IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTORS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME TO PRODUCE USEFUL EFFECT
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTORS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME TO PRODUCE
USEFUL EFFECT." -A communication from abroad by Benjamin Talbot
Babbitt, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of l'atents, with his Petition, on the
28th December 1867.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTORS OR APPARATUS FOR
GENERATING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME TO
PRODUCE USEFUL EFFECT," to be as follows:-
This Invention embraces a novel method of generating and applying motive
power, and consists, firstly, ingenerating a motive force or power by compressing
a fluid such as air or gas within a suitable reservoir or reservoirs or into and,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: alonga pipe or pipes through theactionofafree or unrestrained and independent
reciprocating piston, that is, a piston which is loose or detached from any
outside driving mechanism, that is worked within a cylinder or tube by being
shot alternately in opposite directions through or by means of a powerful
gaseous explosion, steam of high pressure acting in a jet or puff, or other
sudden and temporary expansive force applied to start such piston, which by
the momentum due to its weight and impetusor velocity imparted to it by the
starting force as just referred to is caused to continue the motion thus given
it, and in so doing to generate a motive power by compressing air or gas
received through a suitable valvular opening or openings in or to the cylinder
or tbne, and forcing the same through a valvular opening or openings into
the power accumulating reservoir or reservoirs or discharge pipe or pipes,
as the case may be.
The second part of the Invention consists in the application of the same
principle of action or like method of generating motive power through the
compression of air or gas by means of a detached or independent piston shot
or worked as a projectile within a cylinder or case by a gaseous explosion or
other equivalent force, but in which the piston has imparted to it a rotary
motion, and whereby the momentum of the piston is or may be made
continuous.
The third part of the Invention relates to such rotary arrangement or
action of an independent air compressing piston, and consists in combining
with the piston a slide or sliding abutments which are adapted to the cylinder
or case. The piston compresses the air or gas against the abutments, and
then operates directly on the abutments so as to open them for the purpose of
continuing its passage in a circular direction and of keeping up the impelling
action thereto.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in combining with such or other
like constructions of a motor or power generator (the piston of which is
moved or has the necessary impetus given to it at intervals by gaseous
explosion, such for instance as that produced by the ignition of gunpowder)
of a revolving many chambered magazine or magazines acting in concert
with a battery for producing the explosion of the powder by electricity and
operated automatically by the motor so as to bring its or their chambers
successively and intermittently into the firing line in rear of the piston and
for establishing connection with the battery to fire the charge contained in
such chambers.
The fifth part of the Invention consists in producing useful effect from the
power generated by a motor acting upon the principle described in the first.

page_text: and second parts of this Invention. This is effected by combining with
such motor in a ship or other vessel an arrangement of tubes variously
disposed in, about, or through the hull below the water line and open at
opposite ends, as for instance through the front or bow portion of the ship along.
side the keel for the purpose of propelling the vessel. When the power is
to be applied for steering the vessel the tubes are placed athwart the hull.
The connection of the engine with the tubes is effected by or through jet
pipes connected with the compressed air or other gas or fluid reservoirs or
discharge pipes of the motor. These are so bent or arranged as that their
jet orifices face either one end of the open hull tubes intermediately of the
length of the latter, in order that on opening valves or otherwise establishing
an escape or passage to the compressed air or condensed gas through the jet
tubes the same by its pressure or expansive force in rushing out of the jet
orifices will serve to act against or drive out the body of water in, towards, or
through the one open end of the hull tubes and at the same time to establish
a suction or draft from or through the opposite open end thereof, and thereby
propel or move the vessel in a direction which is opposed to that of the
issuing stream of gas or air within the hull tubes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 MOTORS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING

