US1478214A - Windmotor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1923. 1,478,214

- J. GARDNER WINDMOTOR Fi led Ma 28. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18 1923.

.J. GARDNER WINDMOTOR Filed May 28 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fenian J'GHN GARDNER, OF (IARNFOBTH, ENG-LAND.

WINDMOTOR.

Application filed MayflS, 1923. Serial No. 641,925.

To all w 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, Jenn GARDNER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Treland, and a resident of Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, 1n he county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful 1 7 inthe strength or velocity of the wind.

In windmotors of the said type the movements of the windwheel into and out of the wind have been effected and controlled by a governor vane mounted on a substantially horizontal axis and on one side of the vertical axis about which the whole motor turns, such vane presenting its edge to light or normal wind and being turned about its axis to present a greater area to the wind as the strength of the latter increases, so as toturn the windwheel out of the wind. The governor vane has been controlled and operated by a pilot vane connected with the axis of the governor vane on one side of the vertical axis, said pilot vane normally presenting a maximum area to the wind and being adapted to be deflected from its normal position by the wind as the strength thereof increases, to turn the governor vane to present a greater area to the wind, against the action of restoring means tending to operate the governor vane to its normal or inoperative position.

The main object of the present invention is to provide improved means of controlling and operating the governor vane which will be more sensitive in action than the pilot vane referred to.

According to this invention the governor vane is controlled and operated by means of a centrifugal governor.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of one embodiment of my improvements in an apparatus for driving an electric generator, Fig. 2 an elevation on the line in Fi 1, Fig. 3 a plan of v Fig. 1, Fi t a fragmentary elevation illustrating the mounting of the sails upon their shaft, and Fig. 5 an elevation to a smaller scale, looking towards the left hand in Fig. 1, but with the sails turned through 90. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the direction of the wind is indicated by arrows, while in Fig. 5 the direction is, of course, from the observer.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a frame or bracket which carries the whole of the moving parts of the apparatus and which is apertured at the bottom for the passage of the supporting post 2 and is supported at the top on the post by means of a ball bearing 2 (Fig. 2). The frame 1 is provided with bearings 1 wherein is mounted the shaft 3 of the windwheel and with bearings 11 in which the horizontal shaft of the laterally projecting governor vane 9 is mounted. The electric generator 6 geared with the shaft 3 by bevel gearing 5, is mounted on the frame 1 at the windward side of the post 2 and the several parts of the apparatus are so arranged that the whole is roughly balanced on the top of the post. Brushes (not shown) mounted at the lower end of the generator 6 co-act with slip rings 7 secured on the post from which slip ringsthe current generated is conveyed by suitable conductors to the battery to be charged, the motor to be driven, or the like.

The windwheel is of the type comprising two diametrically opposite sails 8. The sails 8 are carried by a single transverse arm 4, preferably of wood, bored to receive the leeward end of the shaft 3, which is slotted to receive a key or feather 25. The arm 4 is also slotted at either side of the central hole to receive the key or feather and to allow of the tight gripping of the shaft by the arm on the tightening up of the securing bolts 26 which pass through the key or feather, the arm 4? and side plates 27. The end of the shaft is reduced to form a shoulder and is screw threaded to receive a. securing nut 28. The sails may be of plywood and be secured to the arm 4, by battens 29, Fig. The required angle of weather or pitch may be imparted to the sails by appropriately bevelling the surface of they arm i to receive the battens 29.

The shaft 10 of the governor vane 9 is illustrated as projecting laterally of the shaft 3 horizontally and normal thereto, but in some. cases the shaft 10 may not. be

normal to the shaft 3. The'vane 9 may be mounted so that when in the normal or inoperative position it presents a thin edge to the wind, but in order to reduce friction at the bearings 11 of the shaft 10 it is preferred to give the vane a slight initial ele vation, as shown in Fig. l, so that the wind pressure always tends to turn the vane into or towards the position of maximum efiect indicated in dotted lines.

