US1011618A - Windmill. - Google Patents

Description

S. S. HARPER.

WINDMILL. APPLICATION FILED, FEB. 23, 1909.

1,01 1,618. Patented' Dec. 12, 1911. a SHEETS-SHEET 1. 1%.1. 2

Inventor esml f Witnesses h 2 I Attorney:-

S. S. HARPER.

11111111111111. APPLICATION PILEDPEB. 23, 1909.

Patefited Dec. 12,1911.

3 SHEET8SHEET 2.

coLummA PLANOGRAPII 60., WASHINGTON. [L c.

S. S. HARPER.

WINDMILL;

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.23, 1909.

Patent ed Dec. 12, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,,WASHINOTON. h. c.

S. S.' HARPER.

WIN DMILL.

APPLICATION FILED P23. 23,

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HIM Mwunnn I- Witn Attorneys.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH CD.,WASHINGTON, n. :2

S. S. HARPER.

WINDMILL. APPLICATION FILED 213.22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

8 SHEETSSHEET 5.

Inventor- 49; Attorneys.

S. S. HARPER.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED T11R23, 1909.

1 1,011,618. 1 PatentedDec.12,1911.

' S.S.HARPER.

WINDMILL.

APPLIGATIOH 11.21) 113.23, 1909.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7.

Patented Dec. 12,1911.

\ Attorneys.

s. s HARPER. WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.23, 1909.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

B SHEETS-SHEET 8.

9 6 I I \n'q Inventor 5 saw, @fi h A1torneys.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPI! c0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

SAMUEL STEWART HARPER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' WINDMILIZ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.12, 1911.

Application filed February 23, 1909. Serial No. 479,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL STE ART HARPER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Windmill, of which the following is a specification.

The object I have in view is the production of a windmill of the vertical shaft type, in which the efliciency will be increased, the weight, first cost and deterioration reduced, which may be arranged to run without governing mechanism, which will not be injuriously affected by the weather, and which will be noiseless in operation, in which the diameter may be increased over mills of existing type and in which a number of wheels may be superposed on a single shaft. These and further objects will more fully appear from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, considered together or separately.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wind mill embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the hubs. Fig. 1 is a section on the line AB of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a dial-grammatical view of a wind mill frame embodying my invention. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the connection between a hub and a rim. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the device used for putting the frame under tension. Fig. 9 is a section on the line CD of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one form of vane and rim. Fig. 11 is a similar view of a modified form of vane and rim. Fig. 12 is a detail view of a bottom bearing for a vane- Fig. 13 is a detail view of a top bearing for a vane. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of vane and rim. Fig. 15 is a section on the line E-F ofFig. .14. Figs. 16 and 17 are details of modifications of the manner of reinforcing the edge of the vane shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 18 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the V manner of mounting the mill on a tower of the type usually constructed for a horizontal shaft wind mill. Fig. 19 is a section View showing the connections between the vane and vane ring. Fig. 20 is a side elevation of a portion of a vane illustrating the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line GH of Fig. 'l9.f Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line IK of Fig. 19. Fig.22 is a modification of my invent-ion. Fig. 23 is a sectional view of theshaft and the bearings for supporting the same. Fig. 241 is a sectional view taken on the line L-M of Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a horizontal section of one form'of eccentric ring. Fig. 26 is a sectional'view taken on the line N-O of Fig. 25; Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken on the line P-Q, of Fig. 25; and Fig. 28 is a diagrammatical view of a modified form of wheel frame.

In all the views, like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a vertical shaft 1, which supports one or more wheels. The wheel illustrated in Fig. 1 comp-rises an upper rim 2, and a lower-rim 3, the two rims being superposed and lying in parallel planes. Between the rims are vanes 4. These vanes are mounted-upon vertical axes and so arranged that they may turn inside and outside of the plane of the rims. Their movements are limited and controlled by mechanism which will be described, whereby the vanes are so turned in relation to the wind that the latter will effectively act upon them. i

