IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Rapsey Hodge, of 106, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC MOTORS,"
Sealed the 3rd September 1867, and dated the 7th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Rapsey Hodge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
March 1867.
I, PAUL RAPSEY HODGE, of 106, Cannon Street, in the City of London;
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the' said Invention for "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS," to be as follows:-
The objects obtained by these improvements are, firstly, in the conformation
of the casing of water wheels known under the name of turbines," also in
the form of guide and delivery curves so as to direct the water with the least
possible resistance from a vertical to an horizontal direction passing thence in
the direction of the delivery curves.
Secondly, in taking-off from the steps of shafts of such wheels the pressuré
due to the head or column of water under which they work, and counter-
balancing such weight or pressure by an invertion of the same head or column.
Thirdly, by regulating the speed of such wheels by an ordinary govenor and
valves, so as at all times and under all loads; from a maximum to a minimum
ונם.D

page_text: load works at its normal speed by the variation of the working column of water,
so that the height of such working columnwill be equivalent to the load on the
machine,at thesame time keeping the guide curves and wheel full of water at
all timeswhile thewheel is in motion, without which the full effect of the wheel
I cannot be obtained.
The accompanying diagrams with their letters of reference will shew the
main objects of these improvements.
Sheet 1, Figs. 1 & 2 represent a plan and sectional elevation of a single
counterbalanced "turbine" wheel where A, A, represent the body of the casing
which directs the water to the wheel buckets. B, B, is the base of the casing
which is of a parabolic" form to conduct the water from a vertical to an
horizontal direction. On these curves are planted the guide curves C, C,
which are parabolic"spirals" around a parabolic"curved"bottom directing the
water to the buckets at its proper angle; D is the shaft resting on the step E;
F, the wheel, which is affixed unto and revolves with the shaft D; G, the
upper "shrouding;" H, the delivery buckets; I, I, the space intervening
between the base J and the wheel F, into which is admitted water from
such a height or pressure through the pipe K counterbalancing the weight
of the wheel by pressing upwards equal to the height of column on the under
side F.
Sheet 2, Figs. 1 & 2 represent a sectional view of a duplex counter-
balanced turbine" wheel, on wheel working above and the other below the
casing, each being formed in a similar manner with their guide curves and
delivery curves, one being an invert of the other, so that the lower wheel
receives the downward pressure of the column, and the upper wheel.receives
the same amount of pressure in the opposite direction, therebycounterbalancing
each other and taking the weight off the step of the shaft.
A, A, the casing (being double and adapted to the two wheels); B, B, the
guide curves; C, C, the top wheel, and C, C, the bottom wheel, both are
affixed on to the shaft D; E, the delivery buckets in each wheel. If the top
wheel is not required I place a counterbalance plate instead on the same place
on the shaft which answers the same purpose. A wheel or plate for
counterbalance may be made of any diameter so as to compensate for the
weight of the shaft and other machinery, especially where the fall is great and
a long length of shaft required; by this principle of counterbalancing as much
or as little weight may be thrown on the "step "as will give stability to the
machine when in motion.
Sheet 3, Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a double or duplex turbine wheel,

