Improvements in Water Wheels and Turbines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Water Wheels and Turbines.
I, ARCHIBALD BARB, Professor of Engineering in the University of Glasgow,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide more efficient means for the control and
regulation of the power of speed of a turbine or waterwheel.
"
The new system of regulation is specially applicable to jet wheels such as that
known as the "Pelton wheel and will herein be described more particularly
with reference to that class of motor; but it is to be understood that with suitable
modifications cf detail it is also applicable to water-wheels and turbines of other
types.
To regulate the amount of water reaching the turbine I cause the water to pass
through a nozzle constructed wholly or in part of india-rubber or other suitable
elastic or flexible material. The nozzle may be enclosed in a tight metal casing
or may itself be constructed so as to form, behind the part through which the water
flows, a fluid tight case.
Behind the nozzle a fluid such as air or water is introduced and by regulation
of the pressure or quantity of such fluid the area of passage for the water or other
fluid operating the turbine or water-wheel is controlled.
The regulation of the pressure or quantity of fluid may be effected by any suit-
able arrangement, or again it may be controlled by a governor.
When a centrifugal or other rotary governor is used to control the operation of
the apparatus it may be so arranged that while a constant stream of fluid passes
through the chamber surrounding the nozzle the inlet or exit of such fluid may be
controlled by the motion of the governor.
Again a governor constituting substantially a centrifugal pump may be used
and so applied as to control the pressure or quantity of fluid in the chamber behind
the nozzle either by a direct change of pressure or volume without a continuous
motion of fluid, or by altering the rate of flow of a fluid through the chamber.
Or, again, the action of the motor may be controlled by providing some such
arrangement as a drum revolving proportionally to the revolutions of the motor
and having pockets in its circumference which shall be filled in succession by fluid
passing through the chamber in such a manner that when the volcity becomes too
great a larger quantity of fluid will be caused to flow into the chamber and s
contract the jet.
Or, again. a reciprocating or rotary pump may be operated from the motor so as
to pump fluid through the chamber from which it is allowed to escape by a fixed
or regulatable aperture.
Or, again, the control may be effected by the regulation of the pressure or volume
of the fluid behind the nozzle in accordance with torque transmitted through the
motor shaft; by the current being produced from a dynamo-electric machine driven
by the motor or in any other manner in accordance with the requirements of the

page_text: machine to be driven by the motor, or partly by such means and partly in accord-
ance with the velocity at which the motor runs.
Again any variations in the pressure operating the motor can be caused to effect
an adjustment in the area of the jet with or without a governor.
When it is desired to operate the nozzle by means of a pressure less than that
of the atmosphere or less than that of the fluid supplied to operate the nozzle, the
partial vacuum or suction may be secured by means of an induced current produced
either by the jet operating the motor, or by another jet arranged for that purpose
on a well-known principle.
Instead of, or in addition to, the contraction or expansion of the nozzle by means
of change of pressure behind the nozzle the regulation may be effected in whole or
in part by a stretching of the nozzle longitudinally by any suitable mechanical
means so as to cause it to alter in transverse dimensions.
Dated this 17th day of June 1898.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.
I, ARCHIBALD BARR, Professor of Engineering in the University of Glasgow,
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:-
The object of my invention is to provide more efficient means for the control and
regulation of the power or speed of a turbine, waterwheel, or jet wheel.
"
27
The new systeni of regulation is specially applicable to jet wheels such as that
known as the Pelton wheel and will herein be described more particularly
with reference to that class of motor; but it is to be understood that with suitable
modifications of detail it is also applicable to water-wheels and turbines of other
types.
To regulate the amount of fluid reaching the turbine or jet-wheel I cause the
water to pass through a nozzle constructed wholly or in part of india-rubber or
other suitable elastic or flexible material. The nozzle may be enclosed in a tight
metal casing or may itself be constructed so as to form a fluid tight case outside
the part through which the water flows.
Outside the nozzle a fluid such as air or water is introduced and by regulation
of the pressure or quantity of such fluid the area of passage for the water or other
fluid operating the turbine or water-wheel is controlled.
The regulation of the pressure or quantity of fluid may be effected by any suit-
able hand arrangement or again it may be controlled by a governor.
When a centrifugal or other rotary governor is used to control the operation of
the apparatus it may be so arranged that while a continuous stream of fluid passes
through the chamber surrounding the nozzle the inlet or exit of such fluid may be
controlled by the motion of the governor.
Again a governor constituting substantially a centrifugal pump may be used
and so applied as to control the pressure or quantity of fluid in the chamber behind
the nozzle either by a direct change of pressure or volume without a continuous
motion of fluid or by altering the rate of flow of a fluid through a chamber.
Or, again, the action of the motor may be controlled by providing some such
arrangement as a drum revolving proportionally to the revolutions of the motor

page_text: and having pockets in its circumference which shall be filled in succession by fluid
passing through the chamber, and thus when the velocity becomes too great a
larger quantity of fluid will be caused to flow into the chamber and so contract
the jet. In this case an elastic fluid such as air would be used, or if a liquid were
used the pocket R would be so constructed as to contain air which would be com-
pressed by the water taken in.
