Improvements in Turbine Water-wheels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Turbine Water-wheels.
We, ASA MICAJAH SWAIN, of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, Hydraulic
Engineer, CHARLES FRANKLIN PERKINS, of Seaver Street, Brookline, Massa-
chusetts, Lawyer, and ANSON KENT CROSS, of 9 Caledonia Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, Artist, all in the U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates, chiefly, to turbines with a horizontal axis, called vertical
turbines; the object of which is an increased capacity in the same diameter, at
the same cost, a more convenient arrangement of packing around the gates, and
the journal bearings, an improved form of discharge and draft pipe, and the
control of a volume of air, or water, in the same, at the pleasure of the operator.
In the drawings
Fig. 1. is a vertical longitudinal section of a double turbine as arranged in actual
use, embodying my inventions.
Fig. 2. is an end view of the double discharge quarter turn A. A. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is a section of the double quarter turn on dotted lines a. b. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. is a plan of the double draft pipe O. O. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged section of a portion of the gate and its packing
arrangement.
Figs. 6 and 7. are enlarged sections of the band T., of the wheel, with a portion
of the connected floats in outline.
Fig. 8. is an elevation of the head, I, the upper half of the figure showing the
inside, the lower half the outside.
Fig. 9. is an elevation of the slotted plate j. f. the wheel crown P., with its
hub U., and the shaft S., in cross section.
Fig. 10. is an enlarged vertical section of one of the hubs E.; a part of the
water pipe e.; a portion of the head I., a part of which they are; and a part of
the journal bearing L., which supports the wheel shaft S.
Fig. 11. is an inside end view of one of the said hubs.
Fig. 12. is a vertical cross section through the wheel, essentially the crown P.,
floats R, and band T., gate G., and supporting, or guide stands F., on the broken
line
P. p. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 13. is an enlarged development of the outer circumference of the wheel.
Fig. 14. is an enlarged elevation of the lower portion of the gate G., with its
guides H., gate curb C., with its projecting stand seat C'; the leather packing c. and
its holding segment D. In the same figure is shown a section of a portion of the
cylindrical part of the gate G. on the broken line q. q., Figure 5; and also a
portion of the wheel on the line t. t. Fig. 6.
Fig. 15. is an enlarged section of the gate curb C., flaring curb B., with portions
of the gate G., and the double quarter turn A.
Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.
The shaft S., which is shown as broken off at each end, illustrates the main
shaft of a mill and the wheels can be mounted thereon as shown, when the relation
of the mill and the stream will permit it. It is often necessary however to locate
the wheels below the main shaft of the mill to get the full benefit of the tall, in
which case the wheels may be mounted upon one shaft or upon separate shafts and
connected to the mill in any of the well known ways of transmitting power.

page_text: The construction of the shaft or the location of the wheels on the main shaft
are no part of our invention. A great variety of ways may be employed for
connecting the wheels to the mill, but these do not alter in any essential respect
the construction and operation of the invention itself.
Fig. 1., shows a pair of wheels, P. being the crown, R. the floats, and T. a band
connecting all of the floats, arranged upon a horizontal shaft S., each receiving its
induction water tangentially, in a plane perpendicular to their axis of rotation, each
discharging its effluent water through a short flaring curb B. into the double quarter
turn A. A. with an easy downward curve and a constantly increasing cross sectional
area until it meets the vertical draft pipe O. O.
It will be seen that the section of the effluent water just as it enters the quarter
turns at A. A. is bounded by a circle as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3. is shown the
section of the discharging streams when they have reached an angle of 45° on the
dotted lines a. b. Fig. 1. In Fig. 4. is shown the form of said discharging streams
where they enter the double draft pipe O. O. with its partition i, extending into
the water of the lower level; each stream having a compartment of its own, and
changing its form from that of a circle, on entering at A., to a half circle as it
enters the draft pipe at O.
We are aware that double vertical turbines have been made discharging towards
each other, into a common receptacle, but without any partition, or depression,
curved or otherwise, to break the direct action of one stream against the other,
thereby causing serious loss of efficiency. This defect being completely remedied
by our partition extending downward and forming a continuation of the double
quarter turn A. A. in the educt: It is obvious that this partition may be shortened
or lengthened in the educt at the pleasure of the constructor; but it should be
remembered that when it is made quite short it will develop its full utility only
when both wheels are being operated above one half of their full capacity. Any
partition however short or any construction of the interior of the educt, which
breaks or checks the action of one stream against the other, is within the spirit of
our invention. The extent of the partition is simply a matter of degree in the
application of the invention. It is of course obvious that two draft pipes placed
side by side will operate the same as one large one with a partition, although not
so economical to construct.