For varying the position of the vane 9 between the inoperative position shown in full lines, in which the windwheel is fully in the wind, and the position of maximum effect indicated in dotted lines in which the windwl'ieel would be turned completely out of the wind by the wind pressure on the vane overcoming the tail or rudder effect of the wheel and rotating the frame 1 on the post 2, I employ a centrifugal governor comprising weights 18 connected by flat springs 20 with a membe 17 fixed upon the shaft 3, and also connected with the muff 16, 'slidably mounted on the shaft 3, by links 19 which are pivoted at one end to the weights 18 and at the other end to the nufi' 16 which moves backwards and forwards on the shaft 3 according to the. radial position of the weights. On the shaft 3 is also slidably mounted the closed end i l of a U-shaped member 13 the limbs of which are pivoted to the free ends of the levers 12 fixed on the shaft 10 of the vane 9. A ball thrust bearing 15 is arranged between the muff 16 and the end 14: of "them'ember 13. There is also fixed on the shaft 10 a lever 21 having the properties of a fusee, by which a force of uniform strength may oppose with increasing effect the expansion of the governor weights 18. To the fuses lever 21 and near the shaft 10 is connected one end of chain or band 22 the other end ofwhich is connected to the periphery 23 of a drum provided with a restoring spring which tends to keep the vane 9 in its inoperative position. The drum 23, may, however, be a pulley over which the chain or band 22 passes to a weight or to a spring attached to the frame. In the position shown, the fusee lever will be acted upon by the spring only slightly to oppose expansion of the governor weights, but as the. expansion increases, the additional leverage afforded by the movement of the fuses lever will afford the spring greater leverage to counteract the increasing centrifugal force developed. by the higher speed and greater leverage of the governor weights '18. While it"is preferred that the restorin spring or weight should act upon the Van e shaft 10 through the medium of a fuse'e,

the latter may be dispensed with. p

The mode ofo'peration ofthe governing mechanism is, as follows :'lhe opposing roves or the festering being sues that, in a wind of medium strength, the governor is partially expanded and the vane 9 in an intermediate position, the windwheel will be partially turned out of the wind-by the pressure of the wind upon the vane 9 overcoming the tail or rudder effect of the wheel. A reduction of wind strength will cause a diminution of the speed of the wind wheel; the governor will contract under the influence of the restoring spring; the vane 9 will move towards the inoperative position; and the tail or rudderefl'ect of the windwheel due to its leeward position on the post will bring the wheel more nearly normall'o the direction of the wind, thus offering a greater area of sail to be acted upon. lVith an increase of wind strength the governor will expand beyond an intermediate degree; its muff 16, acting through the U connection 13-14 upon the arms 12 will cause the vane 9 to present a greater area; the tail efi'ect of the windwheel will be further overcome, and the wheelturned to a greater extent out of the wind; and the wind will impinge upon a smaller sail area, thus reducing the speed to the number of revolutions for which the governing apparatus is adjusted.

For the purpose of stopping the wind motor there is provided an arm 24, attached to the vane shaft 10, by which the vane 9 may be manually pulled into the vertical position indicated in Fig. l in dotted lines, when there will be offered to the wind a vane area so great as to completely over come the rudder effect ofthe sails, which will then be forced completely out of the wind. The arm 2%, which may conveniently I be combined with oneof the 12, is

drawn down by a cord 30, extending below to a position convenient for the operator, the cord being then held in position'by a cleat or the like until it is desired to 're-start the windmotor.

With the object of preventing any rotation of the windwheel which may occur whilst the vane is in its fully operative, or vertical position, a drum may be secured to the shaft, between the bearings 1 on the frame 1, so to rotate with the shaft, and there may be carried on the vane shaft '10, in a position between the two levers 12,'an arm to which is attached a brake-shoe which will press upon the drum when. the stopping cord 30 is pulled and the vane 9 is in the vertical position. i

The dynamo employed in this invention.

afforded by the post 2. Simplified construction permitted by this a rangement, and the balancing of the co netemeghanisni upon the realest sets, airing to see prompt movement in response to variable winds, is facilitated. The vertical shaft of great length and coinciding with thevertical axis of the apparatus as hitherto proposed for the purpose of driving electric generators, calls for the provision of several earings or guides to prevent whirling of the long vertical shaft; The compact main frame or bracket provided by the present invention, while reducing to minimum the number of bearings required, also provides convenient housing for ball or roller bearings for the limited numberof moving parts, thus abolishing the need of frequent lubrication. Further, the lightness gained by the construction and arrangement detailed permits the use of a less costly tower than usual to support the post 2, a mere mast, suitably stayed by guy ropes, being ample for the purpose, or, where an outbuilding is available, the post 2 may be supported on the ridge of the structure.

