
angle over the axis of a wheel belonging to the second part. The cistern is
depressed by means of a moveable weight, which is composed of three parts,
viz., the centre or body and of two wings, which wings are so attached to the
body as to admit of their expansion or collapse for the purpose of allowing the
weight itself to be removed from and
are above the cistern. The cistern is
may be at attached to the bottom of it
replaced upon brackets or rests which
lowered either to force pistons which
into cylinders to act as pumps, or for

page_text: the purpose of obtaining a motive power, and this power is dependent upon the
weight of the body placed upon the cistern in its descent.
In order to elevate the cistern after its depression, either levers or weights
suspended to pulleys are employed, and which begin to operate the instant
the weight is removed from the cistern. The means employed to place the
weight upon the cistern is as follows:-Two chains or connections are attached
respectively to each wing of the weight, and pass by means of tubes through
the cistern to the under surfaces of pulleys, then up to the bottom of the
cistern to which they are affixed, and it is so arranged that at the full ascent
of the cistern these connecting media are so tightened as only to become
relaxed by the collapse of the wings and consequent descent of the weight
upon the cistern.
Motive power may be obtained by passing the water raised by the pumps
over a water wheel, and by this means a small and limited quantity of water
by passing and repassing over this water wheel becomes as effectual as a
stream of river water, and has, moreover, this advantage, that the power is
always uniform in its effects, and becomes as useful as steam without its
danger. The apparatus can thus be employed in any part of the country
where even a small supply of water can be obtained.
That part of the apparatus to which the bucket is attached consists, first,
of a wheel which is allowed to revolve on its axis one-fourth of its circum-
ference, by which means the bucket is alternately placed above and below the
centre or axis of the wheel, and thereby becomes either filled or emptied.
Second, of two weights fixed respectively at each end of one of the diameters
of the wheel for the purpose of aiding the motion of the wheel. as well as of
assisting either the ascent or descent of the cistern. The weight at the
opposite end of the diameter to which the bucket is attached has a very
peculiar arrangement; by means of a rod it is affixed to the diameter close to
the centre of the wheel on a pivot to allow of its free motion. It has likewise
at its farther end a curve running parallel to the circumference provided with
cogs.or teeth, which gear into a wheel likewise provided with cogs or teeth,
but which is in other respects unconnected with it. The arrangement of these
two parts, viz., the curve and the cog wheel, is solely to remove the weight
from off the bucket to its place upon the rack or rest above the bucket; this
weight, viz., that attached to the centre of the wheel by a rod, is also a
counterpoise to the weight at the other end of diameter, thus serving two
purposes.
The balance lever already mentioned is the medium to remove the weight
from the cistern and to replace it upon the rests above the cistern, and which

page_text: is effected at the complete descent of the cistern. Regulation weights are
attached to the wheel as well as to the levers or weights which are employed
to elevate the cistern. Thus the arrangement of the whole apparatus is so
continued as to make them self-acting, yet so nicely are the parts to the
operation of the whole balanced, and so uniform and simple in movement,
that the action may be stopped at any moment, and the possibility of an
accident avoided, however great the power employed may be.