US4023915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressurized water wheel
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-11
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1995-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A waterwheel assembly has entry and outlet flow directing channel portions and a flow directing member below the waterwheel. The waterwheel has a plurality of radially disposed paddles mounted on a rotatable shaft and arranged with spaces between the paddles in open fluid communication in the center portion of the waterwheel. The upper portion of the waterwheel is enclosed in a pressurized air cavity so water is kept in the lower portion of the waterwheel. A method of controlling the water flow in a watershed includes directing water flow through small channels which connect with larger channels with flow controlling waterwheels in the channels at selected location so that releasing water through the waterwheels controls water flow and thus regulates runoff in the watershed area.
Inventors
- 👤 William S. Kerby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:21
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B17/00; F03B17/06; F03B17/062; F03B17/063; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S415/00; Y10S415/905; Y10S415/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A waterwheel and flow directing means therefor, comprising: a. a waterwheel having a plurality of radially disposed paddles mounted on a shaft in a spaced relation with spaces between said paddles being in open fluid communication at the center portion of the waterwheel, b. a flow directing means having an entry channel portion in fluid communication with the upstream side of said waterwheel, and outlet channel portion in fluid communication with the downstream side of said waterwheel, and c. a housing rigidly mounted over said water wheel, d. a means to pressurize an upper portion of said waterwheel mounted over said water wheel in a stationary position, said means to pressurize being constructed and adapted to in use retain air in an upper portion of said waterwheel, and e. a bottom channel flow directing member mounted below said waterwheel and having the upper surface thereof contactable with the lowermost portion of said waterwheel paddles as said waterwheel rotates to direct water through a lower portion of said waterwheel, f. means to maintain a pressure head on the entry channel portion which is greater than that on the outlet channel portion, said water wheel and flow directing means being constructed and adapted to in use receive water in said entry channel portion, pass same beneath said entry wall, through the lower portion of said waterwheel underneath said outlet wall and out through said outlet channel portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A waterwheel and flow directing means therefor, comprising: a. a waterwheel having a plurality of radially disposed paddles mounted on a shaft in a spaced relation with spaces between said paddles being in open fluid communication at the center portion of the waterwheel, b. a flow directing means having an entry channel portion in fluid communication with the upstream side of said waterwheel, and outlet channel portion in fluid communication with the downstream side of said waterwheel, and c. a housing rigidly mounted over said water wheel, d. a means to pressurize an upper portion of said waterwheel mounted over said water wheel in a stationary position, said means to pressurize being constructed and adapted to in use retain air in an upper portion of said waterwheel, and e. a bottom channel flow directing member mounted below said waterwheel and having the upper surface thereof contactable with the lowermost portion of said waterwheel paddles as said waterwheel rotates to direct water through a lower portion of said waterwheel, f. means to maintain a pressure head on the entry channel portion which is greater than that on the outlet channel portion, said water wheel and flow directing means being constructed and adapted to in use receive water in said entry channel portion, pass same beneath said entry wall, through the lower portion of said waterwheel underneath said outlet wall and out through said outlet channel portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The waterwheel flow directing means of claim 1, wherein said housing having one wall extending upward from a point essentially immediately below the upper end portion of an essentally vertically positioned paddle located at the bottom portion of said waterwheel in said entry channel portion and having another wall extending upward from a point substantially below said blades in said outlet channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The waterwheel flow directing means of claim 2, wherein: a. said bottom channel flow directing member has an upright portion extending upward from a bottom portion of said channel below said waterwheel, b. said inlet channel portion has a recessed portion upstream of said waterwheel extending from a point substantially ahead of said waterwheel to said bottom channel flow directing member, and c. said outlet channel portion has a recessed portion downstream of said waterwheel extending from a point substantially downstream of said waterwheel to said bottom channel flow directing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The waterwheel flow directing means of claim 3, wherein: a. said entry channel portion and said outlet channel portion have upright sides in the portion thereof adjacent said waterwheel with said channel sides contacting the sealing relation the opposed ends of said waterwheel, b. said housing extends beneath said channel sides, and c. said housing extends substantially above said waterwheel and has the upper end thereof above the water level in said inlet channel portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The waterwheel and flow directing means of claim 4, wherein: a. said inlet channel recessed portion and said outlet channel recessed portion have an essentially semi-circular curvature, b. said shaft is rotatably mounted with said channel sides and is mechanically connected through one of said sides to an external point, and c. said paddles have seal means on ends thereof and outer edges thereof to seal with said channel sides and said bottom channel flow directing member, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
GB190704670A
Cited
US1436933A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
FR1041534A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |