Your Waterwheel Solution

Robert Hubbs

For over 5 generations the family of Robert Hubbs has been dealing with and working in waterwheels.

A Master Electrical Contractor by trade, Hubbs has been researching, building, and consulting on the topic of waterwheels for over 30 years.

Hubbs' studies led him to collect and research old manuscripts from over three continents. He has pulled from the Library of Congress the original manuscripts of Jean V Poncelet, one of the earliest waterwheels design masters in his quest to understand the principles of waterwheels. He has been a member of waterwheel societies in two countries. Back in the early 1980's he developed a computer program to compute the power, blade design, and efficiency, of prospect waterwheels.

Hubbs has been writing and publishing papers dealing with the history of the waterwheel for over 12 years. He has consulted with hundreds of people to determine the best operational designs, and has designed numerous waterwheels for clients all over the country,

Hubbs' deep interest in waterwheels and waterwheel power, resulted in him learning the basic engineering principles of mechanical design. From this building block, he has been able to construct and build the tools required to build mid-size waterwheels.

Hubbs has designed his own one of a kind blade rounding press and bucket bending press to handle the manufacturing requirements of medium size waterwheels. When consulting with fellow engineers about the machine needed to bend and curve the quarter inch steel for his turbines, he was told it could not be made due to the tremendous forces required to mold steel plates into a sweep back curve. Bob not one to be stopped, built the machine anyway and this is the heart of the tools he uses in building his waterwheels.

His studies also led him to understand the nature of water power and the forces involved in the relationship to nature. With this understanding, he has been able to unite and work with the different forces of natures resulting in beautiful waterwheel designs which are highly efficient. Hubbs has a working knowledge of most waterwheel designs. Some of these designs include the Poncelet, the Fourneyron , the Sagebien, and the Turgo.

Robert Hubbs past away at Age 73 in March, 2002.

 

Robert Vitale

 

Robert Vitale has had a varied background. He has degrees in computer science and media production. He started work at Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts. In the mid-70's, he became a director at the college in-charge media operation. This included TV production, printing, graphics and audiovisual operation. He moved on to work for Pratt & Whitney's Advanced Design Aircraft Engine Division, becoming a media specialist involved in media productions and computer controlled multimedia presentations. He left P&W to become an independent corporate computer consultant in the mid 80's & 90's. Most of his work involved designing computer production controls for large manufacturing companies all over the world including RCA and Savin.

Vitale moved to Franklin, NC in the mid 90's where he continued to be a corporate consultant. His interest in the science and nature of water brought him in contact with Robert Hubbs. It was not long after that meeting when he developed the web site devoted to waterwheels with Hubbs.

Robert Vitale now handles all of the waterwheel designs and the manufacturing requirements in the productions of waterwheels. He generates all the Computer Aided Drawings that go to the laser metal cutters.

His 20 years of personal study in the nature and science of water and its potential brings him to his work today with waterwheels. Currently he is on the Board of Director for the " Society for the Preservation of Old Mills" www.spoom.org

 

Email: Robert Vitale

HOME