IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF WIND MILLS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles William Ewing, of Upper Baker Street, Regent's
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF WIND MILLS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles William Ewing at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1879.
CHARLES WILLIAM EWING, of Upper Baker Street, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CON-
STRUCTION OF WIND MILLS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce all the essential mechanism of the wind
mill to the lowest possible point of simplification without impairing the efficiency
of the machine. One great draw back of many forms of wind mill is that as
compared with other motive-power engines there is a disproportion between the
power gained and the enormous bulk, weight, and consequent heavy expense of the
machine.
Now according to my improvements, by original devices in the disposition of the
frame-work and arrangement of the small amount of necessary gear, not only is a
great saving in material and weight effected, but the actual construction and setting
up of the mill are facilitated to a very great extent. The number of parts is very
much reduced, the peculiar arrangement of the machine rendering it possible to
make the whole base as well as the sides in single castings.
According to my improvements a drum on a horizontal axle revolves within a
conchoidal hood or covering, the mouth of which faces the wind. On the peri-
phery of the drum curved vanes are fixed at certain distances. Across the lower
half of the mouth of the hood fixed vaues are placed at certain angles suitable for
throwing up the wind upon the lower part of the drum in the most advantageous
direction. Upon a base of strong frame-work, which is capable of revolving in a
horizontal plane upon a hollow pivot, two of such drums, each within a hood, are
placed side by side (a certain space, dependant on the size of the machine, being
between them). The wind enters at the mouth of the hood, and after acting upon
the vanes of the wheel or drum emerges at circular apertures in the sides of the
hood. On the windward side of the circular apertures stationary vanes, flanges, or

page_text: ears are placed for a twofold purpose, first, to prevent the emerging wind from being
obstructed in its exit; and, second, to increase the power of the machine by
utilising the force of external wind which does not pass into the hood and over the
drum, thereby gaining an increase of power without enlarging the moving parts or
adding greatly to the weight of the machine. The increase of power is produced
by the attenuation caused by the wind as it quits the flanges or ears and comes in
contact with the wind which is used up or has lost its power by passage through
the machine; this is attenuated or caused to expand in proportion to the velocity
of the wind.
The drums are fixed on a common axle, and in the space between the hoods the
axle carries a bevel wheel, which engages with a pinion the axle of which is carried
through the hollow central pivot on which the whole structure turns. On the
lower end of the axle of the pinion is a small horizontal bevel wheel, which can
communicate motion to a shaft, and is unaffected by the position of the machine
above. On the summit of the machine in front is placed a self-winding apparatus,
or "blower," or "blow-wheel," which differs from those in ordinary use in that it
can be set to revolve in the direction of the wind, or at right angles to it, or at any
intermediate angle, thereby causing the whole machine to take a certain angle with
regard to the direction of the wind, and retain that angle however the wind may
shift. The self winder by means of the usual gear works a friction roller, the
periphery of which moves upon a horizontal circle, and causes the whole mill to
move through such a portion of a circle as will admit the desired amount of wind
or shut off the wind altogether.
By the use of such an apparatus great facilities are gained by very simple means.
When the machine is not required to work it can be caused to set itself endways
with the wind and retain that position. If more power is being developed than is
required the self-winder may be instantly adjusted, and the desired moderation of
power obtained.
At the back of each hood is placed an apparatus, which is under the control of a
governor, for lessening the disturbing effects of sudden gusts and maintaining an
even pressure of wind within the hoods. It consists of several radial bars moving
upon a pivot which is fixed to a portion of the hood. There is a set of such bars
on each side of each hood, and they are connected over the top and covered with
canvas or tarpaulin. To the bottom one is attached a cord, which passes over a
pulley and is connected with the governor. When the cord is drawn the lower bar
is raised and a large opening is made in the back of the hood, the size of the
opening being in proportion to the action of the governor; by this means a portion
of the wind entering the machine is allowed to pass out without acting upon the
drum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles William Ewing in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
December 1879.
CHARLES WILLIAM EWING, of Upper Baker Street, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CON-
STRUCTION OF WIND MILLS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce all the essential mechanism of tho
wind mill to the lowest possible point of simplification without impairing the
efficiency of the machine, and to obtain from one machine and upon one shaft a
greater amount of power than is possible in any other form of wind mill.
