IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE FORCE OF FLUIDS, AIR, AND WATER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Etienne Emile Henri Rousseau, Civil Engineer of the
city of Paris in the Republic of France for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS
"C
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Etienne Emile Henri Rousseau
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1882.
ETIENNE EMILE HENRI ROUSSEAU Civil Engineer of the city of Paris in the
Republic of France IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE FORCE OF
FLUIDS, AIR, AND WATER
The apparatus the subject of the present invention is intended to utilize the
force of moving fluids, the air or the tides and so forth, without any special
construction or building wherein to work the machine, which is simple inexpensive,
easily manufactured and requires little attention when in operation. It is intended
to be employed in a similar manner to windmills, turbines, screws, hydraulic
wheels of any kind sails of vessels; for working machinery on the spot or at a
distance, in generating power for electric lighting, heating and in metallurgic
processes.
Fig 1 represents an apparatus of the description referred to seen in elevation
Fig 2 shows the frames of which the apparatus is formed with rectangular
movable blades and the mode of suspension thereof.
Fig 3 represents the method of connecting the planes formed by the frames to
collars mounted on the vertical central axis of the apparatus.
Fig 4 Is a plan view and Fig 5 shows a forked piece receiving the stop knot of
the tension cord of the planes, all which parts are hereinafter more fully described
In accordance with its varied and multiple applications so the apparatus is
formed either of one two three or more similar planes each consisting of a rigid
frame bearing juxtaposed a series of contiguous blades, and supported like a door
on hinges or some equivalent, and turns on one of its four sides in a particular
manner which is previously determined by arranging the series of blades so that
they are placed in front or rear of the axis which bears the next series of blades.

page_text: The frame then presents either a plain and impenetrable surface or leaves a free
passage to the fluid in which it moves as may be required.
The following is a description of the apparatus as employed for utilizing the
power of the wind.
A fixed vertical axis (capable of being strengthened by four
arms passing above the rest of the machine) supports three vertical planes, which
turn on the said axis and are separated one from the other about 120 degrees.
Each of these similar planes consists of a frame, rectangular for example bearing
at intervals of 50 centimetres a galvanized iron cord stretched horizontally and of
a diameter in proportion to its length, or the resistance it has to oppose. To each
horizontal rope are suspended by two or more rings or clasps, frames or rectangular
blades, measuring say 1 metre broad by 52 centimetres high. These blades which
are juxtaposed can turn on the upper cord which supports them in front to rear,
but not rear to front on account of the position of the cord or rope supporting the
series of blades immediately below. The small frames are made of rings of osier or
wood or by an iron rod bent at three points at right angles, so as to form a frame
bearing a cloth or sail surface of some material, or of bituminized paper or better
still the surfaces of these small frames consist frequently of a small thin blade of
thin sheet iron protected from oxidation and pierced with one or several holes for
receiving the catches or rings by which they move round the upper iron cord.
The horizontal stretched iron wires may in distant lands be replaced by rods or
wooden poles, and ligaments employed in lieu of hinges. Near the top of the
column or mast which serves as axis to the apparatus is a collar turning with little
friction on the mast by running on rollers borne by a piece or block fixed on the
mast. In very simple apparatus the collar turns supported by a pin or bolt
traversing the mast. The collar has 3 half rings at equal distances one from the
other, each half ring receives a ligament fixing to the collar the upper and inner
angle of one of the three planes, towards the base of each plane is another collar
also provided with half rings to serve a like purpose to the first named ones, a
third collar may be if desired placed in the centre half way between the others.
The two or three collars if three are used are connected one with the other by
metal or wooden bars which makes them solid, the vertical bars and collars
together form a muffle the end of which above the lower level of the vertical
planes is continued and bears a drum on which the endless band intended to
transmit motion is placed. This endless band passes under the circular rail which
bears the three planes at their lower and external end by means of small rollers.
The constant outspread of the three planes is assured as follows at the same time
that the facility of closing them in case of need is established. Of the three
planes A is connected to B at one part and to C to the other by ropes which unite
the upper external angles of each plane as well as the lower external angles, the
maximum of spread or extension cannot therefore exceed 120 degrees between A. B
and A. C. Two ropes of the same length connect B. C. but by pulling on a cord these
two cables can be raised at one end out of the fork (see Fig. 5) which receives their
knots or checks, in this case the planes B. C. turn on the axis and rest against the
plane A all three planes together then only present their edges to the wind and
the apparatus ceases to work. To more clearly explain this we will suppose for a
moment that the three planes resting are one against the other in front of the
spectator who is in a line with the direction of the wind. The blades whose
combination each form one of the planes, all rest to the left of the iron wire or cord
supporting the series of blades immediately below, the result is, whatever the
direction of the wind the apparatus will always turn from left to right. In con-
structing the apparatus the blades may also be placed to the right of the lower
iron cord the rotary motion will then be inverted, and the apparatus will turn from
right to left. Then supposing the two great planes B. C. led to their respective
positions, that is to say stretched away from the plane A. the third of the circum-
ference, the apparatus will at once commence to work, and will so continue without
a dead point and no matter what the direction of the wind and without any
particular care or supervision. The plane C. allows the wind to lift all its blades
:

