CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR THRDINGS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, of
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR THRDINGS"
Sealed the 31st March 1857, and dated the 17th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Armand le Comte
de Fontainemoreau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 17th October 1856.
I, PETER ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINEMOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURBINES," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates to an improved construction of regulators or valves
for regulating the quantity and action of the water on the vanes or blades of
turbines.
One of the improved regulators or valves consists of two semicircular bands
of gutta percha, vulcanized. caoutchouc, leather, or other suitable flexible
material, to which are rivetted or otherwise fixed radially thin blades or pieces
of metal, for the purpose of strengthening the flexible valve or regulator.

page_text: This valve may also be constructed of thin plates of metal hinged together and
arranged in the same manner as the former. These two valves fit water-tight
upon a fixed horizontal circular waterway, formed of two concentric plates
united together by curved vanes bent in one direction. The quantity of water
passing through the vanes of the waterway is regulated by the valves. The
inner circular plate is provided with strengthening ribs, upon which is placed
a plate or cover. To the rib is cast a stuffing box, in which the vertical axis
of the turbine rotates. Around the stuffing box is fitted a cylinder, cast with
two arms and a segment of a toothed wheel; at the extremity of each arm is an
axis, upon which rotates a conical roller for putting in action the flexible
valves in the following manner :-One end of each of the semicircular flexible
valves is fixed to the conical roller belonging to it, and the other end to the
circular plates; when a backward and forward movement is given to it by a
pinion gearing with the toothed segment, it causes each flexible valve to roll
and unrol alternately upon the conical rollers, and thus to open and shut the
induct openings or passages formed by the vanes in the fixed circular water-
way. Immediately underneath the latter, and of the same diameter, is placed
the turbine, fixed to the outer axis, rotating round, and supported by an inner
axis, resting at the lower extremity on a stone or other foundation. The
turbine is furnished with vanes or blades of a parabolic form, arranged in one
direction, so that the water as it falls from an uppor to a lower level is made to
pass, by means of the flexible valves, through the waterway against the vanes
of the turbine in one direction, and thus cause the turbine to rotate, and by
means of the axis to actuate. any machinery applied thereto. To the top of
the axis of the pinion before mentioned, and carried to a suitable height, is
fixed a wheel, gearing with another pinion, deriving motion from a worm wheel
fixed to its axis, which worm wheel is put in action by a worm on a shaft
having a fly wheel attached to it for working the apparatus.
Another of my improved valves or regulators consists of a fixed horizontal
waterway, formed of two concentric vertical cylindrical plates, provided on the
top with two, three, or more segmentary slides, which when removed allow the
passage of the water through the vanes, as in the former case.. These slides
are alternately put in action by means of two wings or arms, working on a
vertical axis, each extremity of the arms being of a segmentary form. Under-
neath each arm is a groove, forming an arc of a circle, and having a stop at
each extremity; in this groove plays a small stud pin fixed to one of the slides.
To the end of each of the wings is fixed a segmentary toothed rack, in which
gears a small pinion, which gives an alternate backward and forward motion

page_text: to the wings, and by this means draws along and shuts the slides, so as to
cover and uncover the waterway, and forming an opening or passage propor
tioned to the quantity of water to be expended.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 16th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINE MOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris,
in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, Her special license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de
Fontainemoreau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURBINES," com-
municated to me from a foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemorcau,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be,
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement.

