Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-25
CHEAP WINDMILL.

CHEAP WINDMILL.
! We once made for drawing water cheap
| Windmill that gave entire satisfaction. A
| description of it was turned over to the pub
| lie and then others made mills on our plan,
| and all We're satisfied. There is no patent
| or the invention
Almost any person a little handy with
| tools may do the greater portion of his work
! in the construction of this windmill, which
| he will find entirely adapted TO lifting water
| from reasonably shallow wells, or from
streams, for use on the the farm. The first
| necessity is the wind wheel, of course.
| This may be made of half-inch boards and a
| few 2x3 inch scantlings for arms. The shape
! in which TO construct wheel so as to have
| the wind act upon it need not engage our
attention here, as almost every boy under
stands how to set the blades of a wind
wheel with an angle, so as to make it work.
He has learned this while making his toy
wind-mills, and our wind wheel is to be
made on precisely the same principle. 1t
may be made with four blades, six blades,
or eight blades, just as the builder pleases.
The size of the wheel must be settled
upon by a knowledge of the power needed.
If we desire to draw Il large quantity of
water from a somewhat deep well, or to
considerable height above some stream. and
do not have a regular wind supply of con-
siderable force. the wheel must be made
larger than would otherwise be necessary.
A wheel twelve feet in diameter will usu-
ally do good work. How to attach the arms
to the main shaft, and how to brace them,
and how TO nail on the boards of the blades,
can be left 10 the ingenuity of the builders.
The main thing is to have the wheel strong,
so as to be capable of withstanding any
kind of wind that might happen to blow
We use no governor, such as the fancy mills
have, but make everything strong, and just
''let her rip when a strong wind comes.
Having our wheel constructed we rig it
in Il frame work 10 which is affixed blade
or tail for holding the wheel to the wind,
on the plan of the boys toy windmill. We
next set strong wooden upright or shaft
into the well to turn in a bearing or Ink"
at the bottom, and to reach above the sur
wheel work clear when rugged upon it. The
frame work containing the wheel and its
shaft is fixed securely to the upper end of
this upright, which is securely stayed at
the top OF the well, but so as to admit of its
turning freely. 1t will have to be stayed
to collar or wheel fastened securely to the
upright and measuring say three feet in di-
ameter. This will fit into circular bear
' ing, and being kept well oiled will work
around almost as freely as if the stay came
directly against the upright. Why this
collar is necessary will appear presently.
Our mill is now complete. The wheel be-
ing swung clear of the ground is revolved
by wind, the tail holding it into position,
changing it as the wind shifts and turning
the upright in the well as it does so.
The water-drawing apparatus is simply q
belt or double chain passing over small
drum on the shaft of the wheel, down
through an opening in the collar before
named, and reaching to the bottom of the
well, passing over a pully in the water
securely affixed to the side eff the revolving
upright. A narrow rubber belt suited to
this purpose may be had at almost any ma
chinery- store, and we consider a
belt preferable to a chain, as it is less liable
TO get turned wrong.
Upon this belt lot of small fat cups are
set so as TO dip the water as the wheel
turns, carry it up on the plan of grain ell
evator in mill and pour it out at the wheel
shaft as they turn over to start downward
bottom upwards. They may be made of tin
by any tinsmith. A conductor under the
shaft catches the water and runs it out TO
the receptacle that we have prepared for it.
This last may be circular box or
trough "a short distance below the wheel
shaft with discharge pipe reaching be-
yond the circuit of the wind-wheel. The
conductor into which the water falls from
the cups will run parallel with the shaft,
and change position with the machinery,
but the circular box may be stationary.
The tin cups on the belt may be set by
means of hooks, thus enabling US to remove
n portion of them and draw less water in
times of light wind. or add TO the drawing !
capacity when the winds are strong. Three |
inches is wide enough for the belt.
We suppose the reader now understands |
the turning upright extendidg to the bottom |
of the well, and the collar around it at the |
top of the well working whiting circular |
bearing of its own size. 1t is to prevent |
that winding up of the belt which would |
result, did the pulley at the bottom of the |
well not change position with the motion |
OF the machinery above.
Mills constructed on this plan are work |
ing successfully in many parts of the
county. They would, we are sure, be the
very thing for many sections of Texas
where wells are easily had. They are sup
posed TO work best in comparatively shall
low wells, though they viii draw water
from wells 100 feet in depth. The deeper |
the well the longer belt it would be neces-
sary to buy, and the further apart it would |
be necessary to set the cups. The cups |
being wider apart less water would be lifted |
from deep well than from a shallow one. |
Of course.
THAT ROSE FUNGUS AGAIN.