CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane. in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Queen Victoria. by Her Royal
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifteenth day of June, in the sixth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Edward Newton. Her especial licence, full power. sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, and such others as I. the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise. and vend. within England,
Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonics
and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey. Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, an Invention of CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PROPELLING VESSELS," being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad;
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
William Edward Newton. by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal. particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to
be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Willam Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The Invention for which I have obtained Her Majesty's Royal Letters
Patent, as above mentioned, has been communicated to me by my corrc-
spondent abroad in the following words or nearly so.
The nature of the Invention consists in constructing the paddle wheels of
vessels to be propelled by steam or other power with paddles, which slide into
and out of recesses provided for them in a hollow drum or cylinder, which
constitutes the body of the wheel, and in placing the said wheels thus
constructed, in cases built in the vessels, and opened at the bottom so that
the said wheels shall project a little below the bottom of the vessel, the motion
of the paddles must be governed in such a manner by excentrics or camis
attached to the sides of the cases in which the wheels are placed, that their
outer edges shall not project beyond the periphery of the drum or cylinders in
which they are enclosed, except in that part of its circuit which passes below
the bottom of the vessel, or that portion of its diameter which corresponds or
is equal to the immersion of the common paddle wheel, and at which time and
place they are protuded out a sufficient distance to propel the vessel.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a stern elevation of a
vessel, shewing the paddle wheels on each side of the keel, and projecting
below the bottom of the vessel; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the
same; the dotted lines in the two Figures shewing the remainder of the wheels
in the vessel, and also the cases in which they work. Fig. 3 is a transverse
section of the vessel behind the trunks in which the wheel works. Fig. 4 is
an end elevation of one of the wheels. Fig. 5 an elevation of the same as
Fig. 6, a view of the inside of the
seen from the bow or stem of the vessel.
drum in which the paddles work, with one of the side plates and all the
paddles removed. Fig. 7 is a vertical and longitudinal section of the drum
through the axis, with one paddle in its place and projecting out, and the
others removed. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the wheel in its case with one end
of the trunk or case removed. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the cam
groove plate which governs the motion of the paddles; and Fig. 10 is a cross
or transverse section of the same. The remaining Figures represent the various
modes of applying the principle, and will be referred to hereafter. The same
parts are indicated by the same letters of reference in all the Figures in which

page_text: they are represented. The paddle wheel, instead of being constructed with
arms attached to a shaft, and having the paddles permanently fixed to them.
consists of a hollow drum or cylinder made of metal or wood, the peculiar
construction of which is exemplified by Figures 6 and 7. ,, are two discs
properly strengthened on the inside by arms b, b, if made of wrought iron, or
by means of ribs if made of cast iron. In each of these arms, which are equal
in number to the number of paddles, there is a slot c, c, formed for the the
paddles to slide in. The two dises a, a, are united together by means of staves
or plates d, d, and e, e, e, the former constituting the periphery of the drum or
cylinder, each stave or plate reaching from one slot to another, in the direction
of the circumference, leaving the slots or openings c, c, c, in the periphery to
correspond to those in the dises; and the latter, by uniting the arms or ribs on
one dise with those on the other along the sides or bottom of the slots, form
the recesses for the paddles. The union of the dises by the staves or plates
, d, and e, e, should be effected with the view of making the whole firm and
strong in a manner well known to all good workmen. On the outside of each
dise, and over the recesses for the paddles, plates f. f, see Figure 4, are bolted
for the purpose of preserving or maintaining, with exactness, the spaces left for
the paddles, so as to prevent them from either binding or creating any tremor
or vibration; and these plates ff, may also be used as guides for the paddles;
or, in place thereof, the paddles may be guided by means of projections g, g,
fixed on the face of the plates which form the recesses for the paddles, and
furnished with V grooves, in which slide projections or ribs h, h, connected to
the paddles as seen in Fig. 7. The paddles a, a, may be made in any
manner to suit the fancy of the constructor, as it regards materials and mode
of stiffening; but it is preferred that they should be made of cast iron and
wood, with the upper part i of greater thickness than the body, each end
being properly formed to receive an antifriction roller jj, and the plate,
whether of iron or wood, which forms the body, stiffened by the before-
mentioned ribs h, h, cast on, or, if of wood, fitted on each, and answering also
the purpose of sliding ways for the motion of the paddles; but it is to be
observed that if they are employed for that purpose the plates f,f, are not to
be used as guides. The manner of protruding the paddles beyond the periphery
of the drum, and drawing them in, will be hereafter described. The wheels so
constructed are placed in hollow trunks or cases : (see Fig. 8), built in the
vessel in the following manner, viz-A hole is made through the bottom of
the vessel on each side of the keel, in area something longer than the area or
the longitudinal section of the drum of the wheel, and the hollow trunks of
wells in which the wheels work are built up from the edges of these holes, and
*

