Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
78-199 ~14~445
FLUID-DRIVEN_ROTARY ENGINE
Field of Invention
This invention relates to fluid-driven rotary engines
or motors and is particularly concerned with water wheels for
converting energy of flowing br falling water into mechanical
rotary motion.
Background
In the past various types of water wheels or water
driven engines have been used for the purpose of converting
the kinetic energy in a flowing or falling body of water
into mechanical rotary motion which is then used for
generating electriclty or for some other useful purpose.
Prior water wheels typlcally comprise an array of water-
receiving buckets or vanes arranged around the periphery
of the wheel to be acted upon in some way by the flowing
or falling body of water.
In some water-driven engine constructions water is
delivered in a free falling stream into the open ends of the
buckets mentioned above, causing the water-driven device to
be driven by the weight of water received in the buckets.
In other constructions of the water wheel type the water
is customarily delivered in jets issuing from nozzles to
impinge against either buckets or vanes extending around
the periphery of the water wheel. In this type of water
wheel the nozzles are conventionally located exteriorly of
the buckets at some position beyond the perimeter of the
water wheel. With this arrangement the nozzles deliver the
streams or jets of water inwardly toward the wheel and into
the open ends of the buckets to thrust`:àgainst the buckets,
causing the wheel to rotate.
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Representative teachings of the foregoing water-
driven engine constructions are found in United States Patent
No. 467,840 which issued to J. C. Walker on January 26, 1892,
United States Patent No. 125,843 which issued to R. C. Parvin on
April 16, 1872, United States Patent No. 3,984,698 which issued
to J. J. Brewer on October 5, 1976, United States Patent No.
2,163,102 which issued to H. Odill on June 20, 1939, United
States Patent No. 3,671,756 which issued to E. S. Meier on June
20, 1972, United States Patent No. 4,112,686 which issued
R. Trotta on September 12j 1978, and United States Patent No.
3,958,130 which issued to B. Van Mechelen on May 18, 1976.
Summary and Objects of Invention
_ _ _ _
The invention provides a fluid driven rotary engine
comprising at least one spoked wheel assembly mounted for
rotation about a horizontally extending axis and comprising (a)
a hub, (b) a set of angularly spaced apart wheel spokes extend-
ing radially from said hub and fixed at their inner ends to
said hub for rotation therewith, and (c) a set of liquid
collection containers each associated with and fixed to a differ-
ent one of said spokes at the outer end thereof, and a station-
ary, hollow fluid-conveying tubular member received in said hub
for supplying water or other liquid under pressure to said
wheel assembly, each of said spokes being hollow and opening
into the interior of the container that is fixed thereto, and
said tubular member and said hub having apertures arranged to
establish fluid communication between the interior of said
tubular member and each spoke for enabling liquid to flow
through each spoke to the container at the outer end thereof for
collection in the container as each spoke rotates through a pre-
selected segment of the circular path of motion of said wheel
assembly, said wheel assembly being rotated in a single pre-
selected direction by the force-exerting weight of the liquid
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collected in said containers, and each of said containers having
an open end and being arranged to dump the liquid collected
therein through its open end as it is rotated with its associ-
ated wheel spoke beyond said pre-selected segment.
The weight of the water entering the containers or
buckets imparts rotation to the wheel, causing the buckets to
rotate through a station where the open bucket ends face in a
direction to dump the water accumulated therein. Thereafter,
the buckets each move upwardly from the dumping station through
a filling station where water is again delivered to the buckets
for recurrently repeating the filling and dumping cycle.
In a preferred embodiment the hollow spokes terminate
in nozzles within the buckets. The nozzles are oriented to
tangentially discharge the jets of water toward the open
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bucket ends in the direction opposite-to the rotation of the
water wheel. By this arrangement the propulsive action of
the jets issuing from the nozzles contributes to the overall
force that is applied to impart rotation to ~he water wheel.
The complete water wheel unit of this invention may
incorporate a suitable alternator or generator which is
driven by the water wheel for generating electricity.
