IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BLOWING FANS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS OR GASES, OR FOR EXHAUSTING THE SAME
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugène Bourdon, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BLOWING FANS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS OR GASES,
OR FOR EXHAUSTING THE SAME."
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 7th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugène Bourdon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
May 1862.
I, EUGENE BOURDON, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BLOWING FANS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, OR
GASES, OR FOR EXHAUSTING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object an improved construction of blowing
fans, by which a higher degree of pressure of the blast is attained, and by
which the noise attendant on the working of fans of present construction is
almost entirely obviated.
My Invention consists in constructing, a casing or drum of a flat
approximating spheroidal form, which is provided with a spindle and is caused
to revolve with rapidity round its short axis. In the centre, at the axis of

page_text: rotation, I form an aperture, either on one side only or in some cases on both
sides of this spheroidal casing, and through this aperture or these apertures
I introduce one or more stationary curved tubes into the interior of the
spheroidal casing. This tube or these tubes passes or pass from the central
opening or openings, in a curved form as near as possible, to the extreine
internal periphery of the spheroidal casing, where it is, or they are open, the
opening or openings being directly opposed to the direction in which the casing
rotates, whilst the curvature of the tube or tubes follows the direction of
rotation to a certain extent. That part of the tube or tubes which is outside
of the revolving casing serves to conduct the blast produced to wherever it is
required. From the above-described arrangement it will be seen that if the
before-described spheroidal casing or drum be made to revolve rapidly the air
situated inside the same will be caused by the friction on the inner surface
(which friction may be increased by the formation of projections or roughnesses
on the inner surface) to revolve with a velocity more or less approximating
to that of the casing or drum. The centrifugal force resulting from this motion
will cause the air to fly from the centre of rotation to the extreme internal
periphery of the drum, where it will consequently accumulate in a considerably
compressed state, and will by the rotary motion imparted to it continually be
tbrown in this compressed state into the opening or openings of the before-men-
tioned tube or tubes. A partial vacuum will thus be formed in the centre of the
revolving casing, and fresh external air passing in continually through the before-
mentioned central opening or openings to fill this vacuum will have rotary motion
imparted to it, will fly to the extreme circumference of the casing where it will
become compressed, and will lastly in its turn be thrown into the opening or
openings of the stationary tube or tubes, which by its or their gradual curvature
back to the central opening or openings will conduct the compressed air with
very slight loss of velocity to wherever it is required. It will be readily under-
stood from the foregoing that as the air is not only compressed by the
centrifugal force, but also has a considerable velocity imparted to it in this
compressed state, the pressure at which it enters the conducting tube or tubes
will be equal to that due to its state of compression at the circumference
of the casing plus the pressure due to its rotary motion.
The above-described principle of construction admits of various modifications
in the form and arrangement of the revolving casing and stationary conducting
tubes, and the apparatus may with equal advantage be employed for raising,
propelling, or exhausting gases, water, or other fluids. In cases where I, for
example, employ my improved apparatus for exhausting illuminating gas from
the bydraulic mains of gasworks, and to propel the same through the con-

