14. Inclined Water Wheel
OF AN INCLINED WATER WHEEL.
The principal mechanical merit I conceive this Machine to possess, lies in the facility it gives of taking a stream of water as
high, and discharging it as
low as possible: and both nearly in the direction in which it naturally flows. Of the advantage it possesses in keeping the water a long time from falling, I shall not now speak, as it would require more discussion than this work comports; and, moreover, the Plate confines us to a somewhat contracted representation, which I hope my readers will excuse.
Plate 48 fig. 3,
A B is the section of the wheel, and
C D a small portion of it's circumference--which shews the form and position of the floats
a b c, &c.
E is a floor on which the upper water flows, and from which it falls thinly on to the wheel--whose motion is purposely made as slow as possible. The water then, occupies one half of the wheel's circumference, falls by a gentle slope and finally leaves the wheel at
d, whether it there touches the lower water, or not. This wheel is allowed to be incapable of
using to advantage a large stream of water--but is doubtless fit to employ a small stream,
in the best manner.