to Drive Machinery and for Propelling and Steering Boats.
Year: 1887

page_text: to Drive Machinery and for Propelling and Steering Boats.
I, EUGÈNE POMBAS, of Reims, France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to hydraulic motors, and more especially to that kind or
class of hydraulic motor the power of which can be augmented at will by
extending it either in front or lengthwise as may be required or according to the
place at disposal.
.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a diagram of my said invention."
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one application of my said invention with
two rows of floats placed side by side.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a modification of figure 2 in which the floats
are arranged in a row and worked one after the other.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an application of my said invention to a
boat as a propeller.
The diagram figure 1 shows the principle of the said invention which is based upon
a device consisting of a parallelogram CD FE the sides of which are pivoted. The
side of the said parallelogram forms a rocking lever oscillating upon a fixed
point; the side D is prolonged and connected to a crank H keyed upon a shaft
provided with suitable bearings in which it can revolve freely upon its axis but cannot
move in a lateral direction, the lower extremity of the side F is also prolonged and
terminates in a float.
If the crank H be revolved it imparts motion to the bar D and consequently to the

page_text: entire system, this motion will be easily understood by examining the four positions
shown in the diagram figure 1, which correspond respectively to the positions of the
crank H in its vertical position, either upwards or downwards, or in its horizontal
position, either to the right or to the left."
A complete revolution of the crank H causes the extremity of the float F to move
in the direction shown by the line O. Suppose a current of water is to be directed
to the right or to the left, the level M of which passes through the two extreme
points of the curved line O, as soon as the float descends sufficiently to be entirely
or partly below the level M, the float will be carried away by the current and
will impart motion to the pivoted sides of the above described parallelogram and
consequently to the crank H. This action of the float cannot take place until its
extremity is on the part of the curved line O situated below the level M.
In order to obtain a continuous movement several floats are provided in such a
manner that when one of them leaves the water the other enters it. These floats can
be arranged either side by side or one in front of the other.
Figure 2 shows an arrangement of two rows of floats coupled at an angle of
90 degrees upon two shafts situated respectively at either extremity of the apparatus
and connected by a suitable connecting rod Q.
Between the floats at the extremity of each row, mounted as described in figure 1,
intermediate floats are provided, all the floats are connected together by bars J, J in
such a manner as to participate in the same movement.
In the above arrangement a fly wheel is necessary to pass the dead points which
occur at the moment when the floats of one row are leaving the water, and the floats
of the other row are passing into the water. To obviate the necessity for employing
a fly wheel, four rows instead of two rows of floats are provided, keyed respectively
at an angle of 90 degrees relatively to each other in such a manner that one of the
rows of floats will always be in full action. The same result can also be obtained by
arranging the floats one in front of the other as shown in figure 3. In this case the
floats are connected with each other by means of a system of bevel wheels R S fixed
upon one shaft extending the entire length of the apparatus. The floats are keyed
relatively to each other at angles of 90 degrees so that one of them is always
completely immersed in the water from which motion is obtained. In lieu of four
floats as in figure 3, I can if I have a sufficient length of water current employ 8,
12, or 16 and so on coupled together or as a general rule a multiple of 4, operating in
a similar manner, that is to say, 2 and 2, 3 and 3, 4 and 4 and so on.
Figure 4 shows an application of my apparatus as a propeller for navigation. In
this case the float F is placed at the rear of the boat, connected as before by means of
a parallelogram with pivotted sides CDEF to a crank H. Instead however of the
float F being actuated by the current of the water, it is driven by means of a suitable
motor or by a man. In the latter case the rower is placed upon the seat W, and by
the aid of handles Y and the fork X sets the float F in motion.
The propelling float can also be employed as a rudder at the same time by arranging
its mechanism on a frame pivotted at the rear of the boat upon a vertical shaft Z fixed
to the said boat in any suitable manner. By placing the float more or less obliquely
with relation to the axis of the boat, the latter is caused to turn in the same manner
as is the case with a rudder. In large boats moreover two similar propelling floats
can be coupled one by the side of the other, to turn in this case in a small radius or
almost on the spot the movement of one of the two floats is reversed so as to propel
the boat to the rear whilst the other continues to propel forwards.
The propelling apparatus can be placed at the rear of the boat or on each side
amidships, or it can be placed in the centre of the boat, a similar arrangement to that
shown in figure 3 being employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
First. The improved extensible and reversible hydrometer provided with floats,

page_text: and capable of being used either in water courses or on boats, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Second. The employment of several rows of floats arranged side by side, or of
floats arranged one in front of another and operating one after another, substantially
as described with reference to figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, for the purpose
specified.
Third. The use of the hereinbefore described apparatus as a propeller and rudder
for a boat, substantially as described with reference to figure 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 17th dose of November 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.