IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS OR APPA- RATUS ADAPTED TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS, AND ALSO AS A MILL POWER AND AS A BLOWER, AND TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Goodrich, of Henry, in the County of Marshall
and State of Illinois, one of the United States of America, Boat Builder,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS OR APPA-
RATUS ADAPTED TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS, AND ALSO AS A MILL POWER
AND AS A BLOWER, AND TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th June 1879, and dated the 30th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Goodrich at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1878.
"
JOSEPH GOODRICH, of Henry, in the County of Marshall and State of Illinois,
one of the United States of America, Boat Builder. IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS OR APPARATUS ADAPTED TO THE PROPULSION OF
VESSELS, AND ALSO AS A MILL POWER AND AS A BLOWER, AND TO OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES."
The objects of my Invention are,-
To produce a mechanism that may be adapted to many useful purposes, as pro-
pelling vessels, serving as a current-motor for utilizing the force generated by the
flow of water in streams, as a stirring apparatus for agitating liquids or liquid com-
pounds, or as a blower for producing air currents.
The Invention is based upon the principle which I have discovered that a blade
pivoted at its centers and free to rotate on the said pivots without undue friction
will, when passed through any resisting fluid, oppose its broad surface thereto and
not its edge; at the same time however the blades may be turned or "feathered
by a slight excess of pressure on either side of its pivotal axis.
I
propose to apply this principle mechanically to useful purposes as follows:-
I provide two endless chains arranged on pulleys, or chain wheels mounted in
pairs on suitable shafts arranged to revolve in bearings.
Between these chains (which may be of any convenient length, and any con-
venient distance apart) I arrange blades having projecting journals at their ends

page_text: arranged equidistant from the edges of the blades. These journals have bearings in
the chains, and will turn freely in the same, the blades being equally balanced. The
blades may be longer than they are wide, if desired, but they are preferably quad-
rangular.
When used for propelling vessels I prefer to arrange the blades vertically in the
water alongside of the vessel's hull, and the chain wheels in such close proximity to
the side of the same that the blades on the return side of the chains as they move
along may be "feathered" or turned edgewise to the water by the vessel's side, or
a suitable guard projecting therefrom.
The chain wheels, or one of them, may be revolved by an engine on the vessel in
the usual way.
When the blades are to be "feathered" I prefer to arrange them
far enough apart to revolve without touching each other.
The same arrangement as above-described may be used for agitating or stirring
liquids, except that the blades need not be feathered unless a current in one direction
is to be created.
For a current motor the axes of the blades are best arranged horizontally, and
then the returning blades need not be submerged, but may pass back over the tops
of the wheels.
For a blower the blades may be drawn through a trunk or tube, in which they fit
more or less closely, the returning blades being feathered by a suitable guard for the
purpose.
I do not confine myself to any special form of the mechanism, except generally as
above set forth, as the same will of necessity be considerably varied to suit the
peculiar circumstances in each case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Goodrich in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th June
1879.
.
"
JOSEPH GOODRICH, of Henry, in the County of Marshall and State of Illinois,
one of the United States of America, Boat Builder. IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS OR APPARATUS ADAPTED TO THE PROPULSION OF
VESSELS, AND ALSO AS A MILL POWER AND AS A BLOWER, AND TO OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES."
My Invention is based upon a discovery which I have made that a blade mounted
upon axial pivots balanced and free to rotate on such pivots without undue friction
will when passed through any resisting fluid as air or water oppose its broader sur-
face thereto, and not its edge or narrower surface, and at the same time the blade
may be "feathered" or turned edgewise to the resisting fluid by a slight excess of
pressure on either side of its pivotal axis. The same effect is produced upon blades
so arranged whether they be moved through the resisting fluid or the fluid forced
against the stationary or resisting blades. I propose to apply this principle mechani-
cally to many useful purposes, among which may be enumerated the propulsion of
vessels, the utilization of the force of a stream or current of water, the forcing of air
to produce an air current or blast, and the stirring or agitation of liquids or liquid
compounds.
In the Drawings accompanying this Specification I have shown the application
and adaptation of my Invention to several useful purposes.
Figures 1 and 2 represent the hull of a vessel provided with my Invention as
adapted for the propulsion of vessels, the same being in transverse section, Figure 1
being taken in the plane of the line v, v, in Figure 5, and Figure 2 in the plane of
the line x, x, in Figure 4. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the hull and propelling
apparatus; Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken respectively in the planes
of the lines 2,2, in Figure 2, and y, y, in Figure 1; Figure 6 represents in detail the
construction and arrangement of the blades; Figure 7 is a plan view on a larger
scale showing a modified construction of the propelling apparatus arranged on the
side of a vessel or boat, or it may also represent the Invention arranged for pro-
ducing a current in a vessel containing a liquid; Figure 8 shows the adaptation of
my Invention to the production of a forced current or blast of air as in a blower;
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the adaptation of my Invention as a current-motor for
utilizing the power of flowing water in streams or channels. The first of these
Figures is a sectional elevation, and the last is a transverse section of the channel
or flume.
To whichever purpose it may be applied the Invention consists essentially in
blades pivoted between endless ropes, belts, or chains arranged upon pulleys or
wheels, substantially as shown in the Drawings.
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, A is the hull of a vessel of any
kind for ocean or river service, or for canals or other waters. B, B, are shafts
arranged vertically or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the water, and
provided with bearings in frames C, C, affixed to the side of the vessel. On these
shafts are fixed at suitable distances apart chain wheels or pulleys D, D. These may
be grooved, and be provided with suitable means whereby the chains are prevented
from slipping. E, E, are endless chains, ropes, belts, or other flexible carriers
arranged on the pulleys D, D, as shown; F, F, are blades, paddles, or floats provided
with axial pivots a, a, at the centers of their opposite ends or sides (see Figure 6)
which find bearings in the flexible carriers E, E. On these pivots the blades are
balanced and turn freely, being opposed in this only by the unavoidable friction in
the bearings. The blades may be of any material suited to the purpose; as, for
instance, wood, iron, steel, or brass, or a combination of wood and metal. They may
be arranged at any distance apart on the chain. No proportion can be given, as the