Or, again, a reciprocating or rotary pump may be operated from the motor so as
to pump fluid through the chamber from which it is allowed to escape by a fixed
or regulatable aperture.
Or, again, the control may be effect by the regulation of the pressure or volume
of the fluid behind the nozzle in accordance with torque transmitted through the
motor shaft; by the electric current being produced from a dynamo-electric machine
driven by the motor; or in any other manuer in accordance with the requirements
of the machines to be driven by the motor; or partly by such means and partly
in accordance with the velocity at which the motor runs.
Again any variations in the pressure operating the motor can be caused to effect
an adjustment in the area of the jet with or without a governor.
When it is desired to operate the nozzle by means of a pressure less than that
of the atmosphere or less than that of the fluid supplied to operate the nozzle the
partial vacuum or suction may be secured by means of an induced current produced
either by the jet operating the motor or by another jet arranged for that purpose
on a well-known principle.
Instead of, or in addition to, the contraction or expansion of the nozzle by means
of change of pressure behind the nozzle the regulation may be effected in whole or
in part by a stretching of the nozzle longitudinally by any suitable mechanical
means so as to cause it to alter in transverse dimensions.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1 shows in sectional elevation, Figure 2 in plan, and Figure 3 in part
sectional and part end elevation, one arrangement of the apparatus. In these
figures a nozzle constructed in accordance with my invention is shown attached
to the supply pipe B by which a jet wheel C (shewn as being of the "Pelton" type)
is operated. The nozzle is surrounded by a block D the whole being held together
by means of a washer plate E and suitable bolts and other connections. The
space F between the nozzle A and the block D forms a chamber into which water
is led from the supply pipe B through a passage G. A screw H or other device
I represents
may be provided to regulate the flow of water through this passage.
a tube leading from the space F.
If the flow out of F is restricted the pressure in F will rise and cause the nozzle
to be constricted; thus reducing the quantity of water which flows to the turbine.
If the pipe is again allowed to carry the water away more freely from F the
pressure of the fluid surrounding the nozzle will be decreased and the jet will be
enlarged. Such control of the flow of water from I may be effected by hand
adjustment or again it may be effected by any automatic device depending upon the
speed of the motor or upon the power which it may be required to develop from
time to time.
The form of nozzle shewn is devised to cause a stretching to take place as weil
as a forcing inwards of the sides. This is with a view to obtaining an increase]
effect and also to make the nozzle less liable to collapse under the action of the
external pressure. The stretching of the nozzle may be made greater by attaching
the front flange of the nozzle to a part moveable relatively to the back portion an·l
in some cases this motion may be substituted for the augmentation of pressure
around the nozzle, the motion being conveniently produced by means of water
pressure acting on a piston to which the front flange of the nozzle may be attached.
In some cases the diameter of the jot, where the flow comes to be in approximately
parallel stream lines, may be caused to vary more than the diameter of the aper-

page_text: ture itself by so constructing the nozzle that the contraction of the stream beyond
the nozzle is increased when the power of the jet is to be reduced, and in some
cases this may be the sole means of control. The form of nozzle shown in Figure
is intended to act both by reduction of diameter of the orifice and by causing the
jet to contract more outside of the nozzle when the pressure in F is increased.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, I have shown an arrangement in which the control is
affected by a centrifugal governor, In this arrangement the pipe I communicate
with the chamber J (Figure 3) surrounding a cylindrical or other valve K which
is partially cut away as shown at L and thus permits of a communication between
the chamber and the outlet M. It will be observed that when the governor balls
fly outwards the valve K will be depressed partially or wholly blocking the com-
munication between the chamber J and the outlet M, and thus restricting the out-
flow of water from the chamber F and so causing the nozzle A to be constricted
when the speed of the wheel becomes too great. The pipe I may conveniently be
provided with a safety valve to prevent the pressure from becoming too great.
Instead of regulating the outflow of water from the chamber F as illustrated in
the figures the outflow orifice may be maintained constant and the inflow to the
chamber F may be controlled, observing that in this case a governor if used should
be constructed to open the inflow passage when the speed of the motor becomes too
high.
Instead of a centrifugal governor controlling a valve, a centrifugal pump, or its
equivalent, may be used to operate the nozzle by causing the centrifugal pump to
run at a speed depending upon that of the motor and having its delivery side con-
nected to the chamber so that the pressure in the chamber may be increased
when the speed increases. Such a centrifugal pump may be used to operate either
by direct alteration of pressure in the chamber without a continuous motion of
fluid, or by altering the rate of flow of a fluid through the chamber.
Or again, the centrifugal pump may be so applied that the water leaving the
chamber by the pipe I, as above described, is caused to pass inwards through the
centrifugal pump so as to experience a greater resistance the more rapidly the
wheel of the pump is caused to revolve.
Again, instead of a centrifugal pump, a reciprocating or 1otary pump of any
ordinary type may be used and so operated as to increase the pressure in the
chamber behind the nozzle when it is required to reduce the energy of the jet.
