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Manufacturers Index - Eclipse Windmill Co.
Patents
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Patent Number Date Title Name City Description
68,674 Sep. 10, 1867 Wind Wheel Leonard H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI Abstract:
The object of my invention is to provide a vane which will more effectually regulate and control the motion of the common windmill, thereby preventing the inconvenience arising from irregularity of motion and the danger of breakage, as in the case of high winds, &c. and its nature consists, firstly, in the use of a substantial frame having an upper and lower part made of light material, and of such height as will give a suitable support to the double attachment of the tail of the vane, and so arranging said attachments as to swing on the frame and throw the tail of the vane more or less in or out of the wind, as the case may re- quire, and in the use of weights and pulleys which are operated in combination with a side wing for throwing the wind-wheel into or out of the wind, according to its velocity, and, further, in arranging locks at the tail of the vane to prevent its being thrown out of position; secondly, in the use of a cylindrical pivot, through which the pulley-cords and connecting-rods are made to pass, and in providing guides for the support of said cords and rod, and also suitable bearings in the stock supporting the pivot to revolve in.

RE5,531 Aug. 12, 1873 Wind-Mills Leonard H. Wheeler, deceased (Estate of) Beloit, Rock County, WI Abstract:
The object of my invention is to provide a vane which will more effectually regulate and control the motion of the common windmill, thereby preventing the inconvenience arising from irregularity of motion and the danger of breakage, as in the case of high winds, &c. and its nature consists, firstly, in the use of a substantial frame having an upper and lower part made of light material, and of such height as will give a suitable support to the double attachment of the tail of the vane, and so arranging said attachments as to swing on the frame and throw the tail of the vane more or less in or out of the wind, as the case may re- quire, and in the use of weights and pulleys which are operated in combination with a side wing for throwing the wind-wheel into or out of the wind, according to its velocity, and, further, in arranging locks at the tail of the vane to prevent its being thrown out of position; secondly, in the use of a cylindrical pivot, through which the pulley-cords and connecting-rods are made to pass, and in providing guides for the support of said cords and rod, and also suitable bearings in the stock supporting the pivot to revolve in.
    Wind-Mills Harriet W. Wheeler, Executrix Beloit, Rock County, WI  
    Wind-Mills William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI  
147,213 Feb. 03, 1874 Wind-Mills William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI
155,397 Sep. 29, 1874 Wind-Mills William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI Abstract:
In the construction of windmills it is usual to transmit the power of the wind-wheel to the machinery below by the employment of gearing, or a crankshaft and pitman. These arrangements, however, are both objectionable, for the following reasons: First, the friction attending the use of the gearing is so great as to impede the force of the mill, while the irregular movements of the wind-wheel are liable to break out the teeth of the gears; second, the leverage due to the arrangement of the gears eccentrically to the vertical center of the mill tends to throw the wind-wheel out of the wind, and thereby decrease its efficiency, and impart a variable motion to the machinery below; third, the employment of the crankshaft and pitman imparts an irregular motion to the machinery, owing to the dead-points of the crank, while the lateral vibration of the pitman creates too much friction of the parts through which it operates.
My invention is designed to avoid these objections, for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the mill, and decreasing its cost of construction. To this end the invention consists, first, in transmitting the power of the wind-wheel to the machinery below by a wire rope or other suitable band , guided by a series of grooved pulleys, arranged, with relation to each other, so that the pulleys shall guide the rope down through the center of the mill in vertical lines nearly touching each other, to prevent binding should the rope become twisted, and so that the friction of the wheel-shaft in its bearings shall be reduced by the lifting action of the rope in its passage over the pulleys ; secondly, in the provision of means for preventing the wire rope from being duly tightened should it become twisted by the rotation of the mill-head, and for taking out the twist; thirdly, in the provision of means for operating the vane or rudder positively in both directions with reference to the horizontal axis of the wind-wheel and lastly, in the combination of various parts.
Claim:
The combination of the secondary guide-pulleys with the grooved pulley on the shaft of the wind-wheel, arranged with relation to each other.
156,195 Oct. 20, 1874 Wind-Mills William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI Abstract:
My invention has for its object to improve the operation and efficiency of that class of windmills in which a flexible tail-vane or rudder is employed to carry the wind-wheel more or less out of the wind, as the velocity of the latter increases or diminishes, for the purpose of maintaining the mill at a uniform rate of speed or of stopping its operation entirely.
Claim:
A weight of varying resistance, pivoted at one side of the horizontal axis of the tail-vane and at an angle with it, in combination with the flexible tail-vane or rudder and wind-wheel.
157,434 Dec. 01, 1874 Wind-Mills William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI Abstract:
For the purpose of enabling others to fully understand my invention it is necessary to describe the construction and operation of the entire windmill; but I (do not claim herein anything accepting the means for preventing the operating-cord from being twisted about the pitman of the wind-wheel.

RE9,493 Dec. 07, 1880 Windmill William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI
335,864 Feb. 09, 1886 Windmill William H. Wheeler Beloit, Rock County, WI William H.Wheeler was the Vice-President of the Eclipse Wind Mill Co., Beloit, Wi.
Abstract:
My invention is designed especially as an improvement in geared mills, since it is in geared mills that the greatest difficulty is experienced in attaining those results which are accomplished by my improvements; but I do not desire or intend to limit myself to geared mills, as my invention is equally applicable to other mills.
Claim:
In a windmill, the combination of the wheel-support and vane-support with a vertical shaft, and means for transmitting the rotary motion of the wind-wheel thereto, and two concentric tubes attached, respectively, to said wheel-support and vane-support, and surrounding said shaft, and means applied to said tubes below the mill-head supports for revolving said tubes relative to each other