US257960A - stoey - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. R MQOORD.

FISH WHEEL,

PatentedMay 16, 1882.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. MCGORD, OFEAST PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF,

s. B. STORY, 0. PRINDLE, AND J. M. MCCOY.

FISH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 257,960, dated May 16, 1882.

Application filed January 4, 1852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RANKIN M c CORD, of East Portland,-in the county of Multnomah, in the State of Oregon, have invented an Improved Fish-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of two or three spiralshaped baskets, F, as may be desired, arranged, as described, on a shaft driven by the current of a stream. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation as seen from downstream, and Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. at is an enlarged view, showing the shape of the slats at the back of the baskets.

The baskets F in small wheels are nearly semicircular at the back; but in larger ones this curve is made spiral,havin g a smaller and smaller radius as it approaches the center. When two baskets are used (as in the drawin gs) buckets I are used for turning the wheel when both baskets are horizontal;.but with three baskets these are not necessary. The size of the wheels varies (according to the depth of water and kind of fish to be taken) from ten to forty feet in diameter; also, the distance between the slats or bars from an inch or two to four or five inches. In Fig. 4 a section of the back of thewheel is shown at an enlarged scale, showing the slats O and the ends ofsame where they enter the cross'bars on the ends of the wheel arms G. These pieces 0 are made in this way so that they can be taken out when they are broken by sturgeon or floating driftwood, when, having a number of duplicate pieces, these are placed in the breaks and busincss proceeds without delay.

At the bottom ends of the slide-pieces O is a frame, H, having a pin at its upper end in each side piece. Its bottom end lies on the floor of fish-road, and in it are placed two or three grates, also hinged at the upper end, the lower end being loaded with a weight sufficient to keep it from floating. When a snag or stone comes through the road these open andlet it go through without breaking the grates, at other times lying in place and forming a weir to make the fish leave the bottom and rise toward the wheel,wh en they pass over the top of this and into the baskets F in the wheel. This is necessary on account of raisthe wheel.

thing of the kind, answers equally well. ()n

(No model.)

ing the wheel from low to high water. It bein g desirable to keep the wheel about one-third in the water, and by doing so at high water,

which is the best fishing stage, they could run 55 below the wheel and not be can ght. The wheel is inclosed on each side with stones, plank, or anything that will keep the fish from dodging A row of piles or stakes, or anyeach side of the wheel is an upright timber, M, on which is nailed a strip of two by four inch stuff for a tongue, D, and onthe central face of each of the slides O are two similar pieces spiked thereto for guides, fitting over the first,

and on the side of 0 next the wheel (on either side) are two wrought-iron hooks (not shown). which pass around to back or downstream side of M and prevent the loose sliding pieces 0 from becoming disengaged. the upstream edge ofM. At the top ot'M a cap, K, is placed, having sheaves L, over which chains or ropes pass to a. windlass on the shore for raising or lowering the wheel.

The wheel-arms G are so placed that they meet the cross-pieces supporting the ends of the pieces 0 at the outer edge of the baskets F, where the arms and cross-pieces are clamped together with a piece of wrought or cast iron,

N, and at the back of the baskets are similarly 8o fastened. The pieces are all bolted together wherever they cross each other, and so form strong braces for keeping the wheel firm.

The fish are discharged at points E E, on the shore side of the wheel, behind and below the 5 shaft, by sliding down an incline. (Shown by dotted line in Figs. 1 and 2.) This incline is aboard floor placed inside the baskets F at the back side or shaft side,-and in such a way that the fish do not discharge until a certain point is reached, when they slide out readily into a box placed at the side to receive them. In this they are sorted, and the small ones returned to the stream. The sides of the baskets F are made of strips of plank screwed or 5 screwed to the cross-pieces and wheel-arms; ioo

but wood is preferable, and is used in most wheels.

G is always 0n-7o I am aware of many forms of fish wheels 1. A fish-wheel, A, having baskets F in the but that in which my invention consists is the form described, the sides secured to the, wheelcircnlar and partially-spiral shape of the baskarms the diagonal pieces G, and the bottom ets, (so that the fish are taken without injuring made of the segments 0, as described. I 5

5 them,) and the baskets themselves, made of 2. Pieces 0 and frames H, rising and fallpieces of Wood or metal in the form shown,with in g, as shown, on guides D, in combination the slats, arms, and braces at the sides,and in with the wheel.

combination the slide-pieces and rising and WILLIAM RANKIN MOOORD. falling grates in the fish -road, as stated, all Attest: 10 made in a similar manner of bars and slats. O. B. TALBOT, I claim- J. M. MoGoY.

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