page_text: reaching above the water line when the vessel is laden. The extension of the
trunks above the water line is not absolutely necessary, although it is preferred
that they should be thus extended. These trunks or cases should be made of
sufficient strength to resist the thrust and jar of the engines, and all the
machinery, and also made water-tight. The top of the trunks may also bo
made moveable to facilitate getting to the wheels for repairs, and when the
top or lid is placed in its proper position it may be rendered air and water
tight, or not, as desired. The situation and forms of these trunks or cases are
represented in Fig. 3, which also shews that part of the wheel projecting
below the bottom, and by dotted lines the part inside. Figures 1 and 2 also
represent the trunks and wheels by dotted lines, and the projection of the
wheels below the bottom of the vessel; and Fig. 8 represents one of the
wheels within its trunk or case, one end of the trunk being removed in order
to represent the wheel in its place. In this Figure it will be seen that one
end of the shaft / does not pass through the side of the trunks, the gudgeon
working in a box properly prepared for its reception, but the other end passes
through the side of the trunk for the purpose of receiving the crank by which
the wheel is driven. This end of the shaft works in a stuffing box n, of the
usual construction, to prevent the water in the trunk from leaking into the
vessel, the lower edge of that end of the trunk which is towards the stern, and,
if desired, both ends may be rounded, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2.
On each side of the wheel there is a plate of iron 0, 0, firmly bolted to the
sides of the trunk or case, and in each of these iron plates there is a cam or
excentric groove p, p, in which the rollers j, j, work; this groove should be of
sufficient width and depth to prevent the rollers from touching the bottom or the
two sides at the same time, and from the point I to the point 2, in the direction
of the arrow, is concentric, and from 2 to 1 is excentric, and the amount of its
excentricity depends upon the distance the paddles are required to be protruded
beyond the periphery of the drum, as it must be evident that the form of these
grooves will govern the position of the paddles, as regards their distance from the
centre of the drum during a revolution. In Fig. 4 the paddles are represented
in the position which they would be made to assume if the rollers were in the
grooves. It should be observed that the diameter of the concentric groove from
1 to 2 should be such in regard to the position of the rollers, that during the
revolution of the drum the ends of the paddles along that part of the circuit
will be even with the periphery of the drum and the point at 1 and 2, at
which the groove assumes the excentric form depends upon that part of the
circuit at which it is desired that the paddles shall begin to be forced out and
drawn in. The part of the groove from 3 to 4 can also be made concentric
'

page_text: frames 1, 1.
and unite the two excentric parts, and in that case the ends of the part i of
the paddles, which extend beyond the side edges and within the rollers, should
be made to rest upon the plates f.f, and thus relieve the antifriction rollers,
and avoid the friction consequent upon the working of the rollers in their
grooves. In the arrangement above described, should the wheels or their
appendages get out of order they could not be repaired, except by raising the
wheel out of the water. To overcome this difficulty with a cam plate of the
construction heretofore described, instead of having the shaft of the wheel
work in and pass through the sides of the trunk, the whole is arranged in the
manner represented at Fig. 11, which is a plan of the trunk or case and wheel
and all its appendages, with the top of the trunk removed, and by means
of which it may be drawn up at will. A recess is made on each side of
the trunk, extending from the top to near the bottom, to receive sliding frames
or plates r. r, one of which is represented detached at Fig. 12, which is an
elevation thereof. The side edges of the said sliding frames are rebated or cut
out at 8, s, in order to slide in grooves formed by the plates t, t, which are
bolted to the sides of the trunk or case, and thus complete the sliding ways or
grooves, which only allow of an up-and-down movement of the said sliding
A box is made in each sliding frame to receive the gudgeons
of the shaft of the wheel; and around these boxes are made the grooves p, p,
in which the rollers of the paddle work, as before mentioned. One end of the
shaft of each wheel is provided with a pinion m (see Fig. 11) for the reception
of which an additional recess is made in one of the sides of each of the trunks.
The crank shaft of the steam engine passes through a stuffing box in that side
of the trunk which has the recess for the pinion m on the shaft of the wheel,
and is itself provided with a pinion, which cannot be seen in the Drawing, but
which gears into it, and thus forms the connection between the paddle wheel and
the crank shaft of the engine. This connection between the crank shaft of the
engine and the shaft of the wheel can be effected by any of the means known
to all persons skilled in mechanics, and therefore they need not be more parti-
cularly described. Provision should be made for keeping or holding the sliding
frames down to a proper position to insure the parallelism of the wheel and
crank shaft, and the proper gearing of the cogs of the pinions. When this
arrangement of parts is employed, the tops of the trunks or cases should
be made moveable. Instead of the sliding frames or plates above described a
parts, as represented in Fig. 15, may be adopted. The
upper part a, a, a, made to fit on to the lower part d, d, d, which lower part
is cast in a manner fitting it to become at once the cam groove for protruding
the paddles in the manner above explained; the bearings and supports of the
frame cast in two

