IMPROVE- MENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pontus Lagergren, Chemist, of Stockholm, Sweden,
and of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS."
Sealed the 1st February 1856, and dated the 10th August 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pontus Lagergren at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th August 1855.
I, PONTUS LAGERGREN, Chemist, of Stockholm (Sweden), and of 32, Essex
Street, Strand, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS" to be as follows:-
My system of wheels, besides its excessive simplicity, is intended to keep
the paddles always in a vertical position with the current, hence the great
advantage of producing the utmost effective power, only a minimum of power
being wasted by the paddles going into and out of the water.
This wheel consists of two circles, every one of which has a particular axis,
placed over one another, and distanced according to the height or width the
paddles are to have. The two circles are joined together by straight horizontal
bands, the ends of which are jointed. On the jointed part there are holes
for the purpose of admitting an iron pin, which is also fixed to the circle by
screws.

page_text: The paddles, either of wood or metal, are fixed to cross bars by metal
braces screwed on them. The eccentric circles of the wheels are fixed to
the shafts by cross bars and discs, which are alike fixed on the said shafts.
Wheels made according to this system may be used for hydraulic wheels,
called undershot wheels, as it is evident the paddles will keep their vertical
position while rising out of the water, wasting in their revolution the least
possible power, and giving the utmost effective power.
The character of my Invention is, that without any special mechanism the
floats or paddles will always keep a vertical position with the current.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pontus Lagergren in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PONTUS
LAGERGREN, Chemist, of Stockholm, Sweden, and of 32, Essex Street, Strand,
Loudon, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the 10th day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Pontus Lagergren, Her special licence that I, the said Pontus Lagergren, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Pontus
Lagergren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from tinic 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 Pontus Lagergren, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describo
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 Pontus Lagergren, 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 :-

page_text: This Invention relates to an improved mode of constructing paddle wheels,
and has for its chief character to keep the paddles ever perpendicular to the
current of water, consequently to give the most effective power, and waste the
least force possible for their going in and out of water. Till now such results
could not be obtained but by means of complicated mechanical arrangements,
which took up much force, required frequent repairs, great expenses, and
waste of time; such inconveniences are obviated by applying this improved
system.
In the annexed Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a
vertical section, supposed to be cut through the center of Fig. 1, of a first
combination of this improved system.
This wheel consists of two circles a & b, having each a particular axis c & d;
one of these circles is higher than the other, according to the intended size of
the paddles. The two circles a & b are connected by means of braces, con-
sisting of two iron bands in a diagonal line with the bent round ends, in order
to form openings into which axes g are inserted; these are joined to the circles
a & b by means of screws or screw bolts. The paddles m are of wood or metal,
each one being secured by braces f, consisting of two metal bands, and the
whole being strongly fixed by means of screws or screw bolts, as shown at
Figs. 3 & 4. The circles a & b are joined to the axes c, d, by means of the
cross bars n and the disks o, wedged in the said shafts c & d. Figs. 5 & 6 are
a front sectional view, like Figs. 1 & 2, but rather differing from them. In
this the two shafts c & d are joined in such a manner as to allow the
transmitting through the crank p of the form given, for instance, by motive
power to the shaft d, which transmits it to the shaft e, through the oblique
shaft r.
In order that the shaft d may transmit to the shaft e the circular
motion and force it has received, it is necessary the latter should be made
capable of turning, and therefore the two ends of the shaft r are adjusted each
to one end of the shafts c & d by means of what is generally termed a cardan
knee, shown at Figs. 7 & 8 on a larger scale.
On viewing the four last Figures, it is easily perceived that one end of the
shafts c & d, and also the two ends of the shaft r, are made bifurcated, but
instead of that, additional pieces of similar form might be adapted to them.
Between the two legs of each fork of one shaft two of the four arms of the cross
s are supported, and the two others between the arms of the other shaft, which
is suitably connected with the former. The manner in which all the different
pieces are joined and connected may according to the taste of constructors; but
as the center of the wheel is completely free, these can be made to have all
the desired force. This improved system of construction of paddle wheels may

page_text: be properly applied to hydraulic wheels or driving wheels. For paddle wheels
for ships and boats of all size and description the motive power is transmitted
to the crank p, which will set in motion the shaft d, consequently the circle b,
the paddles m, and the circle a. It is evident, that all the different parts
of the wheel being wound or set in motion at the same time, the paddles m
will ever keep their vertical position, and, therefore, their going in and out of
water will waste the least force, and give the most effective power. The
same improved system may be applied to hydraulic wheels or undershot
water wheels; in such a case water will act upon the paddles which set in
motion the whole circumference, which motion is transmitted to the ship,
vessel, or boat.
"Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and the manner in which
it is or may be carried into effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that
what I claim as novel, and being secured to me by the herein-before in parts
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, constructing paddle wheels so as the paddles are made ever to keep
the vertical position, or a position perpendicular to the current of water.
Second, transmitting the same force and speed to the two shafts on a same
wheel by means of cardan knee, or any other mechanical and suitable
arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pontus Lagergren, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
PONTUS LAGERGREN
(LA)
PONTUS LAGERGREN
(LQ)