IMPROVEMENTS OF HORIZONTAL WIND ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: .
I, RICHARD BIDDLE of No. 7 Union Court Old Broad St. in the City of London
Baltic Commission Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my inventions for
THE IMPROVEMENTS OF HORIZONTAL WIND ENGINES to be as follows:-
They are based on Biddle's Eolian Engine patented forty years ago as described in
Blue book No. 10,910, A.D. 1845 "For driving Mills and other Machinery." The
principle of that invention was that by uniting the booms of opposite arms of the
revolving frame one sail could not rise to the wind without compelling the other to
lie down on the return side, so as to offer the least possible opposition to the breeze-
and vice versa. Nothing has since been discovered to supersede this elementary
principle which is certain in its action, when the wind blows, and is not put out of
gear by heavy rain as, is often the case with unconnected sails, however evenly
balanced. But it has been found by the present applicant after many months of
experimenting that by using two sets of arms, one above the other and uniting
them, to form a sort of wheel, like the paddles of a steamer, or the wheel of a
water-mill but on a much lighter scale and horizontal a more complete machine
can be constructed, to work with greater steadiness, and at least, double the power,
of which the drawing, accompanying this (application, exhibits au outline. The
patent aforesaid, gave the breadth of sail to be used as th of the length of the
arm, which carries it. By this improvement, and a different form of sail, rd the
length of the arm, as an average limit of the breadth of each sail, may be used
without adding any appreciable resistance to the wind on the return side. Also a
method for supporting the shaft at its upper extremity is shown, to make the
machine more compact and to insure its acting in a true plane.
There is a plan also for relieving the sails, in sudden gusts, or a gale coming on
at night, by letting the wind lift a part of the sail, which closes again by the
simple law of gravitation as it slips away from the wind in its rotation. No
springs or pulleys are required that depend on personal attention; all of which
will in due time be specified more at large according to the regulations of the Act.
By these improvements about 60 ft. of sail may be constantly exercising rotary
power on a ten feet radius, or arm, according to the force of the wind-sufficient
spread of sail to drive a stout boat through the water, with half a dozen men in it,
and a good breeze, at the rate of 5 or 6 miles an hour.-Surely this must be a

page_text: very useful motor. Especially as it can be set up at considerably less expense than
any other motive power or machine as yet in use.
The power of the canvass, or other material employed, is estimated at one fourth
of the whole quantity used, so that to obtain a power of 60 ft. 240 ft. must be in
action, one sail only out of every four being in full action at any given moment.
This engine will carry 3 sets of four sails 1 at the top, another in the middle, and
a third on the under side.
Having now described the nature of my said invention I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The uniting two sets of arms in a complete wheel-shaped form to stand all
weathers with a greater press of sail than could be otherwise safely used.
2ndly. The supporting the upper end of the revolving shaft or spindle, by side
poles, well secured and a cross piece or batten of sufficient length to unite them, at the
top, with a gudgeon or bearing, for a pintle on the point of the shaft to work in and
thereby prevent all sway and unwieldiness of motion in rough weather. It is on
these two important improvements I chiefly rely-The different forms of sails most
suitable & the mode of relieving them of too much wind pressure, will be more
fully dealt with on completing Specification.

