IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY MACHINES TO BE WORKED BY WATER
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, We, JAMES
WHITE LAW, Engineer, formerly of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, now of
Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, and JAMES STIRRAT, Manufacturer, of
Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-third day of September, Eighteen hundred and forty-one,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, our exors, admors, and assigns, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said
James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, and
every of us, by ourselves or by our deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or
such others as we, the said James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, our exors,
adiñors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of
Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England,
Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in Her
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROTARY MACHINES TO BE WORKED BY WATER," in such manner as to us, the
said James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, our exors, admors, and assigns, or

page_text: any of us in our discretions should seem meet; and that we, our exors,
adñiors, and assigns, should and lawfully might have and enjoy the whole
profit, benefit, commodity, and advantage, from time to time coming, growing,
accruing, and arising by reason of our said Invention, for and during the term
of years therein mentioned; in which Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that we, the said James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an Instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, and cause the same to be
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said partly recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, it is hereby
declared that the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained, in & by the
following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
attached, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say):-
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the first of our improved
rotary machines to be worked by water. In these figures the same letters
point out the same parts. The main pipe a, a, conducts the water which drives
the machine into its arms from a reservoir or lead on a higher level than the
arms. b, b, b, b, are the arms, which are hollow; the water passes into them
at the centre part c, and escapes out of the jet pipes d, d. The motion of the
arms is communicated to e, e, the main or driving shaft of the machine, and by
means of a wheel, pinion, or pulley fixed on the shaft e, e, its rotary motion may
be communicated to any machinery which the water mill may be intended to
work. ffff, is a larger bracket, which is fixed to the wall or building
9,9; this bracket supports the shaft e, e; the tail race is marked h, h. As the
arms have a rotary motion, and the pipe a, a, is fixed to the building under
it there must be means provided to prevent the escape of water at the place
where the main pipe meets the arms. A contrivance suitable for this purpose
is shewn in Figure 1. It consists of a ring i, i, round the underside of c, the
central opening or apperture leading into the arms, and of a part k, k, turned
cylindrical at the place where it fits into the bored part on the top of the pipe
a, a. The part k, k, has a groove or grooves turned round its outside near to
its bottom end. The groove or grooves is or are to be wrapped full of soft
twine in order to prevent the escape of water betwixt the pipe and the
cylindrical part of k, k. There is a flanch outside of the part k, k, and rope

page_text: yarn is wrapped round in the space betwixt this flanch and the top of the main
pipe for the purpose of keeping the top of k, k, in contact with the bottom of
the ring i, i. The ring i, i, is not sectioned in Figure 1, but the other parts
of the water-tight joint and the main pipe are represented in section in this
figure. It will be clear that if the ring i, i, and the part k, k, be accurately
turned and ground upon each other at the place where they meet, the rope
yarn in the space betwixt the flanch outside of k, k, and the top of the main
pipe, will press the part k, k, in contact with the ring i, i, and in this way keep
the joining of these parts water tight. 1, 1, 1, 1, are ribs or stays which support
the arms.
We shall now explain the manner of forming the arms of the machine
shewn in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 3, let 1, 4, 9, be a circle, of the same
diameter as that described by the centre of the jet pipes, and let this circle be
divided into, say, twelve equal parts, in the points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
and 12, and let the radius 1, w, be also divided into twelve equal parts in the
points a, c, c, g, i, k, m, o, q, s, and u. From each division on the circle draw
a straight line to the centre w, and from the division at a in the radius draw
from the centre w a portion of a circle, till it cuts the radius 2, w, in the
point b. From the same centre w draw a portion of the circle through the
second point c, till it cuts the radius 3, w, in the point d. In this way
continue to draw concentric arcs from the divisions on the radius 1, w,
making each concentric are to terminate in that radius immediately following
the radius in which the arc formerly drawn was made to terminate. The
points of intersection, 1, b, a, f, h, j, l, n, p, r, t, u, and w, thus obtained will
be points in the middle of the breadth of the arm, and a curved line traced
through these points will be the curve of the middle of the breadth of the arm.
After the curve line 1, d, l, r, w, is formed, any number of points in the curve
lines which form the sides of the arm will be obtained in the following way:-
With was a centre draw such a number of concentric circular ares, passing
through the curve line 1, d, l, r, w, as may give a sufficient number of the
required points; then with a pair of compasses take a distance equal to
four times the width of the outer end of the jet pipe, and set off that
distance upon each such concentric are twice, measuring once upon each side
of the curve 1, d, l, r, w, from the point of intersection of the arc and that
curve. The points so marked off on one side of the curve line, 1, d, l, r, w, are
points in one side of the arm, and the points similarly marked off on the other
side of this curve are points in the curve which forms the other side of the arm,
and the curves drawn or traced through these points are the curves forming
the sides of the arm. Thus, the breadth of the arm opposite the point vis.

