Improvements in Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Streams.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Streams.
I, SAMUEL DOBSON, of No. 20 Brook Street, Crewe in the County of Chester,
Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of continuous chains or a band or bands passing round two
wheels or drums and gearing with one or both of them: the said chains or band or
bands being furnished with blades projecting from its exterior side and being
immersed in the stream.
The water of the stream is directed into a suitable parallel race which may have
any desired angle of fall; and the axes of the drums are mounted horizontally across
this race, being supported in the sides thereof. The drums are placed at such
distance apart as will allow the desired number of blades to be immersed in the
water between them. A strong double framework extends tangentially from drum
to drum and excludes the water from the interior space between them; the ends of the
framework forming, approximately a watertight joint with the drums. One or both
of the drums carry on their periphery suitable projections or teeth to gear with the
chain or band. The vertical position of the drums is such as to allow the lower Inp
of the chains or band or bands to lie at or about the level of the surface of the
water.
The blades or buckets may be of any suitable construction and are attached to
the chains or band in such a way as to allow the latter to move freely round. the
drum with its revolution without strain. For this purpose I in some cases attach
the blade by a hinge and tic allowing the tie a certain amount of play. When
chains are used, the blade or its frame is attached rigidly to the links; and in this
case, the blades are so constructed with interior bases as to answer the purpose of
the band, namely to assist in preventing the water from obtaining access to..the
enclosed space between the drums and so mounting over the blades. Or I may
combine the chain and band for this purpose.
The drums may be cylindrical or polygonal.
3.
In order to sustain the weight of the blades and chain or band, I attach friction
rollers or wheels to the outer edges of the blades. The blades may be curved or
straight, but I prefer to curve them in a direction opposed to the current.
In order to regulate the depth of water and to allow surplus water to escape,, I
use suitably placed sluices and overflow apertures.
The power is taken from one or both of the axes of the drums and applied in any
ordinary manner to effect the desired purpose.
Dated this 6th day of July 1891.
EDGAR. CONISTÓN ME
MILLS,
Agent to the Applicant.
:.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
:
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Streams.
I, SAMUEL DOBSON of No. 20, Brook Street, Crewe, in the County of Chester,
Surveyor, 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 :-
My invention consists of continuous chains or a band or bands passing round two
5 wheels or drums and gearing with one or both of them: the said chain or band or

page_text: bands being furnished with blades projecting from its exterior aide and being
immersed in a stream whose water is directed into a suitable race having any desired
angle of fall.
The
.
accompanying drawings show my invention and the method of applying it.
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation,
Fig. 2. is a cross section,
Fig. 3. is a part plan view and
Fig. 4. is a plan view of the arrangement on a smaller scale..
Similar letters of reference denote the same parts in all views.
The shafts. A and A' are mounted in bearings a a at right angles across the water
race B.into which the water from the stream C is guided. The sluice D regulates
the quantity and level of water passing to the race. On the shafts A and A
cylinders or drums E E are mounted in the race and also cogged chain wheels ee ee
shewn at the extremity of the cylinders but I may place them in any position as
for instance adjacent to the points of attachment of the tie rods hereinafter described.
At suitable intervals along the chains F which gear upon the chain wheels, I attach
by any convenient and suitable method of hingeing the blades G, and to the same or
adjacent points in the chains I attach by pivots or hinges the tie rods g to maintain
the blades at the desired angle. The blades are preferably curved and are 50
placed as to present their concave sides to the impact of the water.
The outer edges of the blades are provided with antifriction rollers H mounted
in any suitable way and whose function is to maintain the vertical position of the
immersed. blades, to reduce friction and to protect the edges of the blades by bearing
upon the floor I of the race. The said floor is made of wood or other suitable
material being independent of but attached to the race in order that it may be
replaced when worn.
Filling the space between the cylinders E E and the line of the chains F I form
a displacing block or framework K, fitting approximately to the cylinders at its
ends as shewn and serving as a support for the chains and blades along its
upper surface. This displacing block may be formed of masonry bridging the
race from side to side or it may be built of iron or other suitable material, but in
any case it is supported from the side of the race.
In the drums or cylinders E E 1 form grooves L L L L into which the tie rods
enter as the blades are turning round the cylinders at either end.
A suitable inclination of fall is given to the race and the axes of the cylinders are
so placed that a line joining their centres is parallel with the floor of the race.
In some cases I provide antifriction rollers at the inner edges of the blades also
to take the weight and reduce friction and wear as they are returning along their
upper course. In this case such rollers bear upon the upper surface of the displacing
block or. frame K. Ordinary waste or side sluices N N may be provided to pass
surplus water.
Upon the shafts A and A' I mount driving wheels or pulleys O'to transmit the
power obtained.
Or only one of the shafts may be used for this purpose.
Instead of forming a floor and confining the water in a race in cases in which
there is a plentiful supply I merely immerse the lower blades in the stream
retaining however the sides of the race and carrying therefrom bottom rails on which
the antifriction rollers bear as before.
In another modification of my invention I form the floor of the raco diagonally
to the line of travel of the blades so as to bring a fresh supply of water to each
acting blade. In this case also I retain the rails for the action of the antifriction 5
.rollere.
Fig. 5. Sheet 4. shews this form I being the diagonal floor and P. the rails. The
sluice D is of course arranged to drop to the bottom when shutting off the water.
The other parts are denoted by the same reference letters as before..
I do not confine myself to any particular size or width of drum nor to any o
particular number of blades, but

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. The continuous chains or bands having blades attached, operated by the flow.
of water in a stream or race and oporating a shaft or shafts whereby the motive:
power is obtained and transmitted, substantially as hereinbefore described and.
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The blades hinged to continuous chaina or bands and held by hinged tie-roda.
to allow of passing round the chain wheel or drum, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The curved. blades presenting their concave side to the impact of the water
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The antifriction bowls or rollers carried by the outer edges of the blades
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
•
5. The renewable floor of the race on which the antifriction rollers bear
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
6. The displacing block fixed between the rollers and between the upper and
lower chains or bands substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The grooves in the rollers allowing the tie-rods to enter as the blades turn.
round the rollers substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The diagonal floor for a water race used in connection with endless bands or
chains carrying blades substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of May 1892.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicant.