IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND-MOTORS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugo Lübben at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1882.
HUGO LUBBEN, of Hannover, Prussia, German Empire "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WIND-MOTORS
"
This Invention relates to apparatus for utilizing the force of the wind for driving
machinery and similar purposes.
According to the said Invention a number of arms are fixed to a nave, and are
capable of turning with the same upon a central vertical axle. At the extremity
of each of these arms is arranged a wind-sail, that can turn upon a vertical axis,
which is situated slightly away from the middle of the breadth of the sail. When
such a sail is caught by the wind, it has a tendency, on account of the unequal
pressure exerted upon different sides of the axis, to get parallel with the direction
of the wind as is the case with a weathercock
In order to bring about a rotation of the wind sails upon their common axis I
arrange ropes or shackles, to automatically prevent the sails coming against the
wind from turning broadside to the wind, but allowing such a position to be
assumed by the sails going in the direction of the wind. Thus the wind-pressure
will be exerted upon the one half of the sails at a maximum pressure, and on the
other half at a minimum pressure, the result being that the sails rotate around
their common axis in one direction with considerable force.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a central vertical axle
supported by a frame, and adapted to rotate in suitable bearings. Any convenient
number of arms are rigidly connected with the said axle by means of a nave.
The central axle is prolonged upwards above the supporting frame, so that stays or
tie-rods may be arranged to support the said arms. Concentric with the central
axle is a toothed wheel rigidly connected to the said arms, with which gears a small
pinion secured to a second axle parallel with the central axle. Through the

page_text: rotation of the central axle, motion is thus transmitted to the second axle, from
whence power can be further transmitted by wheels or other suitable means, to
drive machinery or the like
At the extremities of the said arms are arranged collar bearings. These bearings
serve for the admission of the axles upon which the said sails partially rotate, in
the manner herein before described. These axles lie slightly beyond the middle of
the breadth of the sail. Vertical beams are inserted into sockets in the ends of
these sail axles, and extend throughout the whole length of the said sails. As the
arms and sails are turning with the wind the broad sides of the sails (reckoning
from the said axle) which are receiving the wind pressure are nearest to the
central axle. The broad part of each sail is by a hempen or wire rope, or other
suitable means, connected with a holder, one of which holders is fastened at the
extremity of each arm.
The length of each of the said ropes is adjusted, so that when the wind strikes a
sail going in a certain direction the said sail can distend the rope and place itself
in such a position as to offer to the wind the greatest possible surface. All the
sails, on the contrary, which are coming against the wind do not distend their ropes
and the position of the sail is such as to offer to the wind the narrow side which
has the effect of placing the sail parallel with the direction of the wind, and thus
offering the least possible resistance to the rotation occasioned by the pressure on
the sails going with the wind
In order to regulate the pressure upon the sails when the wind is strong the
ropes connected with the sails are not rigidly connected with the holders but are
passed loosely through eyes on the said holders; the free ends of the said ropes are
weighted. Knots are made on the said ropes to prevent their being pulled too far
through the eyes. So long as the wind is moderate the strain on the rope will not
be sufficient to raise the said weight. But when the wind attains a certain
pressure, the weights are raised, the sails rotate farther upon their axles, and thus
offer to the wind a correspondingly less surface.
In a modification of this Invention, beneath the arms carrying the sails which
rotate the central axle is placed a crown wheel or cam of such curvature that when
the broader parts of the sails which are provided with rollers strike against it, the
said sails offer to the wind the greatest possible surface, so that the maximum of
working capacity reached. This crown wheel or cam is connected, by means of
arms, with a nave which is free to turn on the central axle; the said nave is
provided with pins which engage with a toothed pinion mounted on a spindle so
that the said cam can be adjusted to any position with regard to the wind.
The said crown wheel or cam is so arranged as to render possible the rotation of
the sails in either direction, the only thing necessary being to move the said crown
wheel or cam through an angle of 90°