The first feature of my invention resides in the wheels and in the details by means of which they are built. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper rim 2 is supported by a single range of spokes 5, which connect the rim to a hub 6, such hub being carried upon the shaft 1. This range of spokes inclines upward or in the direction away from the wheel. The lower rim 3 is connected to the shaft by a range of spokes 5 and a hub 6. The hubs and spokes are similar to those at the top, exceptthat the parts are reversed,

the lower range of spokes leading down-' ward from the rims, or inclined in the direction away from the wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In some situations, where the wheels are superposed on a single shaft, as will be hereafter described, two or more ranges of spokes may be inclined upward. The two rims inthe embodiment illustrated are connected together by vertical tension rods. Reference being had to Fig. 6, it will be apparent that the shaft 1, hubs 6, spokes 5, rims 2 and 3 and tension rods 7 constitute a frame or cage; and it is further apparent that the rods 7 and spokes 5 will be under tension while the shaft 1 and rims 2 and 3 will be under compression. The rims 2 and 3, being circular, may be made light and cheap, while the other members 5 and 7, being subjected to tension only, may be made of rods or wires and, therefore, constructed cheap and of light weight.

The details of the spokes will now be described. Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the alternate spokes 5 of each range engage at the top and bottom of the hub 6. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the hub 6 is formed of a web 8, a sleeve 9, and a flange 10. The sleeve 9 is arranged for attachment to the shaft 1; the flange 10 is fluted or corrugated, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of which the spokes may be given a proper tangential lead. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the inner end of each of the spokes passes through an opening in the flange 10, and that the said flange is bent or curved, or so formed at that point that it lies at right angles to the center line of the spoke. By this means the nut on the inner end of the spoke engages squarely against the inside of the flange 10. By having the spokes alternately engage above and below the center of the flange 10, as illustrated,the two spokes of each pair that crosses will not come in engagement, but, on the contrary, will be separated a sufficient distance so there will be no engagement and, conse quently, no wear at the crossing.

One object of my invention being to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of the mill, I will describe means whereby all the spokes may be of the same length. Referring to Figs. 4 and 7, it will be seen that the flange 1O lies at a different angle above the web 8 than it does below. The angles are illustrated by the broken lines in Figs. 4 and 7 Fig. 7 illustrates two spokes, and shows that the distance between the rim 2 and the upper and lower portions of the flange 10 is the same and, therefore, one length of spoke will suffice for engagement with both upper and lower portions of the hub. This is a great advantage, as the spokes in each range may be made all of the same length, and in assembling the mill, if the nuts on the inner end of the spokes be of the same width, by screwing each in flush with the inner extremity of the spoke, the wheel will be set up in such a condition that it will not require subsequent truing,-es-- pecially if the spokes in all of the ranges be the same length. Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the hub in which the sleeve extends above the web 8 as well as below it, thus giving a somewhat longer bearing on the shaft 1. In Fig. 6 I show a hub similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 at the top of the wheel, and a hub similar to that shown in Fig. 5 at the bottom; but the kind of hubs that will be used will depend upon the par ticular circumstances under which the mill is built. Another feature of my invention relates to the means by which the parts of the wheel are put under tension. It is understood that after the rims, spokes, shaft, hubs and tension rods have been assembled, tension has to be put upon the spokes and rods. Figs.

by bolts 13. By setting up on the nuts, on

the bottom of the bolts, the upper collar 11 and with it the hubmay be drawn down the shaft until those members of the wheel, which are to be under tension, are properly adjusted. After the hub is in position, it may be permanently secured in place by means of bolts which pass through the sleeve 9 and shaft 1. The hub may also be secured in position by set screws. The bolts 13 pass through openings 14 in the web 8, a construction which permits the use of a collar of less diameter than the hub. These openings 14 also serve an additional purpose of permitting the escape of water from above the web 8. The advantage in using the upper collar 11 is that the web 8 would ordinarily not be sufliciently strong to withstand the strain put upon it by the bolts 13 if the latter engaged directly with the web.