page_text: formed by drawing the circular are x, z, through this point, and measuring off
from v to x on the one side of the curve line running through the middle of
the arm, and from v to z on the other side of that curve, a distance equal to
four times the width of the jet pipe, and in the same way the breadth of the
arm at any other point will be found. If the arm be drawn in the manner now
described, its depth, as also that of its jet piece, will be uniform throughout.
In Figure 1 the depth of the arms and jet pieces are thus represented:-The
width of each jet pipe being, as before mentioned, one fourth of the length of
the chord subtending the circular arcs, which determine the width of the arm,
if one eighth of this chord be set off on each side of the circle 1, 4, 9, and a
portion of a circle, having w for its centre, be drawn from the outer end of the
arm through each point so set off, and towards 12, will coincide with the outer
and inner sides of the jet pipe. In practise, the corners 13 and 14 (Figure 3)
should be rounded off in the manner shewn in Figure 2. In cases where the
machine moves so fast as not to allow time for the water leaving it to fall a
distance equal to the depth of the arm before the next arm comes up, the water
which leaves the one arm will be struck by the other, and thus the machine
will be in some measure retarded. Where the machine moves at a speed
slower than that of the water, this defect may in most cases be remedied by
simply turning the outer extremity of the jet pipes a little outwards, in order
that the water which leaves the one arm may be thrown outside of the other.
The width of the jet pipes, in relation to that of the arms, will be regulated by
the velocity of the machine in relation to that of the water which works it.
Thus, if the machine moves at the same speed as the water, the width of the
outer end of each jet piece should be about one third of the length of the chord
subtending the arcs which determine the breadth of the arm. The machine
already described should move at a speed about one third slower than that of
the water, and if the machine moves at about three fourths of the speed of the
water, the chord which subtends the arcs which determine the breadth of the
arm, should be two and a half times longer than the width of the jet pipe.
The machine shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, is an improvement on the rotary
machine to be worked by the pressure and reaction of a column of water," an
English Patent for which was granted to the said James Whitelaw, then of
Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the seventh day of May, Eighteen hundred and thirty-nine. The
new machine, shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, more completely obviates the
disadvantages of carrying the water round with the arms than the other machine
now mentioned. This will be understood from what follows. Suppose, for the
sake of illustration, that the centre of the jet pipes moves at a speed as great

