IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES.' A communication from abroad by John
Hedges Lidgerwood, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 10th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th September 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES." [A communi-
cation from abroad by John Hedges Lidgerwood, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in turbines, and is designed to render
the same more efficient than heretofore, that is to say, a turbine constructed according
to these improvements will work with greater power in proportion to the quantity
of water used than an ordinary turbine, and the water will always act directly on
the wheel, and will never change its direction.
The said Invention consists in various features of construction and combinations
of parts as herein-after described.
In the construction of a turbine according to this Invention I provide for the
same a bottom case, in which is formed a step or bearing for the vertical central
shaft of the turbine; it is also provided with a flange at its periphery for the support
of a series of gates, herein-after described. Upon the said bottom case I place a
cylindrical outer case, in whose periphery are formed tangential waterways and
openings for a series of gates, preferably twelve in number. On the said vertical
shaft is keyed or otherwise secured a wheel, in which are formed a series of buckets
curved at the bottom and open at the periphery of the said wheel.

page_text: The said gates are for the purpose of admitting or stopping the entrance of water
to the turbine; they are provided with toothed sectors on the upper ends of their
vertical shafts or spindles. The said sectors are arranged in combination with top
and bottom.check pieces for locking them. Over the said cylindrical case I place a
top cover, formed at the centre with a guide box for the vertical shaft, the said
guide box being provided with suitable packing devices. Above or outside of this
top cover I fix a guide ring and semi-spur wheel, which has on diametrically opposite
sides of its periphery two toothed segments, properly constructed and arranged to
gear with the sectors of two opposite gates, so that by turning the said wheel two of
the said gates opposite each other may be opened or closed simultaneously. Two
gaps or apertures are formed in the said guide ring to permit it to pass the afore-
said top and bottom check pieces, and it is formed or provided with stop pieces
arranged to meet stops or projections on the cover, and thereby check or limit the
movement of the said guide ring and wheel.
This arrangement is very advantageous, as by the simultaneous movement of two
opposite gates the turbine may be adapted to work with a reduced supply of water
while maintaining an equal pressure on both sides of the wheel, and the angle at
which the water strikes the open buckets will remain. the same. All twigs or
similar small obstructions will be cut off or reinoved by the opening and closing of
the said gates.
A vertical shaft at one side of the turbine is provided with a toothed pinion,
whereby it is geared with the said semi-wheel, and the said shaft has at its upper
end a hand wheel, whereby the said vertical shaft can be conveniently manipulated
to operate or adjust the said semi-wheel and gates.
When the said turbine is to be stopped all of its gates must be closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Soal Patent Office on the 10th
March 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES." A communi-
cation from abroad by John Hedges Lidgerwood, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in turbines, and is designed to render
the same more efficient than heretofore, that is to say, a turbine constructed
according to these improvements will work with greater power in proportion to the
quantity of water used than an ordinary turbine, and the water will always act
directly on the wheel, and will never change its direction, and the turbine may be
adapted to work with more or less water while maintaining an equilibrium of
pressure all around the wheel or revolving part of the turbine.
The said Invention consists in various features of construction and combinations
of parts, as herein-after described.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1, is a plan or top view; and Figure 2 is a vertical central section of a turbine
constructed according to this Invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in both these Figures.
In the construction of a turbine according to this Invention I provide for the
same a bottom case a, in which is formed a step or bearing a¹ for the vertical central
shaft b of the turbine. This case is also furnished with a flange a² at its periphery
for the support of a series of gates c, herein-after described. Upon the said bottom
case a I place a cylindrical outer case d, in whose periphery are formed tangential
waterways and openings for the series of gates c, which are preferably twelve in
number. On the said vertical shaft is secured a wheel e, in which are formed a
series of buckets e¹, curved at the bottom e², and open at the periphery of the said
wheel.
The said gates care for the purpose of admitting or stopping the entrance of
water to the turbine; they are provided with toothed sectors fon the upper ends
of their vertical shafts or spindles g. The said sectors are arranged in combination
with top and bottom check pieces for locking them, and in the Drawing the sectors
are shown locked by these check pieces. Over the said cylindrical face d I place a
top cover, formed at the centre with a guide box k for the vertical shaft b, the
said guide box being provided with suitable packing devices, as shown, to keep the
shaft water-tight while permitting it to turn freely. Above or outside of this top
cover j I fit a guide ring 1, on which is fixed or formed a semi-spur wheel, or wheel
which is toothed on only a portion of its periphery, as clearly shewn in Figure 1.
This guide ring has on diametrically opposite sides of its periphery two toothed
segments, properly constructed and arranged to gear with the sectors fof two
opposite gates c, that is to say, with any two of the series of gates that are diame-
trically opposite each other, so that by turning the said wheel and guide ring, as
herein-after described, any two of the said gates opposite each other may be opened
or closed simultaneously. Two gaps or apertures n are formed in the said guide
ring to permit it to pass the aforesaid top and bottom check pieces, and it is formed
or provided with stop pieces o, arranged to meet stops or projections on the cover j,
these devices being provided to check or limit the movement of the said guide ring
and wheel.
This arrangement is very advantageous, as by the simultaneous adjustment or
movement of two opposite gates the turbine may be adapted to work with a reduced
supply of water, while an equal pressure all around or on all sides of the wheel e

page_text: will be maintained, and the angle at which the water strikes the open buckets will
remain the same. Moreover all twigs or similar small obstructions will be cut off
or removed by the opening and closing of the said gates.
A vertical shaft p arranged at one side of the turbine is provided with a toothed
pinion g, geared with the said semi-wheel or partially toothed wheel on the guide
ring, and the shaft p has at its upper end a hand wheel r, whereby it can be con-
veniently manipulated to operate or adjust the said semi-wheel and gates, as above
described.
When the said turbine is to be stopped all of its gates must be closed, and it will
be seen that the closing and opening of the entire series or any of them may be
readily and conveniently effected by means of the above-described gearing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and advanta-
geously carried into practice, I wish it understood that I claim the improvements in
turbines consisting in,-
First. Providing the same with means for effecting the simultaneous adjustment
or movement of two opposite gates, as and for the purposes specified.
Second. Combining with the revolving wheel and buckets and other ordinary
parts of a turbine, constructed substantially as shewn in the Drawing, the guide
ring and semi-spur wheel, with its two toothed segments arranged to gear with
the sectors of two opposite gates in combination with stops or checks and adjustable
or movable by a hand wheel or other suitable means, as and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.