The next feature of my invention relates to the vanes and the details in connection therewith. Fig. 10 represents one form of vane, in which the sails are made of cheap material, such as sheet metal. The vane is formed of a frame 15 which, as shown, is made of hollow tubing. Cross members 16,

16 divide the frame into three parts. The sail 17 is formed in sections lying within the frame 15 and between the cross members 16, and is secured to the cross members and frame by clips 18. These clips may be made of sheet metal and encircle the frame, or cross members, and are riveted, or other wise secured, on both sides of the sail. At the corners of each sail section adjacent to the cross members 16, 16, the clips may be of annular shape, as illustrated, which will give some increased strength to these portions of the sail. In Fig. 11 is shown a dif ferent form of sail made of canvas. This sail is secured to the frame and cross members by lashings of wire, which pass through eyelets in the edge of the sail, and the two free ends of the wire are twisted around one another, as shown. These wires may be so proportioned that they will become ruptured in winds sufiiciently high to cause damage to the mill. By making these wires so that they will break before any other portion of the mill, a safety device is produced which will-allow the sail sections to become detached from the wheel when the latter is subjected to highly destructive winds. Fig. 14 illustrates a still different form of vane, in which the sail and frame are combined. This sail is formed of sheet metal, and is provided with upper'and lower fittings 19, to which the bearings are secured,

.and with intermediate hinge members which are also bushed. The free edge of the vane may be strengthened by being turned over a wire, as illustrated in Fig. 15; or it may have riveted to it an angle, as shown in Fig. 16, or a ribbon of sheet metal may be bent around the edge and riveted to both sides, as shown in Fig. 17. The vane may be further strengthened, more particularly at its free corners, by means of reinforcing strips 90, riveted or otherwise secured to one or both sides of the vane. I have shown two trough shaped strips riveted to one side of the vane and extending diagonally inwardly'from the free corners thereof under a plate through which andv the vane. 4 extend rivets which secure to the vane the fitting shown in Fig. 21. The rims 2 and 3 are illustrated in Fig. 10 as of tubular form or of circular cross-section. They are illustrated in Fig. 11 as formed of channel iron, and in Fig. 14 as formed of two angle irons riveted together. The form of vane illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, in which the frame 15 is of hollow tubing, is secured to the wheel by passing a tension rod 7 through one of the vertical members of the frame. In the form of vane illustrated in Fig. 14, the tension rod 7 passes through bearings in the fittings 19 and in the intermediate hinge members 20.

Another feature of my invention resides in the bearings, by means of which the vanes are supported. I illustrate two forms of bearing,one arranged for the upper part of the vane and the other for the lower part of the vane. I do not illustrate two bearings for each vane, although it is obvious that such may be employed. When it is desired to support the vane from the bottom, the form of bearing illustrated in Fig. 12 is employed. The frame 15 of the vane has connected to its lower edge an upper ball bearing member 21. This member carries an annular race 22, which engages with the row of balls 23. These balls run in a lower race 24, which lies. within the lower ball bearing member 25. The upper ball bearing member 21 is provided with an annular depending flange 26, which protects the inside of the bearing from the weather. The lower ball bearing member 25 is secured to the tension rod 7 as shown, by having the latter threaded through it, and in addition it may be prevented from turning by means of a set screw 27. The inside of the bearing contains a sufiicient quantity of liquid 28 to cover the balls and both ball races. The kind of liquid which I prefer to use is mercury, which I find possesses many advantages over any other liquid. I do not claim the particular ball bearing illustrated in this application, as it is fully disclosed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 479,342, filed by me on even date herewith. In the bearings illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the part 25 may be made of bronze or other non-rustable material, so that freezing between the outer walls of the sleeve 25 and the inner walls of the members 21 or 31 will not occur. The member 21 is best made of non-rustable material in the structure illustrated in Fig. 12, but it may.

be made of iron or steel in the structure illustrated in Fig. 13,there being no need of contact between the member 21 and stay rod 7 in such construction. The member 31 in Fig. 13 may also be made of non-rustable material. When the part 25 in either form of bearing is made of bronze, the lower race of steel is sufiiciently deep to contain the mercury, so that the latter will not come into contact with the bronze. I

Instead of the vane being supported upon a lower ball bearing (as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12), I may support it upon an upper ball bearing, as illustrated in Figs. 10, 13 and 14. This upper ball bearing is similar in many respects to the bearing illustrated in Fig. 12, except that the parts are reversed and are somewhat modified. The upper ball bearing member 21 is provided with ears 29, which project beyond the sides of the lower ball bearing member 25. These ears are provided with openings through which pass bolts 30. These bolts pass through openings in ears on a fitting 31,

which is secured to the upper part of the frame 15 of the vane. The weight of the vane is therefore supported by the upper bearing through the agency of the bolts 30.