page_text: as before described, but it has in addition a reservoir and variable column for
maintaining a normal speed under all loads."
A, A, the reservoir; B, B, the working column; intervening between each
is a valve box C in which are two double beat valves C, C, to admit the
water from A to B, the valves being operated on either open or closed by
the govenor D and rod E, so that whatever load there may be on the wheel
the working column will be equal to it in height, and the discharge of water
only equal to the load from a maximum to a minimum, the novelty of this
part of my Invention being the independant working variable column operated
on by a regulator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul Rapsey Hodge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1867.
f). ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
RAPSEY HODGE, of 106, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Paul Rapsey Hodge, Her special licence that I, the said Paul Rapsey
Hodge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Paul Rapsey Hodge, 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
HYDRAULIC MOTORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Paul Rapsey Hodge, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 Paul Rapsey Hodge, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :--
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of hydraulic
motors known under the name of "turbines:"
The objects attained by these several improvements are, firstly, in the
arrangement of a duplex turbine (somewhat in the form of "Jonvill's" single
turbine) by placing one of these single turbines above and the other below
the casing on a vertical axis, so the upward pressure due to the head or fall
on the upper turbine counterbalances the downward pressure on the lower
turbine, thereby taking away any undue amount of pressure from the step of
the shaft.
Secondly, in arranging duplex turbines with a Jonvill turbine below and a
Fauneron turbine above, doing away with the necessity of keeping the turbine
immersed in water, so that the line of the upper face of the turbine is out of
the water, which is not the case in the preceding example.
Thirdly, the combining and arranging duplex turbines on a vertical axis, as
before, and placing one above and the other below the casing, the upper one
being an inverted Fauneron turbine, the lower one being the same, but not
inverted, the one turbine counterbalancing the other by such compound
arrangement, thereby taking the pressure off the step of the vertical shaft.
Fourthly, by constructing a single turbine with a counterbalance chamber
and plate so that the upward pressure on the lower side of the turbine com-
pensates for the downward pressure on the upper side, thereby also taking the
downward pressure off the step.
Fifthly, in arranging such turbines and attaching thereto a separate working
hydraulic column, so that the water entering such working column shall pass
through and be regulated by counterbalanced valves or sluices acted upon by
a governor, so that whatever load there be on the wheel or motorthe governor
will regulate the amount of water to flow into the working column through
the sluices or valves, to be equal to the quantity of discharge through the
wheel, sufficient to effect the given force necessary for the load on the wheel.
and when the load is increased the governor or regulator will open the sluices
or valves letting more water into the working column and raising the hydraulic
head equal to the increased load.
Chapter 2. In order to render these several improvements more intel-
ligible the accompanying Drawings, Sheets 1 and 2, with the several Diagrams
and letters of reference will more fully explain the nature and objects of my
Invention.

page_text: Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents a duplex turbine somewhat on Jonvill's
principle with certain modifications. A, A, the casing, the conformation of
which will much depend on the size of the wheels, this being in two halves
and bolted together by the flanges B, B; C; C; the vertical shaft or axis, on
to which is affixed two turbines D, D, and E, E; the water passing into the
casing A, A, passes up through the guide curves G, G, and out through the
buckets or delivering curves H, H, and so down to the lower wheel, down
through the guide curves G¹; G', and out through the delivery buckets H¹, H',
thuseffecting a perfect counterbalance of the pressure downward on the lower
wheel by an equal pressure upward in the upper wheel E, E. J and J¹are
regulating diaphragms radiating on the central axis of the casing at K and
Ki, the arms L and L' reaching to the periphery M, on to which is a rack or
segment of a spur wheel, into which work pinions N and O attached to the
vertical shaft P, which is actuated by the governor or regulator, thereby
stopping off (wholly or in part) the apertures of the guide curves, thereby
regulating speed and power in its action.
Chapter 3. Fig. 2 represents another of this class of duplex turbines which
works in a casing, as before described, with this difference, that the lower
turbine Q is a Jonvill turbine and the upper turbine R is a Fauneron
turbine, thereby doing away with the necessity of covering the upper surface.
of the upper turbine R with water, as must be the case in the previous
example; in Fig. 1 the regulator to the lower turbine is precisely as that
described and shewn in Fig. 1, Chapter 1.
Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 1, represent a sectional elevation and plan of another
of my improvements in duplex turbines, both of which wheels (above and
below the casing) are somewhat similar to the Fauneron turbine. A, A, the
casing; B, B, the guide curves which are formed on a new principle, the true
curve being that of a spiral around a parabolic conoid which directs and
impinges the water at its proper angle on the delivery buckets c, c, c, c, of the
wheels d, d'; the curves of the buckets are formed in the same manner as
the guide curves, but it will not be necessary in this Specification to describe
the advantages of these curves, as they cannot form any part of my Patent.
The wheels d and d' are affixed on to the shaft c, c, and are so adjusted to
their proper distances as to run clear of the casing. The water entering into
the casing at the aperture e, e, from the main standing pipe flows above and
below to each wheel in the direction of the arrows; whatever hydraulic pressure
there may be on the lower wheel d due to the head of water is counter-
balanced by the upward pressure on the upper wheel d', thereby taking all