page_text: MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME TO PRODUCE USEFUL
. EFFECT," being a communication to me from Benjamin Talbot Babbitt, of
the City, County, and State of New York, United States, upon the condition
.(amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
-:
This invention embraces a novel method of generating and also of
applying motive power, and consists, firstly, in generating a motive force
or power by compressing a fluid such as air or gas within a. suitable
reservoir or reservoirs or into and along a pipe or pipes by the action
of a free or unrestrained and independent reciprocating piston, that is, a
piston which is loose or detached from any outside driving mechanism,
and is worked within a cylinder or tube by being shot alternately in opposite
directions through or by means of a powerful gaseous explosion, steam of
high pressure acting in a jet or puff, or other sudden and temporary
expansive force applied to start such piston which by the momentum due
to its weight and impetus or velocity imparted to it by the starting force
such as has been just referred to is caused to continue the motion thus
given it, and in so doing to generate a motive power by compressing air or gas
received through a suitable valvular opening or openings in or to the cylinder
or tube and forcing the same through a valvular opening or openings into
the power accumulating reservoir or reservoirs or discharge pipe or pipes, as
the case may be.
The second part of the Invention consists in the application of the same
principle of action or like method of generating motive power through the
,compression of air or gas by means of a detached or independent piston shot
or worked as a projectile within a cylinder or case by a gaseous explosion or
other equivalent force, but in which the piston has imparted to it a rotary
motion and whereby the momentum of the piston is or may be made
continuous.

page_text: The third part of the Invention relates to such rotary arrangement or
action of an independent air compressing piston,and consists in combining the
piston with or in relation to a slide or sliding abutments provided in its
cylinder or case. The piston is made to operate directly on the abutments
so as to open them for the purpose of continuing its passage in a circular
direction and of keeping up the impelling action thereto.
The fourth part of the invention consists in combining with such or other
like constructions of a motor or power generator, the piston of which is moved
or has the necessary impetus given to it at intervals by gaseous explosion,
such for instance as that produced by the ignition of gunpowder, ofa revolving
many chambered magazine or magazines acting in concert with a battery for
producing the explosion of the powder by electricity andoperatedautomatically
by the motor so as to bring its or their chambers successively andintermittently
into the firing line in rear of the piston and for establishing connection with
the battery to fire the charge contained in such chambers.
The fifth part of the Invention consists in producing an useful effect from
the power generated by a motor acting upon the principle described in the
first and second parts of this Invention by arranging such motor in a ship or
other vessel and combining it with tubes variouslydisposed in about or through
the hull below the water line and open at opposite ends, as for instance
through the front or bow portion of the ship alongside the keel. When the
power is to be applied for steering the vessel the tubes are placed athwart
the hull. The connection of the engine with the tubes is effected by or
through jet pipes connected with the compressed air or other gas or fluid
reservoirs or discharge pipes of the motor. These are so bent or arranged
that their jet orifices face either one end of the open hull tubes intermediately
of the length of the latter, in order that on opening valves or otherwise
establishing an escape or passage to the compressed air or condensed gas
through the jet tubes the same (by its pressure or expansive force in rushing
out of the jet orifices) will serve to act against or drive out the body of water
in, towards, or through the one open end of the hull tubes and at the same
time to establish a suction or draft from or through the opposite open end
thereof, and thereby propel or move the vessel in a direction which is opposed
to that of the issuing stream of gas or air within the hull tubes. This
essentially differs from mere jet pipes arranged so that the air or gas as it
issues from them acts upon the outside body of water independently of tubes
for confining it laterally and for restraining the escaping gas or air within
limits which prevent its being scattered or wasted in ineffective directions,aud

page_text: which establishes a draft or suction that favors the movement of the vesselin
the direction required.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 represents a plan of an apparatus in illustration
of a motor or power generator constructed according to the first part of the
Invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3
is a transverse section on an enlarged scale of a rotating many chambered
powder magazine with its insulated wires or conductors that may be used
to communicate the impelling power to the piston of the motor where loose
powder charges are used for the purpose, and electricity is employed to fire
them.
Fig. 4 represents a sectional view of a motor constructed according to the
second part of the Invention, the section being taken transversely through
the axis of the cylinder of the motor; and Fig 5 is a section of the same at
right angles to Fig. 4 through the line a, a, in the latter figure. Fig. 6
represents a plan of the hull of a ship, boat, or vessel with the motor or
apparatus for generating power (according to the construction of parts shewn
in Figures 1 and 2) applied thereto, and in combination with means for
producing useful effect from power so generated by making it available to the
movement or propulsion of such vessel as referred to in the fifth part of the
Invention; Fig. 7 is a side or exterior view of the boat so fitted; and
Figures 8 and 9 are transverse sections taken fore and aft through the boat
or vessel; Fig. 10 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of one of the hull
tubes with the jet pipe projecting.into the same to effect the propulsion of
the vessel.
... Referring in the first instance to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
Drawing A represents a cylinder or tube of any suitable diameter and con-
siderable length, closed at both ends, and of any required strength. This
cylinder or tube is connected at or near each end through orifices a, a, pro-
vided with valves b, b, which open outwards and communicate by pipes B, B,
with a reservoir C for the retention of the air compressed into it from the
cylinder A which is further provided with air receiving inlets D, D, fitted
with valves c, c, opening inwards to counteract the formation of a vacuum in
the cylinder A and to keep it supplied with air for a repetition of the com-
pressing process. The air is compressed in the cylinder A and delivered or
forced at each, end alternately through the pipes B, B, into the reservoir C
by a loose or (so far as outside devices are concerned) disconnected piston E
of considerable weight and length, and which is designed by its momentum to
act as a projectile to effect the necessary atmospheric compression, and is

