IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER MOTORS, AND IN UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RIVERS AND STREAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Sealy Allin of Woodstock Road Bedford Park
in tlie County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER
MOTORS, AND IN UTILIZING THE FORCE OF RIVERS AND STREAMS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Sealy Allin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1882.
SAMUEL SEALY ALLIN of Woodstock Road Bedford Park in the County of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER MOTORS AND IN UTILIZING THE FORCE OF
RIVERS AND STREAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
"
One part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of water motor
which may be described as follows:-
I support in suitable bearings at or about the upper water level a horizontal
shaft carrying a pair of wheels of equal diameter These wheels are not circular
but polygonal and each face is so shaped as to form a bed for a link of an endless
chain which passes over each wheel and downwards under a similar wheel placed
vertically below it on a similar horizontal shaft at about the lower water level.
Between these two chains I place a series of troughs each trough being suspended
at each end by a pivot in a link of the chain so that the troughs when travelling
round with the chains pass freely between not round the wheels
The troughs are so suspended that they project horizontally during their descent
at each side, that is both inside, and out-ide the chains being suspended near their
centre so that when loaded with water they may travel downwards without any
tendency to pull the chains out of the perpendicular or to pull themselves out of
the horizontal position or off from the chains.
I make the troughs shallow and wide with curved bottoms so shaped that the
bottom of each lies within the mouth of the trough below it, thus economising

page_text: space and getting the largest cubical capacity in the area which they occupy in
travelling.
In positions where the volume of water is large and the fall limited or where
backwater, is inconvenient I cause.the troughs to feather and I effect this by
causing them to swing outwards on their points of suspension in the links so that
instead of deviating downwards from the horizontal when they reach the lower
wheels they still remain horizontal or nearly so, till they have sunk into the water.
By this means they retain their contents to the last and they pass through the
water with less resistance and emerge from it edge first. This position they retain
during their ascent and recover their original position in passing between the
upper wheels when they are again ready to receive the inflowing water. By this
motor the force of the falling water is utilized in its vertical descent to the greatest
advantage and in consequence of the small diameter of the wheels which the chains
drive, they revolve with considerably higher velocity than a water wheel and so
save much loss in obtaining the high speed required for electric generators.
In positions where the fall is so small that an endless chain travelling over two
wheels placed vertically would be inconvenient I use instead a larger pair of
wheels on the same shaft and between their peripheries or shrouds I place the
troughs which I cause to feather so as to retain their contents to the lowest level.
The object of this invention is to utilize the power of a river as a whole so far
as available and to accumulate in one electrical conductor all its force for the
purpose of obtaining a power greatly in excess of what can be generated by
isolated waterfalls and of effecting economy thereby.
In order to utilize the force of rivers and streams for the purpose of generating
electricity I place as high up a Stream or river as convenient a water motor the
power of which is employed for actuating an electric Generator or Generators, the
electricity from which is received by a Conductor carried downwards along or near
the the course of a Stream. At the nearest available point down the Stream from
the first water motor and where a suitable fall can be obtained I place a second water
motor which in like manner also drives an electric generator or generators which
contribute electricity to the same conductor. This system of placing water motors
and electric generators I repeat all along the course of the Stream where suitable
falls are available and connect the whole of the generators together in one circuit
by this means I obtain the accumulated power given off by the whole of the water
motors along the line of the river and carry it by the same conductor on to the
point or points where it is required for use.
The foregoing description gives as an example the accumulation of power
gathered from a Stream commencing near its source and passing downwards to its
foot as in most cases the power would necessarily be employed at a point or points
down Stream but at the same time it is obvious that the power may be accumulated
and conducted in a reverse direction in cases when it is required for use up
Stream.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Sealy Allin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1883.
28
SAMUEL SEALY ALLIN of Woodstock Road Bedford Park in the County of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER MOTORS AND IN UTILIZING THE FORCE OF
RIVERS AND STREAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
One part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of water motor
which may be described as follows:-
I support in suitable bearings at or about the upper water level a horizontal
shaft carrying a pair of wheels of equal diameter These wheels are not circular
but polygonal and each face is so shaped as to form a bed for a link of an endless
chain which passes over each wheel and downwards under a similar wheel placed
vertically below it on a similar horizontal shaft at about the lower water level.
Between these two chains I place a series of troughs each trough being suspended
at each end by a pivot in a link of the chain so that the troughs when travelling
round with the chains pass freely between, not round, the wheels.