Thus for example, a reciprocating or rotary pump may be driven directly by a
turbine or jet wheel and its discharge placed in communication with the chamber
surrounding the nozzle and having also either before or after the nozzle is reached
a by-pass or an escape aperture of fixed or regulated resistance so that the more
rapidly the pump is driven the greater will be the pressure of the fluid in the
chamber.
The nozzle may also be operated by producing around it a pressure less than that
of the atmosphere and so controlling this pressure that the pressure is caused to
rise when it is desired to supply less water to the nozzle. One means for carrying
this out is illustrated in Figure 4 in which 0 is a nozzle placed inside the nozzle A
and communicating with the space F. The rush of water past the nozzle O will
cause a partial vacuum to be formed in the space F, the amount of the vacuum
being controlled by admitting a greater or less amount of fluid through another
pipe or passage communicating with F, and controlled by a valve operated by hand
or by any form of governor, the arrangement being such that the valve is opened
further when it is desired to reduce the supply of water to the turbine. Instead
of the nozzle O placed within the nozzle A the same effect may be produced by
forming a suitable passage through the wall of the nozzle A so arranged that the
water in rushing past the aperture will cause a partial vacuum to be formed in F
by a well-known action of fluid jets.
Another method of regulating the pressure in the chamber F is to place it in
communication in some such manner as is illustrated in Figure 5 with a mechanism
consisting of a collar P within which a rod or drum Q revolves in accordance with

page_text: he revolutions of the motor (or otherwise). In the side of the part Q there are
one or more pockets such as R so disposed that when a pocket comes opposite to
the passage S it becomes filled with air and when it comes opposite to the com-
municating passage T such air is transferred to the chamber thus reducing the
acuum. The more rapidly the drum Q is rotated the greater will be the amount
of air admitted and therefore the greater the absolute pressure in l' and the smaller
the jet.
In the illustrations given the flexible or elastic nozzle is represented as being
that from which the fluid is finally discharged before acting upon the wheel. This
will usually be the best mode of regulation for jet-wheels in as much as the regu-
lation of the energy of the flow will depend upon alteration in the magnitude of
the jet and not simply upon the dragging of the flow. In some cases, however,-
as for example when the apparatus is used in connection with water-wheels
acting directly by gravity-ib may be convenient to place the elastic or flexible
nozzle as a constriction in the pipe communicating with a nozzle or outlet which
may then be of fixed form and dimensions so that the flexible nozzle or constric-
tion will act by the throttling of the flow: the constriction being still operated by
a fluid of variable amount of pressure in a manner similar to that already described.
It will be observed that the arrangements shewn in Figure 1 is suitable to effect
some regulation of the magnitude of the jet in accordance with variations in the
pressure of the water supplied by the pipe B, since, if the pressure in B is in-
creased, a greater pressure will be maintained in the chamber F through the com-
munication G for any given adjustment in the outlet passage I. Advantage of this
may be taken either when the passage of the fluid through the outlet I is con-
trolled by a governor or as the sole means of automatic regulation when the exit
through the passage I is controlled by hand adjustment.
The valve controlling the entrance or exit of fluid to the chamber may be operated
in accordance with the work the turbine or wheel is doing. Thus the torque or
twisting moment resisting the operation of the wheel may be caused to operate
a valve such as that shown at K in Figure 3. This may be accomplished in a
manner similar to that adopted in transmission dynamometers, as for example by
causing the wheel to exert its power through a coupling provided with springs
resisting the rotation of one part relatively to the other, and so connected up and
the valve that when the resistance to be overcome is decreased the valve is operated
by the relative motion of the two parts of the coupling and the supply of water
to the wheel reduced when the resistance to be overcome is diminished.
Again, when the wheel is used for driving a dynamo electric machine the valve
may be operated by the electric current so as to supply more water to the wheel
when the demand is increased.
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. An improved turbine or jet wheel consisting of a wheel having buckets or
blades upon its circumference acted upon by a jet of fluid; the amount of flow
in such jet is regulated by causing it to pass through a nozzle or constriction con-
structed in whole or in part of india-rubber or other flexible or elastic material
the size of the aperture in this nozzle for the passage of the fluid, is regulated by
the action thereupon of fluid of variable or regulated pressure or amount, acting
outside or behind the nozzle or acting so as to stretch the nozzle longitudinally,
thereby causing it to contract laterally, substantially as described.
2. The use in connection with jet wheels, turbines or water-wheels of a nozzle
or constriction constructed in whole or in part of india-rubber or other elastic or
flexible material around or behind which a chamber is formed and so disposed
that fluid varied or regulated in amount or pressure may be caused to act therein
in such a manner as to regulate the quantity of fluid operating the turbine, jet
wheel or water-wheel, all substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The use in connection with jet wheels, water-wheels or turbines, of a nozzle
or constriction constructed in whole or in part of india-rubber or other elastic or
flexible substance, which nozzle is so operated that the jet is caused to enlarge
or decrease under the control of a centrifugal governor, a pump, or other control-
ling mechanism in such a manner that when the speed or power of the wheel be-
comes too great the supply through the nozzle is restricted substantially as
described.
Dated this 22nd day of Anril 1899
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.