IMPROVEMENTS IN HORIZONTAL WIND WHEELS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Brierley, of Halifax, in the County of York, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORIZONTAL WIND WHEELS." A communication from abroad by Max Felix
Schmidt, of Gorlitz, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Brierley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1879.
WALTER BRIERLEY, of Halifax, in the County of York, Patent Agent and
Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORIZONTAL WIND WHEELS." A
communication from abroad by Max Felix Schmidt, of Gorlitz, in the Empire of
Germany.
The improvements relate to horizontal wind-wheels, and especially refer to the
automatical regulation of the sails by the influence of the direction of the wind
itself, so that there is one sail presenting its full surface to the influence of the wind,
whilst by the same influence the sails going out of wind successively incline, and
the sail opposite to that presenting its full surface to the wind is fully inclined in a
horizontal position. Now the fully inclined sail successively raises by the same
influence of the wind till it reaches again in its vertical position, in which position
it is submitted to the full action of the wind.
The construction to obtain this purpose is such a one that the full elevation of
the sail is performed in that moment in which the direction of the wind is a vertical
one to the plane of the said sail.
My new horizontal wind-wheel consists of six or more sails, supported by arms
and connected by a nave to the vertical shaft of the wheel.
The sails are connected by rods of an equal length with a universal joint (Hooke's
joint), which is fixed to the vertical shaft of the wheel.
The combination of the sails with this universal joint causes the afore described
successive and gradual change of position of the sails.
The universal joint may be lowered to a stop-ring by a lever and connectings,
such wise that all sails together may be inclined in horizontal position, and the
wind-wheel set out of motion.

page_text: The shaft of the wheel is held by a support and collar, which are placed on the
top of the standard or on the roof of the mill.
The construction of the sails is as follows:-
To both ends of the arm are fitted small bearings, by which are supported the
sails.
Two iron hoops supporting a quadrant are connected with the small bearings.
By this quadrant eyes are conducted at the end of the sails.
The outer pivot of the sail is prolonged about the bearing, and fitted with
counter-weight lever to balance the sale in the first moment of raising.
The eyes at the inner end of the sails are fitted with a stud, serving for the
application of a small universal joint at the upper end of the aforesaid connecting
rods.
These rods are likewise fitted at their lower ends with a small univeral joint,
which revolves round the stud at the exterior end of the arm fixed to the outer
ring of the principal universal joint on the wheel shaft in such way that the sails,
in consequence of their connection with the corresponding arms of the universal
joint, follow to the successive alternation of position, as before mentioned.
The universal joint may also be influenced by a governor of any known con-
struction, so that in case of storm the wheel may set itself out of motion automati-
cally, and that every increase of velocity of wind causes a diminished raising of the
working sail.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Brierley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
October 1879.
WALTER BRIERLEY, of Halifax, in the County of York, Patent Agent and
Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORIZONTAL WIND WHEELS." A
communication from abroad by Max Felix Schmidt, of Gorlitz, in the Empire of
Germany.
C, C, . .
⋅
•
.
•
My improvements in horizontal wind wheels especially referr to an automatical
self regulation of the sails by the influence of the direction of the wind itself, so
that there is one sail presenting its full surface to the influence of wind, whilst by
the same influence the sails going out of wind successively incline, and the sail
opposite to the sail presenting its full surface to the wind is totally inclined in a
horizontal position. Now the fully inclined sail raises successively by the same
influence till it reaches again its vertical position, in which it is submitted to the
full action of the wind. The construction to obtain the aforesaid purpose is such
wise arranged that the total elevation of the sail is perforined in the same moment
in which the wind acts vertically to the plane of the sail. This my Invention is
represented by the annexed Drawings, and shews. Sheet I., Fig. 1, a vertical section
and a view of two opposite sails; Fig. 2, a transversal section through an arm and
a sail, and in the same time a diagram of three different positions of the sail'; Fig. 3,
the gearing lever; Sheet II., Fig. 4, a horizontal plan. My new improved wind wheel
consists in a number (four, six, or more) of sails b, C,. supported by the arms
being connected by the nave piece a to the vertical shaft w of the wheel.
The sails C, C, . are connected by the rods d, d, d, . . of equal lenght with an
universal (Hook's) joint E, consisting of the two rings e and c¹, and the cross head
H sliding on the shaft in vertical direction, and prevented from turning round the
shaft w by key and groove, and held in position by the ring R, the connecting rods
ff, and the gearing 9 of any known construction. The connection of the sail with
the universal joint E causes the before described successive and gradual change of
inclination of the sails. As it will be seen by the annexed Drawing, Sheet I., the
universal joint E may be lowered to the stop ring h, and in such manner all sails
together may be so far inclined as to assume the horizontal position, and the wind
wheel set out of activity or arrested by assistance of a slightly (acting) operating
brake. The shaft of the wheel (w) is supported by the bearer K, with the collar i
placed on the top of the standard of the wheel, and by a step bearing at its lower
end. The inertia of weight of the different parts of the universal joint E and the
rods d, d, is balanced by two tackles P and the weights P', P¹. The fitting of the
sails to the arms e, e, their conducting and connection with the universal joint
is most clearly explained by supposing one sail as follows:-To the arm C are fitted
the small bearings 1, 1, in which are supported the pivots p, p, of the frame of the
sail. Two iron hoops m and m¹, bearing a quadrant n, are connected with every
one of the small bearings 1, 1, the quadrants n conducting the eyes o and o' at the
ends of the sail. The eye o at the inner end of the sail's frame is fitted with a
horizontal stud g, serving to apply a small universal joint u connected with the
upper end of the rod d.
Another small universal joint u¹ connects the lower end
of the rod d with the exterior end of the arm r of the universal joint E screwed
into the ring e. The normal position of the cross head H of the principal universal
joint E is such wise determinated that the sails, in consequence of their connection
with the corresponding arms r of the universal joint, follow the successive alteration
of position as before described. The universal joint may also be influenced by a
governor of any known construction, so that in case of storm the wheel may set itself
automatically out of activity, and so that every increase of velocity will cause a
diminished raising of the sails. The sails are provided at their lover bords with
the vanes C¹ connected to them by the joint hinges 8, 8. An angle lever v supported
.

page_text: by a bearing b on the sail arm c, connects the upper border of the sail b by means
of the rods t, t, t, with the lower stiffening iron within the border of the vane C¹,
so that the more the sail C inclines, the more closes the vane C¹, and is in horizontal
position when the sail C in a vertical one, and is totally closed when the sail is in
horizontal position (viz., Fig. 2). The vane C¹ has the purpose to augment the
action of those sails, being in the wind, although not yet totally raised or just
beginning to incline.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of the said Invention,
what I claim as new and my Invention is,-
Firstly. The connection of the sails of horizontal wind wheels with an universal
joint on the shaft of the wheel, as before described and shewn in the annexed
Drawing for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The application of the aid vanes to the sails, closing and opening as
before described and shewn in the annexed Drawing, and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Brierley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy nine.
WALTER BRIERLEY. (L.S.)