METHODS OF COMBINING AND DISPOSING MACHINERY, AND APPLYING THE DIFFERENT POWERS OF WIND, WATER, AND CATTLE THERETO, SO AS TO EFFECT IMPROVEMENTS ON MILLS
Year: 1809

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WATTS, of the City of Bath, Gentleman, do send.greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty George the Third, by His
Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of Sep-
tember now last past, did give and grant unto me, the said William Watts,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Watts, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "METHODS OF COMBINING AND DISPOSING MACHINERY, AND APPLYING
THE DIFFERENT POWERS OF WIND, WATER, AND CATTLE THERETO, SO AS TO EFFECT
IMPROVEMENTS ON MILLS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said William Watts, under my hand and seal, to
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that my said Invention is fully described and ascertained
by the Drawings in the margin of these presents, and the following description
thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: Figure 1st represents the machinery for forming a windmill of great power,
shewn through the head of the mill. A, A, B, B, are two drum wheels, having
at each end iron plates C, C, in which are cavities D, D, at regulated distances,
to receive the axles E of the sails. Over the drum wheels B, B, work two
chains F, F, connecting at regular distances the axle of each sail E; these
axles in going round the drums B, B, fall into the cavities or catches in the
plates of the drum D, D; on each end of every axle, in a small wheel running
in a channel formed in the framing of the mill, and shewn by the lines H, H,
top and bottom, and serve to steady the sails. Upon each axle is a frame
I, I, which frame has fitted within it, and playing on a joint, or pivott at
bottom, another frame. To this inner frame is fastened the sail J, J, which
may be of canvass or other materials. On each side of the outer frame I, I,
is a support of wood or iron K, K, and runs from the axle of the preceeding
sail (on which it turns) to the upper part of the succeeding frame I, I, playing
on a pin. These are supports to the frames against the power of the wind,
and which, by playing top and bottom, allow the sails to turn round the
drums at each end. At the upper ends of each outer frame is fixed a sheive
or pulley M, M, over which passes a rope; this rope is fastened to each upper
corner of the inner frame or sail at one end, and at the other end it has a
spring N, N, which spring has two small grooved wheels running in a channel;
this channel is contracted more at the upper than lower end, so as to produce
whatever resistance you wish the sails to make against the wind. These
springs N, N, regulate the sails, so that when they receive too great an im-
pulse they pull the springs on each side and the sails recline, letting the extra
power fly off, as shewn in Figure 2d. The body of the mill may be of various
shapes and dimensions, as described by the dotted lines O and P; where
much room is wanted for a manufactory, it may form a circle as P, and also
as represented in Figure 3d, where it is shewn placed over a fixed storehouse
Q, on which the head turns at S, S; but where little machinery is wanted, or
no manufactury, as in mills for drainage, &c., it must have its length, but
there is no necessity for its being near so wide as shewn by the dotted line O,
though the base must be sufficiently extended to make it safe against the
wind. The head A, A, may travel round on wheels and in a channel, and
being placed to such an angle of the wind as where the sails act to the greatest
advantage (the under sails being sheltered from the wind and the upper ones
receiving it in an angle between each other) they pull round the drum
wheels B, B, by their extremities, to the shaft of which is fixed or coupled
the manufacturing machinery, &c. The width of the sails and the distances
from each other must be so regulated as that the wind may strike the sails

page_text: sufficiently at the same time not to make the angle of the line of sails with
the wind too great. Only eight sails are here represented in action, but the
number is not limited; the power may be carried much farther by increasing
the distance from drum to drum and adding sails in proportion; and adding
length to the sails, increases the power in proportion to the increase of sail
without losing time, which is not the case in the present vertical mills; the
sails must be made full to form a concave surface to the wind.
Figure 2nd shews a sail borne down in part by the extra force of the wind.
E, the axle and wheels. I, I, the outer frame. J, J, the inner frame and
sail. N, N, the spring rope and guide. K, K, the supports to the frame I, I.
F, the chains.
Figure 3d represents a mill formed circular, and placed over a fixed store-
house. Q, the store. A, A, the head. S, S, where it turns. J, J, the
sails.
Figure 4th shews the spring and guide in large. The machinery for a
floating tide or current mill of great power I form similar to the preceeding
one for wind, therefore the same Drawing will serve to refer to, only allowing
the lower sails in Figure 1st to represent the floats of this, and the water
to flow from X to Y, towards which they act. These floats may be of
wrought iron or other materials, and will in general be broader than deep,
though, as in the windmill, must form a concave surface to the current, which,
if running only one way, the concave side of the float may be so fixed; but
as by tides, where it operates both ways, it is made to turn on a pivot in the
centre above and below of the frame, and shewn in Figure 5th. A is the
frame; B, B, the floats; C, C, the pivots on which it turns; and when its.
concave side is placed to the current, it is fastened on each side at D, D, but
to show the disposition of the floats and works in action, see Figure 6th, which
represents two boats E, E, that must be connected together by proper fram-.
ing, &c., which framing may pass between the upper and lower line of floats.
The boats are placed parrell'd with the current F, F, F, F, and between
them is fixed on a proper angle with the current the floats and machinery G;
here 12 floats are constantly acted upon by the current, though in this as in
the windmill the number is not limited; the longer are the boats the longer
will be the line of floats and the power is increased in proportion. It is to
be observed, that the floats should always be made as deep as the current
will admit of, for in this, as in the windmill, you gain power without losing
time. The drum wheels, chains, and axles and wheels, are the same as for
the windmill, but as water is a steadier power than wind, the springs are
not required to. this, and are omitted in the Drawing of the lower sails.
3.
:

