IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Gentle and Joseph Allmark, of Oldham,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TURBINES."
Sealed the 1st December 1865, and dated the 5th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Gentle and
Joseph Allmark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 5th June 1865.
We, THOMAS GENTLE and JOSEPH ALLMARK, of Oldham, in the County.
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TURBINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a hollow shaft with a raised chamber in the
centre, in which chamber is placed or cast a number of tubes or water
passages in a curved form, gradually receding from the centre, the whole
forming a circle, of which there may be one or more. The outer ends of the
tubes or water passages are reduced so as to make in the aggregate a less area
than the hollow shaft, thus causing the water to be well backed up in its
passage through the tubes, and causing the shaft to rotate. In some cases we
place over the tubes a chamber with a passage for conveying away the water
after it has passed through the tubes, the chamber being provided with one or

page_text: more air valves to assist the water in its exit. The water is admitted through
each end of the hollow shaft into the raised chamber first mentioned, from
whence it passes through the tubes either into the last-mentioned chamber or
channel of escane.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Gentle and Joseph Allmark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
GENTLE and JOSEPH ALLMARK, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, ler heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Thomas Gentle and Joseph Allmark, Her special license that we,
the said Thomas Gentle and Joseph Allmark, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Gentle and Joseph
Allmark, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "INPROVEMENTS IN
TURBINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas
Gentle and Joseph Allmark, our
administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
executors or
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Gentle and Joseph Allmark,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
This Invention consists of a hollow shaft with a raised chamber in the
centre, in which chamber is placed or cast a number of tubes or water
passages in a curved form, gradually receding fron the centre, the whole

page_text: forming a disc or circle, of which there may be one or more. The outer ends
of the tubes or water passages are reduced so as to make in the aggregate a
less area than the feed pipe, thus causing the water to be backed up in its
passage through the tubes, and causing them and the shaft to rotate. In
some cases we place over the tubes a shell or casing with a passage for
conveying away the water after it has passed through the tubes, the shell or
casing being provided with one or more apertures or air valves to assist the
water in its exit from the shell. The water is admitted through each end of
the hollow shaft into the raised chamber first mentioned, from whence it
passes through the tubes either into the shell or casing, or into any other
channel of escape. We modify the foregoing arrangement of turbine by
fixing or casting to the hollow shaft one or more wheels or runners, each
having in it a number of water passages of a curved shape and of any
required width. The said passages, as in all our improved turbines, gradually
recede from the centre of the shaft and are reduced in area at their discharge
ends.
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters ou the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are
vertical sections of one of our improved turbines adapted for small supplies of
water; Figs. 3 and 4, vertical sections of a more powerful turbine ; Fig. 5,
a section of one of our turbine wheels or runners having oblong water
passages; Fig. 6, a vertical section of one of our turbines of the larger class;
and Fig. 7, a vertical section, and Fig. 8, a plan of another of our turbines of
the larger class, adapted for working horizontally.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a represents a hollow shaft having a raised chamber b, in
which we fix or cast a number of curved tubes or water passages c, gradually
receding from the centre of the shaft, and forming a disc or wheel which is
enclosed in the shell or casing d. At each end of the hoilow shaft a there
are thoroughfares or pipes e, through which the water is admitted to the
interior of the shaft a, to the raised chamber b, and to the tubes c, causing
them to rotate. When the hollow shaft passes through one of its bearings to
allow a pulley f to be fixed on it, we place on the shaft a cupped leather g,
similar to those used in hydraulic pumps, the water being admitted to the
convex side of the cup for pressing the leather to the shaft and preventing.
the escape of water; but when desired we employ an ordinary stuffing box
for the same purpose.
from the shell or casing we admit air into the interior through the apertures.
h, below which there is a plate or flange i, fixed across the shell d, for,
preventing the discharge water from ascending into the apertures. Wo also
For insuring the rapid escape of the discharge water.

page_text: cast or fix across the shell a number of plates for conveying the water from
the immediate proximity of the circumference of the disc or wheel to the
sides of the shell.
:
In Figs. 3 and 4 we show a combination of several discs or series of tubes
for the purpose of receiving a large supply of water and exerting more power.
To the shaft is fixed the raised chamber m, to which is cast or fixed the
tubes or water passages n. The water is admitted through the thoroughfares
or pipes o to the interior of the chamber, from whence it passes to the tubes,
and is discharged through their outer ends into the shell or casing p, the effect
of which is to cause the tubes, chamber, and shaft to rotate with rapidity and
power. The shell or casing is supplied with air through apertures, and is
provided with cross plates-similar to those shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, one plate
för preventing the ascent of the water through the apertures, and the others
for conveying the water to the sides of the shell. When there is a large
supply of water, and great power has to be exerted, we employ one or more
wheels or runners having curved water passages gradually receding from the
centre, as shewn at 9, Fig. 5, which passages are of any number and size, as
circumstances may require, it being understood that the aggregate areas of
the discharge ends must be less than the area of the supply pipe; and we
may here remark that straight tubes aud water passages placed tangentially
will effect a rotation, but not so powerful as when they are curved. In the
vertical section, Fig. 6, representing one of our improved turbines of the
larger class, we shew the application of two wheels or runners of the same
description as that shewn in Fig. 5, but smaller in diameter. The said wheels
or runners are marked r, they are fixed to each end of a horizontal shafts,
working in bearings t cast or formed on the partial covers u, which are
secured to the foundation plate v by bolts and nuts or other well-known means.
The water is admitted through the pipes w secured to the foundation plate,
and provided with sockets x, which fit on the ends y of the wheels or runners
r, there being elastic rings or stuffing boxes when required to prevent the
escape of water at the joints. The water after it has exerted its power in
turning the turbine flows away in its ordinary channel, the partial covers u
only serving to keep the discharge water from the pulley 2, or from gearing,
as the case may be, and when desired the pipes w can diverge into one at any
point between the partial covers and the top of the fall. In the vertical
section, Fig. 7, and plan, Fig. 8, we shew a very simple and economical
arrangement of one of our improved turbines; a¹ represents a vertical shaft
supported on the footstep 6', cast with the feed pipe c and foundation plate d'.
The wheel or runner el, also shewn in cross section, Fig, 5, is keyed on the shaft

page_text: a', the upper bearing of which is cast on the cover f', supported by means of
pillars g bolted firmly to the cover and foundation plate d¹. The water. is
admitted through the feed pipes c¹ to the runner, through which it passes, and
causes the runner to rotate, the discharge water flowing away in any suitable
channel. The water is admitted from the under side, and acts against the tops
of the passages, thereby counterbalancing the weight of the runner and shaft,
which arrangement is a great improvement over most other turbines. It
will be seen that in our improved turbines there is great simplicity of
construction and economy in manufacture; that the water enters direct into
the water passages, whereby the whole of the water admitted must exert its
proportionate share of power before it can possibly escape to the discharge
side of the disc or runner, thus obtaining the desideratum of saving in water,
and also that the discharge water can escape from the water passages without
retarding the speed or diminishing the power of the turbine.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be understood
that we claim,-
First, the curved tubes and water passages and their tangential position,
which position causes the water to exert its power upon the whole length of
the tube or water passage to the shell or casing.
Secondly, the admission of air to assist the discharge water in its escape
from the turbine, as all such improvements are herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Allmark, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Thomas Gentle, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this First day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within-named Joseph
Allmark, in the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JOSEPH ALLMARK. (L.s.)