Improvements in Wind or Fluid Motors and Reefing, Furling, and Lubricating Gear for the same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
Improvements in Wind or Fluid Motors and Reefing, Furling, and
Lubricating Gear for the same.
CHARLES HAWKINS 53 Duncombe Road Hornsey Rise, London, N. Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
«
Hitherto with Windmills as usually constructed it has been necessary to erect a tall
Tower or Framework rather higher than the length of the sail-arms or whips" so as
to keep them clear of the ground as the mill revolves. The object of my Invention is
to dispense with this tall tower and to arrange the sails so as to be more efficiently
acted upon by the wind.
In carrying these improvements into effect, upon the ground or upon any roof or
building I pivot a freely revolving table or platform and upon this platform I erect
suitable bearings to carry a main axle which I incline to the horizon at a convenient
angle between the horizontal and the vertical, the best angle being 45 degrees. This
main axle has attached to it-beyond or behind the centre of the platform away from
the wind-a number of sail-arms or whips" but instead of standing out
perpendicularly to the axle I incline mine backwards towards the axle at about
45 degrees.
**
This inclination of the axle together with the inclination of the sail-arms effects a
most important result, for each sail-arm during a revolution when it comes to the top
stands vertical as it does in the ordinary mill-for 45 and 45 makes 90 degrees with
the horizon while also when the sail-arm reaches the bottom or lowest part of its
revolution it is then in a horizontal direction, and so clears the ground or other objects
without being raised on any tall structure.
Another important result accrues from this arrangement, for as just stated the lowest
sail-arm being in a horizontal direction and the others at intermediate points between
it and the vertical but all the sails trending backwards and being beyond the centre of
the revolving platform away from the wind, the wind acts upon them as on a weather
vane and keeps the inclined main axle pointed away from the wind so that no extra
adjusting gear is required, the mill automatically adjusting itself as the wind veers.
In arranging the angle of the sails, I prefer to attach the sail-arms to the axle

page_text: tangentially to such a degree that together with the angle of the sails upon them will
throw each sail edgeways as it comes on its upward course towards the wind and then
after this position as it moves to the top it will gradually present more surface at
which latter point it will stand vertically at an angle averaging about 45 degrees to
the wind across the width of the sail-this being the most efficient angle-then
leaving the top and moving downwards it will gradually present a broader surface to
the wind and then inclining itself backwards till it reaches the lowest position the
angle to the wind will then be again about degrees but in the lengthways of the
sail. From this point till it reaches the position started with it will gradually
withdraw its surface until it is edgeways and again moving up into the face of
the wind.
A Motor arranged in this manner has also the advantage that it will not work itself
out of the wind," for the resistance offered by the work done will only cause it to
veer a little to one side, which will bring another sail edge on to the wind on the
approaching side and put threa sails on the other and working side more broadly to
the wind in a six sail Mill.
I also arrange to hinge or pivot the sails to the sail-arms for furling or reefing
purposes to act automatically or by hand but contrary to the usual practice, if the
force of the wind increases I do not allow it to slip past the sails but cause them to
more effectively hold it and so increase the speed of the Motor: but if the pressure of
the wind reaches beyond a certain point at which it would become dangerous, then a
relief or safety action opens passages for the wind.
As this Motor is intended to run at high velocities it becomes important to have
efficient. Lubrication to the Bearings. I therefore make a continuous band or rope of
flannel or other absorbent material-or a band fitted with bristles like a brush-so
that when carried over a pulley on or over the axle and hanging down below into a
vessel filled with oil, soapy water, or other Lubricant it will carry some of the
Lubricant along with it and by applying proper wipers against the band the Lubricant
will be taken and run or be conducted by channels to the Bearings, all surplus supply
running back to the oil vessel.
In the case of using this Motor to be acted upon by water, the construction will be
the same, except the support for the inclined axle which may be carried in a pipe or
channel, or from a Boat or Barge, or any fixture to the bed of a river.
Power may be taken off the main axle by any of the usual modes, by shafting,
rods &c. passing through the centre of the pivotted platform in the case of a Wind
Motor, and by an extension of the axle itself in the case of a Water Motor.
Dated this 31st day of March 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Wind or Fluid Motors and Reefing, Furling, and
Lubricating Gear for the same.
