IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER-WHEELS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburgh, Germany, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER-WHEELS.” A communication
from Johann Heinrich Müller, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in tho
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER-
WHEELS." A communication from Johann Heinrich Müller, of Hamburg, in the
German Empire.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to water wheels.
This water-wheel consists in its main parts of a circular shaped bottom plate of
wood, iron, or other material, furnished with curved float boards and an upright
axle inclined in a plane perpendicular to the bottom plate.
The boards may either reach radially from the outer circumference of the bottom
plate wholly or partly inward to the axle, forming a ring of larger or smaller width
of buckets open at the top. The upper part of the axle may advantageously be
placed in a roller bearing, and may at its free end be furnished with a bevil wheel
to transmit the power, or it may be fitted with pullies or other convenient power
transmitting mechanism.
The original part of this improved water wheel consists in placing the inclined
bearings for the axle, thus forming a water-wheel which is neither a horizontal nor
a vertical one, as of hitherto known construction. The inclination of axle and
wheel will be made adjustable by placing the step-bearing of the axle in a sledge
footstep, which can be shifted on an inclined bed-plate forward or backward by a
lever or screw transmission.
According to the quantity of water the inclination may be regulated by giving a
greater incline at times when the quantity of water is small, and a less incline at
times when the quantity is greater.
The moving-water is led on to the open buckets on that side of the wheel which
is highest in position. The water enters the uppermost buckets of one side of the
wheel, and turns the latter by its weight. The buckets empty themselves when
attaining a position approximately to the lower side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th December 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in tho
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER-
WHEELS." A communication from Johann Heinrich Müller, of Hamburg, in the
German Empire.
This Invention relatos to certain improvements in and relating to water-wheels.
This water-wheel consists in its main parts of a circular shaped bottom plate of
wood, iron, or other material furnished with curved float boards, and an upright
axle inclined in a plane perpendicular to the bottom plate.
The boards may either reach radially from the outer circumference of the bottom
plate wholly or partly inward to the axle, forming a ring of larger. or smaller
width of buckets open at the top. The upper part of the axle may advantageously
be placed in a roller-bearing, and may at its free end be furnished with a bevil
wheel to transmit the power, or it may be fitted with pullies or other convenient
power transmitting mechanism.
The original part of this improved water-wheel consists in the inclined bearings
for the axle, thus forming a water-wheel which is neither a horizontal nor a vertical
one, as of hitherto known construction. The inclination of axle and wheel will bo
made adjustable by placing the step-bearing of the axle in a sledge footstep, which
can be shifted on an inclined bed plato forward or backward by a lever or screw
transmission. According to the quantity of water the inclination may be regulated
by giving a greater incline at times when the quantity of water is small, and a
lesser inclino at times when the quantity is greater.
The moving water is led on to the open buckets on that sido of the wheel which
is highest in position. The water enters the uppermost buckets of one side of tho
wheel, and turns the latter by its weight. The buckets empty themselves when
attaining a position approximately to the lower side.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is represented a construction of this
improved water-wheel; Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a
ground plan of the wheel.
A is the inclined shaft or axle upon which the wheel is mounted, and carried;
B is a conical toothed wheel for transmitting the motion of shaft A to a horizontal
shaft, as is shown in Fig. 2 of the Drawings. The axle A is at the top supported by
friction rollers, whilst the foot of the axle is carried by a step bearing C which is
placed in a carriage D, by means of which it can be shifted in position on an incline
bed plate E through shaft m and nuts. The shaft m may be turned by a crank
lever by hand or otherwise, as convenient. By turning shaft m in either one or
other direction the step-bearing of axle A is moved either upward or downward
on the incline bed-plate, and the wheel receives a greater or lesser inclination.
The water is, in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 2), led into the upper buckets
of the wheel, which Intter consequently is turned and empties at the opposite lower
side. The channel of the water may advantageously be arranged in such manner
that it can be lowered or lifted to suit the different incline of the wheel.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention I
claim,―
First. The construction of water-wheels with inclined axles, substantially in the
manner as described; and
Second. The movable stepbearing, by means of which the inclination of the

page_text: axle and wheel can be adjusted or altered, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and shown by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. H. F. ENGEL (LS)