The troughs are so suspended that they project horizontally during their descent
at each side that is both inside and outside the chains, being suspended near their
centre, so that when loaded with water they may travel downwards without any
tendency to pull the chains out of the perpendicular, or to pull themselves out of
the horizontal position, or off from the chains.
I make the troughs shallow and wide with curved bottoms so shaped that the
bottom of each lies within the mouth of the troughs below it, thus economising
space, and getting the largest cubical capacity in the area which they occupy in
travelling.
In positions where the volume of water is large and the fall limited, or where
backwater is inconvenient I cause the troughs to feather and I effect this by causing
them to swing outwards on their points of suspension in the links, so that instead
of deviating downwards from the horizontal when they reach the lower wheels
they still remain horizontal or nearly so, till they have sunk into the water. By
this means they retain their contents to the last and they pass through the water
with less resistance and emerge from it edge first. This position they retain
during their ascent and recover their original position passing between the upper
wheels, when they are again ready to receive the inflowing water-By this
notor the force of the falling water is utilized in its vertical descent to the greatest
advantage, and in consequence of the small diameter of the wheels which the
chains drive, they revolve with considerably higher velocity than a water wheel,
and so save much loss in obtaining the high speed required for electric generators.
In positions where the fall is so small that an endless chain travelling over two
wheels placed vertically would be inconvenient, I use instead a larger pair of
wheels on the same shaft, and between their peripheries or shrouds I place the
troughs which I cause to feather so as to retain their contents to the lowest level.
The principal application of this Invention is to utilize the power of a river as a
whole so far as available and to accumulate in one electrical conductor all its force
for the purpose of obtaining a power greatly in excess of what can be generated by
isolated waterfalls, and of effecting economy thereby.
In order to utilize the force of rivers and streams for the purpose of generating
electricity I place as high up a Stream or River as convenient, a water motor the
power of which is employed for actuating an electric Generator or Generators, the
electricity from which is received by a Conductor carried downwards along or near

page_text: By preference I make the troughs e shallow and wide with curved bottoms so
shaped that the bottom of one trough lies slightly within the mouth of the trough
below it thus economising space and getting the largest cubical capacity in the area
which they occupy whilst travelling.
In positions where the volume of water is large and the fall limited or where
back water is inconvenient I cause the troughs to feather and I effect this by
causing them to swing outwards on their pivots e¹ e' the extent of their movement
being governed by the pins ii which project from the sides of the trough e into
the segmental slots i forming a portion of each link of the chain b, so that
instead of deviating from the horizontal when they reach the lower wheels c, c,
they still remain horizontal or nearly so till they have sunk or become submerged
in the water, by this means the buckets or troughs retain their contents to the
last, and they pass through the water with less resistance and emerge from it erge
first, in the inverted position shewn on the right side of the wheels c. c, this position
they retain during their ascent and recover their original position when passing
between the upper wheels a' a' when they are again in a position to receive their
load from the inflowing water from the upper duct or current A. In order to
prevent any jar of the troughs as they successively pass between the upper discs I
place stops guides, or their equivalent ff which form rests or abutments and by
supporting the troughs, restrain their too sudden alteration of position.
By this motor the force of the falling water is utilized in its vertical descent to
the greatest advantage and in consequence of the small diameter of the wheels a¹. a¹
and c. c. which the chain b. b. drive they revolve with considerably higher velocity
than a water wheel, and so save much loss in obtaining the high speed required for
driving electric generators and other machinery.
In positions where the fall is so small that an endless chain travelling over two
wheels placed vertically might be inconvenient I use instead a larger pair of wheels
on the same shaft and between their peripheries or shrouds, I place the troughs e e
which I cause to feather so as to retain their contents to the lowest level.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I wish it to be understood in conclusion that what I claim as
new and as of my Invention is.
First The construction and use of a water motor in which the descending water
acts on a series of balanced troughs or buckets suspended on pivots supported by
the links of endless chains which pass over and under wheels between which chains,
and between the inner surfaces of which wheels, the buckets ride, constructed
substantially as herein described.
Second The use of feathering apparatus to govern the position and action of
troughs or buckets in the manner and for the purpose as herein substantially
described set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Third The use of my improved water motors constructed as above indicated for
the purpose of generating and applying electric force substantially as herein
described..
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Sealy Allin have hereunto set my
hand and seal this the seventeenth day of February One thousand eight
hundoad and
Witness:-
:―
THOMAS WRIGLEY
75 Chancery Lane,
S. SEALY ALLIN (L.S.)