The draft pipe O. has a wide flange N., which rests upon a timber clamp, in the
bottom of the wooden flume M. M. Fig. 1. A cast iron head I, is fixed in each side
of the flume, carrying on the outside the journal boxes L. at the inner end of which,
and in that part of the hub E. projecting inward, is a stuffing chamber h., and still
further in, the annular water chamber d. supplied by the pipe e., having com-
munication with the head water of the flame M. through the annular guide chamber
and slotted plate f. f.
These hubs E. E. are bored to fit the shaft S. at 1, and k. and the box L.
Annular ribs r. r. project on the inside so as to form, with the slotted plate f. f. au
annular guide chamber into which project the guides H. H. of the gate G. when
shut.
In each head is an air cock K., having communication with the educt A. O. for
the purpose of filling that educt with air when the water on that side is shut off
from the wheel, that on the other side being in operation.
Our gate consists essentially of a laterally sliding flanged cylinder, usually of
cast iron, from the flange of which project 24 guides H. H., three of these are
cast solid with the flange and are of sufficient thickness for rods k¹ k to pass
through, by means of which, with any suitable mechanism, the said gate can be
operated; the other 21 guides are usually made of sheet metal of suitable thickness,
with thinned edges as is clearly shown in Fig. 14.
The edges attached to the flange may be made similar in form to the edges of
the floats, hereinafter described, and shown in Figs. 6, and 7; the said edges
projecting into the mould of the flange sufficiently for the molten metal to flow
and close firmly upon them.

page_text: The cylindrical part of the gate G. slides into a curb C, which carries, on a
conical aunular projection around that part of the gate, a packing made up of six,
or more, leather segments c, and held in place by segments D. of cast iron.
corresponding in number with the leather segments, or not, as the builder may
elect, and suitable tap bolts, projecting in nearly a radial direction, as is clearly
shown by the enlarged section, Fig. 5. The leather segments, c, it will be seen,
lie in a rebate of equal thickness with the leather. The cast iron segments D. are
hollowed out on the under side so as to effectually hold the leather segments by
one edge of the hollowed side while the other edge rests against the gate curb C.
It will be readily seen that the segment D. might be so much hollowed out, or
rebated, as to avoid the necessity of any rebate in the gate curb C. We prefer the
form shown in the drawings.
Two or three turns of the screws will so loosen the segments that the packing
may be easily removed and replaced by new. Heretofore it has been customary to
pass the screws through the leather segments, and thus every screw must be entirely
withdrawn in order to replace the leather packing. The gates G. are operated by
any suitable mechanism heretofore in use, fixed on the outside of the heads I and
connecting with the gate by suitable rods K' K' passing through stuffing boxes in
said heads, projections for which are shown at j. j. with glands, or plungers, j j',
Figs. 1. and 8.
Our wheel consists of the crown P., floats R., band T., and the hub U., fixed on
the shaft S., Figs. 1, 9, and 12.
The floats R. are of such form as is adapted to receive the water in a tangential
direction, the plane of motion being perpendicular to their axis of rotation, at
their outer edges through the chutes, or guide plates H. H. of the gate G.,
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 and discharging it a portion toward the axis, a portion parallel
with the axis, the other portions at intermediate angles, each in proportion as
there is escape area to discharge into.
It will be obvious that with this arrangement of induct and educt that there can
be no possible end thrust of one wheel not counterbalanced by the end thrust of
the other wheel.
The wheel may be cast in one piece; the floats may be cast each by itself, then
set up in a proper mould and the crown and band cast on.
Bauds of several kinds have been made for inward flow turbines and attached
in many ways and have heretofore been of considerable thickness in order to be of
sufficient strength, or to get a sufficient hold upon the floats to hold them firmly
and permanently at their proper distances from each other.
By making the edge n., of the band T., Fig. 6, as there shown, where it meets
the discharge edge of the float R., at a radial distance from the axis equal to the
radius of the greatest circumference of the wheel a greater area of discharge is
obtained, thereby increasing the capacity of the turbine without increasing its
diameter or impairing its efficiency. In order to give sufficient hold on the floats
by so thin a band we cut dovetails in this edge of the float of a greater depth
than the band has thickness, as is shown in the drawing. When the band is cast
the molten metal fills these dovetails and prevents the floats from being pulled
from the band by accident or otherwise.
To facilitate the flowing of the metal into the dovetails and further stiffen the
floats a small corner is taken from the sand mold against each side of the float, as
shown in Fig. 7., being the full size for a turbine 24 inches in diameter. The
edges of the float attached to the crown may be of similar form, but what is quite
as well, or better in this particular case, a row of holes may be made near the
edge, not much exceeding in diameter the projection of the edges into the crown.