Additionally, the water dumped from the buckets or containers
may be collected and pumped back to the hollow axle to
recirculate the water through the water wheel. Furthermore,
water collected from one water wheel may be delivered to a
like water wheel at a lower elevation, whereby the two water
wheels are arranged to be serially driven by a descending
stream or body of water.
In addition to the foregolng more than one water
wheel assembly may be rotated on a common stationary axle.
- In such a construction one water wheel may be connected to
drive the armature of a generator in one direction while
another water wheel is connected to drive the generator's
field coils in the opposite direction.
With the foregoing in mind it is the general aim
and purpose of this invention to provide a novel fluid
driven rotary engine, particularly of the water wheel type,
which is efficient in operation and which is inexpensive to
manufacture.
Another important object of this invention is to
provide a novel water wheel which is of efficiently organized,
simplified construction.
Still another object of this invention is to provide
a novel water wheel wherein water or other motive fluid is
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delivered through a hollow, stationary axle and through
hollow wheel spokes to buckets or containers attached to
the ends of the wheel spokes for imparting rotation to the
water wheel.
Still another object of this invention is to pro-
vide a novel water wheel of the type described in the last
preceding object wherein jets of the water or other motive
fluid issue from nozzles at the ends of the hollow spokes
within the containers to produce a jet action for driving
the water wheel.
Further objects of this invention will appear as
the description proceeds in connection with the appended
claims and below-described drawings.
Description of Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water wheel
unit incorporating various principles of this invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the water wheel
shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 (on the same sheet as Figure 1) is a sec-
tion taken substantially along lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a section taken substantially along
lines 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded view of the
stationary hollow axle and rotatable wheel hub shown in
the preceding Figures;
Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the
water nozzle end of one of the water wheel spokes within
its associated container, the container being partially
broken away to illustrate the configuration of the water-
discharging nozzle;
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Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1,
. but showing a trough and pump incorporated into the water
wheel unit for recycling the dumped water;
Figure 8 is a side elevation showing two of the
water wheels of Figure 1 located at different elevations
along a slope below a lake, reservoir or other raised body
of water;
Figure 9 illustrates a front elevation of a set
of the water wheels of this invention arranged in a vertical
column;
Figure 10 illustrates a front elevation of another
embodiment of the water wheel unit in which a pair of the
water wheel assemblies are rotatably mounted on a common
stationary axle; ~
Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the
dual water wheel unit shown`in Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a section taken substantially along
lines 12-12 of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a section taken substantially along
lines 13-13 of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a front elevation of another dual water
wheel unit in which the two water wheel assemblies are
constructed and arranged to rotate in opposite directions;
Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the
dual water wheel unit shown in Figure 14 and illustrating
the two water wheel assemblies connected to drive t he
field coll assembly and armature of an electrical generator
. in opposite directions;
Figure 16 is a section taken substantially along lines
16-16 of Figure 15; and
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114644S
Figure 17 is a section taken substantially along
lines 17-17 of Figure 15.
Detailed Description
Referring to the drawings and particularly to
Figures 1 and 2, one embodiment of a water wheel unit
incorporating various principles of this invention is
generally indicated at 20 and is shown to be mounted on
the upper end of a rigid tower or stand 22 such that the
horizontal rotational axis of the water wheel is at a level
above the ground or floor surface on which the tower is
supported. Water wheel 20 comprises a tubular,
stationary axle 24 and a wheel assembly 25 mounted on axle
24 for rotation about the axle's longitudinal axis. Wheel
assembly 25 mainly comprises a wheel hub or sleeve 26
coaxially receiving and rotatably supported on axle 24, a
set of hollow elongated conduit-like wheel spokes 28 and
- a corresponding number of water-receiving buckets or
containers 30. In the illustrated embodiment there are four
spokes and four water-receiving containers. It will be
appreciated, however, that any suitable number of spokes
and containers may be used.
Axle 24 is rigidly fixed to the top of tower 22 by
suitable means such as brackets 32. The other end of axle
24 is open and connected by a coupling 35 to a water pipe
36. Pipe 26 is connected to an elevated body of water such
as a reservoir or lake for delivering water to the interior
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1146~45
of axle 24. Axle 24 has a water discharge port 37 for
delivering the incoming water to spokes 28 in a manner to
be explained in detail later on.