page_text: thereof, reférence being had to the Drawings hereto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
The improvements introduced into the construction and arrangement of the
valves for closing the waterway of water wheels consist,-
First, of a universal valve of gutta percha, caoutchouc, leather, or other
flexible substance rolling on a cylinder, and recovering its original form when
unrolled in a reversed direction.
Secondly, of a double valve of cast or wrought iron or copper.
Thirdly, of a triple valve of the same materials.
The principle of the universal valve has already been employed, but to the
present time without success, on account of the friction produced. By means
of the improved universal valve I have succeeded in overcoming the resistance
occasioned by the friction induced by the slipping of the universal valve, and
thus obtaining an immediate opening and closing of the apparatus.
To exemplify my Invention, suppose two truncated cones mounted freely on
a shaft separated from each other, so that the two summits and the two bases
touch a surface formed of two concentric rings; if the cones are caused to
revolve round their common summit they will describe a perfect circle and
will both pass over the same points. If the distance passed over by tliese two
cones is formed of gutta percha or other flexible material cut in the shape of
two segments of a circle, let one of the ends of each segment be fixed to the
conc, and the other to the two rings forming the fixed surface on which they
are caused to roll; they will then roll over the cones by their own weight:
The description of Figures 1, 2, 3, of the Drawing annexed shew. the
applications of this principle, and also the mode of working it.
the
DOUBLE AND TRIPLE, VALVE...
The double valve receives the water on two-thirds of the entire surface, and
the triple valve on three-fourths of its surface; they serve either to intercept
passage of the water completely, or to throw it on any intermediate.point
of the circumference of the water wheel; thus the top of the turbine is provided
with valves only on the two-thirds of its circumference, and the triple valvės
on three-fourths of its circumference, which valves are diametrically opposite.
The valves are put in motion by a pinion, which cogs with a toothed segment
of a circle fixed to the two wings of the valves and rest on the edges of the
waterway. This pinion is moved by mechanism which opens or closes, suc
cessively the induct orifices, acting at the same time on two valves diametrically
opposite, of simple construction, and permitting. of the easy adaptation of a

page_text: regulator. The distribution of the water through the partial orifices of the
waterways, diametrically opposite, are of variable extent, say, forty-two induct
orifices for the double and forty for the triple valve, which permits of varying
the consumption of water from the watercourse according to the supply
required. The double and triple.valves are intended as an improvement upon
the single valve, which does not permit of opening a large amount of orifice.
When the double valve is employed for closing the waterways of turbines, each
waterway is provided with two plates and two valve wings, united together by
a projection round the stuffing box of the hollow axis forming part of the cross
bar of the waterway. The triple valve is also provided with two wings, con-
nected together in the same manner and with four plates; when all the
orifices of the waterways are open, half the plates are placed over a fixed plate
under one of the wings, the other half of the plates are placed under the other
wing, and on another fixed plate diametrically opposite to the first. When
the double or triple valve is set to work, by means of the pinion acting on the
segmental rack, after it has travelled over one-sixth of the waterway (for the
double valve and one-eighth for the triple valve) the valve takes hold of a
plate with each of its wings in opposite, directions on its circumference and
draws them along with it. by means of a simple arrangement, herein-after
described, and represented by Figures 4, 6, 8, and 10. By the triple valve
two other plates are drawn along after the first. This valve is represented by
Figures 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12. The waterways will therefore be closed, as in
that arranged for the double valve. There are two fixed plates diametrically
opposite which occupy the place of one-third of the induct orifices, two plates
which close one-third, and two. wings, of the valve which close the other one-
third. In the triple valve there are two fixed plates diametrically opposite
which also occupy the place of one-fourth of the induct orifices, four plates
which occupy two-fourths, and the two, wings of the valve which occupy the
other one-fourth. The same principle and arrangement may be applied to
quadruple and quintriple valves by lessening the size of the surface of the fixed
plates and increasing the number of moveable plates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. represents a plan of a waterway closed by means of the improved
universal flexible valve; Figure 2 is a vertical section through the two cones,
with the improved machine-placed in a water chamber constructed of masonry,
wood, iron, &c. Figure 3 is an elevation of the external circumference of the
water-orifices and turbine, from which the external annular plates are removed

page_text: so as to shew the induct and receiving vanes or blades, and further to
demonstrate the manner in which the gutta percha valve is placed relatively
to the induct orifices. Figure 4 represents two sectional plans of the double
valve. These sectional plans shew the several positions of the moveable
plates, the wings, and fixed plates of the valve when the valve is entirely closed,
as shewn at the left side, or open, as seen at the right. Figure 5, sectional
plans of a triple valve similarly arranged to Figure 4, and possessing the same.
advantages. Figure 6 is a plan of the double valve entirely closed. Figure 7
shews a plan of a triple valve completely closed. Figure 8 is a vertical
section of a turbine, to which a double valve is applied for closing it. Figure 9
is also a vertical section of a turbine provided with a triple valve. In the two
last Figures the water chamber may be constructed of masonry, woodwork, or
cast iron, and enclosed in a trough with the improved universal valve when
the fall is of a great height. Figure 10 represents one of the segmental plates
of the double valve. Figures 11 and 12, two segmental plates of the triple
valve..
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are drawn to the scale
of one-twentieth, and Figure 3 to one-sixteenth of the full size. The plan,
Figure 1, represents the universal valve of gutta percha A, to which the
sheet-iron plates B are fixed by means of rivets, to prevent the flexible part
from sinking into the induct orifices of the waterway by the pressure of the
water when a flexible material is employed. These plates are dispensed with
when copper or other metal is used for the closing medium, the closing is
then effected by segments joined together by hinges. The extremities of
the. plates B rest on the edges of the waterways; they are made narrower
than the induct divisions, so that after being rolled with the gutta percha
round the cones C it may assume a polygonal form. The two cones C
are freely mounted on two small axes D, adapted to two projections E of
the cross bar, in two pieces F, mounted with a toothed segmental rack G
which works the valve by means of the pinion H, put in motion by the
mechanism represented in Figure 2. The cross bar in two pieces F is
adjusted so as to turn readily but not too freely round the stuffing box J
of the cross bar of the waterway, which carries the socket of the vertical
shaft of the pinion H; and the floor K, which may be formed of wood
cast iron, &c. L, hollow axis of the turbine; M, internal vertical shaft
serving as a support to the. pivot of the turbine.
In the following description of Figure 2 the same letters refer to simila
parts in Figure 1. C, C, cones in section, slewing the shafts D, which give

