Improvements in Power Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Improvements in Power Wheels.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HEYS, of 70 Market Street Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The main object of the invention, described in the present specification, is to
provide the resisting faces of the vanes or buckets of a power-wheel, which is to be
operated by force-jets of liquid, vaporous, or gaseous matter, ejected under either
natural or artificial pressure, with such a configuration, as will give to the said vanes.
or buckets the greatest possible efficiency in absorbing and transmitting the force of
the jets to the wheel.
In my preferred form the vanes are so constructed, that the force-jets are
completely, uniformly and uninterruptedly reversed in the direction of their flow,.
while in contact with the faces of the receding vanes or buckets. In other forms
the same effect is (in some of the positions that the vanes take in their receding
movement relative to the jet or jets) approached, though not completely and not.
uninterruptedly realised.
In carrying out my invention in practice, I so arrange the vanes or buckets upon
the crown of the wheel and in relation to the jet or jets, by which the wheel is
operated, that only after a given vane has been moved to a position, where it is.
acted upon by the jet at right angles to the radius, on which its front-edges stand
(that is to say, the position of highest possible efficiency), the jet is successively
intercepted by the following bucket, which then receives in its turn the impulse
from the full force of the jet.
My structural improvements may be applied to single right and left-hand vanes
or buckets or to vanes or buckets arranged in pairs aud in contact with one another
and side by side upon the crown of the wheel.
Incidentally I have devised improved means for fastening the vanes or buckets
singly or in pairs to the crown of the wheel.
My improvements will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of one of my preferred wheels, showing three
vanes or buckets in a central section through the deepest point of the cavity of the
right-hand members of the pairs, and on the plane of rotation.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section along the line m-n, Fig. 1, of a pair of vanes
or buckets together with a portion of the wheel-crown, looking towards the wheel-
crown.
Fig. 3 is a similar section of a pair of vanes or buckets, looking in a direction
opposite to that from which the section Fig. 2 is seen.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a single detached right-hand bucket, analogous
to the section, Fig. 3 of a pair of buckets.
Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section of the same single detached right-hand

page_text: vane or bucket, analogous to the section of a pair shown in Fig. 2, with a portion of
the crown of the wheel.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of the entire concave face of a pair of buckets, when spread
out on a plane, identical symbols marking identical points in such face, in this and
in Figs. 1 to 5.
Fig. 7 is a front-view of a pair of buckets with section of the base-plate,
belonging to the pair and of the wheel-crown.
Figs. 8 and 8B are sections of the cavity of a single bucket, taken parallel
with the front edges (marked k-t in Fig. 1) of the bucket and through the point q.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of about half of a wheel, having the vanes or buckets,
showing also the nozzles and jets for actuating the wheel.
Fig. 10 is an elevation and part section of about half of a wheel on the plane of
rotation, the buckets being of less perfect configuration than those shown, in Fig. 1,
nozzles and jets also being shown, illustrating the preferred method of exposure of
the vanes to the jets.
Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of apparatus in a section analogous to the
section shown in Fig. 2, the single buckets (a, a') of the pair as well as the
surmounting piece b in separate pieces, attached to one another by cheek-plates (n, n¹)
bolts (e and c) and clamps (d) and braced by brackets (1, 1) with base-plates (g, g')
in view.
Fig. 12 is a plan of a pair of vanes or buckets with lip and apron left out.
looking into the concavities thereof, showing a section of the knife b, of the
base-plates (g and g¹) and of the wheel-crown (k) on the line 1-2 of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a central longitudinal section in a plane of rotation and through the
deepest point in the cavity of a bucket along the line 3-4 in Figs. 11 and 12, and
nearly the same as shown in Fig. 10.
Figs. 14 and 14B are respectively, a cross section and a plan of a portion of the
wheel-rown, and of the base-plates, distance plates, and bevelled rings securing
the plates to the wheel-crown in a less preferred form.
Figs. 15 and 15" are diagrams showing two central cavity curves by the deepest
cavity-point (7), the Fig. 1B showing the longitudinal section in the less perfect
form of an are of less than 180°.
Fig. 16 is a diagram, in which all essential and characteristic lines in the cavity
space of a single bucket of the less perfect form are shown.
Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate some of the different ways, in which the straight faces
of the knife or lip are made continuous with the curved surfaces of the cavity of
the bucket.
Fig. 19 is a section of the plane of rotation of part of a power-wheel showing also
an improved nozzle tip, the object of which is fully described hereinafter.