As best shown in Figures 3-5, hub 26 is formed with
a cylindrically smooth inner periphery seating against the
exterior cylindrical surface of axle 24. Hub 26 is confined
against axial displacement on axle 24 by a pair of groove-
seated retainer rings 38 or any other suitable means. Hub
26 is formed with a set of equiangularly spaced apart uni-
formly sized ports or apertures 40 corresponding in number
to the number of spokes 28. Ports 40 are coextensively
formed through the cylindrical side wali of hub 26 and may
be of any suitable configuration. In the illustrated
embodiment ports 40 are provided with a rectangular configura-
tion as shown.
Each of the water wheel spokes 28 is rigidly fixed
at its inner end to hub 26 in registry with a different
one of the hub's ports 40. Spokés 28 may be of any suitable
configuration in cross-section. For example, spokes 28 may
be rectangular to conform to the illustrated configuration
of ports 40.
As shown, spokes 28 extend radially outwardly from
hub 26 and are equiangularly spaced apart about the common
axis of hub 25 and axle 24. Each of the spokes 28 is formed
with a straight radially extending spoke portion 42 which
terminates at its outer end remote from hub 26 in a water
discharge nozzle 44.
The water-receiving containers 30 are fixed on to
each of the spokes 28 at the outer end'~thereof and may be
of any suitable configuration. According to one suitable
construction each container 30 is formed with an open end 46,
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a closed bottom 48 and water-confining side walls 50 extending
from bottom 48 and delimiting the open end 46. In the
illustrated embodiment containers 30 are shown to be of
rectangular configuration and open in a common direction
opposite to that in which wheel 25 rotates.
Wheel spokes 28 are of like configuration and are
uniformly dimensioned. As shown, the nozzle 44 for each
wheel spoke extends normal or at right angles to its
radially extending spoke portion 42 to extend along an
axis that lies tangential to a circle havings its center
coincident with the rotational axis of wheel assembly 25.
Each of the nozzles 44 opens towards the open end 46 of
its associated container 30 in a direction facing away from
the direction in which wheel assembly~25 rotates.
Each of the nozzles 44 may be round and slightly
converging. Alternatively, nozzles 44 may be of the non-
converging type. If spokes 42 are tubular or round, nozzles
44 may be of the same diameter as the spokes. As shown, each
nozzle 44 faces the open container end 46 to discharge the
jet of water toward the open container end. Each of the spokes
28 extends into its associated container 30 near the container's
closed bottom 48 such that the discharge end of the spoke's
nozzle 44 lies within the container inwardly of the container's
open end 46.
Each of the ports 40 in hub 26 is positioned to
advance into and out of registry with the axle port 37
as wheel assembly 25 is rotated. When each of the hub
ports 40 registers or partially registers with axle port
37 water will flow under pressure from the interior of
axle 24 through the axle port 37, through the hub port
40 in registry therewith, and through the associated hollow
wheel spoke 28 into the container 30 at the outer end thereof.
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For the four spoke water wheel construction shown
in the drawings the axle discharge port 37 may extend
circumferentially through an angle exceeding the 90
angular spacing between adjacent spokes 28. In this
embodiment port 37 circumferentially extends through an
angle of about 123.
As shown, port 37 circumferenially extends from one
edge near a vertical plane to its other edge which lies
about 33 below a horizontal plane. For the orientation of
containers 30 and nozzles 44 shown in the drawnings port
37 extends circumferentially between extremeties at or near to
12 o'clock and 4 o'clock to thereby define a filling station
at which water will be delivered to the spokes 28 and hence
to the containers 30 at the outer ends~thereof as the spokes
28 each rctate through the angle extending from the 12 o'clock
position to the 4 o'clock position mentioned above. From the
foregoing description it will be appreciated that the central
axis of port 37 lies about medially between the above
mentioned 12 and 4 o'clock positios.
