IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDMILLS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDMILLS."-A
communication from abroad by Edward Savoral, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 17th June 1870, and dated the 24th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th February 1870.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDMILLS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to windmills of the vertical order, that is, mills
in which the vanes are made to operate a vertical shaft, and has for its
object making more effective or available the force of the wind within a

page_text: small space or compass, and in a manner that adapts the mill in a
superior degree to portable use.
which
The Invention consists in arranging a number of vertical vanes
are pivotted at the outer ends of a series of arms secured to a vertical
shaft.
Also the Invention consists in tying or connecting these vanes with
each other and with an upright rod at the end of each arm which unites
them with the main shaft.
Likewise the Invention consists in combining with the pivotted vanes
a swinging frame arranged to encircle the vanes, and is provided with
sails and a balancing wind trap on reverse sides of the main shaft. These
sails serve to catch wind that otherwise would pass by the vanes, and
they will act so as to deflect or throw it on to the latter, thereby increasing
the velocity or power of the mill.
And furthermore the Invention includes in combination with the 1
frames which carry the pivotted vancs and deflecting sails with their
balancing wind trap a central pillar or support for the frames to swing
or rotate around, and whereby a stationary outer frame for the mill is
dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her
special licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, 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 thercin expressed, should and lawfully might make,

page_text: 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 WINDMILLS," being a communication to me from abroad
by Edward Savoral, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 I, the said William Edward Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of windmills of the
vertical order, that is, mills in which the vanes are mounted on and
made to operate a vertical shaft. The Invention has for its object to
render more effective or available the force of the wind within a small
space or compass, and in a manner that adapts the mill in a superior
degree to portable use.
The Invention consists in arranging a number of vertical vanes which
arc pivotted at the outer ends of a series of arms secured to a vertical
shaft.
Also the Invention consists in tieing or connceting these vanes with
cach other and with an upright rod at the end of each arm which unites
them with the main shaft.
Likewise the Invention consists in combining with the pivotted vanes
a swinging frame arranged to encircle the vanes, and is provided with
sails and a balancing wind trap on reverse sides of the main shaft.
These sails serve to catch wind that otherwise would pass by the vanes,
and they will act so as to deflect or throw the wind on to the latter,
thereby increasing the velocity or power of the mill.
And furthermore the Invention includes in combination with the
frames which carry the pivotted vanes and deflecting sails with their

page_text: balancing wind trap a central pillar or support for the frames to swing
or rotate around, and whereby a stationary outer frame for the mill is
dispensed with. .
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a vertical central
section of a windmill constructed in accordance with the Invention ;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a vertical
central section of the mill when constructed with a central pillar or
support for the operating parts to rotate around as an axis and without
a stationary outside frame..
In Figures 1 and 2, A is an upright stationary frame of sufficient
strength and size to carry the horizontal wheel and other working
portions of the mill within it. In the centre of this frame is a vertical
main shaft B arranged to rotate freely between a lower bearing a and an
upper bearing b. These bearings are secured to the upper and lower
cross beams A', A', of the frame A, and may be of ordinary or any
suitable construction. To the vertical shaft B hubs C, C, C, are rigidly
fastened, and serve to carry any desired number of horizontal radial
arms D, D, of equal length, or thereabouts. The ends of the arms are
all connected and firmly united by means of horizontal braces c, c, and
upright rods d, d. Between and at the outer ends of each vertical set of
arms D, D, one or more series of pivotted vanes E, E, are arranged, so
that when they are in a closed position (as represented on one side of
Figures 1 and 2) they will present a concave surface to the action of the
wind. These vanes E, E, may be made of metal, canvas, or any other
suitable material, and are connected with one another in each series by
means of links or by means of a flexible connection, as shewn in the
Drawing, the last or inner ones of the vanes in each series being con-
nected to the upright rods d, d, whereby the vanes are at liberty to open
only such a distance as is necessary to secure their efficiency. F is a
swinging frame secured loosely on the vertical shaft B, around which it
is allowed to turn. On one side or at one end of this frame and outside
of the pivotted vanes (but close to them) one or more sails G, G, are.
spread between the upper and lower portions of the frame F, the same
being secured to upright bars e, e, at a proper angle to deflect or throw
the wind (passing outside of the vanes E, E,) upon the latter. To
counteract the pressure of the wind upon the sails G, G, and to balance
the frame F so as to retain the latter in position for the sails to deflect
the wind upon the vanes, and at the same time to admit of the frame

page_text: adjusting itself or of being adjusted as the direction of the wind varies, a
wind trap H is connected at any suitable point to the frame F on the
reverse side relatively with the shaft B to which the sails are arranged.
This wind trap consists of two sails f, f, spread between the upper and
lower portions of the frame F, and secured to three upright bars y, I, I,
in such a manner and at such an angle that they will meet at one of the
bars I and form an abutment as it were for the wind to act upon. To
regulate the amount of wind surface of the sails G, G, and f, f, any
suitable mechanism (such as, for instance, that shewn at I, I, and con-
sisting of a screw and worm wheel winding device) may be provided on
the under side of the frame F to furl or unfurl the sails as required. In
the operation of the mill as thus constructed or provided the wind from
whatever direction it may blow will always have the same effect on the
wheel or frame carrying the pivotted vancs, the outer moving frame F
with its sails and balancing wind trap accommodating itself to any
change of direction in the wind. The connection of the pivotted vanes
with each other and with the upright rods d, as described, serves to
insure the wind acting upon a more extended series of vanes at the same
time than if they were disconnected, the wind continuing to act upon
the pivotted vanes after they have opened, and at a greater or less
effective angle during the larger portion of their travel in the rotation of
the wheel, as clearly represented in Fig. 2, in which Figure the arrow 1
indicates the direction in which the wind is supposed to be blowing, and
the arrow 2 the direction the wheel is turning in. To transmit motion
from the wheel a pulley K is mounted on the shaft B, or any other
suitable means may be employed.
A windmill constructed to operate as described will prove a very
efficient motor, and is capable of ready transportation from place to place.
In Fig. 3 of the Drawing the same essential features as regards the
operating portions of the mill are preserved, but the stationary outside
frame A is dispensed with, and instead thereof and in place of the
vertical shaft B a stationary central pillar or column B' is erected, on or
around which the wheel and outer sail frame F (supported by rollers or
otherwise) will freely rotate. Tie rods 8, 8, connect the hubs C, C, of the
wheel, and from this latter motion may be communicated in any suitable
manner. This construction reduces cost, adds to the portability of the
mill, and does away with any obstruction to the wind on the operating
portions of the mill.

page_text: Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured to
mc by Letters Patent as aforesaid,―
First. The arrangement of the pivotted vanes E, E, between the
arms D, D, in combination with the vertical shaft B, as hercin described.
Second. The connection of the pivotted vanes E, E, with each other
and with the upright rod d of each or any of the series of vancs, as and
for the purpose herein described.
Third. The combination of the swinging frame F, the sails G, G, and
wind trap H, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the central pillar or column B' with the
wheel frame carrying the pivotted vanes E, E, and swinging_frame_F
with its sails G, G, and wind trap H, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of August, 1
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
WE NEWTON
(T. <\