IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS, ROTARY PUMPS, WATER WHEELS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Barlow, of 23, Southampton Buildings, London,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS, ROTARY PUMPS,
WATER WHEELS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS." A communication from abroad
by Paul Pacher von Theinburg, of Vienna, Austria.
aled the 14th February 1879, and dated the 17th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Barlow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1878.
CHARLES BARLOW, of 23, Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agent. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN FANS, ROTARY PUMPS, WATER WHEELS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS."
[A communication from abroad by Paul Pacher von Theinburg, of Vienna, Austria.]
These improvements relate more especially to fans for exhausting and forcing air
or other fluids from or into buildings, ships, mines, and other structures; but may
also be applied to rotary pumps, water wheels, and similar apparatus.
The revolving forcing or blowing fan has curved channels beginning from the
centre part of the fan where the fluid enters, and terminating at the periphery of
the same, where they communicate with a spiral conduit, lyre-shaped in cross section,
surrounding the revolving fan in such a manner that the periphery of the revolving
fan does not touch the spiral conduit, but moves in close proximity to the same.
The curvatures of the paddles or channels or tubes is not very different from a
semicircle touching nearly tangently both the inner and outer peripheries of the fan,
so that the said semicircle terminates on both ends in the direction of the revolution
of the fan. In consequence of this arrangement the relative motion of the fluid
within the fan is at the inner periphery of the fan nearly opposite to the motion of
the fan itself, whereas the fluid's relative motion at the outer periphery in leaving
the fan goes nearly in the same direction as the fan goes. The channels are growing
wider, but at the same time shallower, as they approach to the periphery of the fan,
that is to say,
the height of the channels diminishes and their width increases with
their distance from the axle of the fan becoming larger.
3

page_text: The revolving suction or exhausting fan has similarly curved channels, the height
of which does not diminish or increase with their distance from the axle of the fan
becoming larger. The spiral conduit may be dispensed with. In all other respects
the suction fan resembles the above-described forcing fan.
t
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
February 1879.
CHARLES BARLOWw, of 23, Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agent. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FANS, ROTARY PUMPS, WATER, WHEELS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS,
SYSTEM PACHER.' (A communication from abroad by Paul Pacher von Theinburg,
of Vienna, Austria.)
:
"
3 "
These improvements relate to fans, rotary pumps, turbines, and similar apparatus.
The annexed Drawings shew in,
Figure 1, an elevation of a forcing or blowing fan for forges; Figure 2 is a central
section of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a forcing fan for cupola and blast furnaces; Figure 4
is a central section of the same.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a suction fan.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a suction fan for high effects.
Figure 7 is a detail view of Figure 5, shewing the arrangement of its pipes or
tubes or paddles.
Figure 8. is a sectional view through the line x, x, between Figures 5 and 6,
looking into the direction of the arrows 2, 2¹
Figure 9 is a plan view and Figure 10 is a central section of my turbine.
Figure 11 is a central cross section through the outlet channel G and the pillow
block H of the turbine.
In all Figures of the annexed Drawings corresponding parts are marked by the
same letters of reference..
My forcing or blowing fan differs from all fans heretofore in use by the great cur-
vature of its paddles, pipes, or tubes a, a, forming nearly.a semicircle, the ends of which
accomodate themselves nearly tangently to both the inner periphery B and to the
outer periphery C of the fan in such a manner that. the concavity of the curvature
locks into the direction of revolution of the fan, Figures 1 and 3. In consequence
of. this arrangement the relative motion of the fluid within the fan and turbine or
rotary pump is at the inner periphery B nearly opposite to the motion of the
apparatus itself, whereas the fluid's relative motion in leaving the fan (or entering
the turbine) at the outer periphery has nearly the same direction as the apparatus
has, as is shewn by arrows in Figures 1 and 3.
The cross section of the pipes or tubes a of forcing fans and turbines decreases
from. the inner towards the outer periphery, Figures 1, 3, and 9; this may be
attained by diminishing the width or height, or both width and height, of the pipes
or tubes a.