page_text: Improvements in Horizontal Wind Engines.
I, RICHARD BIDDLE of No. 7 Union Court, Old Broad Str., in the City of London
Baltic Commission Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
THE IMPROVEMENT OF HORIZONTAL WIND ENGINES and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
They are based on an expired patent of some years back-No. 10910 3rd Nov.
1845 for driving mills and other machinery by the power of wind, the principle of
which patent was, that by uniting. the booms or axes, on which the opposite saila
were fixed, so that when one rose to the wind, the other going against it was
compelled to lie down, the greatest power and least resistance were obtained in
conveying rotary motion to the shaft. Nothing has since been discovered, to my
knowledge, to supersede this elementary principle; which is certain in its action
when the wind blows, and is not easily put out of gear, in the stormiest weather.
But it has been found, by the present applicant, after a long series of experiments,
that by using two sets of arms, in pairs one above the other at from two to 4 feet
apart according to the size of the wind-engine and uniting them to form a sort of
wheel like the paddles of a steamer, or the wheel of a water-mill, but of infinitely
lighter construction, and working horizontally, a more useful machine may be
produced, to revolve with greater steadiness, and a material increase of power, as
shown by a bird's-eye view of two pair of sails in action (Fig. 1. a). Also the
dimensions of the sails to be used may be increased by this improvement, and
instead of being th the breadth of the length of the arm, they may be frd or at
least th of it, by having the frame on which they are spread, to extend for a
third of its breadth below the axis, on which the sail turns (c. Fig. 1) and this plan
eases the sail in turning and increases its power while lessening its liability to
wear and tear. It has also another advantage. The sails to act in light winds
should be pretty evenly balanced: and this equilibrium is not so readily destroyed
by heavy rain, as when all the sail is on one side of its axis. Another important
improvement consists in having the shaft, or the open iron frame which stands for
it (as more convenient above the main centre piece or hub,) supported at its upper
extremity, which would necessitate at least two poles external to the arms and
sails, and well secured below (B Fig. 1.) and a cross batten of sufficient length to
unite them over the centre the same to be pierced and adjusted for a gudgeon or
bearing for the pintle of the machine, at its apex, to work in (A. Fig. 1.). It is
found, that in strong winds, the whole weight of the revolving engine has a
tendency to lean, heavily, on the lee side of its main bearing, in doing which, there
must be a lessening of revolving power, in proportion to the palpable increase of
friction; and this is obviated by the shaft being kept in its place at the top, where
a small power acting constantly to steady the shaft, would counteract a much greater
lateral force, at the main bearing perhaps six feet or more below.
The plan for relieving the sails in sudden gusts, or strong gales, is by an opening
upward, of part of each sail when pressed by too much wind (c. Fig. 2) and being
slightly weighted on its lower rim, it resumes its place again as the pressure
abates, and acts as before described. But this improvement is not greatly insisted
on, except in using very large sails, as a sail acting on the arm, or radius of a

page_text: horizontal machine, on this plan, is always going before the wind, when exposed to
its force, and not therefore liable to damage from it, except in extreme cases such
as a hurricane which nothing could stand against.
Levers, springs, and pulleys, that require personal attention are dispensed with
in this engine. Smaller sails may be used in very rough weather, and the man in
charge of it, would soon be as handy in managing it as a fisherman with his boat
sails, but without the same trouble and inconvenience.
The main revolving frame of this engine, should consist of four pairs of arms,
united at or near their outer ends, by a small iron or steel bar to keep them always
parallel to each other. And these being supported by iron or other metal stays, from
the upper end of the shaft (d. Fig. 1.) or iron frame work representing it, and
connected laterally also at their extremities by stout wire or iron twist, will form
a complete machine, as compact as a bird cage, with the least possible, resistance to
the wind on its return side when revolving.
. In this state the machine will simply be in the form of a cross with double arms
forming a square by the wires connecting them laterally at their extremities. But
it may be made wheel-shaped by additional arms in the intermediate spaces which
could not very well be shewn in a drawing, without confusion of lines.
The main points are all that it is necessary to insist on in connection with this
patent, as the minor fittings may already have been long in use. The best form of
sail is shown in the drawing that accompanies this specification at Fig. 1. It
should be rounded at its outer end and slightly projected beyond the arm on which
it turns, to make sure that it shall counteract the resistance of the extreme end on
the return side, by a greater power and at least an equal amount of leverage.
Each arm carries a sail, which spreads above and below the arm which carries it,
so that the space between each pair of arms will be nearly filled when the sails rise
to the wind, exclusive of the portion of the sail above the upper arm and below
the under one (a. Fig. 1.) Further experiments have shewn that the narrower the
sail, the more steadily it works, on the other hand, the broader it is, the greater
the power it carries in proportion to resistance: but in strong winds large sails are
not required and in moderate breezes more sail can be added by underhanging
the intermediate arms with loose sails i.e. not united, which can be set and taken
in again in a few minutes.
The original principle of this machine having been fully explained, and illustrated
by drawings in Pat. 10910, Nov. 3 1845, it is not necessary here to do more than
to shew my improvements.
.
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,
1st. The uniting two sets of arms in a complete wheel-shaped form, as shewn in
the drawing with my provisional specification, to stand all weathers, with a greater
press of sail than could otherwise be safely carried.
•
2ndly. Supporting the upper end of the shaft or its continuation, as described,
or by any other equally effective mode, thereby enabling it to work with greater
ease, power, and regularity.
And lastly, the form of sail, which gives an increase of power, without any
appreciable increase of resistance, on the return side.
It is on these three important improvements I rely