page_text: them their to-and-fro movement, according as it may be wished to open or shut
the valve A, on which are fixed the sheet-iron plates B; 0, cross bar of the
waterway, carrying the socket P of the vertical shaft Q of the pinion H, which
works the rack G and the floor K. The pinion H has longer teeth than the
rack, so as to permit the latter to rise or fall, according as the gutta percha
valve is rolled or unrolled on the cone C. The vertical shaft Q of the pinion
has on its upper part a toothed wheel R, which receives its movement from
the pinion S mounted on a vertical axis T, having at its head a screw wheel
U, which cogs with an endless screw V mounted on a standard, and which
has on its main shaft a fly wheel X, which serves for working it. y, water-
way, of which the two annular plates r carry the cones C and the iron plates B.
Between these two annular plates r are placed the curved vanes p, and
between the two plates of the turbine Z are placed the blades q. Z, turbine;
L, hollow axis; a, the pivot; b, the cup; M, internal axis; d, cast-iron
socket; e, stone footing. To prevent the oscillation of the hollow axis L when
being drawn round by the turbine, it is held in two places, first, by a brass
bearing f placed in the stuffing box J, covered with a plate g, formed of two
pieces; secondly, to the floor by a case h, fitted with wooden or copper
wedges.
Figure 8 shews the curved vanes p, forming the induct orifices of the
waterway y, and the blades or receivers 7 of the turbine Z. The valve A is
unfolded and shews the arrangement of the plates B relatively to the orifices,
the largest circle of the cone C, and the axis D, on which it is mounted freely.
Figure 4 shews the halves of a double valve in plan. At the left side is half
the waterway A closed by the fixed and moveable segmental plates B and C,
and by a wing of the valve D; on the right side is the other half of the
waterway A entirely open. Under the wing of the valve D are the plates B
and C, thus shewing the induct orifices E. In these two halves of the
waterway is also the stuffing box F, carrying a cross bar to support the floor
G, formed of wood, cast or sheet iron. J, hollow axis; K, internal axis.
-
Figure 10 shews one of the plates of the double valve, provided with a small
catch or hook H, by which it is drawn along by one of the wings of the valve.
This catch H may slide under the wings of the valve in their whole length in
a groove formed for this purpose, but on reaching one of the two extremities.
the groove is interrupted by a stop which takes hold of the catch II of the
disc and draws it forward or backward, as it may be wished, to open or close.
the waterway. Figure 6, a plan of the same valve entirely closed. In this
Figure are shewn the four segmental plates B and C, and the two wings of the
valve D, united by a projection permitting them to turn round the stuffing box