page_text: D is a spiral blast conduit open towards the axle of the fan, rectangular, lyre-
shaped, or of any convenient form in cross section, with its cross section increasing
in the sense of revolution, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The conduit Ď
terminates as usually in a discharge pipe E, and surrounds the revolving fan in
such a manner that the periphery of the revolving fan moves in close proximity to
the edges of the spiral conduit D without touching the same.
My suction or exhausting fan, Figures 5, 7, and the upper half of Figure 8, has a
similar construction as the before-described blowing fan; it differs from this latter
by the cross section of its pipes a, which in this case increases from the aspirating
hole B towards the outer periphery C of the fan, which may be attained by
increasing the width or height, or both width and height; of the pipes a.
the spiral conduit D, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, may here be dispensed with.
In lieu of this spiral conduit D communication is established between the aspirating
hole B of the fan with a pipe or with the mining shaft or stulm.
Besides
Figure 6 and the lower half of Figure 8 shew a suction fan for high effective
power, as is necessary for ventilating mines. In this case the paddles a are formed
as shewn in the Drawing; their inner ends form an angle of nearly 45° with the
radius, whereas their outer ends terminate in radial direction or nearly so. The
paddles a are somewhat higher at their inner than at their outer ends, as shewn in
Figure 8.
I am well aware that suction fans with similar formed paddles have been
constructed, and are even in use, but my suction fan, Figures 6 and 8, differs from
other similar fans by the paddles occupying only one-fourth or even less of the
radius of the fan wheel. This is not to be considered as a mere trifle modification
of the arrangement of suction fans already known long before. Never has yet a
suction fan has been used where the paddles would occupy less than the fourth part
of the length of the radius of the fan wheel, whereas I shorten the paddles the
more the greater an effect is desired (augmenting at the same time their number).
My suction fans are tightened or stuffed in a peculiar manner, which consists in
arranging on the annular disc F covering the pipes or tubes or paddles a, a blowing
fan M, M, Figures 5, 6, and 8, of very small width (the dimension measured parallel
with the axle), which blowing flan is open towards the suction opening F.
My turbine has almost the same construction as my above-described blowing fan,
as shewn in Figures 9 and 10; but in a turbine the fluid passes in a contrary
direction through the tubes a of the same, and therefore the spiral conduit D serves
as a feeding pipe, and is provided with guide paddles or boxes s; the interstices
between the same may be adapted to be closed at will. G is the outlet channel for
the waste water, and H is the pillow block supporting the axle of the turbine
wheel.
I claim,―
1stly. A forcing fan, an aspirating or ventilating fanner, or rotary pump, turbine,
or other machine of this description with nearly semicircular paddles or tubes or
pipes with the concavity of their curvature looking into the direction of revolution
(in turbines not the concavity but the convexity), and with the ends of the
curvature touching nearly tangently both the inner and the outer periphery of the
fan, rotary pump, turbine, or similar apparatus, substantially as above described,
and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
2ndly. A forcing fan, a rotary pump, turbine, or other machine of this description
with nearly semicircular pipes or tubes or paddles, the cross section of which tubes
or pipes or paddles diminishes from the inner towards the outer periphery of the
fan, substantially as set forth, and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
3rdly. A suction fan or aspirating fanner with nearly semicircular paddles or tubes
or pipes, the cross section of which increases from the aspirating hole towards the
outer periphery of the fan wheel, substantially as specified, and shewn in the
annexed Drawing.
4thly. A forcing fan with nearly semicircular paddles or tubes or pipes which
communicate with a spiral conduit rectangular, lyre-shaped, or of any other suitable
.

page_text: form in cross section, but without touching this spiral conduit, substantially as
above described, and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
'
5thly. A suction fan, the paddles of which occupy only the fourth part or rather
less of the radius of the fan wheel, substantially as described, and shewn in the
annexed Drawings.
6thly. A turbine with nearly semicircular paddles or tubes or pipes to which the
fluid is fed by a spiral conduit open towards the axle, and provided with boxes or
guide paddles, substantially as set forth, and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
7thly. As a means of tightening or stuffing the annular space between the stulm
or shaft or aspirating tube and a suction fan, of whatever a construction, the
combination with the suction fan of a very narrow blowing or forcing fan fixed on
the suction fan and open towards the aspirating tube, substantially as set forth, and
shewn in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Charles Barlow, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
CHARLES BARLOW. (L.S.)