US395418A - Aircraft engine - Google Patents

Description

' (No Model.) 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1.

0. A. BENKENDORF.

AIR DRAFT ENGINE, No. 395,418. Patented Jan. 1, 1889.v

1 27.1. M M 2 5w! 12W WW 2W ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. A. BENKENDORF.

AIR DRAFT ENGINE.

Patented Ja n. 1, 1889.

WITNE SES': w

INVENTOR:

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OTTO A. BENKENDORF, OF \VILMOT, KANSAS.

AIR=DRAFT ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,418, dated January 1, 1.889.

Application filed January 28, 1888. Serial No. 262,247. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO A. BENKIJNDORF,

- of Wihnot, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-D raft Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an engine or motor designed to utilize the power of ascending currents of air rising from convection; and to this end. it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of wheels and air-guides upon a vertical rotary shaft, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Figure l is a perspective view of the lower part of the air-flue and gears. Fig. 9 is an interior view of the air-flue, showing the arrangement of the wind-wheels, shaft, shaftbearings, air-guides, and regulator. l ig. 3 is a plan viewof one of the wind-wheels. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the air-flue just above one of the airguides. Fig. 5 represents details of the shaft-bearing and the stay-rod for holding it. Fig. (i a perspective view of the top of the air-flue.

In the drawings, A represents a vert ical air-.

flue, which, as shown, is constructed of a wellbraced frame-work cased in to form a smooth uninterrupted draft within. Instead of making this flue of wood it maybe made of sheetiron, brick, or any other material. This flue should extend a considmrable distance up into the airsay, for instance, fifty feet. \Vithin the same is arranged in bearings the vertical shaft 1), which at 1 lower end is stepped in a bearing, 1*. To the lower end of this shaft is rigidly fixed a bevel gear-wheel, which engages another bevel gear'wheel, D, at right anglcs to it, which beve F, from which latter the power is transmitted by a belt to the point of utilization.

The shaft B extends a suitable distance up the air-il11e-say twenty feet or moreand is provided at regular intervals with horizontal wind-wheels H. These wheelsare constructed, in any desired manner, with inclined blades, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 3, and the air in rising in the line strikes against these inclined blades and imparts the rotary motion to the shaft,which turns the gears below. Between the wind-wheels within the flue are ar- .ar D is fixed upon 5 a horizontal shaft, E, carrying a bamlpulley,

ranged the air-guides I. These are fixed in a stationary manner in the flue and in vertical position, and serve to prevent the air-currents from turning spirally in the flue, and thus compelling the air to strike fairly against and turn the wind wheels. These guides are formed of vertical slats attacherl. to stay-rods d d. The lower set ay-rods, d, are fastened to a ring, f, that encircles the shaft, and the upper set of stay-rods, d, are fastened to the bearings e c for the shaft, and when these stay-rods are tightened up by means of the nuts at their outer ends the shaft-bearing is held in position and adjusted under tension. By this construction very small. light metal rods (1 d are used, which do not obstruct the upward ai r-curreuts, as would the heavy crosstimbers.

The bearings for the shaft are made in two sections, 6 e, bolted together around the shaft. These sections are formed with a lip or flange provided with holes 6 into which are hooked the inner ends of the stay-rods (1. One of the sections, e, of the bearing is formed with an oil-receptacle, e, which, through a channel, 6 conununicates with the inner periphery of the hearing which is in contact with the shaft.

At the bottomof the air fiue is arranged the clraftn'egulator, which consists of a series of horizontal slats or dampers, G, loosely pivoted between vertical partitions G, and having outside the fluescasing crank-arms G which are connected to a bar, G, and which bar G is in turn connected to a rod, G which is attached to a screw-nut traveling on screwshaft it", bearing hand wheel or crank G By turning this screw-shaft it will be seen that the dampers are opened or closed more or less, as may be desired. The obj ectof the partitions G is to cause the air-currents, which rise through the dampers, to ascend vertically and thus counteract the tendency of the currents to pass to one side, which is liable to occur when the dampers are only partly open and in an inclined position.

To facilitate the inspection of the shaft and the oiling of its journals a set of steps or ladder-rungs, a, are attached to the outside of the 'air-flue, and doors I) are provided in the easing along its height to give access to the interior.

The device thus described can be set up anywhere, and will run so as to furnish a considerable power without any cost other than that of first construction and the Wear and tear of machinery. The upward draft may be stimulated by heat from below or by a Ventilating-cowl on the top of the line; butI find that under ordinary conditions the variation in temperature between the air in the hue and that outside is suflicient alone to produce a Very considerable draft of air adapted to furnish a power for many useful purposes. By painting the flue black, so as to absorb the suns rays, the clficacy of the flue may be increased.

Having thus described my in vent ion, what I claim as new is The combination, with the upright air-line and revolving shaft bearing horizontal windwheels, of the bearings for said shaft, tension- 20 rods- (Z (1, connecting said bearings to the sides of the flue, and wind-guides I, connected to and supported by said tension-rods, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

()TTO A. B'ENKENDORF.

*itnesses:

EDWD. W. BYRN, SoLoN (3. KEMON.

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