Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Lifting or Raising Water for use as a Motive Power.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE DI MUIT
Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Lifting or Raising
Water for use as a Motive Power.
I, HENRY CLAY GARDNER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 6, Vanderbilt Building, in the City of Nashville, County of
Davidson and State of Tennessee, one of the United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates generally to water powers, and particularly to an apparatus
for utilizing the waters of a stream or river without damming the same and by the
force of the current of such stream raising water from the stream to a height
sufficient to drive any desired water motor, and it has for its object to provide
wheel of great capacity, of simple and durable construction, and to regulate the
discharge of water therefrom automatically, and it consists of the parts and
combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
AL
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification, Figure 1 is a
side elevation of a barge partly broken away showing my invention thereon; and
Figure 2 a perspective view of my improved wheel.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in both views.
In carrying out my invention I preferably provide two barges which are secured
together alongside each other at a suitable distance apart, and centrally between
said barges I mount or journal my improved scoop wheel, A. This wheel consists
of a central cylindrical tubular axle, B, from which radiate in curved lines the
partitions, C, which are arranged at equal distances apart, the convex side of one
partition and the concave side of the adjacent partition forming between them the
Scoops or chambers, D, the end walls of which are formed by discs, E, fitting
about the axle and closely against the ends of said partitions in order to form
water-tight joints. Centrally between each pair of partitions at the point where
they join the axle I form the peripheral openings or elongated slots, a, in said axle,
the number of which being a matter of convenience, or as found desirable or
necessary. F, represents flap or gravity valves pivotally attached to the edges of
the slots, a, on the interior of the axle and adapted, as said axle is rotated, to
alternately cover and uncover the slots, each slot being once closed or covered and
once uncovered or unclosed at each revolution of the axle, said valves opening on
the upward movement of the wheel and closing on the downward movement of the
same, thus preventing the escape of the water into the compartments on the lower
side of the wheel during its revolution and causing the same to flow out at the end
of the axle or shaft. On the outer or convex sides of the partitions at a point
near their edges I attach, in any suitable manner, the floats or paddles, G, said
paddles being preferably formed with a rearwardly extending angular portion, b,
thus adapting said paddles to enter the water with the least resistance and to
afford greater surface for the water to act upon when the paddles have once entered
the water.
The axle is of greater length than the partitions, and has formed or
secured thereon adjacent the outer sides of the discs at each end, a flange, c, the
purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The wheel described may be
built of wood or metal as desired, wood being preferred owing to its greater
lightness of weight. When arranged in position on a stream or water course as
hereinafter described so that the ends or edges of the partitions will extend into the
water for a depth of about six inches, according to the diameter of the wheel,
when at their greatest depth therein, and with their convex sides up-stream,

page_text: it will be seen that the water will be scooped up into the chambers by the force
of the stream which acting upon the paddles propel the same and cause the wheel
to rotate, thus raising at each revolution a given quantity of water and discharging
the same through the slots, a, into the tubular axle from whence it is conducted,
through either end to operate any motor desired to furnish the power for operating
machinery of any kind.
It may be found in practice that the forming of one long or numerous small slots
or openings in the axle for each of the buckets will materially weaken the same,
and I have therefore designed to reduce the number of the slots in the axle by
forming the axle solid between every alternate bucket, and forming in the partition
near or at its junction with the axle, a slot, b, as,indicated in dotted lines, Figure 2,
whereby the quantity of water raised in such alternate buckets will empty into the
adjacent bucket and be discharged therefrom through the discharge openings formed
in the axle for such bucket. Also if found desirable, I purpose hinging the paddles
or floats to the partitions directly and against the direction of the current, gaining
thereby a leverage equal to their weight, to assist in carrying up the wheel when
said paddles fall forward onto the wheel during its revolution and straightening
out before or as they enter the stream. Also the paddles may be jointed, that is,
the angular portion may be hinged to the main portion of the paddle if a stop or
catch be arranged on the same to limit the distance it may open.
In Figure 1, I show my improved wheel, with one end disc removed, arranged
in position for operation between two barges, of which only a portion of one barge
in side elevation is shown. As here arranged, the barges are supposed to be
anchored in the current of the stream, and the wheel supported on the frame, H,
secured to and projecting upwardly from the bottom of the barge through the
medium of friction wheels, d, said wheels being arranged so as to have their bearing
directly on the axle at a point outside of and adjacent the flange, c, whereby
end wise or longitudinal movement of the axle and wheel is prevented. K, represents
a vertical tube of supply of a diameter sufficient to receive the discharge of water
from the tubular axle arranged at the end, or at both ends if desired, of the axle,
and being bent horizontally at its lower portion, and leads into a box or casing
surrounding a turbine wheel of any desired or well-known construction, the vertical
shaft,, of which carries at its upper end a bevel wheel, g, meshing with a similar
wheel arranged on a line shaft, h, which is supported from the ceiling or flooring
of the upper deck of the barge, as clearly shown. From pulleys on this shaft the
power may be transmitted to any machinery it is desired to operate, either on board
the barge or on the banks of the stream, by belts. It is also my purpose to apply
my improved wheel, if I desire to do so, to the forward pail or bow of a barge,
or scow, or other vessels which are towed or pushed through the water, in order
to scoop out or remove from the path of the barge or scow a certain quantity
of water and discharge the same at each end of the wheel, thereby lessening
the resistance to, and raising the forward end of the vessel partly out of the water.
While I have described my wheel as arranged between two barges or other
floating platforms, I do not desire to be restricted to such arrangement, as it is
evident I may place the same on a single barge, either above an auxiliary bottom
open at both ends for the passage of the water therethrough, or arrange the same
to extend through an opening formed in the bottom of the barge. Nor do I desire
to be restricted to a floating or movable platform, as it is evident the frame work
and platform may be permanently secured in the stream if desired, although when
used on streams subject to the ebb and flow of the tide it is better to have the same
capable of rising and falling therewith.
In case of repairs or it is desired for any purpose to stop the rotation of the
wheel, I provide a sliding or hinged valve or door adapted to be let down at either
side of the wheel, that is, in front or in rear of the same to a distance the depth
at which the wheel extends into the water, and thereby stopping or checking the
current immediately in front or in rear of the wheel, and stopping the revolution
of the latter.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is :—
1. A current wheel divided into a series of compartments, a hollow axle or
shaft communicating with said compartments, and automatic valves to alternately
open and close communication during the operation of the said wheel, substantially
as described.
2. A scoop wheel divided into a series of compartments adapted to discharge
into the axle of the wheel, automatic flap valves for preventing the return of the
water to said compartments, and paddles through which the wheel is propelled,
substantially as described.
3. A current wheel comprising a hollow cylindrical axle or shaft formed with
peripheral openings, curved partitions radiating from said axle or shaft, discs
forming the ends of said wheel, and valves acting automatically to open and close
each of said openings once during each revolution of the wheel, substantially as
described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1809
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.