US1096435A - Current-motor. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. LARIMORE.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED rmmo, 1012.

I 2 BHEETB-8HBET 1.

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J. W. LARIMORE.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IIIBlO, 1912.

1,096,435. Patented May12,1914.

2 SHIIETS'SHEBT 2.

UNITED STATES PAEENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LARIMORE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN T. LARLMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Wotors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motors, and the principal object of the same is to provide a simple and practical motor that can be operated by flowing water or air currents, and which is capable of rotating or operating, in the same direction regardless of the direction of flow of the water or air currents changing, thereby especially adapting the motor for use in tidal waters.

In addition to the foregoing, the invention contemplates a small and compact motor from which power can be readily taken, and one that can be readily transported, the construction being such that all parts are thoroughly braced to withstand shocks, jars, and the like, incidental to use in streams or in connection with air currents.

One simple and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevatlon of the improved motor. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Figs. 3 and 4, are detail, fragmentary vertical sectional views showing, respectively, the upper and lower bearings for the power shaft, and the upper and lower spiders of the motor. Fig. 5 is a top plan view. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the motor spiders. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the ends of the supporting frame.

The improved water current or air motor includes, in its preferred embodiment, a supporting frame that is preferably formed of light, but strong metal bars, the metal frame being especially desirable when the motor is driven by water power for the reason that metal will withstand the action of water and also keep the motor submerged. Said supporting frame comprises the vertical corner posts 1, preferably four, and equipped with outturned flat feet 2, so that the frame will rest on and be bolted or otherwise attached to bottom bars or sills 3 that connect adjacent end posts, and said adjacent posts are also connected at their upper ends by the top bars 4;. Obviously the posts and top bars 4: at the ends of the frame may be made of single lengths of material Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 10, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Serial No. 676,725.

as shown in Fig. 7, each length of material being shaped to produce two end posts and one top bar that connects said posts. The described ends of the supporting frame are reinforced by the brace bars 5 which are arranged in crossing relation and suitably fastened together at their meeting, or crossing points. Upper and lower horizontal arms 6 and 7 respectively, connect opposite corners of the ends of the supporting frame, the arms being duplicates. Each set of arms 6 and 7 converge and at their flattened meeting points, as indicated by the numeral 8, are bolted or otherwise rigidly fastened. The flattened portions 8 of the arms (5 and 7 carry the sectional bearings 9 and 1.0 fastened thereto, the bearings 9 and 10 being in vertical alinement for the reception of a power shaftll. The lower bearing 10 supports a collar 12, and the shaft 11 carries a collar 13 and antifrictional balls 11 are interposed between the collars 12 and 13. The collars 12 and 13 and balls 14 form an antifriction step bearing for the lower end of shaft 11. The upper bearing 9 supports a collar 15 and the upper portion of shaft 11 carries a collar 16. Anti-friction balls 17 are interposed between collars 15 and 16. The collars 15 and 16 and balls 17 form a suspension bearing for the shaft 11.

Upper and lower spiders 18 and 19 have hubs fast on the shaft 11 within the supporting frame, the radiating arms of the spiders being provided with longitudinal grooves 20 which form seats for the inner ends of the upper and lower rotor bars 21. The upper and lower bars 21 are arranged in pairs, and each pair of bars carry a pivot shaft 22 at their outer ends, and at intermediate points, the pairs of bars carry the stop or abutment rods 23. Vanes or blades 24 are pivotally mounted at one edge on the shafts 22 and are limited in their pivotal movements by the rods 23, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The shafts 22 are held to the bars 21. by the nuts 25, so that when necessary, or desirable, the vanes and shafts can be removed by releasing the said nuts.

In operation, the motor is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and assuming that the current of water or air is flowing in the direction indicated by arrow (1, it will be seen that the first or front vane is held parallel with the flow of the current, while the vane to the right is held at right angles to the current, and causes the rotor to travel in the direction indicated by arrow 7), so that, when four vanes are used, initially one vane only is being acted on by the current, the other vanes automatically swinging to feathering positions. After starting,"the vanes of the rotor at the right of the transverse center thereof, are acted on by the current, thus causing a continuous rotary movement of the rotor, which is communicated to the shaft 11.

Power may be taken from the shaft 11 by any suitable means, such for example as by means of a pulley 26, adapted for belt connection with the engine, pump or the like that is to be operated. In the event of the current flowing through the motor from the side opposite arrow (4, the vanes at the left will become active and thereby rotate the motor in its normal direction.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the manner of mounting the vanes 24 at the outer ends of the bars 21, permits the said vanes to freely swing until they contact with the stops 23, thereby causing the vanes to be held in positions to receive the impact of the current, when active, to swing to feathering positions when inactive, and in the event of a change in the direction of the flow of the currents, to automatically reverse their positions, so that the operation of the motor will be continuous, irrespective of the direction of flow of the current. Incidental details, such as brace connections 27 may be used to reinforce the bars 21.

In the drawing, four vanes 24 have been shown, but it is to be understood that more or less may be used, and also governors, reversing devices, and similar well known mechanical accessories may be associated with the improved motor construction according to the requirements of its use.

What I claim as my invention is A current motor comprising a framework including internally braced metallic end members, upper and lower inwardly con vergent bars connecting said opposite end members, and having meeting central portions, bearings applied to the meeting portions of said bars, and a rotor having a shaft journaled in said bearings.

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

JOHN W. LARIMORE.

WVitnesses V T. J, OoNDoN, W. P..Bnrsoon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C.

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