IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER BY MEANS OF THE WIND
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jean Olivier at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st October
1868..
I, JEAN OLIVIER, of No. 58, Rue Moreau St. Antoine, in the Empire
of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
BY MEANS OF THE WIND," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a machine intended to utilize in the most
complete manner the motive power of the wind, whatever may be its
force or direction, and to regulate the same either automatically,
mechanically, or by hand, according to the effect desired.
The driving wheel or motor upon which the wind acts is formed
with vanes, helicoïds, winding surfaces, or inclined planes, more or less
in number according to the size of the wheel, and so arranged as to
utilize as completely as possible the motive power of the wind. These
vanes are attached to a vertical main driving shaft by two or more
horizontal plates keyed on the shaft or by a suitable number of arms.
The driving wheel thus constructed is placed in a polygonal belvidere or
cage fixed on the highest part of the works which it is intended to drive.

page_text: This belvidere is formed of a series of upright posts more or less in
number according to the dimensions of the wheel, and covered with a
roof. The part comprised between the posts and corresponding to the
height of the vanes is open, the lower part is closed by wainscoting or
woodwork. In grooves made in the lateral faces of the posts slide
panels, moved by cords or chains passing over carrier pulleys, and
having counterpoise weights at their ends. By means of these panels
the whole or any part of the openings between the posts can be closed.
It follows that when the wind is required to give motion to the wheel it
suffices to open an area (proportioned to the force of the wind) of the
two diametrically opposite spaces which are in the direction of the current
of air, and to completely close the rest. Thus the effect of the counter
current which diminish the useful effect of the wheel is annulled, and
the whole force of the wind in its natural direction is completely utilized.
The panels being in equilibrio may easily be opened and closed by hand,
but it will be readily understood that their action may be produced
mechanically by windlasses, toothed gearing, racks, or screws. It can
also, when the size of the works permits, be made to act automatically
by means of a governor analogous to that of a steam engine, which
according as the speed of the motor or driving wheel is greater or less
than desired, or by the force of the wind itself, or by the greater or less
amount of power expended, shall by suitable gearing raise or lower the
panels so as to offer more or less surface to the action of the wind.
This arrangement also possesses the advantage of a means of
All
regulating the action of the motor without leaving the works.
that is required is to have a wind vane which indicates in the interior
the direction of the wind, and then to operate the movable panels
corresponding to this direction.
This apparatus may be applied to obtain motive power for corn or oil
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