CHARLES HAWKINS 53 Duncombe Road, Hornsey Rise London, N. Engineer 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:
6
"
Hitherto with Windmills as usually constructed it has been necessary to erect a tall
Tower or framework rather higher than the length of the sail-arms or whips So as
to give room for them to revolve clear of the ground.
Now the object of my Invention is to obviate or dispense with such Tower, and to
arrange the sails so as to be more efficiently and readily acted upon by the wind. My
improvements are illustrated by the sheet of drawings accompanying this specification:
where Fig. 1. represents a side view and Fig. 2. a front view (without the pivot and
gearing) of my improved Wind Motor, the line indicating the surface of the ground
or highest part of any building that the sails have to clear.
To carry my improvements into effect I pivot upon the ground, or upon any roof,
or building a freely revolving table or platform A, Fig. 1. Then upon the platform Í
erect suitable bearings in which I carry a main axle B. Figs. 1 and 2, which I inclina
to the horizon at any convenient angle-the best being 45 degrees as shown in Fig. 1.
This axle has attached to it-beyond or behind the centre of the platform away from
the wind a number of sail-arms carrying sails numbered 1 to 6, Figs. 1 and 2. (for
simplicity of illustration the sail-arms are shown broad and thin forming thus the sail-
arm and sail in one piece). These sail-arms do not stand out perpendicularly to the
axle B but incline backwards to the axle at about 45 degrees (thus it somewhat
resembles an umbrella half opened, the sail-arms representing the umbrella ribs).
This inclination of the sail-arms to the axle in combination with the inclination of the
axle to the horizon effects a most important result; for during a revolution of the
Motor each sail-arm when it comes to the top stands vertical as it does in the ordinary
Windmill; for 45 and 45 makes 90 degrees with the horizon, while when the sail-arm
reaches the bottom or lower part it then lays in a horizontal direction or parallel to
the ground, which it consequently clears without the Motor having to be placed on
any high structure--see Fig. 1.
Another important result is caused by this arrangement, for as just stated the lowest
sail-arm being in a horizontal direction and the others at intermediate positions
between it and the vertical but all the sails trending or leaning backwards, and being
also beyond the centre of the pivotted platform, the wind-should it change to the
side acts upon
them as on a wind vane and keeps the inclined axle B pointed away
from the wind so that the Motor automatically and immediately adjusts itself as the
Wind veers.
The small arrows pointing towards the Motor show the direction of the
wind.

page_text: In arranging the sails I attach the sail-arms to the axle tangentially-that is they are
set over to one side-see Fig. 2-the amount of which I determine according to the
inclination of the axle B-the lesser the inclination so the nearer I prefer to set the
sail-arms to the radial position, and vice versa-this is to canse in combination with
the angle or ८८
weather of the sails, each sail to be thrown edgeways as it comes on
its upward course towards the wind-see No. 5, Figs. 1 and 2, and then after this
position as it moves to the top, as No. 6, it will gradually present more surface, at
which latter point-No. 1--it will stand vertically at an angle or weather" of about
45 degrees (this being the most efficient angle). Then leaving the top and moving
downwards it will gradually present its surface still more flatwise to the wind as No. 2-
and then inclining itself backwards-as No. 3-till it reaches the lowest position when
the angle or " weather" will then again be about 45 degrees; but now in the
lengthways of the sail. From this point till it reaches the position started with, it
will gradually withdraw its surface as No. 4-until it is edgeways again and moving
up into the face of the wind. Six sails are here shown but any number may be
arranged, making them narrow if a great number, and broad if few. A Motor
arranged in this manner has also the advantage that it will not work itself "out of
the wind." To prevent which, I adopt the large internal bevil wheel C-Fig. 1--
rather than gear by an ordinary and smaller wheel at the lower end of the axle, thus,
the resistance offered by the work done will cause the Motor to veer a little towards
the working side, putting three sails more broadly and efficiently to catch the wind in
a six sail Motor while the sails on the approaching side become more edgeways.