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Hugo Lübben in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1883.
HUGO LUBBEN, of Hanover, Prussia, German Empire,
WIND-MOTORS
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This invention relates to apparatus for utilizing the force of the wind for driving
machinery and for similar purposes
According to the said invention a number of arms are fixed to a nave and are
capable of turning with the same upon a central vertical axle. At the extremity
of each of these arms is arranged a wind sail, which can turn upon a vertical axis
situated slightly away from the middle of the breadth of the sail. When such a
sail is caught by the wind, it has a tendency, on account of the unequal pressure
exerted upon different sides of its axis, to get parallel with the direction of the
wind, the narrower part of the sail pointing in the direction from whence the wind
comes, as is the case with a weathercock.
In order to cause a rotation of the wind sails upon their common axis I arrange
ropes or shackles to automatically prevent the sails turning against the wind from
getting broadside to the wind, but allowing such a position to be assumed by the
sails going in the direction of the wind. Thus the wind will act upon one half of
the sails with a maximum pressure and upon the other half with a minimum
pressure, the result being that the sails rotate around their common axis in one
direction with considerable force
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation of a wind motor constructed according to this
invention
Figure 2 is a plan of the same
Figures 3 and 4 are detail views
Figure 5 is an elevation illustrating a modification of this invention, some of
the wind sails being removed
Figure 6 is a plan of the same, and
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a central vertical axle o is carried
by a frame g of any suitable construction and is adapted to rotate therein, being
supported at the upper end by a collar and at the lower end by a step-bearing.
A number of arms c c are rigidly connected by means of a nave with the axle o
which is prolonged above the supporting frame, so that stays or tie rods c¹¹ c¹¹ may
be arranged to support the arms c c. Concentric with the central axle is a toothed
wheel b rigidly connected to the arms cc; with the wheel 6 gears a pinion a¹ which
is secured to the vertical axle a. Through the rotation of the axle o, motion is
thus transmitted to the axle a from whence power can be further transmitted by
wheels or other suitable means, for driving machinery or the like.
At the extremities of the arms c c are fixed bearings u, u, (Figures 3 and 4)
which carry the axles u¹ u¹, upon which the sails d d partially rotate in the manner
hereinbefore described. These axles are arranged slightly beyond the middle of
the breadth of the sails so as to ensure the proper position of the said sails,
relatively to the wind; vertical beams t t are inserted into sockets in the ends of
the axles uu, and extend throughout the whole length of the said sails.
As shown to the right of the axle o in Figure 2, the broader parts of the sails are
to the left, of the sail axles uu¹. The broad part of each sail is, by a hamper [sic]
or wire rope ii or other suitable means, connected with a holder c¹, one of which is
fixed at the extremity of each arm c. The length of each of the ropes ¿ ¿ is such,
that, as the wind, moving in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, strikes
the sails in the fore quadrant to the right of the axle o, it will distend the ropes i i,
and allow the said sails to assume a position offering to the wind the greatest
possible surface, all the sails on the contrary in the other quadrants do not distend
their ropes ii, their position being such as to offer the least possible resistance to

page_text: the rotation occasioned by the pressure of the wind upon the sails in the fore
quadrant The sails thus come one after another into working position, and those
in the working position move into the neutral position, so that the rotation of the
motor proceeds uninterruptedly.
In order to regulate the pressure upon the sails when the wind is strong, I use a
device in connection with each of the sails as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In the
said device a rope is secured to a sail d; the said rope is not rigidly connected with
the holders c¹ but is passed loosely through eyes n¹n on the said holder. The free
end of the rope S is provided with a weight 9. In front of the eye n, a knot z' is
made in the rope to prevent its being pulled too far through the said eye. So long
as the wind is moderate the strain on the rope S will not be sufficient to raise
the weight q, but when the wind attains a certain pressure the weight q will be
raised; the sail then rotates farther upon its axle, thereby offering to the wind a
correspondingly less surface.
In a modification of this invention, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, I arrange
beneath the arins c c carrying the sails which rotate the central axle a, a crown-wheel
or cam k of such curvature (which will slightly vary according to circumstances), that
when the rollers r on the broader parts of the sails strike against it, as shown in
Figure 7, the said sails offer to the wind the greatest possible surface, so that the
maximum of working capacity is reached. This crown-wheel or cam / is connected
by means of arms vv with a nave z, which is free to turn independently of the
central axle, the said nave, is provided with pins x which engage with a toothed
pinion w mounted on a spindle w, so that the said cam can be adjusted to any
position with regard to the wind. The crown wheel or cam k is of the same shape
on both sides of its diameter, so as to render possible the rotation of the sails
in both directions In the position of the crown-wheel shown in Figure 6 the
motor rotates to the left; to cause it to rotate in the opposite direction, the only
thing necessary is to move the crown-wheel or cam k through an angle of 90° to
the left. The sails which take the wind then lie in front and to the left, instead of
lying as represented in Figure 6 in front and to the right. When the motor is
required to work quite automatically as for example in draining or the like, the
construction shown in Figures 1-4 is preferable When it is required for manu-
factories or the like where it can receive attention, the construction shown in
Figures 5 to 8 is preferable If desired, several of such motors can be arranged in
close proximity to each other, and thus from 20 to 30 horse power can be obtained
at little cost. If desired the improved motor may be used on ship board.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I Claim.
A wind-motor consisting principally of a vertical driving axle with arms c c,
carrying wind-sails d d capable of turning upon axles which lie somewhat away
from the middle point of the breadth of the sails, so that the sails tend to keep
their surfaces in the direction of the wind but are prevented from so doing when
on the one side of the vertical axle, by the ropes ii, or the crown-wheel or cam k
or other suitable means, in such a manner, that, on one side of the said axle as
broad a surface as possible is offered to the wind, whilst on the other side of the
said axle, the wind strikes against the edge of the wind-sails, and the motor is thus
continuously rotated
In witness whereof I the said Hugo Lübben have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.