W. S. Hill Crescent Moon Vane

[Louis Luu]

[Russ Huber]

Now you're talking turkey. 🙂

[Louis Luu]

Also, note that the top base is off center from the long extension "arm"...this is to help with balance?

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by Louis Luu

[Louis Luu]

[Russ Huber]

2 hours ago, Louis Luu said:

I just don't see how it would work with a motor sitting on top.  

You're overthinking it.  The top section that rotates with the fan motor mounted is sleeved to fit over the rod mounted to the lower section (rod dished on top) like an Emerson rotor slides on to the hardened steel shaft.  Notice the recessed area of the rod and the screw (K6) that is turned in to the recess to secure the rotating upper section on the pin. The sleeve fitted over the rod keeps the rotating upper section with fan mounted on it level and secure while it spins. The machined metal point integral with the rotating upper section seated on the DISHED top of the rod seen under K7 is supporting the load of the upper rotating section and fan motor. This is where the upper section rotates with minimal resistance due to the minimal load bearing metal contact between the upper section point resting on the DISHED area of the rod mounted the lower section.  

Edited June 16, 2022 by Russ Huber

[Russ Huber]

When the fan is mounted on the top rotator section, you won't see the dip. The dip section brings the load bearing pin/sleeve lower to reduce the amount of sleeve length over the lower section rod without jeopardizing the top section rotator stability. The less metal against metal contact/friction....the more free it spins.

[Russ Huber]

 

[Russ Huber]

You could drill a centered threaded hole and thread in a hardened steel screw with the point on the end rather than machine a sleeve and internal point. You could machine a sleeve to fit over the lower rod as well that can be threaded on to the top rotator. Hill's patent plan appears to cast the top rotator and machine the integral sleeve.

If you machine those components separate the more easily replaceable when worn, as I see it. I am not an engineer. 

The focus is MINUMAL metal to metal friction and balance for free effortless spin.

[Louis Luu]

[Louis Luu]

Blade is 7.5 inch diameter with a shaft of 6.37mm.  The pitch is 15 degrees counter clockwise.  Blade thickness before polishing is 1.2 mm.  I gave the blade a slight curvature of about 12 degrees.

[George Durbin]

24 minutes ago, Louis Luu said:

Blade is 7.5 inch diameter with a shaft of 6.37mm.  The pitch is 15 degrees counter clockwise.  Blade thickness before polishing is 1.2 mm.  I gave the blade a slight curvature of about 12 degrees.

Orville and Wilbur Wright would have said that blade is not a very efficient design! 😅🤣😂

[Louis Luu]

15 minutes ago, George Durbin said:

Orville and Wilbur Wright would have said that blade is not a very efficient design! 😅🤣😂

I would agree.  Will find out.  Placing order and having someone test it out.

[David A Cherry]

W S Hill electric knife switch

[George Durbin]

Well David you have a point, would that be enough?  Js...

[Russ Huber]

Sold at Auction: Vintage Industrial Electric Knife Switch - WS Hill Electric Co. (invaluable.com)

Edited July 31, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Louis Luu]

Updated the logo work as this was done a long while back.  Reworked the geometry so it will fit new bearing plate and slip ring.  Will add all them accessory parts later.  The blade is 7.5 inch for size reference.

Edited August 1, 2024 by Louis Luu

[Louis Luu]

I left room for bigger blade since I don't really have an idea what the parameters of the motor is.