US658940A - Automatic regulator for wind-wheels. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 2, I900.

. H. F. A. BRUNS & F. E. ELDREDGE.

AUTOMATIG BEGULATOR FOR WIND WHEELS.

(Application filed Apr. 30, 1900-) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(' gl 5 M 2 up HIP WW mi I H a H014 l (HJ Patented Oct. 2, I900. H. F. A. BBUNS &. .F. E. ELDRED AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR WINOWH (Application filed Apr. 30 1900.

2 Sheats8heet 2.

a" 1mm Q1? 2 HA 1 I I T NITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. A. BRUNS AND FRANOIES E. ELDREDGE, OF WAVERLY, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR WIND-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,940, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed April 30, 1900.

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic windmill-regulators designed for use in connection with a pump-operating rod whereby the wind-wheel is thrown into and out of the wind, according as the Water pumped into a tank provided for the purpose rises or falls to a predetermined level.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for throwing into operation and releasing the pawls which engage that portion of the apparatus operated by the pump-rod or a lever connected therewith for pulling upon or releasing the operating rod or cord leading to the windwheel.

The invention also comprises certain improvements in the details of construction hereinafter to be described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the invention is delineated for the purpose of illustration, and when hereinafter referred to like letters of reference will refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved regulator supported in any ordinary manner upon the framework of a mill. Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the relative positions of the pawls when in and out of operative positions. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 is an eleva tion illustrating the position the regulator occupies on the framework of the mill.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, A designates the framework of the mill of the usual construction, and B a cross or brace rod Serial No. 14,912. (No model.)

tion of the bracket is pivotally mounted a Wheel D, toothed upon its outer face, as at E. To prevent a too-rapid movement of this wheel, a spring-arm D is secured at the inner end of the shaft upon which the wheel is mounted, and bears at its outer end on the rear face of said wheel and exerts a proper or desired friction thereon through the medium of the adjusting-nut D This spring-arm at its lower end is bifu cated and surrounds the vertical portion a of the rear supportingbracket,thereby preventing any lateral movement of the spring-arm. Formed integrally with the wheel D and projecting rearwardly v therefrom is a pinion E. This pinion is adapted to mesh with a segmental gear F, to which is attached a projecting portion or lever F, secured. in turn to the operating-rod G, leading from any suitable mechanism in the tower of the wind-wheel designed for throwing the wheel into and out of the wind. It will thus be seen that as the Wheel D is rotated in the one or other direction a corresponding rotary movement will be imparted through the medium of the pinion thereon to the segmental gear and the operating-rod Graised or lowered, as the case may be. Forwardly of the wheel D is pivotally secured a lever H, connected at its outer end with a pump-operating rod in the usual manner. Pivoted in ears 77., project ing outwardly from the lever H, iswhat we will term the actuatingpawl K, the engaging portion of which projects through a slot 76 in the pump-lever and is so shaped as to engage the teeth on the wheel D and cause the wheel to turn in an upward movement of the lever, but will pass over and disengage itself from the teeth of said wheel in a downward movement of the lever. A spring is is interposed between the projecting portion Z of the actuating-pawl and the pum p-lever and is retained in such position by lugs projecting from such pawl and lover, respectively, into the spring. The forward supporting-bracket has an extended angular portion 0, provided with ears h, similar to the ears 7;) before referred to, and in these ears is pivoted what we will term the retaining-pawl K, the engaging portion of which is adapted to project through the cut-away portion 10 in the extension 0 and engage the teeth on the wheel D, so as to retain the same against movement in the Fig. 2.

direction of the arrow, (to the right,) but will slide over such teeth and permit the same to .rotate without interference in the opposite direction. This retainingpawl has a projecting portion Z similar to the one I on the actuating-pawl, but somewhat larger, and extends outwardly and over the said portion 1, as will be readily seen from an inspection of It will he apparent that a reciprocating motion of the pump-operating rod will give a corresponding movement to the pumplever, and by reason of the engagement of the actuating-pawl with the teeth of the wheel D the same will be turned to the left, and the retaining-pawl will normally retain the wheel from any baclnvard rotation.

It is desirable that suitable means be provided for releasing the actuating and retaining pawls simultaneously and for locking the same in such released positions, and this means will now he described.

Suitably mounted in cars on, projecting forwardly from the front sumJorting-bracket C and capable of a pivoted up-and-down movement, is a lever M, connected at its outer end to a rod leading from a float in the usual manner and provided at its inner lower edge with a lug or stop in, provided to limit the movement of the lever in a downward direction. On the upper portion of this lever is provided a cam-shaped projection N, adapted to engage the projecting portion 1 of the re raining-pawl and when elevated force the same inward against the corresponding projecting portion Z of the actuating-pawl, and thereby release the same from engagement with the teeth of the wheel D. At the limit. of the inward movement of these projecting portions of the pawls a gravity-catch O, pivoted at o to the forward bracket 0, engages the edge of the retaining-pawl and locks the same together with the actuating-pawl in released positions. The forward under edge of this gravity-catch is inclined at 0, Fig. 3, and is adapted to be engaged by the pin 0 projecting. beneath the same from the side of the projection N on the lever M, and be raised thereby when said leverM is lowered, whereby the respective pawls are again thrown into operative position, the retainingpawl being provided with a spring similar to that it of the actuating-pawl.