page_text: set in motion alternately from opposite ends of the cylinder by any suitable
sudden gaseous or other explosion or expansion of gas or vapor under heavy
pressure operating to start the piston, such, for instance, as steam of a very
high pressure let in by a jet or puff, or solid or condensed carbonic acid gas
used in small or detached quantities, or it may be by an explosion of gun-
powder. This latter material will here be selected by way ofillustrating more
clearly the Invention, and under a modification or principle of action which
it will be found advantageous to adopt. Thus outside the ends of the
cylinder and working in close contact therewith on their peripheries are
revolving powder magazines or cylinders F, F, Figures 1 and 2, set, say, on
horizontal shafts and made up of cups or chambers g, Fig. 2, that as the
magazines revolve are brought successively under a suitable supply vessel H,
and (when filled with powder therefrom) are by the further rotation of the
magazines brought in line with apertures h, h, in the ends of the working
cylinder A, and the powder in them is there exploded so as to give the
required impetus to the piston E. The explosion of course only takes place
when the piston having reached the one end of its stroke is in close proximity
to the exploding chamber, consequently the rotary motion of the magazines
E, F, requires to be intermittent and to be so timed that a charged chamber
is alternately presented to the openings through the opposite ends of the
cylinder A. To effect this the piston E as it reaches or approaches the ends
of its stroke is made to strike and force outwards alternately rods I, I, which
carry spring or other pawls i that bite in or on a ratchet wheel secured to
the end or face of the magazine, so as to give the requisite and timely motion
to the magazines and thus secure their filling and the presentation of charged
chambers to the orifices in the ends of the cylinder A. Springs m, m, act
against projections from the rods I, I, to afterwards return the latter rods to
their original positions for a repitition of the like action on them by the
piston E, and other pawls n serve to prevent back motion to the magazines.
To obviate back fire, that is, to prevent the explosion of the charge from com-
municating fire to the succeeding chamber or chambers in the magazine,
damp sponges may be placed as at r to rest upon the peripheries of the
magazines. To fire the charges as the chambers g are brought in succession
opposite the apertures h, h, the intermittently revolving magazines F are
provided with conductors or wires s projecting from their sides and com-
municating with the chambers g, so that as the magazines are revolved and
thechambers come in line with the apertures h, h, successively and alternately
at opposite ends of the cylinder A they pass close to or touch wires u, u, con-
nected with a battery or batteries K, which fires the charge by the electric

page_text: current transmitted therefrom. The wires s project into the powder in the
chambersgand establish the negative connexion with the battery, while other
wires s¹ pass from the powder in the chambers g in close proximity to the
inner ends of the wires s, and are extended to touch the metal of the
magazines F on the outside for the purpose of establishing connection with
the positive pole of the battery, both wires 8, s¹, being suitably insulated in
their passage through the magazine from the chambers g.
This arrangement for producing a spark is more clearly exhibited in
Fig. 3. Any other suitable arrangement may however be adopted, but the
one here described is close and automatic, and the magazines are also
automatically operated by the independent piston E. Instead of loose powder
charges however or magazines fired by electricity cartridges ignited by per-
cussion may be used to give impetus by explosion to the piston, the sizes of
the cartridges being varied to suit the different amounts of power required.
While the piston E is operated freely or independently of any outside con-
nections (or at least largely so) by the momentum due to its weight and the
impetus received at the start to urge it successively in opposite directions it
has its motion gradually retarded at the extreme end of either stroke, and is
prevented from butting against the ends of the cylinder by the compression
of the air in front of it so as to form a cushion, the escape openings a, a, for
the compressed air being arranged at a certain distance inside or short of the
ends of the cylinder for the purpose. By a piston thus operating freely or
independently of outside connections the objection which has heretofore been
raised to the cutting off and sudden strain or jerk in the working parts by an
abrupt and powerful starting force is obviated, and an engine or motor may be
connected with or draw its supply of compressed air from the reservoir C with
as great ease and regularity as steam is supplied from an ordinary boiler, or
such compressed air be used in any other desired way and for various
purposes. In some cases or for some purposes the air when compressed may
be passed off direct without being stored in a reservoir. In speaking of the
piston E as a generator of power by the compression of air of course the term
"air" is designed to include not only atmospheric but also other air or gas
which may be used by suitably connecting the inlets D, D, with appropriate
supply chambers or tanks.
In Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawing A¹ represents a cylinder or case con-
structed to form an annular chamber B¹ in or through and around which the
piston C¹ is made to travel. This piston is loose or detached from any outside
connections and should be of considerable weight, the same running on and
being guided by, it may be, rollers a¹, a¹, carried by it. The piston is of a

