US322785A - Water-motor - Google Patents

Description

.(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

G. P. BRADWAY.' WATER MOTOR.

.Patented Julyl 21, l1885.

WE1- V I l?? Multum (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. P. BRADWAY. WATER MOTOR.

m3221385. PatentedJu1y2L1885--,

CD c) gli@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PHILIP BRADVAY, OF STAFFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WATER-MOTO R.

SPECIFECATIO forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,785, dated July 21,1885.

.Application filed October 3l, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs P. BRADWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stafford, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Motors; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains tomake and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention relates to water-motors; and

y it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of my machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the preferred form of bearing for the lower pulley. Fig. el is a detail view of aseetion of the band. Fig. 5 is a vert-ical longitudinal section of said flange. 6 is a detail top view of t-he penstock, and Fig. 7 shows a modification.

In carrying out my invention I employ a vertical penstock, A, provided with an induction port or pipe, A, which connects with and receives water from a forebay, pond, or other source of supply. In the penstock I arrange in approximately a vertical position a pipe, Bextending the full length of and opening out of the opposite ends of the penstock. The bottom of the penstock around said opening is closed. This pipe is provided with a lower perforation, C, which may be arranged near the bottom of or farther up on said pipe in about the position shown. It is also provided above said opening C with a perforation, D. Where desired, the upper opening, D, may be duplicated, forming a series extending vertically, so as to properly receive the water at different levels, and also increase the volume of water iiowing into the tube or pipe in the operation of the device. A gate or valve, E, surrounds the pipe B, and is movable over the opening C, so as to close said opening when desired. This valve E is preferably made tubular and encircling pipe B, and is provided with a handle-rod, E', which extends upward above the penstock in convenient reach of the operator. A similar gate or valve, F, is arranged above valve E, and is adjustable over the openings D. This valve has a handle-rod, F', which also extends upward, and is formed with a series of notches or serrations, f. A latch, G, is pivoted on the penstock and is movable into and out of the engagement with notches f, so as to hold the gate F in any desired position. Where desired, the rod E may be similarly formed with notches f, and a latch maybe also arranged to be moved into engagement with said notches, in order to hold the gate Ein any position desired; but I usually find it necessary only to use these notches on the rod F', and they may, when so desired, be dispensed with, even from said rod'. Pulleys Irl-H are journaled one above and the other below the penstock, and are provided with notches h and with recesses h alternating around their circumference. The band I or endless belt is preferably made of flexible sheet metal and is supported on the pulleys H H. This band is provided with buckets I and lugs or cogs I, arranged alternately. The cogs I2 iit in the notches h, and the belt is driven by the engagement of said cogs with the pulleys H H. The recesses h are fitted to receive the buckets I', and are made sufficiently large to receive said buckets in such manner that they will be held clear of engagement with the pulley. The endless belt operates through the pipe B, and its line of mo tion is as indicated by arrow, Figs. l and 2. It will be seen, therefore, that the belt moves downward through the pipe, and the buckets I are made, by means of any suitable form of packing,to fit snugly the bore thereof. These buckets are provided with valves t', which may be of the flap variety shown, or ball or other suitable form of valve desired. The form of these valves is not material to my invention. It is only essential that they should retain the water against downward pressure, and should be capable` of opening against an upward pressure of water, for the purposes presently described. The band Irmay be of hat metal, as shown, or a wire rope of any desired material. I prefer to support the lower pulley, H,in bearings J, having arms J lapped alongside the penstock and under a bracket, K, extended outward therefrom, and to brace IOO the said bearing by Ythreaded standards L, mounted between them and the bracket K, and capable of being lengthened or forcing said brackets and bearing apart by the turning against the bracket of suitable nuts, L', turned on the standards L. It is manifest, however, that the manner of supporting the pulleys as well as the speciiic construction of same may be varied without departing from the broad principles of my invention.

In operation, water is admitted to port A, into the penstock, and the gate E is adjusted away from opening C, so as to admit the water to pass through into'the pi pc B. The water will pass upward in pipe B, through the valve as it rises in the penstock, until it reaches the level of the water in the forebay or supply,or until sufficient water has passed into the pipe B to start the motor. I now close opening C and admit water through openings D, so that the Water will flow in from a higher point in the pipe B, and a greater force will be exerted on the belt. It will be seen that should port C be closed and the water admitted, in starting, through the opening D, only a smallquantity thereof would exert its force on the belt, and the latter will not be likely to move; but byA admitting it through the lower opening and letting it flow upward through the valve of the buckets a sufficient quantity is admitted to st-art the motor when the lower opening may be closed and the upper one opened, so as to receive the water from ahigher point. By forming the valves of the buckets so as to open against pressure from in front, with reference to line of motion, they not only permit the passage of water upward in starting the motor, but they also open in passing through the water below the penstock, and thereby Cause -less obstruction in passing through such water. The motor may be geared with machines which it is desired to operate by extending the shaft of the upper pulley, or in other suitable manner that may be desirable.

I prefer to make the pipe B tubular, but it may be square, or of any suitable form; as also the supply-pipe may be square, or the penstock round, without departing from the broad principles of my invention.

Where desired, as shown in Fig. 7, a gate may be arranged ,in the induction-pipe to shut the waterout of the penstock, (usually a wicki et-gate or valve.) This gate maybe also used to adjust the supply of water in the penstock, in which case the gates or valves on the tube may be dispensed with, and only a short tube of sufficient length to cover two of the lower buckets be used, as shown in said Fig. 7, while the buckets above pass down through the volume of water in the penstock, the resistance of the water being mainly removed during such downward passage by the action of the bucket-valves. This construction manifestly would involve no departure from the broad principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent. is-

l. A motor consisting of the following elements in construction: a penstock, a straightl tube stationarily arranged therein and passing through its bottom, ports formed in said tubes at different levels, valves controlling the ports, a chain vor band operating downward through said tube, and a series of valvular buckets attached to the band and tting closely the walls of the tube, the valves of said buckets being arranged to open in an inverse direction to the travel of the band, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a water-motor, the combination of a penstock, a tube placed therein and provided with a series of openings at different levels, and an endless chain provided with buckets operating through the tube, with a tubular valve sleeved on said tube and controlling its openings and a notched rod and catch for y holding the valve in any desired position, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth. v

3. In an endless-chain water-motor, the combination of a penstock, a tube arranged therein and provided with a series of openings at different levels, a tubular valve sleeved thereon and cont-rolling the openings, and means for adjusting said tubular valve, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES PHILIP BRADWAY.

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