US37539A - Improvement in water-wheels - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATESe ALBERT WINTON, OF FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WH EELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,539, dated January 27, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT WINTON. ofthe county of Frederick, in the State of Maryland, have invented and made certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the nat-ure, construction, and operation of said improvements, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichy Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the wheel. Fig. 2is a sectional view through the diameter of the wheel. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the bottom or under side of the Wheel. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wheel with a fragment o the side or circumference, so as to show the form and arrangement of the buckets of the wheel. Fig. 5 is a top view of the wheel, the gate, and framing thereof.

The nature of my improvements relates more particularly to the form and arrangement of the buckets or oats of a turbine water-wheel, together with the peculiar construction of a circumferential or surrounding adjustable gate, and also of peculiarly arranged chutes or inlets through all of which, in combination, the volume of water is so applied as to greatly economize the quantity thereof, yet will bring about a greatly increased force or power in operating the wheel.

The better to enable others to be skilled in the construction and operation of my improvements, the following is a description thereof:

In Fig. I, at a a a c a a, is represented the superstructure or support on which the wheel is affixed, both of which are to be submerged within the penstock or reservoir of the mill. At b b b b is the tub part of the cast-metal wheel, formed with a central partition or diaphragm, o c, and hub d d. To the bell-shape sides e e e e of the wheel, which also has a wayrim, f f f f, formed on its upper edge around it, are affixed the floats or buckets g g g g g g, twenty-two in number, (see sectional Fig. l and also Fig. 4,) their vertical sides being slightly curved, as ,at h h h h. Said buckets or floats continue downwardly about twothirds the depth of the tub-rim c e e e, when tinue downwardly at an angle of twenty-two degrees, as at j j j j, and also incline outwardly from the side of the tub at an angle of about thirty-four degrees, as shown at lc lok k, Figs. I and 4. These buckets or iloats are arranged around the circumference of the tub e e e e at equal distances, and diverge outwardly from the center or axis of the hub d d, and from the true radius thereof at an angle of fourteen degrees, as indicated by the red lines l l Z l, Fig. 2-that is to say, at the point of connection of the vertical part h h h h, said connection, instead of being in a true `radial line outwardly from the center or axis point m m of the hub d d, is in an oblique line, starting from the right of the axis, as at n n n n, Fig. 2; but at the same time the outward edge, o o o o, of the buckets, when in position, are in a true radial line from the axis of the wheel. The buckets or iloats g g g h t' j lc may be cast together with the rim or tub part of the wheel, or separately, and bolted onto the circumference of the tub. On the outer edges of the curved part of the buckets is attached a surrounding band or hoop, p p 1019, of a slightly less diameter than the wheel, having an upper iange-rim or shoulder, q q q q, Figs. 1 and 4, on which, as a base or support, the buckets are affixed, the buckets having aportion of their outer lower edges cut out sufficiently to tit onto the hoop or band, as atppp p q q q q, Figs.l and 4. Thus,having formed the Wheel, itis to be fitted securely onto a suspending spindle or shaft, r r' r r, Witha larger end or butt,.s s, Fig. l. Combined with the wheel is a cap or disklike coveringt t t t t, formed with a circular rabbet or shoulder, u u u u, so as to iit over the way-rim f f f f, Fig. l. To this disk is affixed permanently a hollow column or supportingsleeve, vovo, having a collar-rim, w w, the bore of the column being-sufficiently larger in diameter than the vertical shaft so as to admit of required play around the same. 0n the collar end of the column is arranged an adjustable step or easing-seat, x x a: x, formed with a neck or tube part, y y, fitting around the shaft or spindle and within the collar part thereof, said neck or tube part having an an-l nular or ring formation, z e, provided with adjusting-screws a2 a2 a2, Figs. I and 5. To the shaft r r 1" is fitted a circular collar, b2 b2, having a ti ghtening-screw, c. By said devices of the step and circular collar the wheel can be elevated more or less, and may be suspended so as to rotate horizontally. To the top surface of the disk or cap are three or more yoke-like standards or braces, e262 e2,

' which stride the rim f2 f2 of the circular gate g2 g2. This gate, which is formed of a drumlike shape or as a wide band, is of metal and surrounds the wheel and buckets, and is arranged in such a manner as to be adjustable up and down, so as to graduate the inflow of water in its passage to the wheel. To the lower edge of said gate are aflixed series of horizontally-attached ilange chute-guides h2 h2 h2 h2 h2 h2, Figs. l and 4. This circular gate can be elevated and depressed by any suitable lever or other mechanism, and moves up and down between the yoke-like standards or braces c2 e2 e2. Attached securely by bolts or screws to the superstructure is a metallic way of annular shape, as at i2 2 'i2 i2, having a rabbet or shoulder formation, j2 j2 j2, within which the ilange or shoulder part q q q g of the wheel moves or plays sufficiently free so as not to rub or bear thereagainst. At equal distances around this way i i t' i, toward the outer circumference thereof, are aftixed, by bolts or otherwise, vertically-arranged chuteguides k2 7a2 7a2 k2, being thirty-two in number, or, as a general thing, averaging about one-third more in number than the buckets or floats of the wheel. These chute-guides are in relative position to the side of the wheel at about an an gie of thirteen degrees obliquely from the circumference of the wheel, and nearly at right angles to the vertical buckets or floats, as seen in Figs. l, 2, 4. Said guides, together with the flange chute-guides h2 h2 h2 h2, when combined and arranged inv position,

form sloping inlets or chute channels all around the circumference of the wheel, as at l2 Z2 Z2 l2,

' Figs. l and 4. If found necessary further to strengthen the chuteguides or stay them more firmly in position, an annular rim may be affixed around their upper extremities, so as to bind them and keep them in their upright position. Thus having formed the wheel and other necessary parts complete, the whole will be the`n ready for placing in position within the reservoir or penstock of the mill, the under part of the wheel being elevated above the ground work, so as to prevent any contact with obstructions, and to admit of the spent water passing freely out into the tail-race below.

