An Improved Turbine Water Wheel.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Turbine Water Wheel.
1, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of Victoria Chambers, 55 and 56 Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by William Elmer, of Berlin,
Wisconsin, U.S.A., Inventor) to be as follows:-
A
This invention has reference to an improved turbine water wheel, and the
invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of that class which will be
more efficient in use than the turbines as at present constructed and used. The
invention comprises a casing which tapers upwards to its centre, and whose sides
are then parallel to the top thereof. In the upper portion of this casing and on
opposite sides thereof are two inlet gates which consist of openings in the casing
through which are journalled vertical rods which carry wings adapted to open or
close the openings as the rod is turned. One of these rods extend upwardly a
considerable distance beyond the turbine, and is provided with a hand wheel.
crank is mounted on the rod immediately above one of the gates, and is
adapted to be turned thereby. A smaller crank is likewise secured to the
other gate of the rod and is connected to the first-named crank by means of a
connecting-bar, so that when one is turned the other will likewise turn, and thus
close or open both gates simultaneously. A shaft is journalled centrally and
vertically in the casing, and carries two discs which are of the same diameter as
the interior upper part of the casing, and which are arranged apart in such manner
that one fits closely to the upper part of the casing, and the other close to the
bottom of the casing. Suitable wedges or blades extend vertically between the
two discs, and are formed on their lower edges with lateral tangential extensions.
The casing and wheel thus constructed is placed over the opening in the floor of
the flume to allow of the water to escape.
D
1
1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Turbine Water Wheel.
1, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by William Eliner,
of Berlin, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Inventor) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-

page_text: extending entirely around its perimeter and discharged from the periphery at a
point below the inlet-gates through the tangentially-arranged passages, as will be
more fully hereinafter set forth.
The invention has for its objects the production of an apparatus that will be very
durable and strong, and which will utilize to an eminent degree the force of the
water and prevent any waste whatever, as will more fully hereinafter appear.
In the drawings annexed, A designates a vertical cylinder at its lower end and
secured to the floor of the flume over the opening in the same. This cylinder
tapers toward its upper end, and is there provided with an inwardly-turned annular
flange. Secured to or formed integral with this cylinder in its lower end is a
horizontal frame or "spider" B, in the centre of which the lower end of the wheel-
shaft is stepped. In the side of the cylinder is formed an opening which is closed
by a removable flanged plate or door C, whereby access may be had to the interior
of the cylinder for cleaning and other purposes. One or more of these doors may
be employed, but one will probably be found enough.
The
Supported upon and bolted to the upper flanged end of the casing A is a wheel
casing D which is circular in shape, and provided at its top with a central opening
for the passage of the wheel-shaft. The casing encloses the upper half of the
wheel and is provided with lateral passages which carry the water into and
project it against the wheel-blades in an approximately tangential direction, as
shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Upon one of the vertical side walls of each of the
passages is secured a plate a', the outer vertical edge of which is extended beyond
the periphery of the casing and bent or curved downwardly, as at a", forming a
wide or flaring mouth to each passage. Fitted closely to the exterior of the casing
are two rings EE connected by vertical posts, which latter are slightly concaved
on their inner surfaces to fit closely the circular casing. The rings and connecting-
posts or doors are preferably formed integral with each other, and the posts equal
in number the inlet passages a, as shown in Fig. 3. Secured to the rear side of
each post is a plate which extends into the adjacent passage centrally to the
wheel and runs parallel with the adjacent vertical wheel of the side passage.
rear sides of the posts and the outer ends of the plates secured thereto are curved
outwardly, as at 1, to assist in forming the flaring mouths of the inlets. The inner
or adjacent faces of the rings E E are also curved or bevelled off to assist in
forming the wide mouths of the inlets, whereby the water may have a free
unobstructed passage to the inlets. The forward vertical edges of the posts are
reduced or bevelled off to fit behind the projecting curved lips a" of the plates a
in order not to obstruct the inflowing water. To vary the capacity of the inlet
passages the rings and posts are rotated in either direction. When the inwardly-
projecting plates lie against the longer walls of the passages the latter are open
to their full extent. By rotating the rings so as to bring the plates & nearer the
opposite walls of the passages the capacity of the same will be reduced, and by
turning the rings far enough to bring the plates against the plates at the supply
of water to the wheel may be entirely cut off. The advantage of this particular
arrangement of gates and passages is that the angle at which the water is pro-
jected is always the same, whether the gates be wholly or partially open, whereby
the full power of the quantity of water supplied to the wheel is utilized at
all times.
To adjust the gate-rings rotatively I employ a pair of angle-levers c and pivot
the same at diametric opposite points on the top of the casing, the outer ends of
the radial arms of these levers being connected to the top ring by means of
oppositely-directing pivotal links e, and their other arms being connected together
by a horizontal rod el, as shown in Fig. 1. The pivot of one of the angle-levers
is extended upward and forms a vertical shaft d, provided at its upper end with a
hand-wheel d, whereby the gates may be readily adjusted from the top of the
flume. The advantage of this manner of adjusting the gates is that all gearing is
done away with, and the gate-rings are rotated smoothly without binding or undue
wear. The old way of adjusting the gates by means of gearing is disadvantageous

