IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Symes, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Symes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th March
1864.
I, JAMES SYMES, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCOMOTIVE APPARATUS OR CONVEYANCES APPLICABLE TO LAND AND SEA," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the form and construction
of locomotive apparatus or conveyances intended as substitutes for steam
vessels at sea, or for land carriages, where great speed is desirable. I propose
to construct a spherical vessel or globe of iron of any required dimensions, say,
fifty feet in diameter. This hollow globe is to be furnished with an axle
passing directly through its centre, to which axle a boat or other receptacle
is slung; this receptacle is also built of iron, and if it be formed of a spherical
shape its upper half may be of zinc or other light material sufficient for a
covering to protect the inmates from draught and cold. A steam engine of
about thirty-horse power is to be fixed in the suspended receptacle or chamber
so as to propel the axle in the globe, causing the globe to revolve around the
chamber, which remains level and dependent from the axle; an opening is

page_text: made on each side of the globe for ingress and egress, and for ventilation and
the escape of steam or smoke. The interior is fitted either for carrying mails
or cargo. The axle or shaft extends beyond the periphery of the spherical
vessel, and serves to sustain a chamber for the steersman, who operates with
a rudder suspended therefrom. On sea the vessel would draw about 10 feet
of water, and would roll or revolve over the surface with great rapidity. The
vessel would also be applicable for discovering the sources of large rivers, or
for exploring and traversing sandy deserts. In the latter case the propelling
action would be the same as for water passage, the apparatus revolving along
the surface of the ground; but the steering would be accomplished by means
of guide wheels let down as trails in place of a rudder, which would be
removed and secured in the interior of the apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Symes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SYMES, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Symes, Her special licence that I, the said James
Symes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Symes, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCOMOTIVE APPARATUS OR CONVEYANCES APPLICABLE TO LAND AND SEA," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Symes, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Symes, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
:
}
My Invention consists of certain improvements in the form and construction
of locomotive apparatus or conveyances intended as substitutes for steam
vessels at sea, or for land carriage, where great speed is desirable. I con-
struct a spherical vessel or globe of iron of any required dimensions, say,
fifty feet in diameter. This. hollow globe is to be furnished with an axle
passing directly through its centre, to which axle a boat or other receptacle is
slung; this receptacle is also built of iron, and if it be formed of a spherical
shape, its upper half. may be of zinc or other light material sufficient for a
covering to protect the inmates from draught and cold. A steam engine of
about thirty-horse power is to be fixed in the suspended receptacle or chamber
so as to propel the axle in the globe, causing the globe to revolve around the
chamber, which remains level and dependant from the axle; an opening is
made on each side of the globe for ingress and egress, and for ventilation and
the escape of steam or smoke. The interior is fitted either for carrying.mails
or cargo. The axle or shaft extends beyond the periphery of the spherical
vessel, and serves to sustain a chamber for the steersman, who operates with a
rudder suspended therefrom. On sea the vessel would draw about 10 feet of
water, and would roll or revolve over the surface with great rapidity. The
vessel would also be applicable for discovering the sources of large rivers, or
for exploring and traversing sandy deserts. In the latter case, the propelling
action would be the same as for water passage, the apparatus revolving along
the surface of the ground, but the steering would be accomplished by means
of guide wheels let down as trails in place of a rudder, which would be
removed and secured in the interior of the apparatus.
annex a
In order that my said Invention may be more completely understood, I
Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the
vessel floating in water, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same. Similar
letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each Figure.
A represents the outer iron spherical vessel or locomotive apparatus, and B
the internal boat or receptacle to contain the boiler and engines, fuel, cargo,
mails, crew, and passengers; this receptacle is suspended by bearings to the
axle c, which is continued to the diameter of the outer vessel A, and attached
thereto at c², c', by the intervention of the horizontal bar, hereafter described;
on one side of the vessel the axis is further extended (as shewn) to support
the steersman's car, which hangs thereto by loose bearings; d is the rudder

page_text: attached to the rod e, which by any suitable attachments and gearing may be
operated by the steersman. It is not necessary to shew the engine boiler and
other detail; it is sufficient to explain that the cranks f, f, are united to the
connecting rods of the engine, so that in the revolution of the axle the outer
globe or. vessel is caused to revolve and travel on the surface of the water.
In Fig. 1 an opening 9 is shewn of 18 feet in diameter, serving for ingress
and egress; this opening will expose a half-moon balcony on each side of the
vessel, formed of the horizontal ring h to which the main axle is attached at c'.
This exposed portion of the bar is of course of a curve.of 50 feet diameter, or
equal to that of the vessel, and is furnished with protecting railings. A plan
view of this portion of the bar is shewn at Fig. 3. The dotted lines i, i,
Fig. 2, shew the portion of the sphere or globe removed. For land purposes.
trailing wheels could be attached to the axle, and turned to any desired angle
by chain or other gearing so as to guide the locomotive apparatus in any
:desired course.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
.which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have
.expressed and shewn, as the same may evidently be modified or varied without
.in any way departing from the principles of my Invention, neither do I limit
myself to any special dimensions of apparatus; but what I claim and desire
to be. secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent are, the
-general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, substantially as
herein specified and illustrated, constituting a revolving vessel or locomotive
apparatus or conveyance applicable for traversing seas, rivers, and lakes, and
also for travelling on land and exploring sandy deserts.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Symes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September; in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JOHN MACNAMARA, Solicitor,
86, Upper Ormond Quay,
Dublin.
JAMES SYMES. (L.S.)