Another feature of my invention resides in the means for controlling the movements of the vanes. Reference being had to Fig. 2, the curved arrow indicates the direction of travel of the wheel as being in the direction of the travel of the hands of a clock. The vanes are turned inside or outside of the plane of the rims 2 and 3 by mechanism, which will later be described, whereby they are caused to lie at an effective angle so that the wind will act upon them to cause rotation of the wheel. This controlling mechanism also limits the extent of movement of.

the vanes, and prevents their shaking or moving violently, thus preventing noise and reducing wear. Each vane is provided with a strut 32 which is connected at its inner end to a ring 33. This ring surrounds the vertical shaft 1 and has an opening larger than the shaft, so that it can lie eccentrically in relation to the shaft, with a portion of its inner edge in engagement with such shaft. The bearing of the ring upon the shaft through the agency of the struts determines the position of the vanes. The struts are so arranged that they strengthen and reinforce the vanes, and they also sustain the weight of the ring,thus dispensing with extraneous ring supporting means, and at the same time supporting the ring in such a manner that it moves in a horizontal plane.

The details of the struts are illustrated in Fig. 19. Each strut is of triangular shape, provided with two inclined members 34, 34 and a vertical member 35. The connection between the vertical and inclined members is by means of fittings 36, 36, while the connection between the other ends of the inclined members is by means of a fitting 37. I prefer to make both vertical and inclined members of tubing, screwing or brazing such tubes into the fittings 36 and 37.

The details of the fitting 36 are illustrated in Fig. 21. These fittings are provided with ball bearings 38 and 39, there being two of such bearings for each fitting. This insures a rigid support for the fitting and prevents amming of the bearings. The fittings 36, 36 are connected to the vanes through the agency of brackets 40, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Each bracket is provided with ears 41, which are shown in Figs. 19 and 20 as riveted to the sail 17. Each bracket also has a sleeve 42, through which pass the cross members 16 of the vane. A set screw 43 passes through the sleeve and engages with the cross members, helping to hold the bracket in position. The bracket has an outjutting base 44, and a shoulder 45, for attachment to the fitting 36. The outjutting base 44 contains a recess for the lower ball bearing 39. The shoulder 45 carries a bolt 46 which engages with the upper ball bearing 38. Both bearings 38 and 39 lie in recesses which contain a sufficient amount of liquid lubricant to cover them. The recess in which the bearing 38 lies is formed in the fitting 36, while the recess in which the bearing 39 lies is formed in the outj utting base 44. The fitting 36 is provided with a skirt 47, which covers the joint between the moving parts and protects the bearing from the weather. Above the bearing 38 is a flange 48 to protect the upper bearing 38 from the weather. The bearings illustrated are the well known Knipe hearing, but any other form of bearing may be employed. The feature of the double bearings at the bolts 50. Between the two members lie the fittings 37. The fittings 37 are very similar to the fittings 36, and contain upper and lower ball bearings, as illustrated in Fig. 22. The bolt 46, instead of passing through the shoulder 45 as described in connection with the fitting 36, passes through the upper member 49 of the ring. The lower ball bearing, instead of lying Within the outjutting part 44, lies within a cup 51, such cup resting upon the lower ring member 49. This cup is provided with ears 52, as shown, having holes through which the bolts 50 pass. The nuts shown in Fig. 22 on the bolts 50 engage with the upper faces of the ears, and clamp the cup against the lower member 49.

It is apparent that, in the operation of the mill, there will be more or less wear between the inner edge of the ring 33 and the shaft 1. In order to reduce the wear, I prefer to make use of the devices illustrated in Figs. 25 to 27 inclusive. For the purpose of reducing wear on the ring, I provide wearing blocks 53, such Wearing blocks being formed of wood or other suitable material and being clamped between the ring members 49, 49, by means of bolts 54. As shown in Fig. 25, the outer wearing edges of the blocks overlap so as to form a continuous wearing surface, but this overlapping feature is not essential and may be omitted. A block may be removed for replacement or renewal by removing one of the bolts 54 without disturbing the adjacent blocks. For the purpose of preventing wear upon the shaft by the engagement of the blocks or by the ring 33 without the blocks, I provide a sleeve 55. This sleeve 55 encircles the shaft 1, and is shown as made in two parts, by means of which it may be attached to the shaft or removed therefrom, without need of dismantling the mill. Each sleeve part is provided with small ears 56, shown in Fig. 27, and the ears of the two parts are bolted or otherwise secured together.