The same method is applicable in the preparation of the guide plates H., before
described.
By means of this combination the discharge area of the turbine may be made fully
equal to its diameter, and yet retain the stiffening band sufficient for all purposes.
Wheels have been made without bands; they have the disadvantage of less.

page_text: strength and greater leakage around their outer edges. One serious difficulty with
vertical turbines has been the suction through the journal bearings taking in large
quantities of lubricating material with considerable air, both impairing the
efficiency of the draft and cutting the journals rapidly.
Our device of the annular water chamber d., supplied under the pressure of the
whole working head through the pipe e., reverses the whole matter, causing a
pressure between chambers d, and h. The annular space m, Figures 1, and 2,
around the shaft S, between the quarter turns is filled with any suitable packing
material.
The
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The flume M. M., being filled
with water, when the gates G. are opened by pushing in the rods k² until the gates
assume the position shown at Fig. 1 the water impinges upon the floats R. through
the guides, or chutes, H. H., in a tangential direction, then pressing its way along
sets the wheel in motion, being changed in its direction from a tangential one to a
vertical and horizontal one; the vertical being changed to a horizontal one
immediately after leaving the float by the natural tendency of the water seeking
the most direct outlet, assisted by the curved wheel hub U., Fig. 1.
arrangement of the double quarter turn prevents the discharging water from
impinging oue stream against the other, and which would thus materially retard
the velocity of the flow and cause a reaction, or back pressure, upon the wheels,
thereby reducing the effective pressure upon the floats of the wheels and
consequently their efficiency as motors. The separate compartment plan enables
the operator to use one turbine or both or any desirable fraction of one or both as
occasion or circumstances may require, with the end thrust in all of these
conditions in equilibrium. When desirable to use the water all upon one half of
the machine, it is desirable to exhaust the water from the other compartment
and fill it with air, which can be done by opening the cock K. in the head I.
It will be understood that the unused wheel will run very much easier in air
than in water. It is obvious that other forms of gate may be used with the
described wheel, or other wheels with the described gate, and that other forms of
both wheel and gate, with the described shaft, packing, double quarter turn, draft
pipe, and other devices, but not with equal increments of efficiency for the different
parts, and therefore we prefer those shown in the drawings.
flaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First. Two vertical turbine water-wheels discharging their effluent water
towards each other, combined with a common receptacle into which the water from
both wheels is discharged, said receptacle being so constructed on the inside as to
form a partition or obstruction therein, located between the wheels, whereby the
direction of the stream from each wheel is diverted and its action against
the stream of the other wheel is wholly or partially obviated, substantially as
described.
Second. Two turbine wheels provided with a surrounding flume case and
induct passages each wheel discharging its effluent water into a quarter turn A.
having its top surface curved outwardly and downwardly from said wheel, said
quarter turn being located between the wheels in combination with said quarter
turns A. A. and a draft pipe O. having a vertical partition i, throughout its entire
length, which is practically a continuation of the central walls between the quarter
turns, whereby the entire educt is divided into two separate passages, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination of two turbine wheels provided with a surrounding
flume case and induct passages, and arranged to discharge the water into a
common educt passage located between them and provided with a dividing
partition, which curves outwardly and downwardly from each wheel, substantially
as described.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of a turbine water wheel, its surrounding flume case
and educt passage, the wheel shaft and its supporting box located in the wall of
the educt, said box being provided with an annular chamber within it surrounding
all
the shaft, and a suitable water passage way to said chamber, such as the tube e,
substantially as described.
au annular
Fifth. The combination in turbine wheel having a sideways delivery from
the floats, of the series of floats surrounding the shaft and an outer band attached
to and surrounding the floats, said band having a cylindrical exterior surface
fitting closely the educt passage and an inner surface bevelled to a thin edge at
the points of attachment to the ends of the floats so that its outer delivery edge
substantially coincides with the outer diameter of the wheel, whereby the
freedom of the delivery of the wheel is increased, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the gate curb C. provided with
extension over the cylindrical gate G. and presenting an outer inclined surface
approximately parallel therewith, the leather packing c. arranged to rest upon this
outer inclined surface and bear upon the gate, the segments D. clamping the
leather packing in place and the bolts securing the same to said annular extension,
and arranged to present their heads radially outward, or substantially so, between.
the gate and the curb, whereby they are made accessible for removing and
replacing the packing, substantially as described.
Seventh. Two turbine wheels provided with a surrounding flume case and
induct passages, and having a discharge pipe located between the wheels and
having a vertical partition therein dividing it into two separate passages, combined
with an air inlet passage in one of said passages near its upper end arranged
to be opened, when the water is shut off from one wheel, substantially as
described.
Dated this 19th day of January 1895.