The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-02-17
IMPROVEMENT IN STEAMBOATS,.


Scientific Americua Of Jan. 2sth, 1882
in reference to Rov. Robt l.. Stevens
new patent for the raising and lowsr
ing of Steamboat wheels:
Every boatman knows that tho
anglo and depth at which tho wheels ol
steamers strike tho water affect very
greatly their speed and power Of pro.
pu'sion, involving as "a consequence tho
questions of time and consumption OF
fuel. The loading aud unloading Of q
vessel alter the dip of the paddle
tho heavier the lead tho greater tho
dip anu angle, dostrpyiug tho effective
power of Tie engine. To remedy this
difficulty many devices have been
planned, the best Of which arc only
partially effective; all moro or less com.
plicatcd, and the additional machinery
being very liable to get out Of order.
The most common plan for side " heel
boats il tho fcathering wheel, which
makes each paddle strike tho water al
righs angles, but when deep in The
water the power is applied At great
disadvantage, aud too much OF the
wheel submerged for effective use.
! wheel Large in proportion TO the
sise Of tho boat aud capacity is generally
accepted as solution of tho difficulty;
the vessel being constructed 30 that
the load will not sink her below "A line
Of effective working power. In stern
wheel boats the lead is mainly carried
on tho bow, 30 that they DO not run on
al erea keel, aud tho rssls,ancs Of the
water through which they plow their
way is greatly inereafe1. 0ther craft
Of this kind raise and lower tie wheols
10y several devices not applicable TO
large aud powerful boats.
Ar. RoSort l.. Stevens If AlbAnv.
Oregon, has reeenslt patented device
which raises and lowers tho wheels OF
either sido on etern-whcel boats, 40
that whether tho vessel DO loaded or
uuloalsd tho paddle will strike at the
most effective angle and depth, Eecur-
Ing tie greatest speed with minimum
Of power, while tho diving engines are
not inte,icrcd With. TLi. il effected
10y series Of screw shafts arrshged for
simultaneous movement by tho driving
engine, AMI they io not detracs from
the strength Of tie sheel or boat. The
arrangement Is no. complicated, and
adds bat comparatively little to the
weight.
Tho advantages oF this improvement.
are many. Tho wheela and engines of
large boats can be made smaller ard
driven faster, ecouotnizing weight aud
flel. tie destructive jar Of an over
loaded boa. and its powerfsl cngiHo
obyiated, increasing the durability cf
both. They can be deeply loaded with
out changing The paddles to smaller
diameter, - is often douc on sbo
Mississippi. Thoy can Le built deeper
and longer, doubling OF tripling their
capacity in deep rivers With lish.
loads tucy cau RUN ~ tho shallow
rivcfs nt full specl, and thus avoid ex-
psnsive traHs.sra VI freight, and their
draughe only limited 10y the dop,h Of
the rivers in w.ich they ply. For OK.
ample, weasel drawing twelve feet Of
water when loaded with 900 tons,
could B.art from New Orleans. leave
PORTIONS &C ter freight st the great
c. ntcrA Of commerce, and with light
load lrit, fsy $50 tons, aud drawing
three and half feet or less, mount the
swift and shallow tributaries Of the
Mississippi, carrying freight directly 70
its destination Instead Of transferring il
to steamer Of lighter draught.
The paddle wheel and It's ahsft are
supported at the stern Of the YES
sci, as shown in tho engraving
by boxes which arc formed with siIc
haugos entering grooves formed in
fixed posts. so that the boxes are free
TO bc raised and lowered. Screw
shafts, supported at tho top and bottom
pass through the internally threaded
f4nges of the boxes. 30 that the boxes
with the wheel and shsft are sustained
10y the screws. GA the lower ends oi
the screws, 1T each side, there are
bevol gear wheels meshing with similar
gears on shafts that are fitted longitud.
ally OF the vessel at each side.
The cylinders are hung for oscillation
on trunnions. and the slides are con
nec;ed to the cylinders SO as to retain
their proper relative position. A screw
is fitted in connection with nut OF
each slide, for swinging ;he slido aud
cylinder and sustaining them. All ot
the screws are connected for. simulta
neous operation. The movement being
in an arc from the :runnions, the
screws and bevel gearing arc proper
toned to obtain the variation in move
mcnt. To allow vertical movement
of the boxes the piston and eccentric
rods are fitted with right and left hant
screw turn buckles, so that the rods
can be heightened and shortened.
The in.ontion can be applied in con
nection with side paddIe-wheels anC
beam engines by changing the relative
position of the parts.
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