page_text: F, which carries a cross bar, on which rests the floor G. J, hollow axis; K
internal axis. A segmental rack L is fixed at its two extremities on the wings
of the valve D, and rests in the middle on the edge of the waterway. The
pinion M, which communicates the movement, is fixed to its vertical axis N,
the point of which turns in a socket placed under the pinion. The method
of giving movement to the vertical axis N is similar to that described in
Figure 2, and may be effected by the hand.
In Figures 4, 6, 8, 10, which relate to the double valve, the same letters
refer to the same parts.
Figure 8 is a vertical section, in which is shewn the double valve D, super-
posed on the plates C. In each of the valve wings are two small grooves O,
through which pass the catch of the plates C before being drawn along by the
stops, placed at each extremity of the two wings of the valve D when it may
be wished to open or close the waterway, by turning the pinion M in an
opposite direction by the means herein-before described, which serve to
transmit the movement to the vertical axis N, the point of which turns in
the cup P-placed in the flange Q of the waterway, which is fixed on the
octagonal framework R. The other parts, relating to the floor, to the move-
ment of the valves, the hollow shaft J, the internal shaft K, and other parts,
are similar to those described at Figure 2. The stuffing box F also contains
a brass bearing V to hold the hollow.shaft J, with a box and wedges placed
on the floor of the waterway. A cross bar X is fixed to the stuffing box F,
and also to the waterway A, on which the floor G is placed.
Figure 5 represents sectional plans of a triple valve. The left side is
closed and the right side open. Figures 4 and 5 are similar in construction.
Figure 5 has an addition of two segmental plates to the double valve arrange-
ment, and it is obvious by these means that it will be easy to construct
quadruple and quintuple valves. The left side is composed of half a water-
way closed, divided into four equal parts by the segmental plates B, C, D,
and by the valve wing E. The right side forming the other half of the
waterway A being open, allows all the induct orifices F to be seen, and the
other wing of the valve E covers the plates before described. In this Figure
is also the stuffing box G, to which is fixed a cross bar with floor H of the
waterway, the hollow axis J, and the internal axis K.
Figures 5, 7, 11, and 12 relate to the triple valve, and the same 'letters
refer to the same parts.
Figure 7 shews a plan of the waterway A with the triple valve entirely
closed. It also shews the fixed plates B opposite the four moveable plates
C and D, the two wings of the valve E, the floor I of the waterway, the

page_text: stuffing box G, the hollow axis J, and the internal axis K. The valve is
worked, as in Figure 6, by a segmental rack L, which is fixed at its two
extremities on each of the valve wings E, which rests in the middle on the.
edges M of the waterway A. N is the pinion, which communicates and
receives its movement in a similar manner to that shewn at Figures 2 and 8.
Figures 10 and 11 shew the construction of the segmental plates, which
are the chief elements of the apparatus. The plate C, Figure 11, is similar
to that of the valve herein-before described, and represented by Figure 10.
The plate D, Figure 12, has at its under part a groove, which serves to allow
the catch O of the plate C to slide along, and also at its two extremities two
small vertical flanges or stops to draw it along when the induct orifices are
closed, or for covering it when desired to open the orifices above. It is pro-
vided, like the plate C, with a catch P, which may slide in the grooves made
for that purpose in the wings of the valve, but when arrived at one of the two
extremities it is taken hold of by a vertical flange or stop when required to
close, or pushed back on the other side when desired to open the waterway.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the triple valve. A, water way; Q, tur-
bine; J, hollow axis; K, internal axis; G, stuffing box; R, brass bearing;
HI, floor of the waterway; S, framework carrying the flanges M of the water-
way A; T, socket of the vertical shaft V of the pinion N, which communicates
its movement to the segmental rack L.
I would here remark, that in the vertical section the wings of the valve E
have each a groove X as well as the plates D, which serve to let pass the
hook of the plate D, and to draw it forward when it is wished to close or
push it back in covering it. When it is desired to open the waterway, the
grooves Z of the plate D allow the passage of the hook of the plate C, and
cause it to perform the same movement as the plate D with regard to the
wings of the valve E. The wings and the plates are superposed, and shew
a waterway which is entirely open.
If the valves were quadruple, four or more plates may be employed similar
to D of the triple valve, and by the same arrangement they would draw each
other along, and the waterway being open they would cover an equal number
of opposite orifices.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention as communicated to me,
and the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I desire it to
be understood that I do not limit or restrict myself to the precise details
erein laid down so long as the peculiar character of the Invention be
etained; but what I claim as the Invention is,

page_text: First, the construction and employment of the semicircular flexible valves
for regulating the quantity and the action of the water on the blades or vanes
of turbines, as herein-before described, and represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3
of the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
Secondly, the construction and employment of the double and triple.valves
for the purposes herein-before described, and shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Thirdly, the peculiar form of waterway employed in connection with the
valves, as herein-before described, and shewn in Figures 1 to 9 in the Sheet
of Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Armand Le Comte de Fontaine-
moreau, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteeenth day of
April, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
L DE FONTAN