A drum on a horizontal axle revolves within a partially enclosed conchoidal hood
or covering, the mouth of which faces the wind. On the periphery of the drum
curved vanes or buckets are fixed. Across the lower part of the mouth of tho
hood or covering stationary horizontal vanes are placed at certain angles suitable
for throwing up the wind upon the lower vanes of the drum in the most advanta-
geous direction. Two or more of such horizontal drums with vanes or buckets, and
each within a hood, are placed side by side upon the same shaft (a certain space,
dependant on the size of the machine, being between them) working in bearings
supported by upright brackets standing on a base of strong framework.
The wind enters at the upper portion of the hood, also between the stationary
horizontal vanes and over the uncovered portion of the wheel or drum, emerging at
circular apertures in the sides of the hood. On the windward side of the circular
apertures stationary vanes, flanges, or ears are placed for a two-fold purpose,
firstly, to prevent the emerging wind from being obstructed in its exit; secondly, to
increase the power of the machine by utilising the force of external wind which
does not pass over the drums, thereby gaining an increase of power without
enlarging the moving parts or adding much to the weight of the machine. The
increase of power is produced by the attenuation caused by the wind as it quits the
flanges or ears and comes in contact with the wind which is used up or has lost its
power by passage through the machine. This is attenuated or caused to expand in
proportion to the velocity of the wind.
The common axle upon which the drums are fixed carries (in the central spaco
between the hoods) a bevel wheel which engages with a pinion, the vertical shaft
of which is carried down below the mill, and may bear on its lower extremity a
crown wheel or pulley by which to communicate motion to machinery.
On the summit of a wind mill or machine in front is placed the self-winding or
self-setting apparatus, or "fly," or "fantail," that is to say, my improved mechanical
arrangement by which the wind mill keeps itself in the wind. This apparatus
differs from those in ordinary use in that it can be set by means of a moveable base,
so that the plane of rotation of the fantail is at any desired angle (between 0° and
180°) with regard to the direction of the wind. By the use of such an apparatus
the whole of the moveable part of a wind mill or machine may be caused to turn
itself in or out of the wind to any desired extent, and retain its position with
regard to the direction of the wind however the wind may shift. Great facilities
in regulating are thereby gained by very simple means. When the mill is not
required to work it can, by means of the apparatus described, be caused to set itself
end ways to the wind and retain that position.
The whole mill is supported by means of rollers and guide wheels in the manner
that is usual in ordinary tower mills. Upon the kerb is a toothed circle in which
a pinion engages, which pinion is under the control of the self-setting apparatus.
And in order that my improvements may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a wind mill or machine arranged and constructed
in accordance with my improvements taken through the central space between the

page_text: $
hoods or coverings. a is a rope-wheel which is actuated by hand by means of a
cord b. On the shaft of the wheel a is a worm c engaging with a worm-wheel d
which supports the brackets that carry the bearings for the "fantail" d³; c is a
shaft receiving motion by bevel gearing from the fantail; and carrying at its lower
extremity a worm f which engages with a worm-wheel g. To the shaft of the 5
worm-wheel is affixed a pinion g² which engages with the toothed circle of the
kerb g³; h¹, h², h³, h4, are rollers which support the mill and upon which it revolves
Bubject to the varying direction of the wind; j', ³, ³, are guide-wheels which
retain the mill in its position horizontally; numbers 1 to 30 are the ends of the
vanes upon the drum A, and the spaces between the said ends are the outside 1
openings of the curved channels, hereinafter fully described with reference to
Figure 2; is a bevel-wheel engaging with a pinion upon the shaft ; z is a'
stationary flange, of which the lower part keeps the wind from blowing through
the central space, and the upper part throws it up for clearing away and attenuating
purposes; m is a flange affixed at an angle of 45° to the band encircling the curved 1
portions of the vanes, sec Figure 2; and n is a similar flange attached to the
framework of the hood. The flange n projects a little beyond the edge of the
flange m, and approaches it within an inch or thereabouts; o is another flange of a
similar kind but smaller. By means of these flanges only an inappreciable amount.
of wind escapes between the stationary and moving parts, and obstruction by snow
in this part of the machine is rendered impossible. p, p, are brackets which
support bearings for the main shaft. The break handler actuates a break in the
usual manner. The break-wheel is cast in one with the bevel-wheel x; x², r³, ని
are the ends of stationary vanes for throwing up the wind upon the lower vanes of
the drum; s, t, u, v, w, y, are parts of the hood or covering. The spaces marked
8, 8, v, v, are covered in with canvas, the covering extending between y and n to w
Portions of the timber base of the mill are marked t².
