The Pelton Wheel

According to legend, Lester Pelton got his idea for a more powerful water wheel from seeing a cow stick its nose into a steam of water.

Patented in 1878, the divided metal cups of Pelton's wheel worked much the same way as the cleft between the cow's nostrils, enabling water to flow out to the sides, instead of bouncing straight back out of the cups.

The water-powered wheel sent compressed air through pipes to drive pumps, drills, triphammers, and hoists in the mines.

This simple concept proved so effective in turning the wheel faster and more efficiently that it is still used today in modern turbines around the world.

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