While a certain construction has been described for carrying ourinvention into practical effect, it will be readily appreciated that many details in the construction and operation of the individual parts may be changed without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, and that with such understanding the operation of the regulator may be described as follows: When the water in the tank has fallen beyond a desired level, the lever M is raised and the pawls withdrawn from engagement with the teeth of the wheel D, when the wheel will be free to turn and the operating-rod leading to the mill will be permitted to rise with the segment, thereby throwing the wheel into the wind and the pump-actuating rod operated. On the other hand, when the water in the tank rises to a predetermined level the lever M will drop, thereby releasing the gravitycatch and permitting the pawls to again engage the teeth of the wheel D, and through the action of the pump rod and lever the segment will be turned so as to lower its end connected with the operating-rod, and the wheel will be thereby thrown out of the wind and the operation of the pump-rod temporarily stopped.

The pump-rod P is connected to the lever H by means of the button P. The button is applied to the lever before it is bolted to the pump-rod by first inserting the head through the slot in the lever and turning the same into a vertical plane.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of means for controlling the movement thereof comprising a segment attached to one end thereof, means for operating said segment comprising a toothed wheel and actuating and retaining pawls adapted to engage said toothed wheel to rotate the same, and means for simultaneously withdrawing said pawls from operative position, and means for locking said pawls in such withdrawn position.

2. In a windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of means for controlling the movement thereof comprising a toothed segment, means adapted to operate said toothed segment comprising pivoted actuati ng and retaining pawls, means for throwing said pawls out of operative position, additional self-actuated means for temporarily locking the pawls in inoperative position, and means for automatically releasing the looking means, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of means for controlling the movement of said rod, comprising suitable supporting-brackets, a segment pivoted in said bracket and connected to the operating-rod, a toothed member adapted to mesh with said segment, and

5. In an automatic Windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a toothed member, pivoted actuating and retaining pawls adapted to operate said toothed member, extensions on said pawls beyond their pivotal points, springs beneath said extensions adapted to normally throw the pawls into engagement with the toothed member, means for Withdrawing said pawls from such engagement, and means for temporarily locking said pawls in such withdrawn position, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a toothed member, pivoted actuating and retaining pawls for operating said toothed member, a catch for holding said pawls in withdrawn or inoperative position, and means for forcing said pawls into such inoperative position, and for releasing the catch to throw the pawls into operative position, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a rotary member, operating means for said rotary member adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement therewith, a lock for holding said operating means in inoperative position, and means for both forcing said operating means for the rotary member into inoperative position, and for subsequently releasing the look from engagement therewith, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic Windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mech anism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a toothed member, pawls in engagement with said member and adapted to operate the same, extensions on said pawls, a catch adapted to engage said extensions to hold the pawls in withdrawn position, a camlever adapted to force the pawls into withdrawn position, and a projection on said lever adapted to engage the catch to release the same, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the

combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod, comprising a toothed member, a springarm in engagement with said toothed member to limit the freedom of movement thereof, adjusting means for said spring-arm, means for preventing lateral movement of said arm,

and means for operating said rotary member, substantially as described.

10. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising suitable supporting-brackets, a segment pivoted in said brackets and connected at one end of said operating-rod, a pinion in engagement with said segment, carrying a rotary toothed member, retaining and actuating pawls for operating said toothed member, and means for simultaneously and temporarily withdrawing the pawls from operative position, substantially as described.

11. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a rotary member in engagement therewith, retaining and actuating pawls for operating said rotary member, a

catch for temporarily holding said pawls in withdrawn or inoperative position having an inclined lower edge, a cam-lever for forcing said pawls into inoperative position, and a projection on said cam-lever adapted to engage the inclined under edge of the catch to release the same, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod comprising a rotary member, means for actuating said rotary member, a lever for throwing said actuating means into inoperati ve position and a stop on said lever adapted to limit the movement thereof, substantially as described.

13. In an automatic windmill-regulator, the combination with an operating-rod, of mechanism for controlling the movement of said rod, a suitable supporting-bracket for such mechanism, and a friction device in contact with a part of such mechanism and adapted to regulate the movement thereof comprising an elongated spring-arm bifurcated at one end, adjusting means for said arm, and a bar or projection on the supporting; bracket adapted to engage the bifurcated end of the spring-arm to prevent lateral movement thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. A. BRUNS. FRANCIES E. ELDREDGE. Witnesses:

FRED W. BATES, J. Y. HAZLETT.

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