US853055A - Paddle-wheel. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 353.055. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907..

'L. P. BIG-GEES.

PADDLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED P331 1906. Y

3 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

rm: NORRIS PETERS m, WASHINGTON, n. c

PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

L. P. BIGGERS.

- PADDLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEBTB, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' THE NORRIS PETERS cc., WASHINGTUN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

PADDLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907.

Application filed February 5, 1906. Serial No. 299,548.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEE PERKINS BIGGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palmersville, in the county of Weakley and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Paddle-WVheel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention'relates particularly to paddle wheels for steamers or other self-propelled boats, and one of the principal objects is to provide a feathering paddle wheel of a novel character, in which the action upon the Water can be reversed without altering the direction of movement of the wheel, so that the boat can be ropelled either forwardly or backwardly wit out reversing the engines. Furthermore, the wheels may be made to give a lifting or lowering action upon the boat.

Another and important object is to provide a wheel of the above character that will exert no material end thrust upon the shaft carrying it, and thus will eliminate friction and wear.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel when the mechanism is arranged to propel the boat in one direction. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wheel, portions of the. frame being broken away and showing the disposition of parts when the wheel is arranged to propel in the reverse direction. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the structure arranged as disclosed in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing a pair of the paddle sections. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sec tional. view therethrough and illustrating the paddle sections as they enter the guides. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the guides. Fig. 9 is a plan view, showinga plurality of the wheels with common means for operating the various guides thereof.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a fixed frame 10 is employed having boxings 10*, which may be of any suitable character and is mounted on the vessel to be propelled in any manner desired. J ournaled in the boxings 10 is a paddle shaft 11, on which is fixed a Wheel frame comprising a hub 12, that is shown as solid though the particular structure thereof is not important. Circular concentrically disposed sets of bands are arranged around the hub in spaced relation thereto and to each other, being carried by spokes 15, that are fixed tangentially to the hub, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The wheel is furthermore laterally reinforced by crossed braces 16, which connect the hub and inner set 13 of bands, and other braces 17 directly connect said bands. These various braces, spokes, and the like are preferably sharpened along their forward edges so as to offer as lit tle resistance as possible in their passage through the water.

Carried by the above described Wheel frame are paddles, each of which is composed of a pair of blades or sections 18, journaled. upon the frame by shafts 19, the axes of which are disposed nearer one edge than the other, said shafts having bearings at their outer ends in the rim bands 14; passing through the bands 13, and having their inner ends journaled in the hub 12. These paddle sections are comparatively thin and are reinforced by the embracing'arms 20 of angularly disposed fingers 21, said fingers being located preferably at substantially right angles to the blade sections and projecting outwardly beyond the outer sides of the Wheel frame when the sectionsare in their feathering or inoperative positions, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Braces 21 connecting the paddle sec tions and fingers, strengthen and reinforce the latter. Rollers 22 are preferably jour naled on the outer ends of the fingers. For the purpose of maintaining the blade sections in operative position transversely of the wheel frame, guides 22 are employed which are located on opposite sides of the wheel frame. Each of these guides consists of a curved holding bar 23, arranged in line with and in the path of movement of the fingers 21, said bars having inclined ends 24, forming entrance throats. The curved bars are secured to radial spokes 25, carried by spaced hub collars 26, j ournaled on the boxes 10 as shown in Fig. 5. The said guides 22 are freely movable, and one of their positions is defined by stationary stops 27, carried by the frame and extending inwardly toward the wheel, said guides being engaged by the extended ends 28 of certain of the spokes 25 of the guides. The position of said guides when held by the stops 27 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which case, it will be observed, the paddles will be held in operative position when they are passing beneath the shaft. Retaining blocks 28 are carried by the stops 27 and are disposed just outside the extended ends 28 of the spokes. Thesaid guides can also be held in diametrically opposite positions, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, in which case the extended ends 28 of said guides are held by and between movable stop arms 29, mounted on upright rock shafts 30, journaled on the frame, these rock shafts having at their upper ends handle levers 31, which engage quadrant racks 32. The simultaneous movement of the guides is secured through the medium of any suitable gearing, as for instance, sprocket wheels 33, secured to said guidesand engaged by chains 34, passing around other sprocket wheels 35, carried by an operating shaft 36, said shaft having suitable handle cranks 37, for turning the same.

The operation of the wheel may be briefly described as follows: Said wheel is preferably completely submerged, though in case it is not to be used for reversing, the submergence is not necessary. When the boat is running in one direction, the guides are turned so that they are held as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, by the stationary stops 27. Thus, as

v the wheel frame rotates, the outstanding fingers of the paddle sections will enter between the guides, as shown in Fig. 7, andthe rollers 22 operating against said guides will cause the paddle sections to turn into substantial alinement, so that they will act against the Water through which they pass, and consequently, cause the propulsion of the vessel. As the fingers leave the guides, the blades, being again free, will turn to their feathering positions and will remain in the same until they have passed over the shaft and the fingers again enter between the guides. To reverse the movement of the'vessel, it is only necessary to turn the operating shaft 36,

' thereby partially revolving the guides until they can be engaged by the arms 29, as illus trated in Figs. 3 and 4:. The paddle sections or blades will then feather as they pass beneath the shaft and will be locked in operative positions as they pass over the same.

Consequently, their action will be reversed with a corresponding movement on the part of the vessel. In actual practice, the operating shaft 36 and the stop-actuating levers 31 will be located upon the deck or some convenient ready described, with the exception of the gearing for the guides, which guides are indicated at B. In this case, gear wheels 33 are secured to the guides, and meshing with said gear wheels are other gear wheels 34?, carried by shafts 35, extending along opposite sides of the Wheels. These shafts are connected by gearing 36 with a master shaft 37*, by means of which said shafts can be turned, thus turning the guides.

It will thus be seen that a feathering and paddle wheel is provided of a comparatively simple nature and that the action thereof upon the water can be reversed without altering the direction of movement of the wheel so that a boat can be propelled either forwardly or backwardly without reversing the engines. By altering the positions of the guides, the paddles may be made to have an elevating or lifting effect upon the boat or a reverse lowering movement, thus making the structure useful in shallow water or in avoiding storms. Furthermore, by employing sectional paddles with oppositely disposed actuating means therefor, end thrusts upon the shaft are avoided, thus eliminating friction and wear. In case the Wheel is in backing position, or in any of the intermediate positions and it is desired to start the boat forward, it is only necessary to release the guides and start the engine slowly, whereupon the guides will be automatically moved by the wheel until stopped in the desired relation. The frame 10 may be latticed to prevent logs, ice or other. obstructions from coming into contact with the wheel.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construc tion may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a rotatable support, of paddles mounted thereon, each paddle comprising sections separately journaled on the support and movable into substantial alinement transversely of the support, and separate devices located exteriorly of and onopposite sides of the support for maintaining the paddle sections in such alinement.

2. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a rotatable support, of paddles mounted thereon, each paddle comprising sections separately journaled on the support and movable into substantial alinement transversely of the support, separate normally stationary guides located exteriorly-of and on opposite sides of the support, and holding fingers carried by the paddle sections and disposed in angular relation thereto, said fingers engaging the guides and turning and holding the paddle sections in substantial alinement.

3. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a rotary support, of paddles comprising radially disposed sections separately jour naled contiguous to their outer edges upon the support, outstanding fingers fixed to the pivoted edges of the paddles and disposed in angular relation to said paddles, and guides located on opposite sides of the support, the paddles passing between the guides and the fingers engaging the same to turn and hold the paddle sections in transverse relation to the support.

4. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a rotary wheel having spaced rims, of paddle sections journaled in the rims and having angularly disposed fingers that are arranged to project outwardly beyond the outer sides of the wheels, and guides mounted concentrically of the wheels on opposite sides thereof and extending but partially about the same, said fingers engaging the guides and thereby turning and holding the paddle sections in transverse relation to the support.

5. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a rotary support, of feathering paddles journaled thereon, guidingmeans for holding the paddles against their feathering positions, means connected to the guiding means for moving the same, and means separate from the moving means and movable into and out of the. path of movement of the guiding means for locking said means against movement.

6. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a fixed frame, of a rotary support journaled thereon, feathering paddles journaled on the support, movable guiding means for holding the paddles out of their feathering positions, and means mounted on the frame and movable into and out of the path of movement of the guiding means for locking the latter against movement.

7. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a fixed frame, of a rotary wheel frame j ournaled thereon, feathering paddles mounted on the wheel frame, movable guiding means for maintaining the paddles in a predetermined relation on the wheel frame, a stationary stop carried by the fixed frame and located inthe path of movement of the guiding means for holding said guiding means in one position, and another stop movable into and out of the path of movement of said guiding means to hold the same in a different position.

8. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a fixed frame, of a wheel frame journaled thereon, co-operatin'g feathering paddle sections journaled on the wheel frame and having oppositely disposed fingers that project on opposite sides of the wheel frame, when said sections are in feathering position, and guides located on opposite sides of the wheel frame and in the path of movement of the fingers to turn said paddle sections to and maintain them in their operative positions.

9. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a fixed frame, of a wheel frame journaled thereon, oo-operating feathering paddle sections journaled on the wheel frame and having oppositely disposed fingers that project on opposite sides of the wheel frame when said sections are in feathering position, guides located on opposite sides of the wheel frame and in the path of movement of the fingers to turn said paddle sections to and maintain them in their operative positions, and means for simultaneously moving the guides.

10. In a paddle wheel, the combination with a fixed frame, of a shaft journaled thereon, a wheel frame fixed to the shaft and including a hub, concentric bands surrounding the hub and spaced therefrom and from each other, spokes connecting the bands and hub and disposed tangentially of the latter, paddle sections journaled between the bands and havin shafts that are journaled in the hub, angu arly disposed fingers carried by the sections, guides journaled on the shaft on opposite sides of the wheel and arranged to be engaged by the fingers to turn the paddle sections of the wheel frame, operating means for the guides including a shaft having a handle crank, stationary stops carried by the frame for holding the guides in a predetermined position and movable into and out of the path of movement of the guides, said other stops including rock shafts, and handle levers carried thereby.

11. The combination with a plurality of Wheels for simultaneously moving the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEE PERKINS BIGGERS.

Witnesses -T. H. MILLER,

C. N. KILLGORE.

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