page_text: densers and purifiers into the gas holder, I prefer to place the spheroidal casing
in a horizontal position and provide the under side only with a central opening.
Over this central opening I fix a tube in an air-tight manner, which tube passes
downwards and dips with its extremity into a vessel containing water, oil, or any
other suitable fluid forming an bydraulic joint round the opening of a pipe
which passes up through this vessel into the before-mentioned tube, through
which pipe the gas passes from the bydraulic main. By this arrangement, if
the spheroidal casing or drum be caused to revolve rapidly the centrifugal force
will draw the gas up into it through the before-mentioned tube attached to
the drum, and it will be conducted thence- by an internal stationary tube as
herein-before described, which tube passes down through the stationary pipo
conducting the gas into the apparatus. In some cases, instead of conducting the
air, water, or other liquids or gases from the revolving casing or drum through
one or more stationary curved tubes as herein-before described, I introduce into
the casing or drum a stationary hollow disc, open at its circumference and
having a number of curved partitions so formed that between each two of them
the air, water, or other fluid or gas, as it is thrown in, is conducted to the
centre, where all the channels open into one conducting tube which passes out
at the central opening of the revolving casing or drum.
I also sometimes divide the interior of the casing or drum into compart-
ments by fixing flat or curved discs inside the same, which discs revolvo
with the drum and serve to conduct the air, water, or other fluid or gas
more perfectly to the opening of the conducting tube or tubes; and in some
cases I subdivide such compartments again by radial or nearly radial or curved
partitions, or I fix radial or nearly radial or curved vanes to their surface so
as to guide the gases or fluids in the required directions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Eugène Bourdon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL. COME, I, EUGÈNE
BOURDON, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Mechanical Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto
me, the said Eugène Bourdon, Her special licence that I, the said Eugène
Bourdon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Eugène Bourdon, 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 yend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BLOWING FANS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
OR CASES, OR FOR EXHAUSTING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Eugène Bourdon, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Eugène Bourdon, 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 state-
ment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :—
My Invention has for its object an improved construction of blowing fans,
by which a higher degree of pressure of the blast is attained, and by which the
noise attendant on the working of fans of present construction is almost entirely
obviated.
My Invention consists in constructing a casing or drum, by preference of a
flat approximating spheroidal form, which is provided with a spindle and is
caused to revolve with rapidity round its.short axis. In the centre of the axis
of rotation I form an aperture, either on one side only or in some cases on both
sides of this spheroidal casing, and through this aperture or these apertures
I introduce one or more stationary curved tubes into the interior of the
spheroidal casing. This tube or these tubes passes or pass from the central
opening or openings in a curved form, as near as possible, to the extreme
internal periphery of the spheroidal casing, where it is or they are open, the
opening or openings being opposed to the direction in which the casing rotates,
whilst the curvature of the tube or tubes follows the direction of rotation to a
certain extent. That portion of the tube or tubes which is outside of the
revolving casings serves to conduct the blast produced to wherever it is

page_text: required. From the above-described arrangement it will be seen that if the
before-described spheroidal casing or drum be made to revolve rapidly, the
air situated inside the same will be caused by the friction on the inner
surface (which friction may be increased by the formation of projections or
roughnesses on the inner surface) to revolve with a velocity more or less
approximating to that of the casing or drum. The centrifugal force resulting
from this motion will cause the air to fly from the centre of rotation to the
extreme internal periphery of the dram, where it will consequently accumulate
in a considerably compressed state, and will by the rotary motion imparted to
it, continually be thrown in this compressed state into the opening or openings
of the before-mentioned tube or tubes. A partial vacuum will thus be formed
in the centre of the revolving casing, and fresh external air passing in
continually through the before-mentioned central opening or openings to fill
this vacuum will have rotary motion imparted to it, will fly to the extreme
circumferance of the casing where it will become compressed, and will lastly
in its turn be thrown into the opening or openings of the stationary tube or
tubes, which by its or their gradual curvature back to the central opening or
openings, will conduct the compressed air with very slight loss of velocity to
wherever it is required. It will be readily understood from the foregoing that
as the air is not only compressed by the centrifugal force, but also has a
considerable velocity imparted to it in this compressed state, the pressure at
which it enters the conducting tube or tubes will be equal to that due to its
state of compression at the circumference of the casing plus the pressure due
to its rotary motion.
The above-described principle of construction admits of various modi-
fications in the form and arrangement of the revolving casing and stationary
conducting tubes, and the apparatus may with equal advantage be employed
for raising, propelling, or exhausting gases, water, or other fluids. In
cases, for example, where I employ my improved apparatus for exhausting
illuminating gas from the -hydraulic mains of gasworks, and to propel the
same through the condensers and purifiers into the gas holder, I prefer to
place the spheroidal casing in a horizontal position, and provide the under side
only with a central opening. Over this central opening I fix a tube in an air-
tight manner, which tube passes downwards and dips with its extremity into
a vessel containing water, oil, or any other suitable fluid, forming an hydraulic
joint round the opening of a pipe which passes up through this vessel into the
before-mentioned tube, throngh which pipe the gas passes from the hydraulic
By this arrangement if the spheroidal casing or drum be caused
to revolve rapidly the centrifugal force will draw the gas up into it through
main.