page_text: which turning 90 degrees on the iron cord supporting them, take an horizontal
position and leave a free passage to the ambiant fluid. The plane A presenting its
edge to the wind by simple weight has all its blades resting against the horizontal
axes, and offers no resistance The plane B presents a perfectly impenetrable
surface to the wind and its blades rest against the horizontal axes more firmly, the
more energetic or violent the wind is this plane therefore easily gives to the wind's
pressure and reaches A' see Fig 4. At this juncture the plane has its blades
vertical, by the effect of the weight, the plane A has replaced the plane C. and lets
the air pass freely, the plane C in its turn opposes an impenetrable surface to the
wind and the apparatus continues to turn with a force which can be utilized
proportionate to that of the decimètre square surface of one of the frames
multiplied by the weight of a cubic diameter of air, and by the speed of the wind
at the time. Should the wind change, the apparatus will nevertheless continue
to turn in the same direction, having once been fixed in the proper position.
Supposing that each plane measures 10 mètres high by 20 mètres broad, the surface
will be 200 square mètres or 20,000 decimètres square, that the wind blows at a
speed of 10 mètres to the second and weighs 1 gramme 29 centigrammes to the
litre, we shall have constantly each second on the left part of the axes of the
apparatus a pressure equal to 30 horse power, working day and night indefinitely,
consuming nothing and costing hardly anything to set up. The great economical
and social benefits of this apparatus are simply incalculable. In large towns and
cities as well as in villages where the apparatus would be employed in the rivers
and water courses, for working mills and so forth it would tend greatly to increase
the prosperity of the population. The apparatas as used for utilizing the force of
the rivers, streams or tides is exactly similar that used for the wind. In this
case the vertical axis is solidly driven into the earth and three planes formed of
frames with movable blades are arranged as already described, their height being
equal that of the highest level of the water at its highest mark, the breadth of each
plane is less than usual in the air, the recommendation is to make each plane in
breadth, two thirds of the depth of the water, it is more difficult in the water than
in the air to make the lower portion of the planes rest on circular rails (and
concentrical if there are many) The weight of these is considerable as they are
made of cast iron for the mast and sheet iron for the blades. On the right and left
banks of the river or stream up and down the centre of the town through which a
river flows, it is easy to erect one or more series of these apparatus, the drum on
which the endless band turns for transmitting the force is above the muffle,
instead of below it as in the case for utilizing the force of the winds. It is best
also to alternate the movements of each apparatus, that is to say for one turning
left to right, the two next turn from right to left above and below the first one,
according to the flow of the water, the force of the fluid in motion will then be
best utilized. It is advisible to bind the summits of all the masts together by
light iron beams arranged at the left or right banks of the river or stream, which
in no way hinders navigation. A galvanized iron wire grating is arranged round
the parts of the waters course where the apparatus are set up.
By placing plates over the beans which are recommended, an examination of
the apparatus is easily effected, should one or other of them require attention from
some cause or other.
The constant outspread of the three planes is maintained by thin rigid rods,
having a knee at half their length, and admits of stopping any of the apparatus if
desired. Should there be on a single bank three contiguous series of 100 apparatus
with 5 mètres, depth of water, supposing the breadth of each plane equal to the
depth of the water in a length of 1 kilomètre of water course, a speed of flow of
1 mètre per second or 31 to 32 mètres broad there will be day and night 100 horse
power working without noise and gratuitously, instead of requiring steam
machinery, or gas, using 500 to 600 grammes of coal per hour per horse power, and
stokers and engine drivers whose wages are great are avoided. This enormous
force can be applied to machinery, raising water, or for compressing air with

page_text: Gramme machines, Siemens or others for transinitting motion or conveying power
at a distance to accumulators such as Plantés, Camilles, or Faurés. It should be
observed that if there is nothing to interfere with it, an apparatus such as described
No 1 of relatively small proportions may be established above a house for ventilla-
tion by supplying in hot weather quantities of compressed air which when expended
absorbs the heat and refreshes the confined atmosphere by renewing it. Also for
the production of electric currents for alarms, the automatic opening and closing of
doors.
The frames being united three and three on an axis as in the two preceding
descriptions, or two and two, are always made as described, that is rigid with
blades which can oscillate or be raised so that the frame moves from front to rear
bottom to top, so that the fluid to which the surface is exposed finds a free passage,
and also from rear to front top and bottom, the circumscribed surface either plain
or curvilinear is impenetrable and opposes an absolute resistance which is the
general principle
In witness whereof I the said Etienne Emile Henri Rousseau have hereunto
set my hand and seal this thirty first day of July in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ETIENNE EMILE HENRI ROUSSEAU.