Improvements in Water Wheels and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Wheels and the like.
I, DANIEL HUG, of No. 918 18th Street, Denver, Arapahoe County, Colorado,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to water wheels, and more particularly to the improvement
of the buckets thereof, and consists of a novel construction of the same, whereby
the fluid which is discharged against said bucket is separated into two streams
which are caused to diverge and be discharged from opposite portions of the
bucket in such a manner that the whole reactionary force of the water or other
actuating fluid is utilized, in addition to the direct force of the impinging jet.
It further consists of novel means for cheaply and expeditiously attaching the
buckets to the desired portion of the water wheel, whereby they can he readily and
quickly repaired in case of accident, and when in position are braced and secured
in a most effective manner.
It further consists of a novel construction of protector or casing which is adapted
to inclose that portion of the wheel which is in proximity to the jet or nozzle.
It further consists of novel details of construction all as will be hereinafter fully
set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section of a portion of a water
wheel having attached thereto buckets embodying my invention, certain of said
buckets being shown in elevation.
Figure 2 represents a section on line y, y, Figure 1, showing the relative
positions of the bucket, and the casing or protector therefor.
Figure 3 represents a section on line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the front of the bucket in detached
position.
Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the back of the bucket in detached
position.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Referring to the drawings:
A designates a portion of the water wheel, the same being provided with a
suitable hub (not shown) from which extend the spokes B to the rim C, the
structure of the latter in cross section being indicated in Figure 2.
D designates slots which are located at certain intervals in the rim C, it being
noted that said slots are in the present instance at an angle to the radius of the
wheel, said slots being adapted for the reception of the tongue or tenons E of the
bucket F, the front and rear view of said buckets being clearly understood from
Figures 2, 4 and 5.
H designates the base of the bucket, the same inclining slightly downwardly,
and having its edge J slightly concaved as will be evident from Figures 2, 3 and 4.
K designates chambers having the base H and the rear walls L of said chambers
being curved, so that as little resistance as possible is offered to the flow of the
water or other fluid, the two chambers K being separated by the apex M, which
extends from the base H to the V-shaped upper wall N, between which and the
outer wall N of the bucket are formed the chambers l', the same being continuous
with the chambers K and discharging in diverging directions, it being noted that

page_text: said chambers P gradually contract towards the outlet, thus having the function of
a nozzle, whereby a retardation is caused to the flow of the water, thus permitting
the re-actionary force of the water to be applied to the buckets as is evident.
Q designates a shoulder or abutment which is attached to the rear portion of the
bucket, and has its top R adapted to contact with the outer perimeter of the rim C,
which latter also contacts with the top R' of said bucket when the parts are
assembled.
S designates an extension which is given to the tongue or tenon E of said
bucket, whereby stock is provided for the passage therethrough of holes for the
pins T, it being noted that said pins do not pass through the rim C. but rest
transversely on the inner periphery thereof, the above device forming a cheap,
convenient and effective means for expeditiously assembling the buckets in
position, and being greatly superior to any device in which a threaded stem and
engaging nut are employed to secure the buckets in position, since in this latter
construction, the threaded stem and consequently the bucket, must be of wrought
iron and the expense of making the bucket of this material and of cutting the
threads on the stem and providing the necessary nuts is a grave objection to this
mode of fastening.
By my invention however, I simply core the slots D in the ring C in practice,
and the buckets being produced in any convenient manner, it is only necessary to
pass the tongue E through a slot and insert the locking pin in place.
In case it is desired to remove or replace the bucket, the pin can be readily
withdrawn by any handy implement, whereas when a threaded stem and nut are
employed, the same invariably become rusted together and difficult of removal
without the proper implements, which are often not at hand.
U designates a protector or casing employed, which is preferably located at the
lower portion of the wheel, adjacent to the inlet nozzle D, the wheel being shown
in the present instance used as an undershot wheel, said protector or casing U
being preferably made in halves or sections, and consisting of the upright flanges V,
which are secured to suitable supports by means of the bolts W or other devices,
each section of the protector having a lateral inwardly extending flange X, which
turns downwardly, and has the outwardly curved portion Z attached thereto, said
portion Z having the inwardly curved continuation A', and being thence continued
laterally a B', it being understood that each half of the protector or casing is
substantially the same, the sides A' thereof being cut away at a point C', adjacent
to the nozzle D', said cut away portion extending to the wall E.
The operation is as follows:
The actuating medium, which may be water, steam, air or other fluid, enters
through the nozzle D', and is discharged against the bucket in front thereof. The
discharged fluid on striking the inclined face of the base or lower wall H is then
divided into two streams, each stream passing into the chamber K, and thence
upwardly and outwardly through the chamber P, the V-shaped wall N acting as
a deflector and effectively dividing and directing each stream outwardly from the
bucket, it being noted however in addition that the chamber P gradually contracts
towards the outlet, so that it has to a certain extent the function of a nozzle, the
flow of the water being thus retarded, while the reactionary power thereof is
effectively applied to the walls of the said chambers P and K, and a greatly
accelerated impulse is imparted to the wheel, the dead water being discharged from
the bucket to either side of the protector U, so that each bucket as it emerges at
the left of said protector is comparatively free from water, and none of the latter
will be thrown upwardly or discharged from the top of the wheel no matter how
fast or how slow the same should revolve.
The portion B2 of the protector closes in the same as at B¹ and ends in a bent
down lip B³, so that all the drainage water from the buckets is deflected
downwardly and prevented from getting into rotary motion with the wheel, at the
same time creating a partial vacuum in the casing above the protectors.
I desire to cal especial attention to the location and function of the will N,

