CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, WHICH SAID INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING THE FORCE OF THE WIND INTO A MOTIVE POWER TO BE USED IN ANY CONVENIENT WAY EITHER FOR STATIONARY OR MOVEABLE PURPOSES
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Day at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th November
1859.
I, WILLIAM DAY, Builder, of Burton Latimer, near Wellingborough," in
the County of Northampton, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, WHICH SAID
INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING THE FORCE OF THE WIND INTO A
MOTIVE POWER TO BE USED IN ANY CONVENIENT WAY EITHER FOR STATIONARY OR
MOVEABLE PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists in a particular arrangement of paddles or float
boards, whether for a reciprocating or circular motion, as, for instance, in
applying my improvements for the transporting of floating bodies such as boats
or vessels. I purpose applying my Invention either in a paddle wheel or
wheels, or in the front or bows, or conjointly of such vessels; and the pecu-
liarity of my arrangements is, whether moving in a forward and backward
direction or circular motion, that the advancing paddle or paddles shall
advance in an edgeway direction, gradually feathering or altering their
position in rotation, that in retiring or coming back, the broad surface of the
float or paddle shall be presented, so that the whole force of the power used
shall be exerted in advancing or propelling the vessel. When I apply my
improvements to the bows of a vessel, which I believe to be the true and best
position for the application of the propelling power, I apply a double series or
sets of floats or paddles on each side of the bows in such a way that the
paddles or floats are fixed vertically between top and bottom guide rods, and
which guide rods are supported in suitable brackets, and by impelling one
series on each side forward, the paddles are advanced edgeway parallel or

page_text: nearly so with the guide rods, but in the return stroke they stand at right
angles; and by the double series I am enabled to keep in force any desired.
number of paddles on each side, which according to the steam or power
used are causing the advance or progress of the vessel.
And in apply-
ing the same principle to the float boards of a paddle wheel, whether con-
structed for entire or partial submersion, the wheel is so constructed that an
annular toothed wheel is applied on the inside plate of the wheel deriving its
motion from a fixed pinion with a differential motion formed on the same, that
while this pinion derives its rotary action from the inside circular plate of the
paddle wheel, the annular ring derives its motion from the pinion, and acting
on the axis of the floats or paddles, gives them an advanced motion that as
they rise up they are in the best position for offering the least resistance until
each successive paddle comes on the top, when it presents only the edge to its
advanced motion, from which position it gradually dips until at the bottom,
when the full breadth of the paddle or float is presented in succession for the
purpose of propulsion.
Having described the principle of my Invention as applicable for the pro-
pelling of vessels, I will observe that I purpose using the same description of
wheel suitably placed to be worked by the wind, when its power may be
computed by the square of the paddle, the circumference of the wheel, and
the force of the current, and may either be worked horizontally or vertically
as most convenient for connecting or gearing it with the machinery or purpose
for which it may be desired, and being universal in its action, no shifting or
turning it in the direction of the wind is required as in the case with ordinary
wind mills, and which primitive arrangement this is calculated to supersede,
and from its portable character it may be applied and used with great advan-
tage as a medium or means of motive power for a variety of agricultural and
manufacturing purposes, as it may be applied for pumping, thrashing, and
grinding corn and other grain, working circular or other saws, as well as a
cheap and simple means of obtaining a draught motion for ploughing land,
which will be found much cheaper and more convenient than steam power for
this purpose. For these general agricultural purposes I purpose that the
paddle wheel shall be fixed to a suitable stand mounted on wheels, by which it
may be moved or shifted either by its own power, or by a horse or horses, as
desired.