IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADDLE WHEELS FOR PROPELLING BALLOONS AND SUBMERGED VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PADDLE WHEELS FOR PROPELLING BALLOONS AND SUBMERGED VESSELS.”
A communication from abroad by Richard William Cowan, Merchant, and
Charles Paré. Engineer, both of Montreal, in the Dominion of Canada.
.
Sealed the 28th June 1878, and dated the 7th May 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th May 1878.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
" IMPROVE-
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
MENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADDLE WHEELS FOR PROPELLING BALLOONS
AND SUBMERGED VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Richard William
Cowan, Merchant, and Charles Pagé, Engineer, both of Montreal, in the Dominion
of Canada.
This Invention is adapted to propelling a vessel either in air or water, and by
the description of it, as applied to a flying machine, it will be understood how to
apply it to a vessel adapted to passing under or wholly submerged in water.
In the annexed Drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts, and
Figure 1 is a side elevation embodying this Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 ;
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are details.
1 is balloon, only a part of which is shown; its size will be according to the
weight to be lifted, preferably made in the form of a cigar, as that form seems best
for passing through a fluid, but other forms may be used if required.
B is the car suspended by cords C; as the car is short and the balloon long a
framework D, E, is attached to the front and stern of the car, to facilitate the
securing of the two together and for giving the car a greater power of governing

page_text: the direction of the baloon longitudinally, and holding the two steadily in a
uniform direction; Fis a rudder attached to the framework; it is provided with a
yoke G, and lines or rods H, for operating in the ordinary manner. I do not claim
anything new in the above.
The Invention is constructed as follows:-In suitable bearings I' on each side of
the car are carried the two sleeves K, and additional bearings may be carried on
outriggers or bearings suspended from the balloon; through these sleeves K a
shaft I passes; on each sleeve is secured an arm L, having a segmental bar M.
Outside the sleeves K are flanges N on the shaft I; on each flange are secured as
many brackets O as it is intended to provide paddles P. These paddles are con-
structed as follows:-Through suitable holes in the brackets O rods R are placed,
retained by ordinary collars S, so that they are free to turn about; on each of them
is secured a sail, forming the paddle P. On each of the rods Ra projection T is
formed, so situated that when the paddles P are laid parallel with the longitudinal
line of the car, the projection T of the particular paddle that is opposite the bar M
will come in contact with it, see Fig. 4, and cause the paddle to turn at right angles
to the said line of the car.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bar M is situated near the bottom, therefore the
bottom paddle P is turned at right angles to the car, and in these Figures it only
shows the narrow edge of the bottom paddle, but at this time it is presenting its
flat surface to act upon the atmosphere in such a manner that if the paddles Pare
revolved in the direction of the arrow, it will act upon the atmosphere in the same
manner as the paddles of a steamship, giving the propelling motion of going
alead.
It will be observed that the length of the bar M is such that before the pro-
jection T of the one paddle, operated by the bar M, has passed it, the projection T,
see Fig. 3, of the next paddle will have come in contact with the bar, thus there
will always be one of the paddles on each side of the car at right angles to the car.
On the end of each of the projections T is attached, by means of a pin, a friction
roller T, for reducing the friction that would otherwise take place. Now, if the
bar M is set at the bottom point opposite 4 in Fig. 1 of the circle of revolution, and
the rotation of the shaft is in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the
action of the paddies will be to throw the air aft and propel the vessel ahead; but
if the bar M is moved to the top, or opposite the point 1, and the paddles rotated
in the same direction, the paddles will cause the balloon to go astern. If the
bar M is moved forward, or opposite the point 2, the action of the paddles will be
to assist the balloon and car to ascend; if moved to opposite the point 3 the action
will be to cause it to descend; in like manner if the bar M be situated between
any two of the "cardinal points" 1, 2, 3, 4, (if I may so call them) it will give an
action of the paddles, partaking of the nature of the two points between which the
bar is situated; by this means considerable command over the motions of the car
is developed in addition to that given by the rudder. All the paddles as soon as
they pass the bar M, and until they come in contact with it again in the course of
their revolution, are at once laid flat or parallel with the line of the car by the
action of the air; U are the stays attached from one rod R to the other for mutual
support. Beyond N the shaft I extends, and on each of these extensions is secured
a small flange V, to which are attached the rods R.
The particular construction of and arrangement for operating and adjusting the
arm Land bar M is as follows:-The sleeves K on the shaft I extend through the
bearings I, in which they are held like an ordinary journal to revolve; on the.
inner ends are secured equal gear wheels A¹, and on the sides of the car is carried
a shaft C¹ under and parallel to the shaft I, on which are secured two equal
pinions D' arranged to engage with the gears A', so that the shaft C', the wheels A',
the sleeves K, are each equally rotated on both sides of the car.
E' is a screw
operated by a crank handle, whose thread intermeshes with one of the pinions D¹
and operates the same, only one screw being required for both.
With regard to the means by which power is applied to the shaft I a pinion or

page_text: belt pully may be secured on the shaft between the bearings I, and the same
driven by any suitable motor or manual power, according to the speed and distance
required to be travelled.
When the Invention is used for a vessel moving under water it will be con-
structed as herein-above described, but the strength of the parts modified for the
purpose.
What I claim as my Invention is as follows:-
1st. The combination of the rods R, having sails P and projection [T, with the
bar M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The combination of the flanges N, having brackets O, rods R, projection T,
and bar M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination of the shaft I, having flanges N and brackets O secured
thereon, with the rods R, paddles P, and bar M, substantially as and for the pur-
poses set forth.
4th. The combination of the shaft I, sleeve K, and arm and bar L, M, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5th. The combination of the shaft I, sleeve K, and arm and bar L, M, gear
wheel A', pinion D¹, and screw E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Gth. The combination of the paddles P, constructed as described, with the bar M,
placed in various positions, as described, whereby the effects of said paddles are
changed without changing the direction of revolution of the shaft I, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord 1878.