page_text: as that of the water issuing from them. In this case the width of each jet
pipe will be about one sixth of the width of the arm; its width being marked
off on circular arcs in the manner herein-before mentioned. An arm of the
kind represented in Figure 3, if its dimensions be as last given, will contain
about as much water as will fill a straight arm running from the centre out to
the jet pipe, if the area of the cross section of the straight arm be uniform
throughout its length, and this area be six times larger than that of the jet
pipe, a straight arm, having its cross sectional area six times larger than that
of its jet pipe, will in one revolution expend about as much water as will fill
the arm, the motion of the water through the arm being six times slower than
its speed through the jet pipe, and the radius of a circle, being to its circum-
ference nearly as one to six, the length of the arm being to the circumference
described by its jet pipe in the same proportion; but the capacity of the curved
arm being the same as that of the straight arm, as much water as will fill the
former will be the quantity required during one. revolution of the machine.
From this it is clear that the water which is leaving the centre w at any
instant when the arm is in the position shewn in Figure 3, will, after the arm
has made one revolution, be out at 1, the beginning of the jet pipe. The
cross sectional areas of the arm are so adapted to the curvature of the
line 1, d, 1, r, w, that whenever any point, as p, in the arm arrives at the
point o in the radius w, 1, the water which left the centre when the arm was
in the position shewn in the Figure, will also have arrived at or near to the
point o, and thus the water. will flow from the centre of the machine out to the
jet piece in a straight line, or nearly so, when the machine is in motion.
When a jet pipe moves at a speed slower than that of the water issuing from it,
the arm may have a greater capacity than it would have if the motion of the
jet pipe was as great as that. of the water, without carrying the water round
with it; for when the speed of the arm is reduced the speed of the water flow-
ing through it may also be diminished. The kind of arm shewn in Figures 1,
2, and 3, has an uniform depth throughout its length, and its cross section at
any point is of a rectangular form, but it will be evident that each cross section
of an arm and jet pipe may be of a square, circular, or any other suitable
form, provided the square, circular,. or other form of arm has its cross sectional
areas at the corresponding distances from the centre w, the same as the cross:
sectional areas of the kind of arm shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3.. Two circular
plates, set apart from each other at a distance equal to the depth of the arms,
with curved division pieces to form the sides of the arms, and jet pieces fixed
betwixt the plates, the main shaft being fastened to the centre of the upper-
most plate, and the opening for the water being in the centre of the plate

page_text: which is uppermost, will form a convenient machine for many purposes,
especially for working in tail water. If the arms or water spaces are
beyond a certain width, the inner ends of the divisions placed betwixt the
plates will terminate in a sharp end before they reach the central opening.
Betwixt the inner ends of the division pieces and the central opening
the top and bottom plates should be formed in such a manner as to allow
the water to flow from this opening out to the inner ends of the arms at every
point of its passage, with the same, or nearly the same, degree of speed. This
is managed by diminishing from the central opening out to the inner ends of
the arms the depth of the space which is betwixt the top and bottom plates.
Figure 5 is an elevation mostly shewn in section, and Figure 6 is a plan
shewing this modification of the machine; a, a, is part of the main shaft.
The arms or passages for the water are marked b, b, and c is the central
opening for the water. When an arm of the kind represented in Figure 3
is very wide, it may be the more correct plan not to take the chords of the
circular arcs which are marked off to determine the width of the arm of the
length herein-before mentioned, but to make these ares of that length. As a
spiral somewhat different from that marked 1, d, 1, r, w, (Figure 3) may be
the curve line running through the middle of an arm, provided the width of
the arm, at different distances from the centre of the machine, be made to
correspond with the direction of the curve running through the middle of the
arm at the different points; thus, if at any point an arm runs quicker outwards
than the arm shewn in Figure 3 does at the corresponding point, the width
of the former should be less than that of the latter at that point, in order to
increase the speed of the water so much as that it will run in a straight line
outwards, or nearly in a straight line, when the machine is in motion. In
Figure 3 the spiral 1, d, 1, r, w, makes a complete revolution from the centre
outwards, but the spiral running through the middle of an arm of the kind
represented in this Figure may make more than one revolution, or it may
not make a whole revolution, provided a corresponding change be made in
the width of the arm.
Figure 4 is a representation of the jet piece and part of an arm of the
rotary machine, for which the former Patent, herein-before already mentioned,
was obtained. The cross sections of this arm and jet piece are circular, as we
have found out that all curved or bent arms whose cross sectional areas at
corresponding distances from the centre of the machine, when compared with
the cross sectional areas of their own jet pipes, vary betwixt the proportions
given in Figures 3 and 4, are very advantageous; we therefore claim not
only the improved forms of arms herein-before already described, but we claim

