Improvements in Wind Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wind Engines.
I, JOHN HONEYMAN, of 140 Bath Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved wind engine constituting this invention is composed of a wheel
fitted to rotate on a vertical axis and having vanes or sails operated so as to present
a maximum of sail area on one side to be acted on by the wind and a minimum on
the opposite side which travels against the wind current, means being also provided
for automatically adjusting the feathering of the sails to suit variations in the
direction and force of the wind, and for governing the speed and preventing racing
in high winds.
The vanes or sails are carried on spindles radial to the main shaft of the wheel
so as to turn upon horizontal axes, and they are presented in a vertical plane to the
action of the wind on one side of the wheel and are brought to a horizontal plane
on the opposite side so as to present only the edges of the vanes or sails as the
resisting surface moving against the wind current. This turning motion of the
vanes or sails is effected by a cam placed around the axis of rotation of the engine
but free to move independently so that the cam always has the same relation to the
direction of the wind current the said cam acting on crank arms formed or fitted on
the radial spindles which carry the vanes or sails.
For the purpose of governing the power and speed of the engine I fit the sails to
the radial spindles so that a larger area is exposed to the force of the wind above
the spindle than below it and counter-balance the difference of weight and wind
pressure by weights or springs in such a way that any desired pressure may be
maintained. These weights or springs are attached to the sail either directly or by
pulleys or other gearing or to a frame or rest controlling the position of the sails,
so that when the force of the wind exceeds the maximum desired the upper half of
the sail is deflected and is so relieved from undue pressure.
1005
Improvements in Wind Engines.
I, JOHN HONEYMAN, of 140 Bath Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, 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 improved wind engine constituting this invention is composed of a wheel
fitted to rotate on a vertical axis and having vanes or sails operated so as to present
a maximum of sail area ou one side to be acted on by the wind and a minimum on

page_text: the opposite side which travels against the wind current, means being also provided
for automatically adjusting the feathering of the sails to suit variations in the
direction and force of the wind and for governing the speed and preventing racing
in high winds.
As illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 of which is an elevation,
Fig. 2 a plan and Figs. 3 and 4 detail views, the vanes or sails A are carried on
spindles B turning in bearings C secured upon arms D carried radial to the main
shaft E of the wheel so as to turn upon horizontal axes. The sails A are presented
in a vertical plane to the action of the wind on one side of the wheel and are
brought to a horizontal plane on the opposite side so as to present only the edges of
the vanes or sails A as the resisting surface moving against the wind current.
This turning motion of the vanes or sails A is effected by a skeleton cam F placed
around the axis of rotation E of the engine but free to move independently by the
action of the wind upon a vane G projecting from the under side of the cam F said
vane being supported near its outer end upon a roller H running upon a rail I
secured upon the building or other structure. The cam F has thus always the
same relation to the direction of the wind current and it acts upon crank arms G!
carrying rollers g which bear upon the cam surface to bring the vanes to a horizontal
position as shewn particularly at Fig. 3 said crank arms G being secured on the
spindles B to which the vanes or sails are keyed.
For the purpose of governing the power and speed of the engine I fix the sails A
to the radial spindles B so that a larger area is exposed to the force of the wind
above the spindle B than below it and I counter-balance the difference of weight
and wind pressure by springs or weights K in such a way that any desired pressure
may be maintained. These springs or weights K are attached to the sails A either
directly as shewn or by pulleys or other gearing or to a frame or rest said springs
or weights acting to control the position of the sails so that when the force of the
wind exceeds the maximum desired the upper half of the sail is deflected and so
relieved from undue pressure. For the purpose of preventing the vanes from
swinging too far round when turning from a horizontal to a vertical position arms J
are secured upon the radial arms D projecting downwards to act as stops agaiust
the lower portion of the vanes A.
The cam F for turning the vanes A to a horizontal position may be placed either
above or below the wheel said cam being kept in its proper relation to the direction
of the wind either by a large vane attached to au arm projecting beyond the radius
of the wheel as shewn when the cam is under the wheel, or when the cam is over
the wheel by a vane of sufficient size attached as described or surmounting the
whole apparatus. As an alternative in either of the above cases the cam may be
kept in its place by an electric motor attached to the lever and running in the rail I
the direction of movement of which motor towards either side would be controlled
by the motion of a small vane making contact to close either of two electric circuits
acting in opposite directions. The motor and its vane may either be placed to
windward or to leeward of the cam F but preferably to the former. The electric
motor is brought to a stand and with it the cam F when the vane upon the electric
motor is in line with the direction of the wind, the cam F being then in position
for operating the sails A at the proper time.
The wheel is brought to a standstill by the lower section of the cam being
raised to the same level as the upper section as shewn at Fig. 4 by means of a series
of armis L connected to a flange M formed on a sleeve N surrounding the main
shaft E said sleeve N being capable of being raised by the action of a guided rod O
upon the flange the rod O being actuated by a rope P from within the building or
by like means.
When it is thought desirable to increase the power of the machine without
increasing the diameter of the wheel two or more wheels may be placed over each
other acting on the same vertical shaft and the sails being connected may be worked
by the same cam.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wind engine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.
2. A wind engine having its sails or vanes fixed on horizontal spindles turning in
bearings upon radial arms secured to the centre of rotation of the wheel said
spindles having upon their inner ends crank arms adapted to be acted on by a
movable cam for the purpose of presenting a maximura of sail area on one side to
be acted on by the wind and a minimum on the opposite side which travels against
the wind current substantially as described.
3. A wind engine having a movable skeleton cam around the axis of rotation and
connected to a guiding vane exposed to the wind and serving to automatically
adjust the cam to effect the feathering of the sails or vanes of the engine substantially
as described.
Dated thin ofth dow of November 1895.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.