page_text: block or solid form corresponding preferably for the greater portion of its
length to the annular chamber B¹, but is sharpened at its forward end b¹ so
that the piston as it travels will readily enter between slides or abutments D¹,D¹,
provided in the cylinder A', and by thus operating as a wedge will open the
abutments so as to permit of the passage of the piston past them, after which
the abutments (that may have a radial action in boxes E', E',) will close by
the action of springs c', c', or their equivalents. If desired to produce a
gradual closing of the abutments the rear end of the piston may also be
sharpened or tapered off. Either one or more swinging abutments may if
preferred be substituted for the radially sliding ones,andif desired the annular
space B¹ may
be divided by more than one abutment or set of abutments at
different points in its length. The piston C' however is here shown as made
with a straight back to prevent loss of the expansive force employed to start
or impel it, and as seen in Fig. 4 is represented in the position when its
impetus should be imparted to it, say, by a jet of steam of high pressure or
explosion or expansion of gas introduced for a limited period of action by a
passage d¹ to the back of the piston and between it and the closed abutments.
By thus giving a starting impetus to the piston it is caused by the aid of its
momentum to be shot or worked as a projectile round the annular space B¹,
and as its velocity slackens (but previously to the expenditure of its force) to
open the abutments D¹, D¹, for a repetition of the like action. On the
abutments closing again in rear of the piston as it is thus made to rotate it
will compress the air or gas received through the inlet valves e¹, e¹, from any
suitable force before it, and will expel the same through an outlet pipe f¹
provided with a valve which opens outwards and passes to any suitable
reservoir or otherwise for direct use in any required manner as a motive power
or force. A passage g¹ may be cut through the piston near its forward end to
allow of the escape of compressed air from its inner face to its outer one, and
from thence through the outlet pipe f¹ on the piston approaching and entering
between the abutments. The abutments D', D', may be provided with
adjusting rods, h¹, the one of which (as its slide or abutment is opened and
closed again) may serve to let in the jet of impelling steam or gas through
the passage d by the rod (as the abutment opens) striking and moving
backwards a lever k¹ acted upon by a spring and carrying a pawl m' which
slips over a tooth of a ratchet wheel n¹, and on the abutment closing urges the
wheel forward a tooth by the action of the spring and in so doing temporarily
opens a valve for the admission of the impelling fluid or gas. As shown in
the Drawing it rotates a cylinder or magazine F¹ provided with powder
chambers s arranged in such a manner as to bring one of the chambers

