Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 22nd Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887.
I, JOHN GEORGE KINCAID, of Clyde Foundry, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has for its object the making provision for raising or lowering or
vertically adjusting the paddle-wheels of steamers in order that a practically uniform.
depth of immersion of the paddle floats may be maintained both while the vessel is loaded
and at light draft, and to that end my invention consists in carrying the paddle wheel or
wheels upon the end of a beam or frame at whose opposite end the driving engines are
fitted, said beam or frame being fitted to oscillate upon gudgeons or centres on the
vessel and being adjusted to raise or lower the paddle by screws, hydraulic jacks or
other gear.
Whilst the invention is particularly adapted for the class of steam boats
employed in river navigation and commonly known as stern-wheel steamers it is also
applicable in cases in which the paddle wheel or wheels is or are fitted at the bow or
amidships at the sides of the vessel and to twin ships.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification as applied to a stern
wheel steamer I carry the paddle shaft in journal bearings at the ends of longitudinal
oscillating beams fitted one on each side of the wheel and projecting over the stern of
the vessel or over a recess formed therein, the beams being centred upon pillow blocks
or the like on one of the lower decks or other convenient part near the after end of
the hull. Upon said beams, and when convenient forward of the oscillating centre so
as to balance the wheel, I secure the engines which are or may be directly connected
to cranks on the paddle shaft, and at or near the forward extremities of the beams I fit
screw nuts through which pass screws secured in brackets upon the vessel and
operated in unison by suitable gear so that the carrying beams when not bound
together by cross braces may be tilted together and to a like extent in adjusting the
position of the wheel to ensure the desired immersion of the floats.
The means employed for oscillating the carrying beams or frame may however
consist of segmental racks and pinions, hydraulic devices or other apparatus operated
by hand or by power.
Steam may conveniently be supplied to the engines by pipes led through the
trunnions or centres on which the beams oscillate or by flexible or telescopic piping
and the exhaust from the steam cylinders may be carried in like manner so as in no
way to interfere with the movement of the beams carrying the engines and the paddle
wheel.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE KINCAID of Clyde Foundry, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention has for its object the making provision for raising and lowering or
vertically adjusting the paddle wheels of steamers in order that a practically uniform
depth of immersion of the paddle floats may be maintained both while the vessel is
loaded and at light draught, and to that end my invention consists in carrying the
paddle wheel or wheels upon the ends of beams or a frame at whose opposite end the
driving engines are fitted, said beams or fraine being fitted to oscillate upon gudgeons
or centres on the vessel and being adjusted to raise or lower the paddle by screws,
hydraulic jacks or other gear. Whilst the invention is particularly adapted for the
class of steam boats employed in river navigation and commonly known as stern-wheel
steamers it is also applicable in cases in which the paddle wheel or wheels is or are
fitted at the bow or amidships at the sides of the vessel and to twin ships.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification as applied to a stern
wheel steamer and as represented in the accompanying drawings in sectional elevation
at figure 1, with the vessel as at light draught, in plan at figure 2; and in sectional
elevation at figure 3 with the vessel as at deep draught, I carry the paddle shaft a of
the paddle wheel A, in journal bearings b, b, at the ends of longitudinal oscillating
beams B, B; fitted one on each side of the wheel and projecting over the stern of the
vessel for over a recess formed therein, the beams B, B, being centred upon pillow
blocks c, c, or the like on one of the lower decks C, or other convenient part near the
after end of the hull. Upon said beams B, B, and, when convenient, forward of the
oscillating centre c so as to balance the wheel A, I secure the engines D, D, which are
or may be directly connected as shown to cranks a¹; a', on the paddle shaft a and at
or near the forward extremities of the beams, I fit screw nuts E, through which pass
screws E, secured in brackets E', upon the vessel, and operated in unison by means
of the bevel gear, cross shaft F, and screw shaft F, or by other suitable gear so that
the carrying beams when not bound together by cross braces may be tilted together
and to a like extent in adjusting the position of the wheel A; to ensure the desired
immersion of the floats.
The means employed for oscillating the carrying beams or frame may however
consist of segmental racks and pinions, hydraulic devices or other apparatus operated
by hand or by power.
Steam is-or may be conveniently, supplied to the engines by pipes G, led through
the trunnions or centres c on which the beams B, B, oscillate, or by flexible or
telescopic piping, and the exhaust pipe H from the steam cylinders may be carried in
like manner so as in no way to interfere with the movement of the beams carrying the

page_text: engines and the paddle wheel. The engines may however be carried upon the decks
instead of on the beams and connected to the shaft of the wheel A, from the oscillating
centre c so as not to interfere with the oscillating movement of the beams which may
or may not be otherwise balanced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a steamer, a paddle wheel or wheels arranged so as to be capable of being
raised or lowered to maintain a practically uniform immersion of the floats, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a steamer, the combination of the wheel A, oscillating beams or frames B, B,
balanced or not, and hydraulic, screw or other gearing whereby a practically uniform
immersion of the wheel is provided for, substantially as herein described with reference
to the drawings annexed.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.