The operation of my improvements is as follows--vizz Vhen the wheel is to be put in mo tion, the adjustable circular gate g2 g2 g2 g2 is to be elevated as required (more or less) so as to open the chute-channels or inlets l2 L2 l2 Z2, Figs. l and 4, so as to admit the required volume of water surrounding the wheel, when the inflow of the water, being divided into numerous small columns by the chute-guides k2 k2 7a2 R2 with the iiange-guides h2 h2 h2 h2, I said channels having inwardly-sloping sides, *ca-uses the small columns of water to rush against the vertical surface of the buckets with great force, and, owing to the curved side of the vertical part of the buckets or lloats, the centrifugal force of the wheel is entirely counteracted, for the inflowing water, instead of being thrown oft' outwardly, is retained thereby and its whole energy or impulse brought into use, and whereby the direct hydraulic action is also applied. The volume of water after acting on the vertical surface of the buckets descends upon the lower concave and sloping surface of the buckets, where it is sufficiently long retained to afford a full reactive force, and then, having expended its inherent hydrostatic power and impulsive force, flows out through the vents or outlets beneath the wheel and passes oli' to the tailrace.

The design of employing an excess of chutes or inlets is to divide the descending column of water, so as to multiply the impact force. The area of the upper part of the bucket is full one-half more than the area of ingress through the chutes or inlets. By elevating or depressing the gate with its chute-guide attachments h2 la/ML2 h2, as hereinbefore mentioned, a greater or less intlow of water may be applied, and by this mode of applying the water-power the line of force of the small columns of water is obliquely thrown oft' from a direct motion toward the center of the wheel, andconsequently the energy or force of the water will be acting on the periphery of the wheel, whereby greatly Yincreased leverage is obtained, affording multiplied momentum to the wheel, the dead inward centrally-tendin g pressure being entirely counteracted.

The advantages claimed for my improvements are as follows-viz: In the use of the present most approved turbine-wheels, experience has shown that the full impulse of the volume of water applied thereto cannot be developed, because the volume of water acting against the buckets is greater in proportion than the surface or area of the bucket and therefore crowds or packs so against the buckets all around as to produce a counteraction; but by my mode of using the vertical chute-guides and the adjustable gate and guides the main volume of water is broken up or divided into series of smaller columns less than the space between each bucket, instead of admitting therein the full direct flow against the surface of the buckets, which would tend to clog or drown7 the wheel by overloading it. Thus preventing these difficulties by my construction of wheels, a multiplied energy or impact force is brought directly against the leverage of the buckets, the dead-pressure of the water is prevented and, instead, is converted into impulse, and the reactive power fully and economically developed.

Having fully set forth and described the nature, construction, and operation of my improvements, and desiring to secure the same by Letters Patent of the United States, what I claim asnew and useful is as follows-viz:

1.- The construction of a turbine waterwheel, b b b b e ee e, formed with a close horizontal diaphragm or partition, c c, and hub d d, the buckets or iloats g g g g, whose outer vertical edge longitudinally is slightly curved, as at h h h h, said buckets or floats arranged or standing relative to the center or axis of the wheel at an angle of fourteen degrees, andwhose lower part is the arc of a quartercircle, as at i i, and continuing sloping downwardly at an angle of twenty-two degrees, as at jjjj, and likewise inelining outwardly at an angle of about thirty-four degrees, as at k Ic k lc, Figs. l and 4, so that the inflow of water may be received from and in the direction substantially in the manner as set forth and described.

2. The cap-coverin g t t t t, formed with a eircular rabbet or shoulder, u u u u, and the suspending-sleeve or hollow column e i; e v w w 'w w, with the adjustable step or casing-collar .fr y z a2 a2 a2, combined and arranged substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and as set forth.

3. The mode of suspending the wheel through means of the adjustable collar b2 b2 b2 bz c2, as shown in Figs. l and 5, and as set forth and described.

4. The construction of the peculiar surrounding adjustable gatef2f2f2f2 g2g/2 9292, formed with the chute-guides h2 h2 h2 h2, Figs. l and 4, substantially as set forth and described, and in combination with the wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

5. The special arrangement of the vertical chute-guides 7621@ k2 k2 at the angle of thirteen degrees, and when so arranged around the circumference of the wheel and buckets thereof as to divide theinflow of the main volume of surrounding water into numerous small columns one-third greater in number than the number of buckets, and whereby the said columns strike the surface of the buckets nearly or quite at right angles thereto, substantially as in the manner set forth and described. Y

ALBERT WINTON. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

D. ROULAND, J oHN AS. GALLAHER, Jr.

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