Pede's Molen

Hundelgem (Zwalm)

The lantern gearing

He that tilleth his ground shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain things shall have poverty enough. - Tanakh, Proverbs (28, 19)

The lantern gearing (also called verge wheel) is a pinion that serves as an angle gear: it transmits the horizontal rotary movement to a vertical shaft. This angled transmission not only changes the direction of the rotary movement, but also allows the coupling of several functions to one water wheel and accelerates the rotation speed. Due to its smaller diameter compared to the pit wheel, the lantern gearing will increase the rotation speed.

Pit wheel (right) and angle gear by means of the lantern gearing
Picture #16-1: Pit wheel (right) and angle gear by means of the lantern gearing © Jan Van Laethem

The lantern gearing has a diameter of 0.56 metres, a conical shape and is equipped with metal pins (the gear's notches). The wooden cogs of the pit wheel are rounded, so they will easily fit into the pins of the lantern gearing and will assure a smooth rotary movement of both elements.

Pit wheel, lantern gearing and feed shaft
Illustration #16-1: Pit wheel, lantern gearing and feed shaft © Jan Van Laethem
A: Wall | B: Wheel shaft | C: Pit wheel | D: Wooden cogs | E: Lantern gearing | F: Feed shaft | G: Direction of rotation

The vertical shaft that carries the lantern gearing is called the feed shaft. It goes through the floor of the first level and continues up towards the ridge, the roof's highest beam. In mills with a single pair of millstones, the feed shaft drives the millstone directly, but this scenario is quite rare. In most cases, like here at Pede's Mill, we have several pairs of millstones at our disposal. These are not meant for simultaneous use, but instead for the milling of different cereal types.

The next chapter at a glance:

Where we will have a closer look at the track wheel, made of a metal ring with wooden cogs. This is the largest gear inside the mill and will indirectly drive the millstones.