If required, I arrange to hinge or pivot the sails to the Motor for furling or
regulating purposes; to act automatically or by hand-see Figs. 3. 4 and 5-where
Fig. 3. shows a view of a hinged sail in plan, or as seen on its upper edge. Figs. 4
and 5 being sectional elevations of part of such sail. The sails are formed in such
cases of a frame D hinged at D' to the Motor and supported by a spring at D². The
frame carries a number of boards or valves E which are made to turn by the levers F
and rod G. Attached to one of the boards is the projecting piece H having a slot
along its length perpendicular to the board with a cross slot near the hinge, and into
the slot is placed a pin or supporter I held by the body or frame of the Motor. The
action of this arrangement is, that when the wind blows with a moderate force the
sails stand as in Fig. 3 at the angle giving the greatest effort and so starts the Motor
against a considerable load. If the force of the wind increases, D turns on the
hinge D, forcing back the spring at D2 thereby increasing the angle the sail makes
with the wind and so keeps the effort of impulse about the same as before but greatly
increases the speed of the Motor. If the force of the wind becomes so great as to be
dangerous it will force the sail still further backwards till it reaches the position
shown by dotted lines, when the supporter I (sliding in the slot H) comes against the
board E and instantly tilts it and its companions; so opening a free passage and
escape for the wind.
It will be seen that the supporter I by means of the slot in HI
keeps the boards E always flatwise however much the sail may oscillate on its hinge,
till such time as a dangerous pressure is reached. This is contrary to the usual
practice, which is, that as the force of the wind increases, the holding power, or the
area of the sails becomes less; the wind being allowed to slip past but by my system
the Motor will start against a load with a moderate wind and if the wind increases I
do not allow it to slip past but cause the sails the better to hold it till such time as a
dangerous pressure is reached, when an instant relief is given. The eye at the end of
the rod J is for the purpose of attaching means as seen in Fig. 6-for pulling back
the sails by hand until the valves are tilted and thus stopping the Motor.
Fig. 6 represents a Motor on an axle B, less inclined than in Fig. 1, and carrying
hinged sails as just described. The axle is cranked so as to work a pump direct by
means of the rod K, which is fitted with a "Hooke's "or a ball-joint at each end to
allow for vibration anyway according as the Motor may stand. The rod K passes
down through a cylindrical part L forming the pivot, which is in one piece and turns
with, the upper part carrying the bearings. Underneath the part forming the outer
ring is placed rollers-M-to enable the Motor to swing round easily.

page_text: --
As these Motors are intended to run at high velocities at times it becomes important
to have efficient Lubrication to the bearings. I therefore make a continuous band or
rope see N. Fig. 6-of flannel or a band fitted with bristles like a brush-carried
over a pulley on or above the axle, as at 0, and hanging down into a vessel P filled
with oil, soapy water or other lubricant, it will carry some of the lubricant along with
itself over the pulley and so against proper wipers, when the lubricant will be taken
off and run by pipes or channels to the bearings: all surplus running back to the
vessel P. In Fig. 1, no band is required to conduct the lubricant, for the large
wheel C will answer the purpose if fitted with bristles around its periphery-as shown.
These bristles dip into the oil shown in the lower part of the platform A and hold it
till they come against the wiper which takes it off and conducts it to the upper
bearing. Enough oil or lubricant is put into the platform to entirely cover the lower
bearing and also the small toothed wheel R gearing with C. This effectually lubricates
the wheels and also the driving shaft attached to R; for the lubricant passes down the
pivot and fills it; but is prevented from running out by a stuffing box and gland at
the lower end-as at S.
For Motors to be used in water the construction will be similar except the bearings
supporting the inclined axle, which may be in a closed pipe or channel or attached to
a Boat or any fixture to the bed of a river; and if desired, the Motor may be reversed,
that is the current may come towards the hollow. side of the Motor, in the opposite
direction to the arrows, also the horizontal vane may come above and the vertical vane
below the axle.
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. The construction of Wind Motors having axes inclined or leaning away from the
wind, as herein described and shown, B. Figs. 1. 2 and 6.
2. The construction of Wind Motor Sails which have their direction and angle so
arranged to the axis that they "feather" or come edgeways at a part of their course,
and act also as wind vanes to keep the Motor facing the wind, in the manner as
described and shown Figs. 1. 2 and 6.
3. The method of binging and supporting the sails of Wind Motors whereby an
increasing pressure of wind causes them to stand more squarely or flatwise to the
same, and gives relief when a dangerous pressure is reached; as described and shown
Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
1. The mode of lubricating the Bearings, substantially as described and shown
Figs. 1 and 6.
5. The application of any of these improvements to other forms of wind Motors.
6. The application of similar Motors to be worked by water.