CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN BLOWING MACHINES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude François Vauthier, Engineer, of the Town of
Dijon, in the French Empire, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BLOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 5th April 1855, and dated the 28th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude François Vauthier
at the Offico of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th October 1854.
I, CLAUDE FRANÇOIS VAUTHIER, Engineer, of the Town of Dijon, in the
French Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOWING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
My improvements in blowing machines consist in constructing them as
follows: My blowing machine consists of a metallic cylindrical vessel, having
an aperture provided with a stuffing box in the centre of the top and bottom
covers, through one of which (the top) works a solid, and through the other
(the bottom) a hollow, piston rod. Near the edge of both top and bottom
covers is an annular opening or orifice, closed by valves of india-rubber, gutta
percha, or other like suitable material, opening inwards for the admission of
air or other fluid. The cylindrical vessel is provided with a hollow piston, con-
sisting of two plates, the upper of which is fixed on the solid piston rod, and
the other forms part or piece with the hollow piston rod which works through

page_text: the stuffing box in the under cover, and through which the air or other fluid has
its exit. Both plates are provided with openings or apertures, through which
air or other fluid passes from the cylinder into the piston. Caps or valves of
vulcanized caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other suitable material are adjusted
inside of the piston, so as to cover the openings in the top and bottom plates
thereof, and are so fitted as to open inwards. At each stroke of the piston, air
or other fluid is drawn into the cylinder, and forcibly ejected through the hollow
piston rod.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Claude François Vauthier in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDE
FRANÇOIS VAUTHIER, Engineer, of the Town of Dijon, in the French Empire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me; the said
Claude François Vauthier, Her special licence that I, the said Claude François
Vauthier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Claude François Vauthier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Claude François Vauthier, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Claude François Vauthier, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:

page_text: My Invention consists in constructing blowing machines in the following
manner I take a cylindrical metallic vessel, having an aperture in the
centre of both its top and bottom covers. Through the aperture in the top
cover a solid piston rod passes, while a hollow piston rod works in the opening
in the bottom cover, through which the air is ejected.
In both the top and bottom covers, and near the edge of the same, are
annular orifices, provided with valves of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other
like suitable material, which open inwards, and are intended for the ad-
mission of air or other fluid into the machine. In the cylindrical vessel is a
piston, consisting of two plates, the upper of which is fixed on to the before-
mentioned solid piston rod, which passes through the upper cover, while the
lower plate is in a single piece with the hollow piston rod, which works through
the bottom cover, and through which the air or other fluid is ejected or
expelled. Both plates have openings, through which the air or fluid passes
into the piston from the cylinder. Inside the piston and over these openings
are caps or valves of vulcanized india-rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable
material, so placed and adjusted as to close the openings in the top and bottom
plates. These valves open inwards, and at each stroke of the piston the air
or other fluid is drawn into the cylinder, and forcibly expelled through the
hollow piston rod.
The machine is worked by steam or any other suitable motive agent.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a longitudinal section of a blowing
machine constructed according to my Invention; and Figure 2, a plan of the
same; Figure 3 is a transverse section through the line-1, 2, of Figure 1,
showing the openings near the edge of the cylinder covers.
A is the cylindrical vessel, which is drilled or bored true; B, C, are the
cylinder covers; B', C', are the central openings in the same, provided with
stuffing boxes, through which the piston rods pass; G is the solid piston rod
which works through the opening B' in the cover B; H is the hollow piston
rod, which works through the aperture C in the cylinder cover C; D, D, D, D,
are openings near the edge of the cylinder covers, intended for the admission
of air or other fluid into the blowing machine. E, E, is the piston, which is
formed of two plates E and E', of which the upper plate E is fixed on to the
solid piston rod G, and the other plate E' is made in a piece with the hollow
piston rod H. S, S, are the stuffing boxes in the covers, through which the
pistons pass. I, I, I, I, are annular openings or orifices in the piston plates
E, E', through which the air passes into the piston from the cylindrical vessel.
J, J, are valves of vulcanized india-rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable
material for closing the orifices D, D, in the cylinder covers. J¹, J, J¹, J,

page_text: are caps or valves, also made of vulcanized india-rubber, gutta percha,
or other suitable material, for closing the openings I, I, in the piston plates.
Figure 4 is a front view of an india-rubber cap or valve J. Figure 5 shews
the same shut; and Figure 6, open. If a cylindrical vessel of considerable
diameter should be required, several of these valves may be arranged con-
centrically over the openings. The circular openings I, I, in the piston,
as also the openings D, D, in the cylinder covers, are provided with a
framework, grating, or lattice, on which the valves rest, and when closed
press against the bars and edge of the frame, so as to close up the orifices.
By this arrangement of valves (thus resting on a framework), an opening is
provided for the admission of the air or other fluid, nearly equal to the surface
of the cylinder cover, whereby the cylinder is more completely filled than by
the ordinary descriptions of blowing machines, in all of which so great a resist-
ance is offered to the fluid that the cylinder is never completely filled. Thus,
for example, in the ordinary slide valve blowing machine there are three
objections, viz., a large space is left, which is detrimental to the action of the
machine; the air enters in an angular direction; and the orifice is narrow,
thereby considerably contracting the volume of fluid.
By the arrangement of hollow piston E, E, and rod H, as described, the
air is ejected from the cylindrical vessel in a direct and simple manner; the
cumbrous frames which are fitted to the covers and sides of other descriptions
of cylindrical blowing machines, for supporting the valves and receiving the air
sucked in, are dispensed with.
My improved blowing machines may be economically constructed, as they
may be manufactured almost entirely by the aid of a turning lathe, and are
easily repaired. The valves do not easily get out of order, and indeed the
only repair that the apparatus would be likely to require would be from
the wear and tear consequent upon the friction of the piston rod on its
bearings. My improved blowing machines are adapted for blast and other
furnaces, forges, foundries, ventilation of mines, pumps, &c.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner
in which the same may be performed, I declare that I claim as constituting
my said improvements in blowing machines,-
First, the arrangement of the orifices for the admission and ejection of air
or other fluid, and of the valves for closing such orifices, as herein-before
described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the employment and arrangement of a hollow piston rod for the
ejection or expulsion of the air or other fluid, as herein-before described and
represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: And, third, I claim the general arrangement and combination of parts com-
posing my improved blowing machine, all as herein-before described, and
represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude François Vauthier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
C. F. VAUTHIER. (L.S.)
CHARLES ARMENGAUD,
Ingenieur Civil,
Rue des Filles du Calvaire, 6, à Paris.