US39783A - Improvement in water-wheels - Google Patents

Description

'l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SYMONDS, OF OUMBERLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO HIB/[SELFV AND HOSEA KENDALL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THoMAs SYMoNDs, of Oumberland,in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have inventedja new and useful Improvement in Outer-Vent, Direct, and Reaction Water-Wheels; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exa-ct description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective sectional view of my improved wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the buckets from its rear surface. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same from its front surface.

The same letters of reference in the figures refer to like parts.

The nature of my invention consists in buckets constructed with a deep direct-acting surface and with a shallow twisted and nearly horizontal reacting surface of great length, as hereinafter specied.

It consists, second, in the combination of such buckets with a hub of bell or trumpet mouth shaped circumference, and with a stationary scrollcase of a depth just about equal tothe depth ofthe direct-acting surface of the bncketsffallLasiand for the purpose described. y Y

To'enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation of the same with reference to the drawings.

A is the shaft, B its step, C the hub, D the buckets, E the scroll-case or apron, and F the `water-inlet gate, of the Wheel. The hub C is of cylindrical form from its upper end to Within a short distance of its lower end, where it enlarges circumferentially on a concave, forming apart of a flat scroll; or, in other words, the outline of the hub, as repre sented, is similar to that of the outer end of a trumpet or bell. This hub is fastened firm] y upon the shaft A.

The buckets D, which are arranged upon the hub as represented, may be described as being formed out of a iianged segment-plate, or a plate, Fig. 5, which has the form of a depressedscroll. The lower edge of said plate being shaped to tit on a Wind, the scroll concave portion b of the hub, as indicated by red line t t, and the outer edge, c cf c2, of the bucket formed so as to present a straight vertical line and a curved horizontal line by cutting a piece out of the plate, Fig. 5, as in-` dicated by thered line X X X. The bucket thus shaped resembles very closely aboottree with its foot portion, from instep to toe,

twisted round horizontally or bent thus ona curve or wind. i

In manufacturing the `buckets they may, of course, be cast, wrought, or otherwise produced on a pattern of the described shape.

By examining the drawings, it will be seen that the ange e ofthe buckets, by which they (the buckets) are firmly bolted to the hub, as at f f, affords a firm back support to them; also, that the concave form ofthe deep vertical l portion of the buckets adm-its of strong bolts f being introduced on the working-surface for the purpose of further fastening the buckets to the hub.

The buckets, from top to instep, are covered and inclosed by the stationary scroll-case or apron E, and thus deep water-tight waterchannels,which are vertical, are formed for the reception of the direct-acting water 5 but below, or from the instep to the toe or discharging end, the curved or nearly horizontal portions of the buckets are not inclosed, they being on a gradually-increasing circumferential l surface which is overhung by the bottom board of the scroltcase or apron, so as to cover in water-tight the open tops of the channels formed by the said curved horizontal portions of the buckets. Thus a free discharge of reacting water is secured, the reacting and direct-acting waters not interfering with one another, inasmuch as the latter is inclosed, and the former, by reason of the gradual enlargement of the circumferential surface of the hub, having due compensation for its increasel velocity acquired in its change from a horizontal to a vertical course.

With my arrangement the wheel rst takes its water direct, and then the reacting force thereof, the reaction being the quickest, owing to the water acquiring increased velocity in its descent. This increase in velocity is accommodated by the gradually-enlarged circumferential surface oof the tub. Thus the pressure, as nearly as can be ascertained, isv equably diffused over the whole surface or. face familiar with stand still.

' rives therefrom a support upon which to impinge Whiletransferring its force to the buck ets. The construction and arrangement ofthe buckets also allows the wheel to run from eight to ten inches lower -in water (back or dead) than any other existing wheel iwith.

which I am familiar, for the reason that there is so small a surface for the backwater to obstruct, and that small surface, lthe foot ofthe bucket-,is always runnin g away from the backwater, so that it cannot get a hold upon it.

In testing my wheel with others ot' equal head a-nd fall, I ljnd iti-is not less than ten per cent. stronger, and that with a low head ofwater it will run where all others that Iain This is due to the great depth ofthe vertical or directacting part of the buckets and the shallow depth but great length of the reacting part of the buckets.

I have tried buckets similar to Leftels patent ot' 1845, and many other similar forms, but ind that to get the greatest reacting power the exhaust tube or apertures must be carried out horizontally, or as nearly so as practicable, and to as great a length as possible Without creating dead-water.

I think in the plan shown and described I have attained the limit in proportion, very nearly.

The great advantage of my construction and arrangement will be readilyT ascertained by experimenting as follows Cut from the blickets the curved or reacting part down and outwardly from the instep or inner diameter of the still apron or scroll-case, and it will be found that the power of the wheel is lessened one-halt'. Drop the buckets after the plan shown in Left'els patent ot'1845, and itis lessened one-third, or it ceases to run in dead-water-that is, with the reacting part of the buckets submerged-because Leii'els Wheel does not work the full power of thc water, but allows it to fall dead and useless.

I do not claim anything that is shown in my wheel which is embraced in the waterwheels patented to A. B. Beckwith, July 2, 1842, and to Wilbur M. Davis,` June 24, 18565 but What- I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The buckets D, constructed in the forni herein described, for the purpose set forth'.

2. The combination and arrangementof the buckets D, graduallyenlarging hub C, and stationary scroll-case or apron E, the Whole constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses: THOMAS SYMONDSV.

WM. H. Woon, CHANDLER RACKLEFF.

Images