page_text: Figure 7th represents the improved machinery for a water mill, or a mill so
called as receiving its power from a fall of water. A, the upper water, and
flowing out at B. C, the lower or back water. D, are two or more metal
wheels, through which passes a shaft. These wheels have on them cogs or
stumps E, see Figure 8th, at regulated distances, that is, about the depth of
the buckets. Over these wheels work a connexion of buckets F, F; these
buckets are united by metal joints and pins, see I, Figure 9th. H, H, repre-
sents the end of a bucket in large; two or more of these joints (according to
the length of the buckets or strength required) are screwed to the back at
proper distances; these joints have each in them two mortices, though only
one is in use at a time, the other is made to lighten the metal, and to form
a change should they wear. And the joints admit also of a further change,
for the mortices being at true distances they may be turned contrary ends;
these mortices are at distances, when united, corresponding with the cogs or
stumps on the wheels D, D, with which they act, so that one cog may have
hold of each bucket, to prevent the weight of water in the descending buckets
slipping the empty ones over the wheels D without effecting their purpose.
G is a framing of wood fixed in the side walls of the conduit, having on the
front of it one or two small rollers at the point H, where the buckets incline
to turn, but the frame itself is not allowed to touch the buckets unless from
accidental cause, when it serves to steady them. The buckets may be of the
usual form as for the present overshot wheels, and may be formed of wood,
iron, or other materials; the sides and ends are secured together, but the
bottom board or plate I make to open inwards by joints or pivots fixed
to the back; and this board or plate which acts as a valve, and rests when
down on a narrow ledge on the inside of the sides and ends of the bucket, to
which it is made to fit close, or it may be made with the bottom board or
plate fixed, and in that may be formed a valve to open; either one or the
other method I always use, or every bucket has in rising out of the lower
water to raise the whole water it contains the depth of each bucket. The
water being let on at B, and the buckets being filled from thence to the
lower water C, which is the extent of the fall, they overpower the resistance,
and when immersed and incline to turn round at bottom, the bottom board
or valve opens, permitting them to pass freely through the lower water, ascend-
ing up to the wheel on the opposite side, bottom upwards; but before they
arrive at the point B to receive another supply of water, the bucket is in its
right position for it, and the valve closes for another operation. This action
of the connexion of the buckets pulls round the wheels D by their circum-
ference, which is the extremity of the lever, to the shaft of which is fixed or

page_text: coupled the manufacturing machinery, so that every one hundred pounds of
water employed in the fall acts with its full gravity on the lever, that is, pro-
ducing 100 lbs. of power (setting aside friction); whereas by the plan of
employing the water on the semi-circumference of a wheel, as the present
overshot and breast, every 100 lbs. of water so employed produces only 50 lbs.
of power (setting aside friction); the still greater loss of employing undershots,
which act by impetus or force of water is so well known as to be almost
unnecessary for me to mention, being allowed to be double that of the over-
shot and breast, or that 100 lb. produces only 25 lb. of power (setting aside
friction); so that overshot and breast wheels lose the effect of full one half
and undershots three fourths of the water employed, independent of minor
defects, as those of the buckets losing part of their water before they arrive
at the extent of the fall, and that the width of one bucket in an overshot
and half a one in the breast wheel, is constantly lost in the fall.
The machinery for cattle mills is upon the same principle as for the wind
and floating mill, being a connexion of planks united by joints, and having at
their ends wheels travelling in a channel of the framing round two drum
wheels B and C, Figure 10th, to the axle of which is fixed the manufacturing
machinery, &c. The drum at B, if preferred, may be placed lower than that
at the head of the horses C, so as to cause the cattle to act in part by their
gravity, as upon an inclined plane. The cattle drawing from a fixed point A,
and pulling round the drum wheels B and C, with the machinery, &c. by the
power of their fect, enables them work constantly in a strait line, by which
means they travel much faster with much greater ease, and performing much
more work than by being constrained to travel round a circle.
Note, it may be necessary for me to observe, there is a similarity in appear-
ance between my plan of working mills by a fall of water and a method
published several years ago by Dr. Desaguliers; had the doctor's method
proved useful for moderate or small falls, or perfect for great falls of water,
any other plan might have been unnecessary, but the machinery is defective,
the friction and obstructions operate too much against the power gained, and
though in very extensive falls the disadvantages are less in proportion, they
are too great to be of general utility.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Watts, hath hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and ten.
WILLIAM (L.S.) WATTS.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of March, in
the fiftieth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, the said
William Watts came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the forty-eighth
year of His said Majesty's reign.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day March, One thousand eight hundred and
ten.