Another feature of my invention resides in the details of the shaft 1, and the means for supporting it. For the purpose of strengthening the shaft, and at the same time reducing the cost, I prefer to make it of a metal tube, as shown in Fig. 23. After this tube has been erected and elevated in position, I introduce a plurality of rods or other reinforcements 57, which extend through a greater or lesser part of the length of the shaft. I then introduce liquid cement or concrete 58, such cement or concrete running down inside the shaft and among the rods or reinforcements 57 After the concrete has set, there will be produced a light, rigid and cheap shaft, which will resist all tendencies to bend. 1

For the purpose of supporting the shaft, I use a supporting bearing 59 and a steady bearing 60. The supporting bearing 59 is adapted to take the weight of the mill while the steady bearing 60 is adapted to resist side strains caused by the pressure of the wind. The supporting bearing comprises a lower member 61, containing a ball race,and an upper member 62, having a sleeve 63, which is secured to the shaft. A row of balls, as illusof steady bearing illustrated must be mer-- cury, so that the balls will float at the proper height to engage with the races.

As illustrated in Fig. 23, the upper mem ber of the steady bearing 60 is provided with an extension, to which the lower part of the shaft 1 is bolted. For the purpose of supporting the shaft 1, and adjusting it in height in relation to the bearing 59, I employ devices, a description of which follows. The weight of the shaft and parts carried thereby is taken up by bolts 65, which pass through the sleeve 63 of the supporting bearing. These bolts have reduced unthreaded extremities, as shown, which extremities pass through inclined slots 66 formed in the shaft. By twisting or turning the shaft in relation to the upper member of the bearing, the shaft will be lowered or raised, as depends upon the direction of rotation. To prevent the shaft rotating after'it has been adjusted, I use set screws 67, which pass through the sleeve 63 and engage with theshaft.

Another feature of my invention resides in the support for the wheel, which is particularly adapted for use upon towers or structures that have been designed for use with wind mills of the horizontal shaft type. Fig. 18 illustrates an'embodiment of my invention adapted for this purpose. The tower 68 has an upper extremity which is of less size than the diameter of the wind wheel. Upon this tower is erected a platform 69 of suflicient size and larger than the wheel. The platform may be strengthened and further supported by means of rods 70, connecting the platform and tower. These rods may be provided with turnbuckles, as shown, for the purpose of truing the platform. The frame of the wheel support comprises vertical'members '71, 71 connected to the outside of the platform 69, and

a horizontal top member 72, connecting the.

upper ends of the vertical members. In plan view this horizontal top member may be circular, rectangular or any other shape as depends upon the number and location of the vertical members 71. A frame, com; posed of inclined members 73, converges to the center, and carries the supporting bearing 59. By inclining the members 73, the length of the vertical member 71 may bereduced, and the strength of the entire structure increased. The inclined members 73 may also serve as a support for a roof which will shed water and keep off snow from the mill.

In addition to the struts 32 and ring 33 for controlling the position of the vanes, I may use, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 18,

stops composed of rods 74, connected to the;

upper and lower rims 2 and 3, and having bent extremities. The length of these stops is such that the bent extremities will engage with the free corners of the vanes when the latter are at their extreme point of movement, and thereby offer additional support for the vanes. Incase of any disarrangement or break down of the struts 32 or ring 33, the mill would not become disabled as the vanes can then swing into effective position against the stops 74.

According to my invention, I may use a plurality of superposed wheels upon a single shaft, with or without steady bearings between the wheels. Fig. 22 illustrates the vway in which a plurality of wheels are superposed. The rims 2, 3, 3 3" are supported upon the shaft 1 by spokes 5, 5, 5, which are inclined upward so that their weight and the weight of the rims and other parts puts them under tension. The lowermost range of spokes, indicated at 5*, incline downward, so that by adjusting the vertical portion of the lowermost hub 8 (not illustrated in Fig. 22*) by moving it downward,

The arrangement whereby a plurality of superposed wheels are arranged with the upper and intermediate ranges of spokes 1n clined upward is conducive to easy mill erection. The mill may be bnilt up from below, the shaft being raised as the several wheels are added with the parts under no extra tension or compression, and the entire structure, consisting of several superposed wheels, may afterward be put under tension and compression by means of a range of downwardly inclined spokes, such range being either the lowermost in the series, or if there be more wheels and a consequently more lofty structurethere may be more wheels added below the range of downwardly inclined spokes and the structure will be duplicated below such range.