page_text: chat the sand in the water soon grinds and wears the contacting surfaces to such
extent as to render the devices unreliable and unfit for use, and, further, because
the power is only applied to one side of the rings, thereby causing them to bind
and work hard, as is evident.
As shown in Fig. 6. 1 may employ two T-shaped levers instead of two right-
angled levers, and connect their oppositely-projecting arms by means of chains.
Leading from the top of the casing is a pipe e which is carried to one side and
extended downwardly a suitable distance, whereby any water collecting upon the
top of the wheel may find an exit, and thus relieve the wheel of any pressure that
would otherwise result from confined water.
The wheel consists of vertically-arranged radial blades a secured between the
curved faces of two conical-shaped hubs or discs g' keyed on the shaft a suitable
distance apart. The blades are flat throughout their length and are arranged in a
vertical position and have formed integral with the lower portion of their outer
edges extensions g". These extensions are all curved and bent in the same
direction that is, away from the direction of the revolution of the wheel-so as to
discharge the latter from the wheel in a tangential direction and into the tube or
cylinder A. Surrounding the wheel about midway its length is a ring which is
secured to the outer edges of the blades and to the upper ends of the lateral
extensions g, and which fits against the lower edge of the casing D, and thereby
serves to greatly strengthen the wheel and steady it in its rotation.
The water in entering the wheel strikes first against the flat faces of the paddles
and then against the curved extensions of the paddles upon its discharge from the
wheel, thereby exerting its utmost force upon the wheel. The flat blades permit
the water after it exerts its initial force at the entrance to the wheel to pass
directly without obstruction to the tangential discharge-opening formed by the bent
portions of the blades. It will be observed that the advantages of the tangential
feed and tangential discharge are brought together and utilized to an eminent
degree in this wheel.
The letter designates a wooden step for the lower end of the wheel-shaft,
which is provided with a lower reduced portion fitted into a vertical central
passage in the frame 13 and an upper larger portion which is recessed for the
lower end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2. A vertical passage may be formed
in the step to let the water in under the shaft and thereby prevent it overheating.
This construction of step possesses advantages over the old form. Its particular
advantage is that all lateral wear of the step is avoided, and the shaft is thereby
kept in true vertical position, free from binding, etc., until the step is entirely worn
out; and a further advantage is that the water may circulate freely around the
shaft and thereby prevent the binding and charring of the step, as is evident. In
the old forms of steps heretofore used where the shaft rested on the top of the step
it frequently happened that the shaft would work or wear to one side especially
where the wood was of an uneven texture, and thus cause the shaft to bind in its
bearings in the casing, but my form of step obviates this trouble.
The special object I have in view in mounting the wheel-casing D on top of a
cylinder resting upon the floor of the flume instead of mounting it directly upon
the floor, is to enable the wheel to be examined (by means of openings C) without
having to take it up for that purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of a casing, a wheel enclosed therein, the gate-rings and
gates, the angle-levers pivoted on top of the casing at diametrical points, links c²,
pivotally connecting the outer ends of the radial arms of the said angle-levers to
the upper gate-ring, these links extending in opposite directions, the rod c",
connecting the parallel arms of the angle-levers, and a vertical operating shaft d

page_text: formed by an extension of one of the pivots of the angle-levers, as and for the
purpose described.
2. The combination of a vertical cylinder A, set upon the floor of the flume over
the opening in the same, and provided with an opening closed by a removable door,
an open frame B secured in the lower part of the cylinder A, a wheel-casing
mounted on top of the cylinder, and a wheel-shaft stepped in the frame B, and
carrying a wheel, the said wheel extending from the wheel-casing into the cylinder A
and having its lower end above the floor of the flume, as and for the purpose
described.
3. The combination of a shaft, the conical hubs g' keyed on this shaft a suitable
distance apart and having their adjacent faces concaved, vertical flat blades
secured between these hubs, these blades being provided with lateral tangential
extensions on the lower portions of their vertical edges, and a ring surrounding
the wheel and secured to the vertical edges of the blades, substantially as
described.
4. The combination of a shaft, the conical hubs keyed on the shaft a suitable
distance apart, and having their adjacent faces concaved, and vertical fat
blades secured between these hubs, these blades being provided with lateral
tangential extensions g" on the lower portions of their lower edges, substantially
as described.
Datad this 4th day of Navanihar 1901