Improvements in Rotary Bellows.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Bellows.
JOHN CHARLES RAYMOND OKES 39 Queen Victoria Street London Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In rotating bellows fitted with weights to open and close them, as now constructed,
it is usual to place the hinges or center upon which they open and close, nearest to
the center of revolution, so that they open and close towards the periphery of the
circle described by the revolution of the bellows. I propose to reverse this by placing
the hinges towards the periphery, in order that the centrifugal action upon the weights
may be in as direct a line from this center as possible. I also place springs upon the
tops of the bellows-these are compressed as the bellows (or feeders) open in their
downward course by gravity aided by centrifugal force. The force which is thus
stored up in them, is given out on the upward course and afterwards, until closed.
By thus bringing the centrifugal force to act in unison with the weights at the
lower part of the circle and against it at the higher part, a much greater speed of
rotation may be acquired than is usual in such bellows and a corresponding greater
efficiency is the result.
Dated this 28th day of February 1889.
JOHN CHARLES RAYMOND OKES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Bellows.
I JOHN CHARLES RAYMOND OKES of 39 Queen Victoria Street London in the
County of Middlesex Engineer 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 :-
In revolving bellows as now constructed it is usual to place the hinges, upon which
they open and close, nearest to the centre of revolution, so that they open and close
towards the periphery of the circle.
I propose reversing this and placing the hinges towards the periphery, in order that
the centrifugal action upon the weights may be in as direct a line from the centre as
possible.
I also place springs upon the top of the bellows-these are compressed as the
bellows or feeders fall open in their downward course by gravity aided by centrifugal
force and the force which is thus stored up in them is given out on the upward
course, thus bringing the centrifugal force to act in unison with the weight on the
downward, and against it on the upward course-a much bigher speed of rotation
may be acquired than is usual in such blowers.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the nature of the invention.
Fig. I is a longitudinal view partly in section.
Fig. II is an end view.
In these similar letters represent similar parts A AA" A are the bellows or
feeders having the binged part placed towards the periphery of the circle in which
they revolve. Suction and delivery valves are placed between these and the central
trunk B upon which they revolve, and through which the air passes to and from the
bellows A A A" A"". There is a diaphragm across it dividing the suction part
from the delivery. The carrying and driving wheels are attached to this trunk.
C is the wooden frame or structure which carries the whole.
D D D are groups of springs placed on the top or moving part of the
bellows or feeders A AY AA

page_text: E E' are the plummer blocks placed on the frame C carrying the hollow trunk B.
F F F F are the fixed spring bars or abutments against which the groups of
springs are compressed. These are carried by the wheels described as H H.
G G G G
are blocks attached to tops of feeders or bellows for carrying the
springs D D D D
HH' are wheels which serve as carriers to the bellows or feeders A A¹ A" A¹¹¹ and
the spring bars F F F F and which also act as driving pulleys.
W W W W
are weights fixed to the tops or moving parts of the
bellows A A A A¹¹.
Figs. 1 II show the general arrangements. The four bellows or feeders A A¹ A" A¹¹¹
are made to revolve together with the hollow trunk B on the plummer blocks E E¹
(Fig. 2.) in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. I and in doing so the moving
or hinged part of the bellows will fall over outwards and be opened by the
weights W W W W (aided by the centrifugal force due to their revolving
motion) on their downward, and be closed on their upward course by the force stored
up in the springs D D D D together with the weights W W W W which are
now at this part of the circle supported on the tops of the feeders A A¹ A" All
instead of hanging below them.
In the downward course the weights W W W W are falling away from the
centre of motion-hence the radial distance between them and the centre of the
trunk B is increasing, and is greatest when the feeders A A¹ A" A¹ are in a
horizontal position below the trunk B.
In the upward course however the case is reversed-the radial distance is constantly
decreasing until the feeders A A¹ A" A¹¹ have attained a horizontal position at the
top of the trunk B when they are closed-the result being that the centrifugal force
tending to open them (the feeders) is continually increasing on the downward course
until they are open, and is continually decreasing until they have returned to the
horizontal position on the upper side of the trunk B and are closed.
This arrangement allows of much higher speeds being attainable in revolving
bellows made on this principle than in others, as by increasing the spring resistance
and the speed of rotation, more power can be stored up when opening and given out
when closing, whereas in revolving bellows as now made such is not the case. In
bellows constructed on my plan scarcely any (if any) opening of the moving or
hinged part will take place at very slow speeds and in order to open them fully a
certain fixed rate of speed is required which rate can be regulated by an adjustment
of weights and springs in accordance with and to suit the amount of wind pressure
required for the organ or other purpose desired, and when no wind is required the
feeders revolve open and take scarcely any power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In revolving bellows, placing the hinged part towards the periphery of the
circle in which they rotate as described and set forth.
2. In revolving bellows (in which the hinged part is towards the periphery of the
circle described by their rotation) the use of weights and springs as described and
for the purpose set forth.
3. In revolving bellows as described, compressing the springs by weights and the
centrifugal force due to them.
4. The combination of revolving bellows (having their hinges towards the periphery
of the circle of their rotation) weights and springs, whereby the centrifugal force due
to the rotation of the weights is stored up in the springs in their downward, and given
out in their upward, course.
Dated this 26th day of November 1889.