Fig. 28 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the frame is put under tension without sliding a hub or hubs on the shaft. In this modification the hubs are first immovably attached to the shaft, and the spokes and stays are inserted and the nuts are added. The stays and spokes are made longer than in the embodiment already described, and the threaded portions are also longer. This is illustrated in Fig. 28. By means of these nuts the frame can be properly trued.

The mode of operation of the wind mill above described will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2. In this figure it is assumed that wind is coming in the direction indicated by the vertical arrow at the bottom of the figure. With this condition, the vanes 24 will assume the positions indicated and it is obvious that the wind impinging on the vanes will cause the whole wheel to rotate in the direction indicated by the curved arrow at the left side of the figure. It is to be understood that if the wind comes from any other direction, the vanes will so adjust themselves that they will bear the same relative arrangement to the direction of the wind as that indicated in Fig. 2.

While I have described my invention in connection with a mill of the vertical shaft type, I desire it to be understood that the invention may be applied to a type of wind mill in which the shaft is not vertical.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A frame for a wind mill, having a shaft, a plurality of rims, stays connecting the rims, a range of spokes connecting each rim to the shaft, there being a single range only for each rim, the said ranges inclining away from the frame, said stays and spokes being under tension.

2. A frame for a wind mill, having a shaft, a plurality of rims lying in parallel planes, stays connecting the rims, a range of spokes connecting each rim to the shaft, there being a single range only for each rim, the outside ranges inclining away" from the frame and an intermediate range, or ranges, 1ncl1n1ng in one dlrectlon, said stays and spokes being under tenslon.

3. A wind mill having a vertical shaft, a plurality of superposed rims, vanes mounted to turn on vertical axes between the rims, stays connecting the rims, and ranges of spokes under tension connecting the rims and shaft, an upper range inclining upwardly, with a lower range inclining downwardly, and means for putting the spokes and stays under tension.

4. A wind mill, having a vertical shaft, a plurality of superposed rims, vanes mounted to turn on vertical axes between the rims, stays connecting the rims and ranges of spokes under tension connecting the rims and shaft, an upper range inclining upwardly and a lower range inclining downwardly, with an intermediate range inclining upwardly, and means for putting the spokes under tension.

5. A wind mill, having a vertical shaft, a plurality of superposed rims, vanes mounted to turn on vertical axes between the rims, stays connecting the rims and ranges of spokes connecting the rims and shaft, an upper range inclining upwardly and a lower range inclining downwardly and means acting on a single range of spokes for putting the spokes and stays under tension.

6. A wind mill having a vertical shaft, a plurality of superposed rims, vanes mounted to turn on vertical axes between the rims, stays connecting the rims and ranges of spokes connecting the rims and shaft, an upper range inclining upwardly, a lower range inclining downwardly, and means acting on a single range of spokes for putting the spokes and stays under tension.

7. A wind mill having a vertical shaft and a vane supporting rim, with a range of spokes connecting the rim and shaft, the said spokes being inclined, certain spokes being inclined at a different angle than the others, the said hub having a flange, said flange being inclined, the spokes being connected to the flange, the said flange being so formed that the length of all spokes in the range is the same.

8. A frame for a wind mill, having a shaft, a plurality of rims, stays connecting the rims, spokes connected to the rims, hubs on the shaft connected to the spokes, the said spokesinclining outwardly from the frame and means for sliding a hub on the shaft for putting the spokes and stays under tension.

9. A wind mill having a shaft, a rim and vanes pivoted to the rim, means for supporting the rim, said means including a hub on the shaft, and spokes connecting the hub with the rim, the said hub comprising a web and a flange, openings in the flange for the spokes, said spokes being arranged in pairs, engaging alternately on one side and the other of the web, the flange being inclined, the inclination being at a different angle and spokes under tension, said spokes being connected to the hub, said hub and a plurality of rims, and stays connecting the rims including a web and sleeveand a device for moving the hub to put the spokes under tension, said device acting on the sleeve.

