IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND MILLS
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Vincent Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th August 1871. A. communication. from abroad by Addison
Prescott Brown, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND
MILLS," to be as follows
―:
The main object of this Invention is to produce a wind mill or wheel
that, while efficient and durable will vary but slightly in velocity
under extreme variations in the force of the wind. To this end the
wind wheel is composed of a series of sails hinged or pivoted to vibrate
around axes that are chord lines or approximately so between radii of
the wheel lying either in the same plane or different planes of motion.
The Invention consists in a combination with a wind wheel having
its sails thus hung of two mechanisms, by the one of which the increased.
pressure of the wind against the sails increases the inclination of their

page_text: surfaces to the plane of motion of the wind wheel so as to reduce the
area of sail surface presented to the direct action of the wind, and the
other of which includes weights so connected with said wheel that by
the centrifugal action due to the increased velocity of the wheel the
angle of the surface of the sails to the plane or planes of motion of the
wind wheel is increased beyond what would be effected by the direct
pressure of the wind alone. By such combination of forces the velocity
of the wheel may be most effectually regulated.
In this relation it may here be observed that this Invention relates
principally to what are termed rosette wind mills, and that to attain
the greatest practical effect from the wind it is necessary to have all
the surfaces inclined thereto in one direction on the front or impinging
side, while the rear surfaces should so recede as to allow a perfectly free
passage through the slats of the sails, or past and behind the latter when
made entire.
1
To insure for the regulating devices of the wheel when the latter is
constructed to operate upon the principles herein-before described, the
power to act with sufficient expedition and sensitiveness in sudden
variations of wind so as to prevent a perceptible and injurious increase
of velocity.
The Invention includes a combination of independent controlling
weights and bars with the sails or sections of the wheel; likewise a
sliding head in concentric relation with the wheel having its sails hung
as described for the purpose of producing an increased resistance as the
sections are turned by the increased force of the wind. This sliding
head is composed in part of stretchers which are made to pass through
chambers or holes formed in the hub of the wheel.
The Invention also consists in a combination of a resistance weight
with said independent controlling or centrifugal weights operating upon
the sails hung as described; also the radial arms and radial slats or
sails so bevilled or scarfed off as to cause them to present the greatest
and most perfect propelling surface to the wind with the least retarding
force consistent with practical construction.
Furthermore the Invention includes in combination with the radial
arms of a wind wheel of the class herein described, sail axles or pivot
bars formed with screw gudgeons to provide against shaking of the
sails or to admit of them being tightened as wear renders necessary;

page_text: also adjustable slotted pivot boxes to provide for the longitudinal set
of the sails on the radial arms of the wheel; likewise a combination of
slotted stay bars with the inner ends of the slats when the sails are
composed of slats, said stay bars preferably being made continuous
5 throughout the width of each sail.
The Invention also includes a method of staying the slats or sails at
their ends, with provision for twisting the slats or varying the angles
of the sails by means of a metal wire or band let into slats in the outer
ends of the latter.