US36115A

US36115A - Improvement in current water-wheels

Info

Publication number: US36115A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1862-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1879-08-05

Description

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lENOCH STEWART,IOF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURRENT WATER-WHEELS..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,115, dated August 5, 1862. v

To @ZZ whom it may' concern:

Be it known that I, ENOOH STEWART, of Battle Creek, in the county of vCalhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Water-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eX- force of a stream and arecommonly termed current-wheels.7

The object of the invention is to obtain a simple and durable wheel of the class specified, and one which will operate without having its buckets subjected to much wear and tear, as is the case with all of these wheels in which the current or force of the stream is made to adjust oroperate the buckets.

My invention consists in placing a wheel upon a horizontal shaft and providing it with buckets, which are attached by joints or hinges in such a manner that the buckets will by their own gravity adjust themselves in proper working position previous to entering the water, and then by the same means fall so as to assume a closed position as they leave the water.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a horizontal shaft on which a wheel, B, is placed. This wheel may be constru cted of two rims, a a, connected to the shaft A by radial arms b, the latter being connected by cross-bars c. The rims a a, arms b,and crossbars c may be of wood. The shaft A may be of wood or metal. The rims a a are made of a depth equal to the depth of the buckets d, which are oi'square form and are attached radially to the outer and inner sides of the rims da by hinges or joints e, which admit of the buckets swinging freely on the rims. These hinges or joints may be formed by attaching metal straps or loopsf to the rims a a and having the former itted in recesses g at the inner parts of the buckets, as shown in both figures.

In the rims a c there are tted pins 71 the latter passing entirely through the former and projecting from the rims at both sides. These pins are tted centrally in the rims and at such points as to prevent the buckets d from swing ing outward from the rims beyond a rightangular posit-ion therewith, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 1, in -which three buckets are shown in contact with their pins. I

Any proper number of buckets d may be employed, according to the diameter ofthe wheel, and they may be of wood or metal.

The operation is as follows: The wheel is so adj usted that the rims a c will be submerged in the stream, the shaft A being supported by any suitable framing, and the pins h being at the back sides of the buckets, so as to form stops for the same to prevent the water or current forcing them beyond a right-angular' position with the rims a a. The direction ofthe current is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and the surface of the stream isindicated by the red line in the same figure.' The current in thus actingupon the buckets rotates the wheel, and as each bucket leaves the water it closes by virtue of its own gravity, and remains closed until it passes over the shaft A and commences to descend. when,from the same cause,it opens and is ready to receive the action of the current as it enters the water.

By this arrangement it is believed that a very great advantage is obtained over the eurrent-wheels hitherto devised, for the buckets, not being dependent on the action ofthe current to open them, are not subjected to thev wear and tear to which they would otherwise be. The current in opening the buckets causes a violent slamming of the same, and they are liable to be wrenched from their hinges or broken by the concussions.

My invention may be constructed at a small cost, and readily repaired when repairs are necessary.

I do not claim, broadly, a current or water wheel provided with buckets connected to it by hinges orjoints; but

' I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-` A current-wheel, B, placed on a horizontal shaft, A, and provided with buckets d, at-

tached to its rims a a in a radial position by means of hinges or joints e, and used in connection with the pins or stops h, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

ENOGH STEWART. Witnesses:

ALFRED A. WHITE, JosErH BABcocK.