page_text: undue amount of pressure off the step of the shaft, this being one of the
greatest difficulties in turbines now in use.
Another of my improvements in turbine wheels is shown in Figs. 6 and 7,
which represent a sectional elevation and plan of a single turbine with a
pressure chamber underneath so that waterisadmitted below to counterbalance
the downward pressure on the wheel, or vice versa if the wheel be below, as
above stated; then the pressure on the wheel due to the working column
coming from above and presses downward while the water is admitted into
the pressure chamber pressing the wheel upwards in a contrary direction pro-
ducing an equilibrium. The water enters' into the casing f,f, and is guided
to the delivery buckets g, g, by the guidé curves h, h; the wheel is the same
in every respect in principle as the one' previously described, only this is a
single wheel which is affixed on to the shaft i, i; the step on which this
shaft rests is attached to or constructed into the plate l,, forming the pressure.
chamber below the wheel, water is admitted from the pressure column
through the pipe m by a cock or valve, so that a pressure is produced in an
upward direction to compensate for the downward pressure of the working
column on the upper face of the turbine, thereby counterbalancing a single
turbine by the pressure chamber, as described.
The great aim and object to be effected by the preceding arrangements in
turbine wheels is perfection in construction, at the same time taking the
pressure off the step, the main element in construction being the parabolic
form to the casing, on to which is plated parabolic spiral curves as guides,
while the parabolic spiral curves are carried out in the delivery buckets, this.
being the true principle on which wheels of this character should be con-
structed, although not observed or carried out by any constructor previously.
A counterbalance plate may be used above the wheel instead of a secondary
wheel to receive the upward pressure which is used in cheaper constructions,
and forms another part of my improvements which needs no diagram.
Chapter 4. Having described the construction and improvements in the
turbine wheel, neither duplex or single, and in counterbalancing the pressure
of the working column on the same, I will now proceed to describe my new
and improved method in regulating the speed and power of such wheels under
any head or pressure, so that from a maximum to a minimum load on the
wheel a normal velocity shall be always maintained.
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2, represent two arrangements of my improved
wheels in their working condition, and attached to my improved inde-
pendant working hydraulic column, Fig. 1 is a single wheel with counter-

page_text: balance chamber; as described in Chapter 3, and shewn in Figs. 6 and 7;
Fig. 2 is a general elevation of one of my improved double or duplex wheels,
as described in Chapter 3, and shewn in detail, Figs. 4 and 5. A, A, the
casing; B and B', the upper and lower wheels; C, the step; D, the shaft ;
E, the hydraulic column; F, double beat valves intervening between the
main or reservoir G and the working column E; these valves are operated
on and opened or closed to any degree through the action of the governor. H
through the intervention of the lever I and rods J which are attached
to the valves F¹, so that whenever the load on the wheel is altered (say if
more) then the balls of the governor H from the reduced velocity revolve
in a lesser circle or plane, open the double-beat sluice valves F¹, letting in
more water from the main or reservoir G into the working column E,
the water ascending in this column increasing the dynamic effect on the
wheel equivalent to the increased load, and vice versa if the load be decreased,
thereby keeping up a proper regulation of speed on turbine wheels of any
construction without regulating the water either at the guide curves or
delivery buckets, which is always attended with a loss of effect, it having
been proved by repeated experiments that in stopping off 10 per cent. of water
from the delivery buckets 35 per cent. of effect is lost, owing to the buckets
not being "full," this class of wheel being operated on by impact and
reaction combined, which require (of necessity) the buckets to be at all times
full, which is effected by my improvements in varying the working column,
as herein fully set forth and shewn in the Drawings.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying out the sam, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details, or the general arrangements herein set forth as long as I
confine myself to the main elements of these improvements, as they may be
varied to suit situation or circumstance, as the case may be; I would have it
understood that what I claim is,-
First, the duplex turbine wheel and regulating apparatus, as shewn in
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and described in Chapter 2.
Second, the duplex turbine wheel, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, and described
in Chapter 3.
Third, the duplex turbine wheel, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, and described
also in Chapter 3.
Fourth, the single turbine wheel and pressure chamber, as shewn in Figs. 6
and 7, and described also in Chapter 3.
Fifth, the improvements shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2, and described in

page_text: Chapter 4, for the purposes therein set forth for the effectual regulation of
motion or speed to turbine wheels of any construction.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Rapsey Hodge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
PAUL R. HODGE. (L.S.)