page_text: the before-mentioned tube attached to the drum and it will be conducted
thence by an internal stationary tube as herein-before described, which tube
passes down through the stationary pipe conducting the gas into the apparatus.
In some cases, instead of conducting the air, water, or other liquids or gases
from the revolving casing or drum through one or more stationary curved tubes
as herein-before described I introduce into the casing or drum a stationary
hollow disc open at its circumference and having a number of curved partitions
so formed that between each two of them the air, water, or other fluid or gas,
as it is thrown in, is conducted to the centre, where all the channels open into
one conducting tube which passes out at the central opening of the revolving
casing or drum. I also sometimes divide the interior of the casing or drum
inito compartments by fixing flat or curved discs inside the same, which discs
revolve with the drum and serve to conduct the air, water, or other fluid or
gas more perfectly to the opening of the conducting tube or tubes; and in
some cases subdivide such compartiments again by radial or nearly radial or
curved partitions, or I fix radial or nearly radial or curved vanes to their surface
so as to guide the gases or fluids in the required direction. The particular
advantages of my improved form of apparatus for raising, forcing, propelling,
or exhausting air, water, or other fluids or gases, are as follows:-
Firstly, great simplicity of construction.
Secondly, almost entire absence of the noise accompanying the use of
apparatus of present construction.
Thirdly, a more advantageous employment of the motive power.
Fourthly, the attainment of considerably greater pressures than is possible
with fans having revolving blades, on account of the absence of any "back
lash" of the air.
Fifthly, the nearest attainable fulfilment of the most desirable conditions in
the construction of such apparatus, namely, the entrance of the air into the
same without concussion, and the exit of the same without any velocity that is
not utilized.
But in order that my Invention may be thoroughly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the best means I am
acquainted with of performing the same.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Drawing shew the most simple form
of my improved apparatus for propelling, raising, or exhausting air, water, or
other fluids or gases applied as a blowing fan. Figure 1 shows a section
through the apparatus, and Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the drum.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both the Figures.
The hollow drum or casing A is closed on one side, and is there attached to

page_text: the end of a spindle B, carried by pedestals C, C, upon which spindle are the
fast and loose pulleys D, D', through which it and also the drum A receive a
rapid rotary motion. The other side of the drum A is provided with a central
opening a, through which the conduit pipe E fixed to the standard F passes,
and is then formed with an easy curvature, as shewn in Figure 2, so as to
reach near to the inner circumference of the drum in a tangential direction,
where the extremity of the same is open and opposed to the direction in which
the drum revolves, as shewn by the arrows. Thus when the drum A is caused
to revolve with rapidity, the air contained in the same is thrown by the centri-
fugal force to the circumference of the same, fresh air at the same time.
entering through the opening a, and the air which thus accumulates in a
compressed state at the circumference of the drum and revolves with the
same, is continually thrown with a considerable velocity and pressure into the
open end of the tube E; which by virtue of its easy curvature conducts it
without much loss of velocity out of the drum A again to wherever it is
required.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 shew respectively vertical section and part plans of
another arrangement of my apparatus. In this arrangement the hollow
revolving drum A is placed in a horizontal position, and the fixed conducting
tube E' enters it in a vertical position. The drum A, shown in half plan at
Figure 4, is in this case provided with a partition or diaphragm A', and in the
space between this and the side of the drum are fixed vanes p, p, in nearly
radial positions, which facilitate the radial motion of the air and cause it to
revolve with a velocity approximating as nearly as possible to that of the drum
itself. The conducting tube E', after entering the drum A, instead of being
simply curved round to the circumference of the same, as in the before-described
arrangement, is here formed into a hollow disc E, as shown in the detached
half plan at Figure 5, being open round its circumference and provided
internally with curved guiding vanes or partitions e, serving to catch the air
that is revolving in the reverse direction to their curvature, and to conduct the
same back to the central tube E'. The air drawn in through the opening a
by the rotation of the drum A passes through the channels formed by the
divisions 5p, accumulates in a compressed state at the inner circumference of
the drum A, and is caught up when it has attained the maximum of com-
pression by the hollow disc E, being guided back as before described by the
vanes or divisions e to the tube E', which conducts it to wherever required.
Figure 6 shews an arrangement of my improved apparatus as applied for
exhausting the gas from the hydraulic mains of gas works, and propelling the
same into the condenser and other apparatuses, or directly into the gas holder.

