Im- PROVEMENTS IN PADDLE-WHEELS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Chesneau, of 29,- Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Merchant, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN PADDLE-WHEELS."
Sealed the 6th December 1859, and dated the 24th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Chesneau at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th June 1859.
I, AUGUSTE CHESNEAU, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE-WHEELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in paddle propellers and hydraulic
wheels, and consists in always maintaining the surfaces of the paddles or float
boards in a vertical position, perpendicular to the level of the water.
It is well known that a large portion of effective force is wasted by the
float boards penetrating, acting on, and leaving the water in an oblique
direction. Hitherto all improvements having for their object to cause the
float boards to enter and act vertically on the water have been abandoned,
owing to the complication of parts made use of for that purpose. Further,
these arrangements increased the amount of friction, and rendered their
construction and repair expensive and difficult. My improved arrangement

page_text: allows of the paddles being always in a vertical position besides being simple
in construction and of small cost.
1st. The float boards have each axes, turning in bearings in the side plates
of the wheels.
2ndly. On the lower edges of each float board is applied a piece of lead or
other metal of greater density than that of the material composing the float
board for the purpose of keeping the centre of gravity of the latter below the
axis of suspension, which will consequently always maintain the float board
vertical, whatever may be the position they occupy during the rotation of the
propeller. It will thus be understood that the float boards turning on their
axes will enter, act upon, and leave the water always in a vertical position.
My improved arrangement of movable float boards may also be applied to
the hydraulic wheels commonly called "under-shot wheels," in which the
course of the water is always normal to the surface of the float boards.
In the annexed Drawing is represented one of the arrangements of my
Invention, which may be, however, of any required form, according to
circumstances.
Fig. 1 shows a front view of a steamboat wheel, & Fig. 2, a side view of
the same. a, periphery of the wheel supporting the paddles; b, arms bolted to
the frame a, which is mounted on shaft c; c, shaft receiving movement from
the engine; d, wood float boards, having at their lower extremities a piece of
lead or other metal e of greater density than that of the material forming the
paddle; f, axes, turning in bearings supporting the float boards of the wheels.
It will thus be understood that by the effect of the pieces of lead e, the
paddles will always remain in a vertical position whatever may be the
f
position of the wheel to which they are applied.
This arrangement as before mentioned is also applicable to hydraulic wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Auguste Chesneau in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTE
CHESNEAU, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Auguste Chesneau, Her special licence that I, the said Auguste
Chesneau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Auguste Chesneau, 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," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Augusto Chesneau, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands 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 Auguste Chesneau, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to improvements in paddle propellers and hydraulic
wheels and consists in always maintaining the surfaces of the paddles or float
boards, when working, in a vertical position, and consequently vertical to the
level of water.
It is well known that a portion of effective force is wasted by the paddles
penetrating, acting on, and leaving the water in an oblique direction. Hitherto
all improvements having for their object to cause the paddles to enter, act on,
and leave the water vertically have been more or less abandoned owing to the
complication of parts made use of for that purpose; these increased the
amount of friction and rendered their construction and repair expensive and
difficult. I have contrived a new arrangement of parts more simple in
construction and of smaller cost, besides allowing of the paddles being always
in a vertical position.
1st. The paddles have each axes turning in suitable bearings in the side
plates of the wheels.
2ndly. On the lower edge of each float board is applied a piece of lead or
other metal of greater density than that of the material forming the paddle or
float board for the purpose of bringing the centre of gravity of the latter
below the axis of suspension, which will consequently always maintain the

page_text: float board vertical whatever may be the position it occupies during the
rotation of the whole system. It will thus be understood that the float boards
turning on their axes shall enter, act upon, and leave the water always in a
vertical position; it is obvious likewise that such an arrangement is very
simple and of small cost for producing propulsion.
In the annexed Drawings, Fig. 1 shows a side view of a steamboat wheel;
Fig. 2a front view of a hydraulic motive wheel; and Fig. 3, a side view of
the same wheel represented in Fig. 2. In these Figures, the same letters
stand for like parts.
a, periphery of the wheel supporting the paddles; b, arms bolted to the
shaft c; c, shaft, receiving movement from the engine in the steamboat.wheel
and imparting it from the hydraulic wheel; d, wood float boards, having at
their lower-ends a piece of lead or other metal e of a greater density than that
of the material forming the float board; e, lead or other metal band; f, axes
or moveable journals supporting the paddles of the wheel; g, float board for a
hydraulic wheel (Figs. 2 & 3); h & i wheel and pinion, receiving from or
imparting motion to the hydraulic wheel.
In order to control & limit the depending property of the paddles or float
boards, guide races may be placed at the upper part of the wheels, upon or in
which the upper paddles run, so as to cause them to occupy thereat the
horizontal position, in which case the wheels can work entirely immersed in
water. This last arrangement constitutes an essential feature of my Invention.
The arrangement of the paddles (which I desire also to secure), always
turning in a vertical position is also applicable to hydraulic wheels, commonly
called "undershot wheels," in which the course of the water is always normal
to the surface of the float boards.
I have represented in the annexed Drawings a specimen of one of the
arrangements which may be applicable, but it will easily be understood that
much depends upon the constructor's imagination, the choice of the materials,
&c., the forms and sizes being liable to vary indefinitely.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said improvements
in paddle-wheels, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein described as such may be varied or
modified without departing from the principle of action thereof, likewise I do
not confine myself to the strict figure or form of my apparatus or portions of
apparatus herein-described; but I claim as new and of my Invention :-
First, the arrangement of moveable paddles or float boards mounted upon
axes having lead or other metal pieces at their lower parts for the purpose qf
always maintaining the said float boards in a vertical position.

page_text: Secondly, the arrangement and combination of parts described in order to
force the paddles or float boards as they ascend, to incline horizontally, for the
purpose of controlling their movement and position so to permit the working
of the paddle-wheels entirely immersed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Chesneau, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
A. CHESNEAU. (L.8.)