In- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles James Eyre, of Westbourne Grove, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 10th May 1870, and dated the 22nd March 1870.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I mount a wheel or drum to rotate on a
horizontal axis supported in bearings in a suitable framework. Within
this drum or wheel I disposo a number of bars or frames hinged at one
end at equal distances apart around the inner circumference of the
wheel, their other or free ends being weighted to a considerable amount,
and the gravity of which when in a certain position imparts rotary
motion to the wheel in one direction. To the bearing or other support
carrying the wheel or drum I fix a disc eccentric to the axis of said
drum, around which disc I fit a metal ring or strap similar to that of an
ordinary cocentric. To this ring I connect the several hinged frames
before mentioned by means of jointed rods, ohains, or cords of equal
length, which when extended by the weighted frames to which they are
attached falling outwards towards the circumference of the wheel form
radii from the eccentric, and serve to relieve the wheel of the weight of
said frames when the latter arrive in a certain position, as herein-after
described. Each frame or bar is furnished with a projecting part at
either side, which on the weighted ends of the frames on the ascending
side of the wheel falling over towards the centre of the latter are
received on supports independent of the wheel, and mounted on the
standards supporting the same, or in other convenient position. Thus the
frames which fall in successively towards the centre of the wheel on
arriving at a certain point on the ascending side thereof, as above
mentioned, are supported at some point between the weighted or free
onds and the hinged part of said frame, the effect of which is to relieve
that side of the wheel of the gravity of the weighted frames so supported,
which are always two or more in number at a time, causing the gravity of
the opposite half of the wheel and parts to preponderate, so determining
the rotation of the wheel.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The wheel is rotated by
the gravitation of the weighted frames at the upper part on one side
of the wheel, which are pendent in a perpendicular position, and the
weighted ends being then within the radius of the cords connecting
them to the eccentric are not affected thereby. At the lower part and
ascending side of the wheel, however, when the tendency of the weights
is to fall against the circumference of the wheel and oppose its revolution
by their gravity, the cords or connections are put in tension to sustain

page_text: side of the drum the positions of the weighted frames are reversed, that
is to say, the weighted ends are inclined in an upward direction, and on
rising to a certain height the weighted frames are caused to fall in
successively towards the centre of the wheel by the eccentric, with which
they are connected by rods or chains, before mentioned. On falling
inwards, which occurs when the weighted end rises above the horizontal
plane of the wheel axis, the projecting parts of each weighted frame are
received on the supports before mentioned, which may consist of a series
of independent wheels or spokes of convenient radius pivoted on the
supports of the wheel bearing or other fixture. These wheels or rods
are so disposed that the weighted frame will be transferred from one to
the other as the wheel revolves, and will be supported thereby until it
arrives directly over the axial line of the wheel, when it again hangs
perpendicularly as before. Thus the ascending side of the wheel is not
only relieved of the weight of the frames which have fallen in, as above
described, but the points at which they are sustained being situate
between the weighted and hinged ends of the frames the supports form
a fulcra for the weighted ends, the gravity of which has thus a tendency
to raise the wheel on that side. Thus it will be seen that the gravity of
the weighted frames acting upon the descending side of the wheel and
the said weight being removed at the lower and part of the ascending
part by the eccentric, and further when fallen inwards towards the
centre said weighted frames being sustained on independent supports,
all as above described, there will always be a preponderating weight on
one side of the axis, and the wheel will revolve by the action of
gravitation, as above described. It will be understood that I may, if I
find it convenient, employ several concentric rings or series of weighted
frames or bars to increase the power of the apparatus.