Improvements in Water Wheels, Windmills, and Turbines, and in the Paddle Wheels of Ships.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Wheels, Windmills, and Turbines, and in the
Paddle Wheels of Ships.
I, RICHARD MILES, Senior, of 37, Dean Lane, Newton Heath, Manchester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in motors operated by water or wind pressure
relates more particularly to motors of the water wheel or windmill class in which
the wheel is provided with vanes or buckets acted upon by the water or wind as
the case may be and has for its object an improved construction whereby the
vanes or buckets are exposed to the force of the water or wind to the best
advantage, while when not so exposed no resistance is offered.
Considering first the case of a water wheel though the construction is
practically the same when operated by wind power the vanes are pivoted round
the circumference of the wheel, and each is provided with a lever rigidly attached
thereto at about an angle of 45 degrees to the flat side of the vane. These
vanes are fitted between the sides of the wheel so as to receive the force of the
water and cause the wheel to revolve in the usual manner. To adjust the position
of these vanes an eccentric of diameter equal to the distance between the pivots
of vanes on opposite sides of the wheel is fixed to the stationary framework in
such manner that the distance of the centre of the eccentric is the same distance
from the centre of the wheel is equal to half the distance that the levers attached
to the vanes as above described are required to move. The ends of these levers
engage with said eccentric and the result is that the inclination of the vanes is
altered relatively to the wheel as it revolves, so that the vanes are full face on
when exposed to the full force of the water and when in the opposite position,
are full edge on so that no resistance is offered when in the position where no
work is done.
Intermediate of these extreme positions the inclination of the vanes varies
according to the position. If desired, the eccentric may be of oval or other suit-
able form so as to bring the vanes quicker into action and take them quicker
out of action.
The eccentric is either formed as a projecting ring or it may be formed as a
groove in which the ends of the vane levers work.
The wheels will in most cases work equally well in either direction.
Preferably a block or partition is arranged in the casing at the point where
the vanes are full edge on to stop or hinder water being carried round with the
wheel.
This invention will admit of many uses and applications some of which are
indicated below.
In tidal rivers or streams of running water wheels constructed according to
this invention may be fixed preferably in a horizontal position so as to receive
the full force of the water and be rotated thereby. The wheels are arranged

page_text: in casings fitted into the banks or upon suitable stationary structures in mid-
stream. According to the direction of the tide or stream, so the wheels will
work in one direction or the other, but suitable gearing is interposed to remedy
this in a well known manner. The wheels may be used for working machinery
or for driving dynamos or for other purposes.
When fixed in midstream they are arranged to rise and fall with the tide.
Turbine wheels may also be fitted wih vanes as above described but in this
case the parts must be very strong.
The whole is arranged within an outer casing so that water cannot escape
except at the exhaust pipe.
The paddle wheels for steam boats may also be constructed as above described.
The full side of the wheel is arranged at the point of greatest resistance and the
wheel should be about three quarters under water so as to obtain a greater hold
upon the water, and consequently greater speed. The whole of the centre of
the wheel should be made water tight and will therefore add to the buoyancy
of the boat.
In the case where the wheels are operated by wind pressure they are mounted
either horizontally or vertically on an elevated stand and fitted with means for
turning according to the direction of the wind. When mounted horizontally
the eccentric alone will require shifting.
Dated this 1at day of Janua
1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Water Wheels, Windmills, and Turbines, and in the
Paddle Wheels of Ships.
I, RICHARD MILES, Senior, of 37, Dean Lane, Newton Heath, Manchester,
Engineer, 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:-
My invention has for its object improvements in motors, operated by water or
wind pressure, relates more particularly to motors of the water wheel or wind
mill class in which the wheel is provided with vanes, or buckets acted upon by
the water or wind as the case may be and. has for its object an improved con-
struction whereby the vanes or buckets are exposed to the force of the water
or wind to the best advantage, on the opposite side of the wheel, they are not
so exposed, and little resistance is offered to the current.
Considering first the case of a water wheel, though the construction is practically
the same when operated by wind power the vanes are pivoted round the circum-
ference of the wheel, and each is provided with a lever rigidly attached to one
end of the pivot at about an angle of 45 degrees to the flat side of the vane.
