IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADDLE WHEELS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Simpson, of Stockport, in the County of
Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PADDLE WHEELS."
Sealed the 12th November 1875, and dated the 20th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Simpson at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th September 1875.
I, JOHN SIMPSON; of Stockport, in the County of Chester, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADDLE WHEELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of paddle wheels for pro-
pelling vessels, which may either be used as side paddle wheels or may
be placed at the stern of the vessel.
The principal novelty in the construction of the improved paddle
wheel consists in the formation of the floats. and their position with
regard to the axis of the wheel.

page_text: The paddle wheel is composed essentially of two skeleton wheels set
a certain distance apart from each other on a common axis, as ordinarily
the floats or paddles being arranged round their periphery; the floats,
however, are longer than the distance between the wheels, and their
form instead of being flat is curved and twisted, so that each float would
form a section of an archimedean screw. The floats are fixed parallel
to each other though not parallel with the axis of the wheel, but at a
considerable angle thereto, and in such a position that when seen from
above they incline forwards and inwards towards the centre line of the
vessel. The peculiar form, twist, and position of the floats.is-such-that-
-they-enter and leave the water endwise and edgewise, and when in the
water they thrust backwards and outwards. The consequence is that
they create scarcely any disturbance on entering and leaving the water,
and there is no "backwater" whatever, at the same time that it is
found by experiment that they possess a far greater propelling power
than ordinary paddle wheels, with the floats or paddles placed parallel
with the axis, and they are much less costly than so called "feathering"
paddle wheels, and not liable to get out of order, as all the parts are
fixed.
In using these wheels at the stern of a vessel I place two of them on
the same axis, face to face, and close to each other, so as virtually to
form one wheel, the inner ends of their floats meeting in such a way
that they enter the water together in a V or wedge-like form and leave
the water in the same way, their action on the water being as in the
former case backwards and outwards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th March 1876.-
-TO-ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SIMPSON, of Stockport, in the County-of-Chester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
T

page_text: cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Simpson, Her special
license that I, the said John Simpson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Simpson, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PADDLE WHEELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Simpson, 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 per-
formed, 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 John Simpson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings.
This Invention relates to the construction of paddle wheels for pro-
pelling vessels, which may either be used as side paddle wheels or may
be placed at the stern of the vessel.
The principal novelty in the construction of the improved paddle
wheel consists in the formation of the floats and their position with
regard to the axis of the wheel, the object being to dispense with the
“backwater” and to increase their propelling power.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now
proceed to describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be
or may be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order
that the same may be clearly understood, I have annexed hereunto
a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a face view, and Fig. 2 an edge
.

page_text: the outside; and Fig. 4 is an end view of one of my improved
archimedean floats; which views show clearly the peculiar form of
the same.
Fig 5 is a face view, and Fig. 6 a plan view of a paddle wheel made
with these floats according to my Invention.
.
The paddle wheel is composed essentially of two skeleton wheels a, a,
set a certain distance apart from each other on a boss b, b, or on a
common axis, as ordinarily, the floats or paddles c, c, being arranged-
round their periphery; the-floats-c, c, however, are longer than the
distance between the wheels a, a, and their form instead of being
flat is curved and twisted (see Fig. 2) so that each float would form a
section of an archimedean screw. The floats c, c, are fixed parallel to
each other, though not parallel with the axis of the wheel, but at a
considerable angle (say 60 degrees) thereto, and in such a position that
when seen from above they incline forwards and inwards towards the
centre line of the vessel.
These floats in addition to being supported at or near each end by the
arms of the wheels a, a, are also further strengthened [at or near the
centre by diagonal or other stays, which to avoid complication are not
shown in the Drawing.
"
The peculiar form, twist, and position of the floats (see Figs. 1, 2,
3, & 4) is such that they both enter and also leave the water endwisc
and edgewise, and when in the water they thrust continuously back-
wards and outwards. The consequence is that they create scarcely any
disturbance on entering and leaving the water, and there is no
" backwater or lifting of the water whatever, at the same time that it
is found by experiment that about half the number of floats suffices,
and they possess a far greater propelling power than ordinary paddle
wheels with the usual number of floats or paddles placed parallel with
the axis, and-they-are much less costly than so called feathering
paddle-wheels, and not liable to get out of order, as all the parts are.

page_text: the same axis, face to face, a short distance apart or close to each other
so as virtually to form one wheel, the inner ends of their floats meeting
in such a way that they enter the water together in a V or wedge-like
form and leave the water in the same way, their action on the water
being as in the former case backwards and outwards.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that
I claim as my Invention, the combination of the peculiar curved and
twisted form of the floats with their diagonal position on the circum-
ference of the wheel, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before more particularly set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Simpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.