The Scoop WheeL 73 



quantity of water was raised, the consumption of coals being 

 at the same time reduced 42 per cent. 



The scoop wheel resembles a breast-water wheel with re- 

 verse action. In its simplest form — Plate 3 — it consists of 

 an axle, upon which are fastened discs, to which are attached 

 radial arms A, terminating at the other end in the rim B, 

 upon which are fastened arms with boards called " scoops," C. 

 The wheel revolves in a trough, connected with the drain on 

 the one side and the river or place of discharge on the other. 

 The scoops beat or lift the water from the lower to the upper 

 side, the waterway on the river or outlet side being provided 

 with a self-acting door E. which closes when the wheel stops. 

 On the inside of the rim are cast-iron cogs fastened on in 

 segments, and geared into these is a pinion keyed on to the 

 shaft of the fly-wheel of the engine. In some wheels a spur 

 wheel F i^ fixed on the shaft of the wheel, in place of the 

 toothed segments. The former plan occupies less space, but 

 the wheel is more difficult to repair in case of damage to the 

 teeth. In some wheels the framework, including the rim, is 

 made in four castings, two forming one side of the wheel, and 

 are bolted together and keyed to the axle. 



A large number of the scoop wheels in the Fenland were 

 designed by Mr. J. Glynn, and made by the Butterley Com- 

 pany. These have a cellular casting or disc keyed on to the 

 axle. The spokes are each in one casting through the width 

 of the wheel, bolted through the disc and transversely to the 

 rim. The wheels of more recent construction have had each 

 spoke made in a separate casting bolted transversely to the 

 disc and to lugs cast on the rim, the spokes being connected 

 by struts and bolts. The rim is cast with sockets, in which 

 are fixed with pins, oak arms, or " start posts." To the start 

 posts are bolted boards, from i inch to i J inch thick, varying 

 at the circumference from i foot to 3 feet apart. Wheels of 

 small width have only one start post, and the boards are 

 placed lengthways parallel with the post In wider wheels 



