IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smethurst, of Landgate House, Bryun, near
Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Colliery Proprietor, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smethurst at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1880.
WILLIAM SMETHURST, of Landgate House, Bryun, near Wigan, in the County
of Lancaster, Colliery Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS."
My Invention, which relates to improvements in rotary fans or blowers, consists
of a drum fixed to and revolving with a driving shaft, upon which also is a
stationary eccentric, that is to say, an eccentric which does not revolve, the
eccentric which is situated within the drum having a strop upon it, from which
extend radially arms working in centres and jointed to wings which protrude
through the periphery of the drum. The drum and the wings revolve together,
but eccentrically with each other, and in such a manner that at no point of the
periphery of the drum the radius of the wings does not extend beyond the said
periphery, but is below or on a level with it, but that at an opposite point of the
periphery the wings protrude to their full extent, this point being situato whero
the wings are producing effect, whether blowing or exhausting.
By this arrangement the retarding force is reduced to a minimum, as the wings
only protrude from the drum to the full extent where effect is required, and by
this arrangement also the casing at one point can be brought close against the
drum so as to prevent the return of the fluid acted upon.
The eccentric strap may be connected to the drum so as to revolve with it by
rigidly attaching one of the wings to the said strap.
The apparatus may be applied either by blowing or exhausting, according to the
direction in which it is driven.
The improvements hereinbefore described with reference to fans or blowers are
equally applicable to pumps for water and other liquids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Smethurst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
August 1880.
WILLIAM SMETHURST, of Landgate House, Bryun, near Wigan, in the County
of Lancaster, Colliery Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS."
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in rotary fans or blowers, and
which is also applicable to pumps, consists of a rotary drum carrying a number of
blades or wings which are caused to protrude through the periphery of the drum
at the required time to produce effect, whether blowing or exhausting, and then to
recede again within the drum so as to reduce to a minimum the retarding effect
of the blades as the drum rotates, the blades or wings only protruding from the
drum to their full extent where effect is required. By this arrangement the casing
in which the drum rotates can be brought at one point close against the drum so as
to prevent the return of the fluid acted upon.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represent respectively
a longitudinal section and a transverse section of a fan, blower, or exhauster
constructed according to my said Invention.
A is the rotating drum keyed or otherwise connected to the shaft B, which is
supported in standards C, C¹, and is provided with a driving pulley D, by means
of which rotatory motion is imparted to the drum A from any suitable prime
mover.
The drum A is fitted to rotate in a case E, which may if desired entirely enclose
the drum or (as shown) only partially enclose it, and which is connected to or forms
a continuation of the duct or passage F, along which the fluid acted upon is impelled
or caused to pass.
G is a stationary or nonrotating eccentric provided with a loose strap or
collar H, and secured by means of a key a and a screwed nut I to the
standard 0¹.
The drum A is provided with a number of radiating blades or wings K, which
aro connected by means of links L to the strap or collar H.
The pins or bolts 6 which connect the blades or wings to the links -L work in
slots c in the sides or ends of the drum A, consequently upon rotating the said
drum the blades or wings will be caused to rotate with it, whilst the loose strap
or collar H is also caused to rotate round the stationary eccentric G by one of the
pins or bolts & which connect the links L to the collar H engaging in slots e in
the ends of the drum. Assuming therefore that the drum is being rotated in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, and acting as a blower, each blade
or wing K in succession will, by the eccentric motion of the strap or collar H, bo
caused to protrude gradually more and more through the slots f in the periphery
of the drum during one half of a revolution, videlicet, from the point g to tho
point h, at which latter point (where their full effect is required) they will protrude
to their full extent. During the other half revolution of the drum, or as the blades
are travelling from the point to the point g, the blades are caused to gradually
recede within the drum until they arrive at the point g, where they will be flush
or level with the periphery of the drum, as shewn.
By causing the blades or wings to protrude and recede in the manner herein-
before described, the resistance to the rotation of the drum by the blades or
wings is reduced to a minimum, whilst the drum may be fitted to rotate so

page_text: close to the casing at the point gas to entirely prevent the return of the fluid
acted upon.
It is obvious that by slightly modifying the apparatus in a manner which
will readily suggest itself to practical men, it may also be used as a pump.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
A rotary fan, blower, or pump, constructed and arranged so as to operate
substantially in the manner herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smethurst, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TITET
WILL SMETHURST. (LS.)