page_text: since by its employment I attain greater advantages than can be attained by the
usual construction of buckets where said wall is dispensed with, or where a flat
surface exists.
It will be further noted that since all the passages located in the bucket into
which the water is received or discharged are curved, there are no surfaces to
obstruct the free and rapid flow of the water away from the bucket.
The manner of attaching the buckets to the wheel has already been referrel to,
and is believed to require no further description.
It will of course be understood that the terms "upright" "inclined" and the
like employed are merely relative terms, and apply to the parts only in substantially
the positions shown.
It will be evident that changes may be made by those skilled in the art which
will come within the scope of my invention, and I therefore reserve to myself
the right to make all such changes or modifications which may come within the
spirit of the same.
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 :-
1st. In a water wheel, a bucket having diverging chambers arranged side by
side, the upper portion of said bucket having a V-shaped wall therein, the si les
of which form the top of said chambers, the latter discharging at opposite si les of
the bucket.
2nd. In a water wheel, a bucket having an inclined base, a plurality of chambers.
diverging therefrom, a V-shaped wall in the upper portion of said bucket, the sides
of said wall forming the top of said chamber, the latter having their exits curved
and contracted, and means for attaching said bucket to a water wheel.
3rd. The combination of a bucket provided with a shoulder or abutment Q and
a tongue E attached to said bucket, with a water wheel having in the rim thereof,.
a slot in which said tongue is inserted, and a pin passing transversely through said
tongue, and having a bearing upon the inner periphery of said rim, said abutment
being adapted to contact with the outer periphery of said rim.
4th. In a water wheel, a bucket having an inclined base H, the chambers K
extending therefrom, the upper portion of said bucket being V-shaped an 1 forming
the top wall of said chambers K and the chambers P into which the latter chambers
discharge, said chambers P having a continuation of the chambers K and having
the curved wall N' and a contracted outlet, a shoulder Q attached to the rear of
said bucket, and a tongue S projecting from the latter.
5th. In a water wheel, a protector or casing, the same having attaching devices
for a suitable support, an inwardly laterally extending portion, the same being
continued downwardly, and an outwardly curved portion, the same being curved
inwardly and thence continued laterally, and a portion of said protector adjacent
the discharge nozzle being cut away.
6th. A protector for a water wheel consisting of two sections, each section
having an upright flauge V, the laterally and inwardly extending member X, the
same being curved downwardly and having the outwardly curved portion Z, the
same extending thence downwardly and having the curvature A', and the lateral
extension B attached thereto.
7th. A protector for a water wheel, consisting of two sections, each section
having an upright flange V, the laterally and inwardly extending members X, the
same being curved downwardly and having the outwardly curved portion Z, the
latter extending thence downwardly and having the curvature A', the lateral
extension B' attached thereto, one extremity of said casing having the downwardly
deflected lip 13 and means for holding said sections in position, a portion of the
latter being cut away.
8th. The combination of a bucket provided with shoulder or abutment Q, and
a tongue or tenon E attached to said bucket and extending at an oblique angle to

page_text: said abutment, with a water wheel having a slot in the rim thereof, through which
said tongue passes, said slot being out of alignment with a radius of said wheel,
and a pin passing through said tongue and resting transversely upon the inner
periphery of said rim, said abutment being in contact with the outer periphery of
said wheel.
9th. In a water wheel, a bucket having a plurality of diverging chambers, the
upper portion of said bucket having a V-shaped wall therein, the sides of which
wall assist in forming said chambers, which latter discharge at opposite sides of
said bucket.
10th. In a water wheel, a bucket having a suitable base, a plurality of chambers
diverging therefrom, a V-shaped wall in the upper portion of said bucket, the sides
of said wall forming the top of said chambers, and means for attaching said bucket
to a water wheel.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.