To
These vanes are fitted between the sides of the wheel or "case so as to receive
the force of the water and cause the wheel to revolve in the usual manner.
adjust the position of the vanes, an eccentric of diameter equal to the distance
between the pivots of vanes, on opposite sides of the wheel is fixed to the
stationary framework, in such manner, that the distance of the centre of the
eccentric, from the centre of the wheel, is equal to half the distance that the
levers attached to the vanes, as above described are required to move. The ends

page_text: of these levers by means of a pin inserted near the end, engage with said eccen-
tric, and the result is that the inclination of the vanes, is altered relatively
to the wheel as it revolves-so that the vanes are full face on when exposed
to the full force of the water, and when in the opposite position, are full edge
on, and offer but little resistance to the force of the current.
Intermediate of these extreme positions. the inclination of the vanes vary
according to the position. If desired the eccentric may be oval, or other suit-
able form, so as to bring the vanes quicker into action, and take them quicker
out of action.
The eccentric is either formed as a projecting ring, or it may be formed as
a groove in which the ends of the pins in the pivot levers work.
The wheels will in most cases work equally well in either direction.
Preferably a block or partition is arranged in the casing at the point where
the vanes are full edge on, to stop or hinder water being carried round with the
wheel.
This invention will admit of many uses and applications some of which are
indicated below.
In tidal rivers or streams of running water, wheels constructed according to
this invention may be fixed preferably in a horizontal position, so as to receive
the full force of the water, and be rotated thereby. The wheels are arranged
in casings fitted into the banks, and casing round a part of that side of the
wheel exposed to the force of the current leaving a sufficient opening for the
current to strike the vanes at a right angle, also ample opening for the current
to escape, or upon suitable stationary structures in midstream, according to the
direction of the tide or stream so the wheels will work in one direction or the
other, but suitable gearing is interposed to remedy this in a well known manner.
The wheels may be used for working machinery or driving dynamos or for other
purposes.
When fixed in mid' stream they may be arranged to rise and fall with the
tide.
'
Turbine wheels may also be fitted with vanes as above described, but in this
case the parts must be very strong and the whole arranged in an outer casing
so that the water cannot escape, except at the exhaust opening and they may be
worked with water or steam.
The paddle wheels for steam boats may also be constructed as above described.
The full side of the wheel is arranged to be at the point of greatest resistance
and the wheel should be about three quarters under water so as to obtain a
greater hold upon the water and consequently greater speed. The whole of the
centre of the wheel should be made as a hollow drum and water tight and will
therefore add to the buoyancy of the boat.
In the case where the wheels are operated by wind pressure, they are either
mounted horizontally or vertically on an elevated stand and fitted with means
for turning according to the direction of the wind, when mounted horizontally
the eccentric alone will require moving.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I have hereunto
appended two sheets of drawings of which Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through
the wheel & vanes, when applied to a tidal or running river, the dotted lines
shew the position of the eccentric & crank levers in their various positions
round the wheel A the body of the wheel B the vanes, C the block D the back
casing E the front casing F entrance of current G escape of current.
Fig. 2 vertical section. A body of the wheel B the vanes C the block D the
back casing E the front casing, H the eccentric attached to frame I, the cranks.
Fig. 3 horizontal section, when applied as a turbine. A, body of the wheel,
B the vanes, C the blocks D the enclosed casing round the wheel F entrance
of current G exhaust. Fig. 4 vertical section A body of the wheel, B the
vanes C, the blocks D, the enclosed casing E the cover H, the eccentric cut
into cover I the cranks.
:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
The arrangement of pivoted vanes round the circumference of a wheel with fixed
crank levers and pins as described, with the arrangement of an eccentric to
rotate the said vanes, by means of the cranks substantially as described, so that
by this arrangement of the wheel the force of the running tide in flowing and
returning may be utilized, also the force of running rivers. And the applica-
tion of the same as a windmill or as a paddle wheel for a steam boat.
And as a turbine by enclosing the wheel in a suitable casing when it can be
driven by either water or steam.
Dated this 17th day of October 1800
RICHARD MILES SEN.