page_text: journals for the wheels also from a part of the casting, or are connected
thereto. It is formed much like the frames of the shafts for steam engines,
with the addition of the cam groove, and is bolted on to the bottom of the
vessel at e, e, c, e, within the trunks or cases, but may stand independant of
then, or, for greater firmness, may be bolted to them. In order to get at the
wheels for the repairs of the paddles it is only necessary to take off the upper
half a, a, a, and the wheel can at once be turned round till the injured paddle
is found, and taken out or repaired. If it becomes necessary to raise the wheel
out of its place, this is easily effected by taking off the upper part c of the
bearing which covers the shafts, and after taking out the paddles the wheel can
be lifted out on deck if desired, there being, of course, a slide made in the side
of the trunk for the shaft. The parts b, b, b, in this Figure are merely
diagonal braces for the better support of the wheels. Various modes of
working the paddles could be described as substitutes for the above, but
constructed essentially on the same principle as the one already described;
as, for instance, the two represented by Figures 13 and 14; Fig. 13 repre-
senting the substitution of an excentric ring w, which communicates motion to
the paddles a, a, by means of connecting rods y, y, which are hinged to the
paddles, about the middle of the edges thereof. The excentric ring must be
so regulated with the motion and position of the drum as to insure at all times
the relative position of the paddles; or the paddles, instead of sliding in and
out radially, can have one edge hinged to the drum, as at z, z, Fig. 14, the
other edge being hinged to the connecting rods a, a, which receive motion
from excentries or cam grooves, as above described for the other paddles,
but the mode first described is believed to be the best. The kind of materials,
form of parts, and their proportions, are matters which are, as they should be,
left wholly to the judgment and discretion of the constructor. The paddle
wheels thus constructed can either be made to work vertically or horizontally,
or at any line of inclination. For the purposes of withdrawing all the paddles
within the wheel, so that they may present no obstruction to the sailing of the
vessel, I continue a concentric circle or groove, as in Fig. 16, with a switch,
as at a, a, or in Fig. 17, as at b, b, which switches turn on centres, and are
worked by means of a rod running through the casing. By laying down the
switches so as to bring their upper ends to the points e, e, the rollers of the
paddles are guided into the concentric circle or groove, and the paddles
thereby withdrawn; by putting them back again to the point f, f, the paddles
are thrown out beyond the circumference of the wheel into the excentric part
of the groove, and consequently protruded. Another method may be suggested
to effect this purpose, which is, to construct the side or groove plates in such a

page_text: manner that they can be moved up and down, which will, when they are
moved upwards, necessarily take the paddles with them.
Having now described the fnvention that has been commnnicated to me,
as aforesaid, and also the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that I do not claim the mere employment of a paddle wheel or
wheels of the usual construction in a trunk or trunks, or case or cases, in the
vessel, and opened at the bottom or sides; nor do I claim the construction of
wheels in which the paddles are made to draw in or to feather during a
portion of their circuit, as described, such wheels having been before known
and used. But what I do claim as the Invention intended to be secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of a
paddle wheel, consisting of a hollow drum or solid cylinder, having recesses,
into which the paddles slide or fold in the manner above shewn and described,
or any modification of the same.
I also claim the employment of paddle wheels thus constructed, whether
the same are either wholly or partially submerged, and placed in cases or
hollow trunks, open at the bottom or sides of the vessel for the free admission
of water, such wheels being so arranged that their paddles shall protrude beyond
their peripheries in that part of their circumference which is outside of the
casing or trunk, and be withdrawn within the cylinder or drum in the parts
that are within the casing."
I also claim the drawing in of all the paddles by means of concentric
grooves and switches, in the manner described, so that the paddles may cause
no obstruction to the sailing of the ship.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.