In operation of the water wheel construction thus
far described it will be appreciated that water under pressure
or an available head is delivered by pipe 36 to the interior
cf the stationary axle 24. As each of the spokes 28,
rotating clockwise as viewed from Figure 1, advances to the
12 o'clock position (i.e., the vertical position above
the water wheel's rotational axis) the spoke's associated
hub port 40 will come into xegistry with the axle port 37
thereby establishing fluid communication between the interior
. . .
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of the wheel spoke and the interior of the stationary axle
24. As a result water within axle 24 will be delivered
through axle port 37 and the hub port 40 in registry
therewith and into the interior of the wheel spoke 28.
Water therefore flows through the wheel spoke 28 and
discharges through its nozzle 44 into the interior of the
associated container 30 as the wheel spoke rotates down-
wardly from the 12 o'clock position of the filling cycle
towards the 4 o'clock position marking the termination
of the filling cycle.
It will be noted that as each of the wheel spokes
28 rotates downwardly from the 12 o'clock position mentioned
above, the open end of its associated container 30 will face
upwardly, thereby collecting and confining the water discharged
from the nozzle 44 therein. The weight of the water collected
in each container 30 thereby exerts a force on the outer end
of the wheel spokes to produce a torque for rotating wheel
assembly 25 is a clockwise direction as viewed from Figures
1 and 2 of the drawings.
It also will be noted that as one of the wheel
spokes 28 reaches the 3 o'clock position (i.e., the
horizontal position) in the filling cycle the trailing wheel
spoke immediately behind it will have advanced to the
12 o'clock position mentioned above so that for approximately
33 of angular displacement of wheel assembly 25, water
will be delivered through two of the wheel spokes 28 to
their associated containers 30. Filling of the trailing
one of the two containers 30 at the filling station will
therefore overlap the filling of the container ahead of it.
By this operation it will be appreciated that throughout a
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complete revolution at least one of the containers 30 will
be in the process of being filled with water. Accordingly,
a force will continuously be applied to steadily and smoothly
rotate wheel assembly 25.
The jets of water issuing from nozzles 44 as the
nozzles pass through the filling station from the 12 o'clock
to the 4 o'clock positions mentioned above develops a
propulsive force for rotating wheel assembly 25 in addition
to the force resulting from the weight of water collected
in the containers 30 as the containers move through the
filling station. Accordingly, rotation of wheel assembly 25
will result from the jet propulsive force as well as the
force resulting from the weight of water collected in
containers 30 and also the momentum of`the rotating water
wheel. F~ow of water through wheel spokes 28 is aided by
' the centrifugal force developed by the rotating water wheel.
Preferably, the velocity of the jets issuing from
nozzles 44 is made low enough so that the water jets are
not ejected out of the containers 30 through the open ends
thereof, but instead remain within the containers, thus
allowing for the collection of the water within the
containers. It also will be appreciated that suitable
means such as a throttling valve (not shown) ln the water
pipe 36 may be used for regulating the velocity of the water
jets.
As each of the water-ladened containers 30 rotates
downwardly through its 4 o'clock position it will begin to
tip towards the horizontal sufficiently to begin to dump or
spill the water therein. The dumping or spilling of the water
from each container 30 may continue through the 6 o'clock
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1~4644~
position (i.e., the vertical position below the rotational
axis of the water wheel). As each of the containers 30
passes through the 6 o'clock position it will completely
empty and will begin its upward travel where its open end
46 faces downwardly. Accordingly, throughout the travel in
which two of the containers 30 are being filled at the
same time, the other two will be empty and will be advancing
upwardly toward the 12 o'clock position where the filling
cycle begins.
Efficient use of the available pressure or water head
is thus achieved by the combined effect of the weight water
accumulated in containers 30 and the water jets issuing
from nozzles 44 as well as the arrangement for delivering
the water to the containers 30 by way~of the hollow spokes
28. The~water wheel of this invention is therefore efficient
in operation as well as being of simplified and inexpensive
construction.
