US1707924A - Windmill - Google Patents

Description

F. R. POTTS April 2, 1929.

WINDMILL Filed July 192 2 Sheets-Sheet HHHHH uu n cnu l dHHl IH HI IH April 2, 1929. F. R. POTTS 2 WINDMILL Filed July 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIi'I'I'IIIIIII'IM Qwoenfoz R.P0Zia /4- flefq a(% Patented Apr. 2,

uni'rs s-r Brennan. Pores, on BoLoKoiv, MISSOURI.

WINDMILL.

Application filed July 2, 1926. Serial No. 120,104.

This invention relates to new a'nd useful improvements in windmills, and particularly to windmills which are arranged fordriving electric generators.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is automatic in its operation to move the blades into and out of the wind.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be thrown out of the wind, by hand, using the same means which operates automatically. 7 Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation'of a windmill made in accordance with the present invention, showing the upper structure.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lower structure of the windmill, showing themanually operable cut out, and the generator driven by the mill.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the wheel and vane.

Figure i is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view on the line 1-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the member 26.

Figure 6 is a vertical. sectional detail view of the member 26, on the line 6-6 of Fig ure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of Figure .3.

Referring particularly to the accompany-- ing' drawings, 10 represents. a tower on which is supported the platform 11, and supported on the upper end of the tower is the frame 12', of the wind-wheel. Rotatablysupported on the upper endof the frame 12, and operable on antifriction bearings, is a casing 13, into which extends the upper end of the vertical shaft 1 1, said shaft extending down to the lower end of the tower, where it is detachably connected with the shaft of the generator 15. Extending horizontally through the casing 13 the drive shaft 16, of the wind-wheel 17, and secured on this shaft is a spiral gear wheel 1, which engages with a spiral gear 19, on the shaft 141-, whereby to drive-the generator 15. Pivotally mounted on the rear end of the casing 13, for horizontal swinging movement, are the converging arms of a vane 20, a spring being connected to one arm of the vane, and to the casingthroughthe medium at eye bolt adjustahly secured by nuts received by the bolt to' an ear formed with. the casing as best shown in Figure 7 whereby to normally urge the vane in one direction. Carried by the inner end portions of the arms of the vane is a cross strip having secured thereto midway its enda'a right angle shape bracket having a-lug 21 thereon which is arranged to engage with a stud extending from the casing to limit the swinging move ment of the vane in the direction in which it is urged by the spring 20. On one side of the casing there is mounted a horizontal pulley 22, and in'said side of the casing, ad j acent the pulley, is an opening 23. Mounted within the casing, opposite said opening, is a vertical pulley 24.' Connected to the arm of I the vane to which the spring 20 is connected, is one end of a chain 25, said chain passing over the pulley 22, through the opening 23,

over the pulley 24, and downwardly through the frame 12. Keyed on the lower end of a sleeve 24 secured to the casing 13 and surrounding the shaft 1 is a swivel 26 which includes an upper part 27 mounted on the sleeve for rotation therewith and'a lower part 28 rotatably receiving the upper part and held against rotation by a rod 29 secured end thereof is the other end of the said chain 25. In the last mentioned arm of the vane 20 are formed a series-of openings 27, for interchangeable reception of the adjacent end of the spring 20, whereby to cooperate with the bolt to regulate the tension of the spring, and the degree-of pull exerted thereby on the vane. Mounted on the lower portion of the tower is a winding drum 28, around which is wound a length of chain 29, having connected therewith of a wire 30 which is secured to the eye 32 of the lower part of the swivel 26. The drum is provided with a crank handle 31, by means of which it is adapted to be rotated, to wind the chain so as to exert pull on the chain. 25, to cause the vane to be swung around, and thus turn the casing to present the edge of the wheel to the wind.

As the wind wheel rotates, by the pressure of the wind thereagainst it has a tendency to rotate the casing 13 on its bearings due to the Chang of direction of the wi l. The pres of wind, however, enacted a; inst against the pull of the chain 25 as shown, the

wind wheel will be held in the face of the wind. Should the wind pressure become excessive, the tendency of the wheel to rotate the casing will bcconie greater and finally this would be accomplished against the ten- 'sion of the spring with the result the angle between the vane and easing will be reduced, whereby the edge oit the Wheel will, be presented to the wind and said wheel 5 greatly checked in'its rotation or completely stopped. As soon asthe wind pressure has reduced in torcetoan extent less than the force of spring 20, the spring will immedi- -at'ely restore the vane to the position -as 20 shown, with=the face of the wheel presented to the wind. Thus it will. be seen that the wheel'is automatically controlled so that excessive rotation thereof will be prevented whereby to protect the gears, shafts and the generator '15.

\Vhen it is desired to retain the wheel out "of the face of the windto stop the rotation 'olthe shaft l lfthe chain-29 is wound about the drum-28m draw the vane against the tension of the spring 20 in a plane-parallel with -the'casin ggandregardless of the rotation of the casing '13,-theswivel will allow this'operati'on and follow with themovelnent otthe parts ;accorfdingl-y, with the result eflicient operation ot-the parts is-assured.

Thelowerend Of tllti'sl'ltlifll 14 is connected with-thegeneratorshaft by means of a slidablecoll'a r 15, whichisadapted to be moved upwzirdlyon the shaft 14,-to permit the'reinoval ol? thegenerator.

'Ata point on the casing where the spring '20 is connectedthere areprovided-thelock 'nuts which permit of "adju'stn'ient of the spring, to regulate thc'tensionthereof.

lVhile I have shown a vertical windwheel, I wish it understood that horizontal 'whe'el maybe used, or any other suitable type employed by 'a simplerearrangement of the gears, within theskill of any mechanic.

llhat is claimed is: '1. A windmill comprising a'tower, a iraine su ported by said tower, a casing mounted dior rotation on said frame, a drive shait extending horizontally through said casing, a

driven shaft geared to the drive "shaft and by, a wind wheel secured to the drive shaft,

eonvers in" arms havin their remote ends n b b V I )ivoted to the casino a vane secured to the 1 l adjacent ends oi? said arms, a strip bridging the arms, a bracket secured to said strip, a lug secured-to the bracket, a stud extending; irom the casing and arranged in the path of the lug, a coil spring having one end ad- Justably secured to the (52151115); and Its opposite end ad Usta'bly secured'to one arm whereby the tension ot'the s )illl ma be varied said CD 7 springbeing adapted to urge the vane to a :position at right angles to the wheels, and

means including a swivel for-manually operating the vane against the tension of the sprm 2. -A windmill comprising a tower, a frame supported by said. tower, a casing mounted for rotation on said fran e, an ear i'orn ed with said-casing, arms pivoted to said casing; and one otsaid arms'being provided with a series of openings, at vane secured to said arms, a rotatable shaft carried by said cas ing, a wind wheel secured to the rotatable shaft, a shaft extending through said casing, frame andtower and rotated by said rotatable shatt,-an eye bolt adjustably secured in said car, a coil springhaviug: one end secured in the eye of the eyebolt and its opposite end adjustably secured to the arm through the medium of one oft the openings therein, said coil spring being adapted to retain the vane at right angles to the wheel, a swivel, a drum,

and means between t-ae swivel and said drum risnnn r

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