It is to be understood that Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, represent the features of my
preferred form of apparatus, the remaining figures relating to modified forms
having some, but not all of the advantages of my most important improvements.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, it will be seen that I provide for using integral
pairs of buckets, mounted on the wheel-crown. The lettering of the parts in the
figures showing the modified form is different from that in the figures illustrating
the preferred form.
In Fig. 1 we see three sections of right-hand buckets of integral pairs of buckets,
but in Figs. 2 and 3 sectious of both right and left-hand members of an integral
pair of buckets
appear.
The three sections A, B and C in Fig. 1 are along the lines c-d, a-b and e-f
as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.
It will be seen that in the preferred form the two members of the bucket-pair
are cast in one with each other and that the adjoining edges of the buckets are
surmounted by a wedge shaped piece or knife v intended to divide the jet in the
central plane of the rotation of the wheel, and to direct the two parts of the jet
along the tangential sides of the knife v to the regular curve of the concave face of
the buckets.

page_text: It is immaterial whether the knife be cast in one piece with the vane or pair of
buckets, as illustrated in Fige. 2 and 3, or be secured thereto by any suitable means,
as shown in Fig. 11.
I provide the front edge of the buckets, that is farthest from the centre of the
wheel, with a lip 1, which is substantially an extension formed on a part of or on
the entire outer wall of the bucket.
The said extension or lip has for its function the interception and division of the
jet, as one vane after another passes into the jet.
The arrangement is well illustrated in Figs. 1, 9 and 10 of the drawing. The
division by the lip takes place on lines, that are parallel with the axis of the wheel.
while the division by the knife is on approximately radial lines.
The jet is first divided by the lip and afterwards by the knife.
In order to ensure, that the jet parts shall be completely and uninterruptedly
reversed in direction before leaving the buckets, I also provide aprons p p at the
edges of the buckets diagonally opposite the lip, which aprons leave the greater
portion or all of the width of the wheel crown between them.
By employing these aprons, as set forth, I complete the semi-circle of reversal
from the point where the inner tangential side of the lip joins the curved face of
the bucket cavity to the point r, at the extreme edge of the aprons. (Compare
Fig. 1.) This provision for the reversal of the jet relates to the initial impact
between jet and vane.
The reversal of the jet in the subsequent altered positions of the vane is
provided for by the curve of the buckets, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, where
the continuity of the tangential sides of the knife with the transverse curvatures
of the cavity-faces of the vane are shown.
I can complete my description of the curves of the buckets as illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, by further reference to 8 and 8B.
The said figures illustrate sections of the cavity-faces of the buckets taken on
parallel lines with the front edges (k, t,) but at a uniform distance therefrom. The
specific section shown is taken at the depth marked in Fig. 1, which letter
marks the point where the inner tangential side of the lip, after continuing in a
straight plane for some distance into the bucket cavity, evolves into the curve,
which curve from the said point 9 to the point r forms a complete semi-circle as
heretobefore stated.
It should be understood that all lines drawn in the bucket cavities parallel with
the front edges of the same and at a uniform distance therefrom, and between their
front edges and the last described section at g form parallelograms with two longer
and two shorter sides, while all the straight lines drawn in the cavity-faces at
uniform distance from the front edges between the point 9 or the section thereby,
and the deepest point in the cavity form in the preferred form of cavity, true
squares of decreasing dimensions. The so described sections are characteristic of
my preferred vane-figuration.
In the less perfect form as illustrated in Figs. 10, 12, 13, 15, and 16 all
parallelograms drawn in the bucket cavity at uniform distances from the front
edges, have two long and two short sides.
Fig. 84 shews the section of a bucket in which the corners are not rounded,
while in the bucket of which a section is shewn in Fig. 8, the corners are
rounded.
It is also essential to all varieties of my improved bucket-cavities that they
consist of four triangular sides, meeting with their four apexes in the deepest point
of the cavity, two being on opposite sides and adjoining ones standing at right
angles to one another, and each being bent in a true circular curve, each pair
forming a true circular curve and a tangent thereto, the latter being formed in one
pair by the inner side of the lip and in the other pair by one side of the knife, or
one pair only forming such curve and tangent the latter forming one side of the
knife, while the other forms a curve exclusively to the edge of the lip.
It is to be noted that in every illustrated form of my apparatus the vanes are

page_text: so shaped and arranged that the surface of the lip that is farthest from the wheel-
centre and the thereto adjacent part of the bucket wall are substantially a straight
plane and stand parallel to the jets just before the lip cuts into and intercepts
the jet.