Instead of. a vertical dynamo being employed, driven through bevel gearing as shown in the drawings, the generator may have its armature shaft horizontally placed and be driven from the shaft 3 through spur gearing, chain gearing or the him.

While the centrifugal governor has been described as turning with the windwheel shaft 3, it may be carried by an independent spindle geared to said shaft. Or the governor may be mounted upon an extension of the armature shaft of the dynamo.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 31. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the windwheel and mounted for rotation therewith about the vertical axis, said vane being adjustable to present variable effective surface areas to the action of the wind, and a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for varying the surface area of the vane which is exposed to the wind in proportion to the speed of the windwheel.

2. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the windwheel and mounted for rotation therewith about the vertical Sfll vane being adjustable to present variable effective surface areas to the action of the wind, and a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for varying the surface area of the vane which is exposed to the wind in proportion to the speed of the windwheel, said vane in its normal inoperative position having a small surface area exposed to the wind.

3. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily vane being rotatable between a positionv edgewise to the wind and a position broadside to thewind for presenting variable effective areas to the action of the wind, and

a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for rotating thevane to various extents between said positions for presenting to the wind an effective area of the vane which is proportional to the speed of rotation of the windwheel.

4. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable \vindwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the windwheel and mounted for rotation therewith about the vertical axis, sai vane being rotatable between a position edgewise to the wind and a position broadside to the wind for presenting variable effective areas to the action of thewind, and a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for rotating the vane to various extents between said positions for presenting to the wind an effective area of the Vans whichis proportional to the speed of rotation of the windwheel, said vane when edgewise to the wind having a slight inclination to the direction of the wind so as to present a small surface area thereto.

5,. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the 'windwheel and mounted for rotation therewith about the vertical axis, said vane being adjustable to present variable effective surface areas to the action of the wind, and a centrifugal device responsive to the speed of the windwheel for varying the surface area of the vane which is exposed to the wind in proportion to the speed of the windwheel.

6. In a windmotor of the leeward type, a rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the windwheel and mounted for roration therewith about the vertical axis, said vane being rotatable between a position edgewise to the wind and a position broadside to the wind for presenting variable effective areas to the action of the wind, a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for rotating the vane to various extents between said positions for presenting to the wind an effective area of the vane which is proportional to the speed of rotation of the windwheel, and means constantly urging the vane toward its position in which it is edgewise to the wind, said means presenting an increasing resistance to the action of the are &

tation of the windvvheel and mounted for roproportional'to the speed of rotation of the Windwhee'l, and ineans'constantly urging the I vane toward its position in which it is edgewise to the wind, said means including a fusee device for presenting an increasing resistance to the action of the centritugal device in rotating the vane toward a position broadside to the wind.

8. In a Windm'otor of the leeward type, rotatable windwheel mounted for bodily movement about a vertical axis, a governor vane extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the windwheel and mounted for rotation therewith about'the vertical axis, said vane being adjustable to present variable effective surface areas to the action of the wind, a centrifugal device driven by the windwhee'l for varying the surface area of the vane which 1s exposed to the wind in proportion to the speed of the windwheel,

tationof the windwheel andmounted for rotation therewith about the vertical axis, said vane being adjustable to present variable effective surface areas to the action of the wind, a centrifugal device driven by the windwheel for varying the surface area of the vane which is exposed to the Wind in proportion to the speed of the windwheel,

and yieldabl'e'means constantly opposing the operation of the vane by the centrifugal device and tending to return the vane toithe position which it occupies when the Windwheel is not rotating, said means including a fusee device for increasing theefiective opposition to the increasing action of the'cen tri'fugal device which is caused by an increasing vrate of rotation of the windwheel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand; 7

JOHN GARDNER.

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