The water dumped from containers 30 may be collected
in a trough such as the one shown in Figure 7 or it may be
returned to a body of water (e.g.,-a stream) to be utilized
elsewhere.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the water wheel unit 20
may be equipped with an alternator or generator 54 which is
drive connected to hub 26 by suitable means such as a belt
and pulley assembly or transmission gearing 56. Alternator
54 is thereby driven by rotation of the water wheel to
generate electricity.
The embodiment shown in Figure 7 is the same as that
shown in the preceding figures except that the water wheel
unit illustrated in Figure 7 is equipped with a water collection
~464~5
trough 60 and a water-recycling pump 62. Like reference
numerals have been applied to designate like parts of the
water wheel constructions shown in Figures 1 and 7.
As shown in Figure 7, trough 60 may be positioned
on the ground below water wheel assembly 25 in a position
where it receives and collects the water dumped from
containers 30. The inlet port of pump 62 is connected by an
, inlet pipe 64 to trough 60. The outlet port of pump 62 is
connected by a dishcarge pipe 66 to axle 24.
10Operation of pump 62 results in the withdrawal of
water from trough 60 and the delivery of the withdrawn water
back to the interior of axle 24 for recirculation through the
water wheel spokes 28. Pump 62 may be connected to be
driven by any sui~able power source and may be used to
continue operation of the water wheei without interrupting
the generation of electricity by alternator 54 in situations
where the available body of water, water head or water
pressure normally used to drive water wheel 25 is cut off.
To start the water wheel in its recycling mode of
operation in which pump 62 is utilized, a water inlet pipe
68 having a gate valve 70 may be connected to the hollow
axle 24 to deliver water from a suitable source (such as
a hydrant or water tank). To initiate rotation of the water
wheel gate valve 70 is opened to deliver water under pressure
or available head to the water wheel thus imparting rotation
to the water wheel. As the water wheel begins to rotate
pump 62 is then energized and gate valve 70 is closed,
thereby allowing the water wheel to be driven by the water
recycled or recirculated by pump 62.
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As shown in Figure 8, the water wheel unit 20,
equipped with trough 60, may be located on the slope or
side of a mountain or hill, at the top of which there is a
lake or reservoir or other body of water 72. A second water
wheel unit (indicated at 20a in Figure 8) of the same
construction as unit 20 may be located along the same slope
or hillside at an elevation lower than water wheel 20.
Since units 20 and 20a are of like construction, like
reference numerals have been applied to designate like parts.
10Water from the lake or reservoir 72 will be first
delivered by pipe 36 to the water wheel unit 20 to drive
unit 20. Water dumped from the containers 30 of unit 20
is collected in the trough 60 of unit 20. From there the
water is conveyed by a pipeline 74 to the hollow axle 24
of water wheel unit 20a to drive unit 20a. The water dumped
from containers 30 of unit 20a may be collected in the trough
- 60 of unit 20a to provide for the delivery of the water to
still another water wheel unit (not shown) at a lower
elevation or to some other place for other uses, such as
drinking water. Units 20 and 20a are therefore driven
serially by the energy in the descending water.
In Figure 9 a group of water wheel units 20b, 20c,
20d and 20e, each e~uipped with a trough 60, may be arranged
in a vertical column within a building or some other structure
76. Water wheel units 20b-20e are of the same construction
as water wheel unit 20. Units 20b-20e are arranged so that
their rotational axes are con~ained in a common vertical
plane as shown.
Water for driving the water wheel arrangement shown
in Figure 9 may be stored in a suitable water tank (not shown)
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at the top of building 76 and delivered through a pipe 78
to the hollow axle of the topmost water wheel unit 20b
to drive unit 20b.
The water dumped from unit 20b is collec-ted in the
trough 60 for unit 20b an~d from there delivered by a further
pipe 80 to the hollow axle of the next lower water wheel
unit 20c to drive unit 20c. The water dumped from unit 20c
is in turn collected by the water trough 60 for unit 20c.