By referring for example to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the jets stand.
substantially in line with the outside of the lips of the buckets and it will further
be seen that each jet, just before being cut by the lip of the next approaching
bucket, is acting upon the bucket in advance at its most efficient point, that is to
say, at right angles to the radius of the wheel. When it is noted that any further
advance of the jet towards the crown of the wheel within the bucket cavity would
be less effective in propelling the wheel, it will be understood that I thus arrange
for the cutting off of each jet from one vane and turning its effective force to
another vane, at the most advantageous moment.
In other words, when a jet has acted upon one vane in the most effective manner,
and practically completed its efficient work upon the said vane, I cut off the said
jet from the first named vane and throw its force upon the next succeeding vane,
keeping it there, as before, until it reaches its culminating effect, after which it is
in turn cut off as before.
Such being the main feature of my invention, I will now specify some of the
details of attachment which I have devised for securing the vanes bucket-pair
or single alternate right and left hand buckets to the crown of the wheel. The
mode of attachment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 may be briefly described. In this
form I provide a transverse undercut groove upon the wheel crown w, the same
being made to taper from one side of the crown to the other, while upon the
bottom of each vane or pair of buckets is formed a tapering dove-tailed base or
tongue g, which fits into the said groove. Ordinarily I find that by using sheet
lead packing in inserting the vanes into these grooves, they are held in place with
sufficient rigidity, by the friction of the base within the groove.
If found desirable or necessary, however, a screw may be set in from the inside
of the wheel crown to insure perfect stability. In any case I take care that the
rear edge of the groove across the wheel crown shall be parallel with the axis of
the wheel, by which means I prevent all tendency to lateral displacement of the
vanes.
In the later figures of the drawings other means of attaching the buckets are
shewn, such means consisting in part of a peripheral undercut groove around the
crown of the wheel, the same being either cut in the wheel crown or being formed
by bevelled rings K and K secured upon the wheel crown. The bases of single
buckets are then so formed as to match with each other and also to dove-tail with
the undercut groove, and pairs of buckets may be found to match with the rings K
and K', one of which may be set upon the wheel crown, after the vanes and
distance plates have been set in place.
Between each pair of buckets and the succeeding pair within the groove are
placed distance plates o, o¹, which are undercut against the bucket bases and
bevelled against the rings K K'.
In order to permit of the insertion of these base plates and distance plates, I
arrange that the last group of vanes or bucket-pairs shall be separated by three
distance plates o, o' and o", when K and Kare both integral with the wheel
crown. The operation will be obvious without further notice.
To counteract the possible effect of the vane, when entering the jet throwing
the jet out of its direction and at the same time, to counteract the disturbing effect
of gravitation upon the efficiency of free flowing jets in percussion wheels,
I illustrate in Fig. 19 a means for supporting the jets to the closest possible
proximity with the circle, in which the extreme edge of the projecting lips revolve.
To this end I provide a tube u cut away on the side turned towards the vanes on
a curved or straight line just outside the said circle of rotation.
In Figs. 1 and 9 the nozzles are marked D and the jets E: in Figs. 10 and 19,
these parts are marked u and v respectively.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a percussion-impact or impulse power wheel, a series of buckets, whose
cavities are bounded by four triangular sides meeting with their four apexes at the
deepest point of the cavity, two constituting a pair, being on opposite sides, and
adjoining ones standing at right angles to one another each being bent in a true
circular curve and each pair forming a continuous, true circular curve and a
tangent thereto, the latter being formed in one pair by the inner side of the
projecting lip, and in the other pair by one side of the knife, or only one pair-
forming such curve and tangent, while the other may form a curve without a
tangent, each pair of opposite sides ending in inverse direction.
2. In a percussion-impact or impulse power-wheel a series of buckets and nozzles
co-operating therewith the arrangement being such, that, after a jet from any
nozzle has reached the point of its highest effective action striking the bucket
substantially at right angles to the radius on which the bucket stands the next
succeeding bucket shall stand with its lip substantially parallel to the jet and in
close proximity thereto, whereby the full effective force upon the wheel is obtained
and a continued action under less favourable circumstances is intercepted.
3. In a percussion-impact or impulse power-wheel a series of buckets and nozzles
co-operating therewith, the buckets being provided at their edge farthest from the
wheel centre with a projecting jet-intercepting lip, and the nozzle tips being cut
away on the side towards the lip on a curved or straight line just outside the circle
of rotation of the front edge of the said lip, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. As a means for attaching vanes or buckets to a power-wheel, base-plates on
the said buckets bevelled on two transverse edges, the rear edge being at right angles.
to the plane of rotation, and the front one being at an angle other than a right
angle to the plane of rotation, in combination with undercut grooves transverse to
the crown of the wheel and corresponding in shape to the bases as described, as.
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of March An 1007