12. In a wind mill, the combination of a shaft, a hub slidable thereon, said hub having a sleeve and a web, holes in the web, a clamp loosely surrounding the shaft and engaging with the sleeve, a second clamp secured to the shaft and fixed thereon, and rods connecting the two clamps and passing through the holes in the web.

13. A hub for a Wind mill, having a sleeve, a web thereon and a flange carried by the web, the said flange extending on both sides of the web and being fluted or corrugated.

14. A hub for a wind mill, having a sleeve, a web and a flange, said flange being fluted or corrugated and formed of alternately straight and curved portions, and having openings through the straight portions, in combination with spokes passing through the openings and nuts on the inner ends of the spokes engaging with the inner side of the flange, the said spokes beingtangentially arranged in respectto the web.

15. A vane for a wind mill, having a frame formed of tubular members, in combination with a mill frame having a stay which passes through a member of the vane.

16. A wind wheel which comprises a vertical shaft and a plurality of rims, means for connecting the shaft and rims, stays connecting the rims, a vane pivoted to turn around a stay, and having a bearing connected to the stay and supporting the weight of the vane.

17. In a wind mill, the combination with a plurality of rims, stays connecting the rims, a vane pivoted to turn upon a stay and means for supporting the vane to permit it to turn, said means comprising a bearing having two members, one of said members being connected to the stay, and the other member being connected to the vane, and a row of balls between the two members. 1

18. In a wind mill, the combination of rims and stays connecting the rims, a vane,

connected to the stay, both of said members being made of non-rustable material.

19. In a wind mill, the combination with rims of a stay connecting the rims and a vane pivoted to turn around the stay, and a bearing to support the weight of the vane, the said bearing comprising a member carried by the stay and a member carried by the vane, one of the said members being of bronze and carrying an annular race of steel, a row of balls within the race and a bath of mercury within the race.

20. A vane for a wind mill which comprises a tubular frame, sails of sheet metal and clips connecting the sails to the frame, the said clips being riveted to the sails.

21. In a wind mill, the combination, with a vertical shaft for the wheel, of a tower, a platform larger than the Wheel upon the tower, strengthening rods connecting the tower and platform, said strengthening rods including means for truing the platform, a wheel support comprising vertical members connected to the outside of the platform and a horizontal top member.

22. A wind mill having a vertical shaft, a plurality of rims, means for connecting the shaft and rims, and vanes supported to turn on vertical axes between the rims, in combination with means for controlling the movements of the vanes, such means interdependently connecting the vanes, and being supported upon and carried entirely by the vanes.

23. In a wind mill, a shaft and vanes, means for governing the position of the vanes, such means comprising a ring surrounding the shaft, and struts connecting. the ring'to thp vanes, such struts supporting the ring.

24. A wind mill having a vertical shaft, rims carried by the shaft, vanes turning on vertical axes between the rims, and means for controlling the position of the vanes, such means comprising a ring surrounding the shaft and struts connecting the ring to the vanes, said struts having bearings at the ring and at two points on each vane.

25. In a wind mill, vanes, and means for controlling the position of the vanes, said means comprising a ring, struts connecting the ring to the vanes and bearings, each of said struts connected to the ring by a bearing and to a vane by two bearings, each of said vane bearings being a ball bearing and having a double row of balls.

26. In a wind mill, vanes, and an improved ring for controlling the position of the vanes, which comprises annular members and removable bearing blocks carried by the annular members. V

27. In awind mill, vanes, and an improved ring for controlling the position of the vanes. the said ring having a removable bearing portion.

28. In a Wind mill, a vertical shaft theresteady bearing below the said supporting 10 for, which is formed of a tube With reinbearing, and means for adjusting the relaforced concrete Within it. tive position of the bearings.

29. In a Wind mill, a supporting shaft This specification signed and witnessed 5 therefor, which comprises a tube, rods Within this 18th day of February, 1909.

the tube and concrete surrounding the rods SAMUEL STEWVART HARPER. and lying Within the tube. YVitnesses:

30. In a Wind mill, a vertical shaft, a sup- LEONARD H. DYER, porting bearing at the upper end and a JOHN L. LOTSCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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