page_text: The rotary drum A, which receives it rotary motion from the spindle B attached
thereto, draws in the gas coming from the hydraulic main through the fixed
tube C. The communication between this tube and the rotating tube a
attached to the drum A is arranged by means of an hydraulic joint, as shewn,
the tube a dipping into the water or other suitable fluid contained in the
vessel D, through which the tube C¹, being a continuation of C, passes. This
hydraulic joint effectually prevents any of the surrounding air being drawn
in and mixed with the gas. The gas drawn into the drum A is thence
thrown into the open end of the fixed curved tube E, arranged in a similar
manner to that shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and which passes up centrally
through the tubes C' and a, the gas being conducted down through the same
to the condenser or other apparatus.
This arrangement of my improved apparatus may also be employed for
exhausting any other gases or fluids besides illuminating gas, or for creating
a partial vacuum, such as is requisite in the manufacture of paper.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 shew a modification of my improved apparatus, which
I prefer to apply as blowing fan to smiths' fires, cupola, and other smelting
furnaces, and even for blast furnaces.
Figure 7 shews a transverse section, Figure 8 shews a plan, and Figure 9
shows a front view of the apparatus, part of the side of the rotating drum A
and partition D being removed to shew one of the conducting tubes E¹ for
carrying off the air. The revolving hollow drum A is in this case divided into
two compartments by a diaphragm, or partition D, by means of which it is
fixed to the spindle C carried by the pedestals F, F, and provided with two
pullies P, P. Central openings a, a, are in this case formed in both sides
of the drum, through which respectively two tubes E, E, and two others E', E',
pass, being curved inside the drum in the manner before described with
reference to the first arrangement, and led to the circumference of the drum
where the compressed air is thrown into them. The drum A is also provided
with other diaphragms or partitions B, B1, attached to the sides of the drum
by means of radial vanes or blades b, b', which diaphragms are intended to
guide the air more readily from the central openings to the mouths of the
exhausting tubes E, E', as also to bring the rotary velocity of the same as
nearly as possible up to that of the drum itself. The tubes E, E', being
brought with an easy curvature outside the drum A, are there fixed to the
pedestals F, F', which carry the spindle C, each two of the tubes being con-
nected together, as shewn on either side of the drum, by means of the tubes I, I',
which conduct the air to wherever it is required. By arranging several such
apparatuses communicating in succession with one another, the pressure of

page_text: the air or other gas may be made gradually to increase as it passes from one
apparatus to the next, until it has acquired the desired pressure.
Figure 10 shews a sectional elevation of another modification of my
improved apparatus applied as a centrifugal pump for raising water or other
fluids, and Figures 11 and 12 also shew sectional elevations of similar arrange-
ments as applied to the regulating of motion or of motive power.. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in each of these Figures.
The rotating metal drum D, closed hermetically at top by means of a
cover d, is formed at bottom into a tube, which dips into the cistern A
containing the water or other liquid to be raised. The drum D. is suspended
from a vertical spindle E running in two bearings formed on the framing B,
which also carries the shaft E', with the fast and loose pullies P, P¹, the
motion of which is communicated to the vertical spindle E by means of the
bevil wheels f, e. In order to increase the centrifugal action of the drum, a
thin metal diaphragm M, shewn in Figures 11 and 12, is fixed in, the same
being formed as a truncated cone having an aperture in the centre, and
provided with small and thin blades m, placed in radial positions. The fixed
conducting tube J passes up the centre of the drum, and is brought to the
circumference of the same with an easy curvature similar to that in the before-
described arrangements. In order to facilitate the raising of the water from
the cistern A into the drum D, when it is first set in motion, I sometimes
fix inside the tubular portion of the latter an archimedian screw d, fitting
Joosely round the conducting tube J. Or I effect the raising of the water into
the drum by drawing out the air from the inside of the same through a small
cock fixed on the cover d of the drum D, which is not shewn on the Drawing.
As soon as the drum is set in motion the, water or other fluid contained in the
same is caused by its adhesion, and by the action of the vanes or blades m,
to revolve with the same, and attains nearly the same velocity as the drum.
By this rotary motion combined with the compressing action due to the
centrifugal force, the water is impelled into the open end of the fixed tube J,
which is opposed to the direction of rotation, and is carried by this tube to a
height due to the velocity with which the water enters it.
Besides the advantage this form of centrifugal pump possesses over those of
present construction by working almost entirely out of the water or other
fluid, and thereby greatly reducing the loss of power by friction between the
immersed parts and the fluid, it possesses the further advantage of raising the
water or other fluid to nearly twice the height attainable by pumps of present
construction, when rotating at the same velocity with the latter.

