IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR STEAMERS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Augustus Crooker, of New York, United
States of America, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PADDLE WHEELS FOR STEAMERS."
Sealed the 29th September 1859, and dated the 4th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Augustus Crooker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1859.
I, MATTHEW AUGUSTUS CROOKER, of New York, United States of America,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR STEAMERS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to obtain in a paddle wheel for the propulsion
of steamers the highest coefficient of the power applied to the crank. As is
well known the resistance of the wheel in the water has been generally the
same at all parts of the stroke while the power applied varies from a maximum
at the full throw of the crank to a minimum when passing the centres, or as
is commonly called at the "dead points." To correct the errors of this mode
of driving the wheel two engines have been resorted to, the cranks being set
at right angle to each other, but this is not always a desirable arrangement,
nor does it in fact anything but subdivide the irregularity, since each engine
has its own "dead points."
My Invention obviates the defective action of the ordinary paddle wheel,
and it consists in graduating either the distance from the centre, at which
floats or buckets of equal size are set upon said wheel, or of proportioning the
size, and of course the resistance of each individual float or bucket to the
amount of effective power impressed upon the wheel at the time said bucket is
passing through or acting upon the water.

page_text: In the Drawings annexed Figure 1 exhibits a paddle wheel in which the
radial arms are not all of the same length. In this the power is supposed to
be derived either from a side lever or from an overhead bean engine, the
crank being in the position of half stroke. This is the moment at which
the greatest speed is given to the ordinary paddle wheel, and is consequently
the moment at which the greatest effect can be exerted upon the water by the
floats then immersed.
The wheel shown in Figure 1 has its floats all of the same size, but its
radial arms are not all of equal length, those which are immersed at the period
of half stroke, as b, being longer than those at c, which latter will be immersed
when the crank is passing the centres. The true circle is in this Figure shown
by the dotted line around the wheel, the line a. . . . a, exhibiting the water line,
and hence it will be seen that when the engine is at the dead points, the floats
will not be buried so deeply in the water as when at half stroke, and con-
sequently will offer less resistance to the power applied. Another method of
obtaining the same general result will be to make the periphery of the wheel
a true circle, and to so graduate the depth of the floats that those shall bo
widest which are in the water at the point of half stroke, and vice versa.
In Figure 2 a wheel is shown which is constructed on this principle. The
exterior line is a true circle, while an interior true circle should follow the
clotted line thereon, and it is seen, therefore, that the floats at 6 are broader
than those at c, and will consequently exert a greater resistance upon the
water. This is at the moments when the greatest power is exerted to cause
the wheel to turn. Several methods of accomplishing the same result may be
employed. The wheel may be a true circle interiorly, and floats of varying
width be placed around that circle, but the principle of my Invention, viz.,
varying the floats or buckets cither in size or position, or both, to suit the
varying condition under which power is transmitted through the crank may
till be preserved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Augustus Crooker- in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
AUGUSTUS CROOKER, of New York, United States of America, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Matthew Augustus Crooker, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew
Augustus Crooker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Matthew Augustus Crooker, my executors, administrators,.
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR STEAMERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Augustus
Crooker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office, within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matthew Augustus Crooker, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The object of iny Invention is to obtain in a paddle wheel for the propulsion
of steamers the highest coefficient of the power applied to the crank. As is
well known, the resistance of the wheel in the water has been generally the
same at all parts of the stroke, while the power applied varies from a maximum
at the full throw of the crank to a minimum when passing the centros, or as
is commonly called at the dead points. To correct the errors of this mode of
driving the wheel two engines have been resorted to, the cranks being set at a.
right angle to each other, but this is not always a desirable arrangement, nor
does it in fact anything but subdivide the irregularity, since each engine has
its own "dead points."
My Invention obviates the defective action of the ordinary paddle wheel,
and it consists in graduating either the distance from the centre, at which
buckets of equal size are set upon said wheel, or of proportioning the size, and
of course the resistance of each individual bucket to the amount of effective
power impressed upon the wheel at the time said bucket is passing through or
acting upon the water.
In the Drawings annexed, Figure I. exhibits a paddle wheel in which the
radial arms are not all of the same length. In this the power is supposed to

page_text: be derived either from a side lever or, from the overhead beam engine, the
crank being in the position of half stroke. This is the moment at which
the greatest speed is given to the ordinary paddle wheel, and is consequently
the moment at which the greatest effect can be exerted upon the water by the
buckets then immersed.
The wheel shown in Figure I. has its buckets all of the same size, but its
radial arms are not all of equal length, these which are immersed at the period
of half stroke, as (6) being longer than those at (c), which latter will be tho
immersed ones when the crank is passing the centres. The true circle is in
this Figure shown by the dotted line around the wheel, tho line (a . . . . a)
exhibiting the water line, and hence it will be seen that when the engine is at
the dead points, the buckets will not be buried so deeply in the water as when
at half stroke, and consequently will offer less resistance to the power applied.
Another method of attaining the same general result will be to make the
periphery of the wheel a true circle, and to so graduate the depth of the
buckets that those shall be widest which are in the water at the point of half
stroke, and vice versa.
In Figure-II. a wheel is shown which is constructed on this principle.
The exterior linc is a true circle, while an interior true circle should follow
the dotted line thereon, and it is seen, therefore, that the buckets at (b)
are broader than those at (c), and will consequently exert a greater resistance
upon the water. This is at the moments when the greatest power is exerted
to cause the wheel to turn. Several methods of accomplishing the same result
may be employed. The wheel may be a true circle interiorly, and buckets of
varying width be placed around that circle, but the principle of my Inven-
tion, viz., varying the buckets either in size or position, or both, to suit tho
varying conditions under which power is transmitted through the crank may
still be preserved.
I claim constructing the paddle wheels of steamers in the manner and for
the purposes substantially as set forth herein.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Augustus Crooker, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, A.D. Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
MATTHEW AUGUSTUS CROOKER. (L.S.)