page_text: opposite the passage & when the charge will be fired by an electric spark or
otherwise, say by a similar arrangement or connection with a battery to that
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing. By the rotary
motion of the piston in contradistinction to a reciprocating one the momentum
of the piston operating as a projectile is made continuous and its capacity for
generating power thereby increased.
Referring to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Drawing which illustrate
the manner of applying to useful effect the power generated by a motor
operating substantially as herein-before described and in which a motor con-
structed essentially as represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing is
shewn as arranged within a boat or vessel, A2 is the tube or cylinder in
which the independent piston is reciprocated as a projectile or shot
backwards and forwards in the manner before specified for forcing air or
gas by pipes or connections B2, B3, (provided with suitable valves) into
reservoirs C2, C3. The tube or cylinder A2 is also furnished with suitable
inlet branches D2, D2, having valves c2, c², opening inwards, all acting as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. M is the hull of the boat or
vessel having any number of tubes open at their opposite ends and fitted in
or about and through it below the water line, say tubes a², running from the
bow backwardly and projecting through the sides or bottom of the boat, and
other tubes 62 running clear athwart the vessel near both bow and stern, or
either. Tubes d2 may also be arranged outside the hull, as for instance along
either side of the keel. These several tubes a², 62, and d² have severally (pro-
jecting into them transversely or otherwise and intermediately of their length)
smaller tubes or jet pipes e2 closed at their outer ends, and each provided
with a lateral orifice 2 (as more clearly seen in Fig. 10) facing in the direc-
tion of the length of the larger or hull tube within which it lies. These jet
pipes e2 may have their ends left open and be so bent or arranged as to
present similarly disposed jet orifices f2 within and relatively to the hull or
larger tubes. These jet pipes are connected with or to the compressed air or
gas reservoirs C2, C2, so that on opening suitable valves or stops the expanding
gas or air will in issuing out of the orifices fa of the pipes e² spread or expand
itself and operate to displace or drive out the water in the tubes a2, 62, or 2
lying in front of the issuing stream of air or gas, and at the same time to
create a suction or draft through said tubes from their opposite end. By this
means an effective or propelling power is given to the boat in an equivalent
manner to direct traction equal or thereabouts to the area of the larger tube
or tubes, subject to the expansive or expanded force of the air or gas within
the limit of the tube or tubes and throughout a considerable portion of its or

page_text: their length. The suction produced in the remaining portion of the length
in rear as it were of the orifice in the jet pipe or pipes e² favours the general
efficiency, while as the air or gas is restrained from scattering or expanding
itself otherwise than within the hull tube or tubes its full effective force is
made available in the direction required and against a tolerably compact body
of water. The tubes a² and d² (having the jet pipes e in them with their
orifices arranged as described) are located it will be observed to effect the
propulsion of the vessel, while the cross tubes 6? with their jet pipes serve to
effect the steering or turning of the same. For propulsion or movement of
the vessel in a forward direction the orifices 2 in the jet pipes e2 to the tubes
a² and d² should face in a backward direction. To steer or turn the vessel in
opposite directions the jet pipes in the tubes 62. may be made capable of
turning so as to reverse the position of the orifices f2 from facing right to
facing left; or vice versa. The arrangement of the tubes a² in or through the
front portion of the boat or vessel contributes to diminish bow or forward
resistance in sailing.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me as
aforesaid I claim,―
First. A motor operating to compress or force air or gas by the recipro-
cating action of a weighty and loose or independent piston or projectile
started or set in motion at each return stroke by any suitable explosive force
or expansion of gas or vapor under heavy pressure within a tube or cylinder
provided with suitable openings so as to establish the necessary explosion or
starting impetus and for reception and discharge through appropriate valves
of the air or gas which it serves to compress, as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing.
Second. A motor operating to compress or force air or gas by the rotary
action of a weighty and loose or independent piston or projectile within a
cylinder or annular chamber provided with one or more abutments and
suitable inlet and outlet passages controlled by valves for the reception and
discharge of the air or gas, together with orifices or passages for introduction
to the cylinder intermittently or at intervals of any suitable explosive force or
gas or vapor under heavy pressure, so as to impart an impetus to the piston
to establish and continue its momentum, as described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawing.
Third. The piston C¹ operating by direct contact to open the abutment or
abutments D1, D¹, of or to the cylinder A', as shewn in Fig. 4 of the

page_text: Fourth. In combination with a loose or independent piston operating to
compress air or gas within a cylinder or tube provided with suitable openings
or passages as described I claim the use of a many chambered rotating or
other working magazine containing powder or other explosive material, and
adjusted to its firing position by the action either directly or indirectly of the
piston, and its charges exploded automatically in succession by electricity
through its connection with a battery or batteries, as specified with reference
to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing.
Fifth. The combination with a motor operating to compress air or gas
within a boat or vessel of jet pipes arranged to project into tubes fitted in and
through the hull of the boat below the water line and open at their opposite
ends to effect propulsion or movement of the boat by the compressed air orgas
as it issues from the jet orifices within the hull tubes at a point or points
intermediately of their length, as described with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 10 of the drawing.
In witness whereof I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,.
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.s.)