IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY CURRENTS OF AIR, OR WATER, AND IN APPARATUS ΤΟ BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH IN CERTAIN APPLICATIONS OF THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING THE SAME AUTOMATICALLY
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Ross at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1883.
WILLIAM ROSS of Coburg Road in the County of Surrey, Engineer " IMPROVED
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTIVE POWER BY CURRENTS OF AIR,
OR WATER, AND IN APPARATUS ΤΟ BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH IN CERTAIN
APPLICATIONS OF THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING
THE SAME AUTOMATICALLY
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in means and apparatus for
producing motive power by currents of air or water for the purposes of ventilation
or for its adaptation as a chimney cowl the said improvements being specially
adapted for compressing air, for forcing water, or for the purposes of generating
electricity by coupling the said apparatus to any ordinary electric generator, or for
other purposes where motive power is required.
In its various applications I sometimes find it advantageous to employ certain
devices that will be hereafter described to automatically set in action or check the
same at any pre-determined time.
By a modification of the said invention it can be conveniently adapted to be
driven by water or other fluids.
'
The invention consists in the mounting of one or more fans in the interior of a
turret or an outer casing rigidly secured to any convenient spot. This turret or
casing is provided with diverging port holes which direct the currents of air to the
one side of the axis and on to the blades or wings of the fan or fans at a greater
intensity thereby transmitting power to rotate the fans. It will be obvious that
there may be several fans in series, either mounted on a vertical or horizontal axis
but I find it most advantageous to use a vertical turret or case as the port holes
therein will adapt themselves to the varying directions of the air or water currents.
The compressed air may be stored in a cylinder or cylinders before being
utilized.
Air compressed by the aforesaid means may be directed to a chamber attached
to any ordinary engine and the pressure regulated to suit the power required from
the engine.
When high pressures are required instead of one air pump, and reservoir I employ
a greater number both of air pumps and reservoirs so arranged in series that the

page_text: first air pump of the series pumps into the reservoir corresponding to it, the second
air pump, pumps from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and so on.
The compressed air is automatically supplied to one or more motive power engines
by means of ordinary clockwork mechanism provided with an index indicating the
twenty four hours which mechanism may be adjusted so as to start and stop the
said motive power engine or engines at any determined time.
The dial of the clockwork mechanism is caused to revolve in a manner similar
to that of ordinary revolving clock dials the back of the said revolving dial is
provided with a circular slot for the reception and adjustment of two or more studs
which are fixed as required immediately behind any particular time indicated on
the dial at which it may be desired to start and stop the motor driven by the
compressed air. The studs baving been suitably adjusted behind any particular
figures on the dial, the clock dial revolving in the usual way, and when either the
starting or stopping stud arrives at the point due to such particular time such
starting or stopping stud comes in contact with a starting or stopping lever which
it operates by pressure thus opening or closing a valve suitable for the purpose.
This method of starting and stopping machinery at a determined time may be
applied to motors generally.
The clock and clock work which is of the usual construction may be worked by
the usual weights or springs but I find it advantageous to use for this purpose a
small fan driven by compressed air from a reservoir.
In the adaptation of fans to turrets of the aforesaid construction I in some cases
arrange the blades as to be capable of feathering in a similar manner to paddle
wheels in ordinary use or they may be hinged in such manner that this object may
be effected automatically.