IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Captain William Henry Cutler, of Salthill Housė, near
Slough, in the County of Bucks, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TURBINES."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 12th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Cutler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1877.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM HENRY CUTLER, of Salthill House, near Slough, in the
County of Bucks. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in turbines.
In turbines as they are usually constructed there is a heavy pressure upon
the foot step or lower bearing; by my improved method of construction this is
avoided, and the weight of the turbine is balanced automatically by the head of
water.
The water is conducted to the turbine by a conduit terminating in an upright
cylinder, around the periphery of which, at the upper end, are openings. At the
openings there are directing plates, and between the directing plates the water
passes to the wheel. The top of this cylinder is closed by a plate, through which
however holes are formed to permit a small quantity of water to pass. In the
centre of this plate is the bottom bearing for the axis of the turbine wheel. This
wheel consists of a disc, carrying around its outer edge and on its under side curved
inclined plates arranged to receive the water as it issues from between the fixed
directing plates already referred to. On the under side of the disc there is a raised
ring or flange enclosing a cavity between the disc and the plate forming the top of
the conduit, into which cavity however water can enter by the holes provided for
the purpose.
The pressure of the water within the cavity supports the weight of the wheel,
lifting it slightly until the pressure is relieved by the escape of water beneath the
lower edge of the ring or flange. In this way whatever be the head of water to
which the turbine is exposed (so long as it is sufficient) the pressure in the cavity
will be maintained at just the amount necessary to sustain the weight of the
wheel.
In order to prevent the accumulation of mud at the bottom of the conduit I

page_text: continue the bottom of the conduit with a suitable sweep to an outlet furnished
with a weighted cover which is lifted from time to time to permit the stream to
sweep the mud away.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Henry Cutler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
September 1877.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM HENRY CUTLER, of Salthill House, near Slough, in the
County of Bucks. IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES."
•
This Invention has for its object improvements in turbines.
In turbines as they are usually constructed there is a heavy downward pressure
upon the foot step or bearing which takes the weight of the moving parts; by my
improved method of construction this is avoided, as the pressure of the head water
is brought to bear on a sufficient surface of the under side, either of the turbine itself
or of a separate disc fixed on the same shaft as the turbine, and adjusts itself so as
to balance the weight or downward pressure automatically.
This method of 1
balancing the weight or downward pressure of turbines is applicable to all kinds of
turbines which work horizontally with a vertical spindle.
The accompanying Drawing shows the application of this Invention to what I
consider to be the best arrangement of turbine. The head water which is to work
the turbine is admitted at A into the cylindrical chamber B which is closed at top 2
by a cover I. Around the periphery of the upper part of the cylinder B are open-
ings K, through which the water passes to the turbine wheel L which surrounds
this part of the cylinder. The turbine wheel is carried on the under side of a disc
E which is fast on the shaft M; the lower end of this shaft is received in a bearing?
in the centre of the fixed disc or cover I. From the centre of the cover I also 2
descends a tubular columu p; this column at its lower end is secured to the
bottom of the inlet passage A. In the column is a slot s, through which a small
quantity of the head water is allowed to pass, and from thence it can proceed
through or between the strips of lignum vitae which compose the steadiment
bearing r to the shallow cylinder C on the under side of the disc E, so that the 3
whole area of the cylinder C is subjected to the upward pressure of the head water.
The head water can also, if desired, be admitted to the cylinder C through holes &
in the fixed cover I of the cylindrical chamber B. The cylinder C is of such an
area that the upward pressure of the head water, unless some of it can escape, will
be in excess of the weight or downward pressure of the moving parts of the turbine, 3
which would, except for this arrangement, rest on the bearing, and the excess of
upward pressure is relieved automatically by the working parts of the turbine,
rising very slightly, and allowing so much of the head water to escape between the
bottom edge of the cylinder C and the top edge of the shallow cylinder F, which is
on the top of the cover I, as will cause the weight or downward pressure to be 4
exactly balanced by the reduced upward pressure. The water which escapes
between the edges of the two cylinders is free to pass away through the holes f.
A vory slight rise of the moving parts of the turbine will make a very large opening
for the head water to escape between the edges of the two cylinders and through
the holes, &c., and as the quantity of head water which can gain admittance 4
into the two cylinders C and F is limited by the size of the openings between the
strips of lignum vitæ which compose the bearing r and the size of the holes d, if
any, in the bottom of the cylinder F, it follows that whatever be the head of water
to which the turbine is exposed (so long as it is sufficient, or the arca exposed to
the upward pressure is not too small) the pressure in the cavity will be maintained 5
at just the amount necessary to sustain the weight of the moving parts of the tur-
bine. In this way no oil is required to lubricate the steadiment bearing 7, and as

page_text: the pressures in B and C are nearly equal the water only flows through or between
the strips of lignum vitæ which compose the bearing at too low a velocity to
cause any perceptible wear.
In some cases, if it be desired to reduce the friction between the revolving turbine
and the water which sustains it, air under pressure may be continuously pumped in
small quantities by a small force pump into the water in the cylinders C and F, so
that the turbine wheel would for the most part rest upon and be supported by a
body of compressed air interposed between it and the water. O is a valve which
can be raised or lowered by the lever T. to control the admission of head water to
the turbine wheel.
In order to prevent the accumulation of mud at the bottom of the chamber BI
continue the bottom of the chamber, as shown in the Drawing, with a suitablo
sweep to an outlet furnished with a weighted cover H, which is lifted from time to
time to permit the steam to sweep the mud away.
•
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. Supporting and automatically balancing turbine wheels by the pressure of
the head water brought to bear upon the under side of the turbine itself or upon a
disc on the same shaft.
Second. The construction of turbines, substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the Drawing annexed.
Third. The method of clearing away the accumulation of mud from the chamber
B by means of raising the weighted lever H.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Cutler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-seven.
117 TT
כת זתדדם
표,
W. H. OUTLER. (L.S.)