page_text: also all forms of curved arms not described or taken notice of in the Specifica-
tion of the former Patent already herein-before mentioned, varying to the same
or even to a greater extent than now stated. For example, we claim a round
arm when its inner side has the form of a curve line, as a, b, Figure 4, and
as it will be evident that the parts of the machine herein already described
may be modified to a very considerable extent, we claim these modifications.
Figure 7 is a plan of an arın of the second of our improved rotary machines,
to be worked by water. The water is conducted into this machine in the
same manner as it is in the machine shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and the mode
of supporting the main shaft is the same in both machines now spoken of;
c is the central opening for the water. The mode of action is the following:-
The water, which rushes from the aperture a, would naturally run outwards in
a straight line if the spiral side b, b, b, b, did not prevent this, and as the water
tends always to move in a straight line, it will on this account press against
the inner surface of the spiral side b, b, b, b, and at each instant communicate
a portion of its force to the machine. The top and bottom plates have a
number of holes through them, for admitting air into the arm. The holes in
the bottom plate are seen in the Figure; the air holes are round the inner
side of the arm. The admission of air prevents the water from filling the arm,
and causes it to act entirely against the inner side of the spiral b, b, b, b. In
some cases, when the arm is very wide, the air holes will not be required.
By means of a wheel, pinion, or pulley fixed on the main shaft, its motion
may be communicated to any kind of machinery; this machine may have
more arms than one, the curved side b, b, b, b, that the water acts against may
have the form of a different kind of spiral from that represented in Figure 7,
and the number of revolutions which the spiral side makes may be greater
or less than that shewn in this Figure. We claim as of our Invention, in
the second of the improved rotary machines herein described, the plan of the
árm or arms.
The third of our improved rotary machines to be worked by water is
shewn in Figures 9 and 10. The main pipe a, a, conducts the water into the
machine from the reservoir b, b; c, c, is the rotary part of the machine, this
part is open at the top end b, b, where the water is admitted, and it has an
opening at c, c, its bottom end, to allow the water to escape after it has acted
on the machine. To the inside of b, b, c, c, the plates or blades marked d, d,
are fixed. These plates run from near the top of b, b, c, c, to the opening below
in a spiral direction, as shown in the Figures. The main shaft or spindle e, e,
is fixed to the blades, and to the part b, b, c, c, in the manner shewn in Figure 9,

page_text: in order that the motion which will be given to the part b, b, c, c, by the
action of the water on the blades may be communicated to the shaft e, e. The
bottom end or foot f of the shaft turns in brasses in the ordinary way, and its
top end has a bearing at g; to prevent confusion the shaft, and the rods n, n,
which connect it to the revolving part b, b, c, c, are not shewn in Figure 10.
It now will be clear that if the water be allowed to rush from the main pipe
a, a, into the part b, b, c, c, it will, by its force against the blades set them
and the parts in connection with them, in motion, but the weight of the water
will, during its descent along the spaces marked h, h, also act upon the upper
inclined surfaces of the blades d, d, and assist in keeping up the motion of the
machine. Thus, one part of the force which keeps the machine in motion
will be derived from the momentum given to the water by the pressure of the
column of water which is above the under end of the main pipe, and another
part of this force will be obtained by the weight of the water after it gets into
the part b, b, c, c. This last water-mill is an improvement on the machine
known by the name of the "Danaide." The principal difference in the two
machines being, that in the danaide the plates or blades that the water acts
against are straight, and have a vertical position, but in the new machine the
blades run from near its top end to the opening below in an angular or spiral
direction. In Figure 11, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, shew the top ends of the blades
that the water acts against; each blade should have a piece b, fixed to its inner
edge. The pieces marked 6 run from the top ends of the blades to near the
bottom ends; these pieces prevent the water from passing over the inner edges
of the blades.
Figure 12 shews another plan of preventing the water from passing over
the inner edges of the blades. In this Figure the part b, b, b, has a form
similar to that of the part marked b, b, c, c, in Figure 9. The machine shewn
in Figure 9 may have a larger opening at its bottom end than that marked c, c.
For example, the part of b, b, c, c, which is below the dotted line i, i,
might be cut away. The part b, b, c, c, might have a cylindrical and not a
tapering form, as shewn in Figure 9. More than one pipe or spout may be
used for conducting the water into the machine.
In the third of our improved machines, we claim the inclined blades, what-
ever may be the angle of their inclination, and we do not confine ourselves to
having the angle of inclination at one point in a blade the same that it is at
any other point.
And we claim, further, the modifications of the different parts of this improved
machine.