Figure 2 shows one half of the wind mill or machine in section and one in eleva-
tion. a is the rope wheel which, by means of a worm on the same shaft moves the
worm wheel & that serves as a base for the gear worked by the fantail d²; d³, d³, are
two bevel wheels by which the motion of the fantail is communicated to the shaft e;
fis a worm upon the lower end of the shaft e; g is its worm wheel; and g², a
pinion upon the same shaft with 7 gearing into the toothed circle g³; h¹, h², h³, h*,
are rollers,,,, are guide wheels; is the bevel wheel upon the common
axle, of the drums A; 1, 2, 3, are stationary vanes for throwing up the wind;
2, 21, 22, are flanges for keeping the wind which blows upon the face of the machine
from obstructing that which is making its exit at the sides. They also serve to
attenuate the outcoming wind.
62, 63, are bands of light material which cover the curved portions of the vanes,
but it is not essential that the entire portion of the curves be so covered. Half the
number of vanes upon the drums extend the entire width of the drum, as indicated
at sand, and form one with the curved portions beneath 3 and 63, while the other
half are much shorter, as shown by the dotted lines c¹, c²; 82 to the periphery c³ of
the drum shows the depth of each vane. Deep grooves or channels, curved at each
end, are formed between the vanes; 12, 13, are the mouths of the hoods where the
wind enters, which operates upon the back part of the wind wheels A formed by
the drums and vanes. The back part of the hood is covered in with canvas or
other suitable material as well as the sides. The wind enters the machine between
the vanes, 72, 73, and over the uncovered portion of the wheel between the top
of 7 and 83, and by the open part of the hood 3. The two hoods are exactly
similar. The flanges marked mare attached to the bands 62 and 3 and revolve
with the wheel. The flanges marked n and o are fixed to the sides of the hood;
o is the tower or other structure by which the mill is raised to a sufficient altitude
to be well in the wind.
Figure 3 is a plan or bird's eye view of the windmill; a is the rope wheel;
, the flange, which is peak shaped in its lower part; 1, 2, are the two side flanges;
d is the fantail; d, the moveable base or worm wheel actuated by the worm o;

page_text: ds, guide wheels; is the bevel wheel; x, the main shaft or common axle, the
brackets supporting which are marked p; b and b³ are the bands covering the
curves of the vanes, Between the inside edge of and the framework of the
hood s the wind wheels or drums A are open and exposed to the direct action of
the wind. From a to q is a part of the canvas covered back of the hood.
Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the periphery of one of the
wheels or drums A extended in a straight line, six long vanes, of which 63 is one,
are shown; c', c, are the shorter curved vanes; 62, 63, are the bands which cover
the shorter vanes and the curves of the longer. It is not essential that the curves
be entirely covered.
My combined improvements render a wind mill upon this principle a practicable
machine, and these improvements are equally applicable to a mill. arranged with
one hood and one drum only, with their appurtenances as described, two hoods and
drums with appurtenances not being an essential feature of my Invention, as one
or more hoods and drums with appurtenances may be arranged on the same driving
shaft or axis in accordance with my Invention.
Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim
any of the parts separately which are well known and in common use, but what I
claim is,
First. The improved arrangement and construction of wind mills having a driving
drum or drums A mounted upon a driving shaft or axis, each druin being partially
enclosed within a hood or cover, substantially in the inanner and for the purpose
herein before described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. I claim the arrangement of the long and short vanes mounted on a plain
cylindrical driving drum of a wind mill, the long vanes being in the form of a band
curved at the ends, and the short ones as simple curves in curved channels formed
by the curves of the long vanes, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in the Drawings annexed.
Third. The arrangement and application of the bands 62, 63, acting in combination
with the flanges m, n, and o, of a wind inill, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
I also claim the arrangement and application of the cars or flanges, z, z²,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shown in the Drawings.
Fourth. I claim the arrangement and application of the stationary vanes,
combined with the hood or cover of the drum, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
Fifth. I claim the improved arrangement and construction of the self setting
apparatus mounted on a moveable base or rotating platform applicable to wind inills
by which the mill is caused to turn itself in or out of the wind as required, and to
retain its position in the direction of the wind, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Lastly. I claim the improved general arrangement and combination of imechanism
of wind mills arranged to act substantially. in the manner herein before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles William Ewing, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.