From there the water is delivered by still another pipe 82
to the hollow axle of water wheel unit 20d for driving unit
20d. The water dumped from water wheel unit 20d is collected
in the trough 60 for unit 20d, and from there the water is
delivered by a further pipe 84 to the lowest water wheel
unit 20e in the column. `
If desired unit 20e may also be equipped with a trough
60 for collecting water dumped from unit 20e, and the collected
water may, if desired, be pumped back by a pump 84 to the
topmost water wheel 20b.
Each of the water wheel units 20b-20e may be
equipped with its own alternator 54 as described in the
embodiments of Figures 1 and 7.
From the foregoing description it will be appreciated
that similar to the arrangement of water wheel units shown
in Figure 8 the water wheel units 20b-20e are driven serially
by a falling or flowing body of water.
According to another aspect of this invention two
or more water wheel assemblies corresponding to assembly 25
may be mounted on a common hollow axle. For example in
Figures 10-13 two water wheel assemblies 25' and 25" are
~0 mounted on a common hollow stationary axle 24'. Each of the
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wheel assemblies 25' and 25" is the same as the wheel assembly
25. Accordingly, like reference numerals have been applied
to designate like parts.
Axle 24' is provided with two axially spaced apart
water discharge ports 90 and 92. Port 90 is used to supply
water to wheel assembly 25' and port 92 is used to supply
water to wheel assembly 25", all in a manner similar to that
described for the preceding embodiments. Apart from the
dual port construction described above, axle 24' is the same
as axle 24.
In operation of the ~ual water wheel unit shown in
,-. Figures 10-13, water under pressure or àn available head is
delivered to the interior of axle 24'. As the inlet hub
ports for the wheel spokes in wheel assembly 25' rotate into
registry with the axle port 90, water will be delivered
through the wheel spokes to the containers at the outer ends
thereof. At the same time the inlet ports for the wheel
spokes of wheel assembly 25" rotate into registry with the
axle port 92, thereby delivering water from the interior of
axle 24' through the wheel spokes to the containers 30 in
wheel assembly 25". Both of the wheel assemblies 25' and
25" are thereby driven in a common direction by the water
introduced into the interior of axle 24'.
- In Figures 14~17 the water wheel unit is also provided
with a pair of wheel assemblies 25g and 25h rotatably mounted
on a common hollow axle 24" in a manner similar to that
described for the embodiment of Figures 10-13. In the
embodiment shown in Figures 14-17, however, wheel assemblies
25g and 25h are constructed to rotate in"opposite directions
rather than in a common direction.
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Wheel assembly 25g is the same as wheel assembly 25.
Wheel assembly 25h is the same as wheel assembly 25g except
that wheel assembly 25h has its nozzle and container parts
arranged in a direction opposite to that of wheel assembly
25g. Like reference numerals have been applied to designate
like parts of the two wheel assemblies shown in Figures
14-17~
To accomodate rotation of wheel assemblies 25g and
25h in opposite directions the stationary axle 24" is provided
with two axially and angularly spaced apart ports 94 and
96. Port 94 is located at about 2 o'clock as viewed from
Figure 16, and port 96 is located at approximately 10
o'clock as viewed from Figure 17. Water under pressure is
delivered through port 94 to drive wheèl assembly 25g as
the wheel spokes of assembly 25g pass through the 2 o'clock
filling position and come into registry with port 94.
Water under pressure is delivered through port 96 to drive
wheel assembly 25h as the wheel spokes of assembly 25h pass
through the 10 o'clock filling position to come into registry
with port g6. Apart from ports 94 and 96, axle 24" may be
of the same construction as axle 24.
As shown in Figure 15 the rotatable hub of wheel
assembly 25g may be drive connected to a rotatably mounted
field coil assembly 98 of a generator 100 by means of a gear
train 102 to rotate the field coil assembly 98 in one
pre-selected position. The rotatable hub of wheel assembly
25h may be drive connected by another gear train 104 to the
rotatably mounted armature 106 of generator 100 to rotate
the armature in a direction opposite to that in which the
field coil assembly 98 is rotated. Thus, the field coil
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assembly and the armature of generator 100 are rotated in
opposite directions by their respective water wheel assemblies
25g and ~5h.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered
in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope
. of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes
which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
- What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters
Patent is:
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