page_text: Having now particularly described our said improved rotary machines to be
worked by water, and the manner of their operations, we declare that we do
not claim any of the parties herein-before described, which are old or known
separately, nor otherwise than and in so far as the same are newly combined,
modified, adjusted, and arranged..
In witness whereof, we, the said James Whitelaw and James Stiratt,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
JAMES (LS.) WHITELAW.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Whitelaw and
James Stirrat, before and in presence of
: t
JAS (Ls.) STIRRATT.
J. ELBBE, of Glasgow, Clerk at Law:
JOHN HAMILTON, of Paisley, Bleacher.
Taken and acknowledged by James White-
law and James Stirrat (parties hereto),
at Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
this Nineteenth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-two,
before me, one of Her Majesty's Jus-
tices of the Peace for the County of
Renfrew,
".
W BROWN, J.P.
I, Adam Paterson, of the City of Glasgow, in that part of Great Britain
called Scotland, Notary Public, by Royal Authority duly admitted, allowed, and
sworn, dwelling in the said. city, do hereby certify and make known to all to
whom these presents shall or may concern; that William Brown, who hath
signed and attested, and before whom a certain. document or instrument in
writing, purporting to be a Specification of a Patent Invention for Eng-
land for "Improvements in Rotary. Machines to be Worked by Water,"
is taken and acknowledged, by James Whitelaw,, Engineer, formerly of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, now. of Paisley, in the County of Ren-
frew, and James Stirrats. Manufacturer, of Paisley, in the County of
"
I, Adam Paterson, of the City of Glasgow, in that part of Great Britain
called Scotland, Notary Public, by Royal Authority duly admitted, allowed, and
sworn, dwelling in the said. city, do hereby certify and make known to all to
whom these presents shall or may concern; that William Brown, who hath
signed and attested, and before whom a certain. document or instrument in
writing, purporting to be a Specification of a Patent Invention for Eng-
land for "Improvements in Rotary. Machines to be Worked by Water,"
is taken and acknowledged, by James Whitelaw,, Engineer, formerly of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, now. of Paisley, in the County of Ren-
frew, and James Stirrats. Manufacturer, of Paisley, in the County of
,י

page_text: Renfrew, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, Eighteen hundred
and forty-two years, is one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the
County of Renfrew, and is a proper and authorised person to take such
acknowledgments, and to all acts done and executed by him in that capacity
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given in judgment. And I further
certify that the name "W" Brown, J.P.," set and subscribed to the said
acknowledgment, written upon the said Specification or document or instru-
ment, is of the proper handwriting of the said William Brown, and was so
set and subscribed by him on the day, month, year, and at the place therein
written.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set and subscribed my name and
affixed my notarial seal at Glasgow aforesaid, this Nineteenth day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
Patrick Barr Parker, of Friday Street, in the City of London, Gentleman,
maketh oath and saith, that he is well acquainted with the manner and cha-
racter of the handwriting of William Brown, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace
at Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, within that part of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland. And this deponent further
saith, that the name or signature "W" Brown, J.P.," set, subscribed, or
written upon or indorsed on the Specification marked A, hereunto annexed,
and dated the Nineteeth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-two, and purporting to be executed by James Whitelaw and James
Stirrat, whereby it is stated that the said Specification was acknowledged by
the said James Whitelaw and James Stirrat, before the said William Brown,
on the said Nineteenth day of March, at Paisley as aforesaid, is of the proper
handwriting of the said William Brown. And that the said William Brown,
at the time of setting or subscribing his name on the said Specification, in

page_text: manner above stated, was and now is (to the best of the knowledge and belief
of this deponent) one of the Justices of the Peace acting in and for that part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland.