Pelton wheel

[ pel-tn ]

noun

1. a high-pressure impulse water turbine in which one or more free jets of water are directed against the buckets of the rotor.

Pelton wheel

/ ˈpɛltən /

noun

1. a type of impulse turbine in which specially shaped buckets mounted on the perimeter of a wheel are struck by a fast-flowing water jet

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pelton wheel¹

1880–85; named after L. A. Pelton (died 1908), U.S. engineer, its inventor

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pelton wheel¹

C19: named after L. A. Pelton (1829–1908), US engineer who invented it

Example Sentences

There’s no cellular service, electricity is supplied by a small Pelton wheel run by Chelan PUD or by solar panels, and internet and telephones are available only by satellite.

From Seattle Times

Don't know what a Pelton wheel is?

From Time Magazine Archive

Pelton wheel which develops 5,000 horse-power.

From Project Gutenberg

In the top right-hand corner is a Pelton wheel of proportionate size required to do the same amount of work with the same consumption of water at the same pressure.

From Project Gutenberg

The little cut in the upper corner represents a Pelton wheel drawn on the same scale, which, given an equal supply of water at the same pressure, would develop the same power as the Laxey monster.

From Project Gutenberg