page_text: The centrifugal pump shewn at Figure 11, is shewn as applied to the
regulating and indicating the motion of a steam engine or other prime mover.
For this purpose the pump is actuated by the said steam engine or other
prime mover by means of the bevil pinions e and f, and the water is raised
through the vertical conducting tube J', into the reservoir R, fixed to the top
of the same.
Inside this reservoir is placed a float F, guided in its motion by
the spindle t, the upper end of which is connected by suitable levers and rods
to the throttle valve of the steam pipe or other apparatus for regulating the
admission of motive power to the prime mover. The float F bas also attached
to it a chain, of which the other end is fixed to the small pulley 2, fixed on a
spindle which carries, outside of the reservoir R, a small spur pinion in gear
with a small spur wheel, the spindle of which is provided with a pointer, as
shewn, situated in front of a dial enclosed in a box b, and serving to indicate
upon the same the variable height of the water level in the reservoir R,
corresponding to certain velocities of rotation of the prime mover. By this
arrangement when the prime mover moves at too great a velocity, the increased
rotation of the pump will cause the level of the fluid to rise in the reservoir R.
and consequently also the float F, and the rod t of the same, in rising will
effect the partial closing of the throttle valve, thereby decreasing the quantity
of motive force admitted to the prime mover. At the same time the pulley p
will be caused to revolve by the chain attached to the float, and the pointer on
the dial will indicate the increased velocity of the prime mover. The reverse
will of course take place if the prime mover works with too slow a motion.
The respective velocities of the prime mover and the pump should be so
proportioned that at the normal velocity of the former, the fluid should stand
at a mean height in the reservoir R.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 12 only differs from that just described
in the column of water or other fluid being here replaced by the following
arrangement: The water or other fluid forced by the rotation of the pump
through the tubes J, J', is caused to raise a thimble F, to which is attached
the spindle t which actuates the throttle valve, so that if the prime mover
rotates too rapidly, the admission of the motive force is thereby checked. The
spindlet has a collar t' fixed to it, upon which are lifted in succession the
weights W of equal or of increasing size, which, by their accumulating pressure
replace the action of the increased height of the column of fluid in the former
arrangement, and which on being deposited on their seats again, when the
thimble F sinks by reason of the diminished rotation of the prime mover,
cause the balancing action to take place, by which the normal velocity of the

page_text: prime mover is insured. A valve O regulated by a spindle and lever, as
shewn, opens or closes the outlet pipe o more or less, and thus regulates the
meau velocity of the prime mover.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with of performing the same, I would wish it to be under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the various arrangements of my improved
apparatus as shewn on the accompanying Drawing, neither to the forms or
proportions of the same, as they may be variously modified without departing
from the nature of my Invention; but what I claim is,-
Firstly, the construction of apparatus for raising, forcing, propelling, or
exhausting air, water, or other fluids or gases, in which an external hollow
casing or drum, with or without partitions and vanes formed inside, is caused
to rotate, and in which the air, water, or other fluid or gas enters the said
hollow drum through one or more openings, and is caused to revolve with it,
such air, water, or other fluid or gas being thereby thrown into the open end
of a stationary tube or tubes, or their equivalents, situated inside the said
revolving drum, through which tube or tubes the air, water, or other fluid or
s is conducted out of the drum again to wherever required, substantially as
herein-before described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
gas
Secondly, the various arrangements of blowing fans, as berein-before
described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, and 7 to 9, on the accompanying
Drawing.
Thirdly, the construction of exhausters, with or without hydraulic joints, for
use in gasworks or other localitics, as herein-before described with reference
to Figure 6 on the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly, the construction of centrifugal pumps for raising water or other
liquids, or for regulating motive power, as hereiu-before described with
reference to Figures 10 to 12 on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugène Bourdon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
EUGENE BOURDON. (L.S.)