page_text: '
distance will vary with the purpose to be accomplished. They should not however
be placed so close together as to strike each other if they are to be feathered, or the
best results cannot be obtained.
When a long chain is used I prefer to run both the upper and lower chains in
guides or keepers b, b, supported upon frames secured to the sides of the vessel.
These also prevent the dashing of waves from injuriously affecting the blades or
other parts.
As a further protection from waves, other vessels, or floating bodies I.
prefer to provide guards c, c, extending along the outside of the blades, as shown;
but these may be omitted in some cases. As a matter of convenience and to pro-
vent the propelling apparatus from projecting unnecessarily far from the vessel's side
I prefer to arrange the pulleys D, D, so that the return side of the flexible carrier E
will pass back close alongside of the hull so that the latter may serve to feather the
blades or maintain them in position with their edges opposed to the water. Guards
may however be interposed between the blades and the side of the vessel. To insure
the feathering of the blades after they have done their work and started to return, I
provide at either end of the propelling device or at both ends feathering guards d, d,
arranged so as to turn the blades and present their edges properly to the water for
their return.
Any suitable means of operating my propelling apparatus from the vessel may be
employed. I have shown in Figures 1 and 5 one of the shafts B prolonged and
provided with a crank or cranks which are taken hold of by connecting-rods from
steam-engines e, e, arranged preferably toward the stern of the boat. The driving
power may however be applied at either or both shafts B, B, and the vessel may be
driven either backward or forward.
It will be seen without further description being required that the rotation of
either shaft B in either direction will cause the blades F, F, to travel through the
water, opposing their broader faces to the same in one direction, and their edges in
returning or moving in the opposite direction. The blades may be completely or
partially submerged when arranged with their axes perpendicular or nearly so to
the surface of the water. If the shafts B, B, are arranged at right angles to the
position shown, as they may be, the returning blades if not submerged need not be
feathered, but the working blades should be submerged completely.
To steady the blade in returning and assist in maintaining it with its edge
opposed to the water, I may employ the arrangement shown in the edge view of the
blade in Figure 6. In this the lower pivot a of the blade is grooved or hollowed at
the end and arranged to engage a rib in the groove of the keeper 6 when the blade
is feathered; or the pivot may be flattened and play in a groove in the keeper; or
both pivots may be so provided if desired, but ordinarily one will be sufficient.
In Figure 8 I have shown my Invention arranged and adapted as a blower. In
this case the blades, carriers, and pulleys may be arranged substantially as in the
propelling apparatus, but the whole must be arranged in a casing or trunk G, which
the working blades fit more or less closely. When the blades are moved rapidly
through the trunk by the carriers the air is drawn in at one end of the trunk and
forcibly expelled at the other.
Figure 9 illustrates the adaptation of my Invention to the utilization of the power
of a stream of water. The wheels D, D, may be of different sizes, as shown, the
larger wheel serving as a driver for machinery and the smaller as an idler, or
merely to keep the flexible carriers stretched and in proper position. They may be
mounted in suitable frames or bearings so as to keep the working blades properly
submerged, as shown. Although illustrated as adapted to a flume or artificial
channel for the water, it may be mounted upon an anchored float in a stream.
Should any small obstruction stand in the way of the blades they will readily turn
on their pivots to avoid it, as shown at fin Figure 9.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, I claim,-
First. Blades arranged to turn freely or without undue friction upon central axial
pivots having bearings in endless flexible carriers arranged upon pulleys or chain

page_text: wheels, and the said pulleys arranged to be rotated so as to cause the blades to move
through a resisting fluid, substantially as set forth.
Second. Blades arranged to turn freely or without mechanical restraint upon
central axial pivots, and to be borne by flexible carriers through a resisting fluid, or
to be acted upon by said fluid, substantially as specified.
Third. Blades arranged to turn without undue friction upon central axial pivots
having bearings in endless flexible carriers arranged upon pulleys and provided with
a suitable means for feathering the blades on the return side, while they are per-
mitted to move forward without restraint on the working side, substantially as set
forth.
Fourth. The flexible carriers bearing the axially pivoted blades arranged to move
in guides or keepers b, b, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The propelling apparatus, shown and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7, with the blades arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the water surface,
or nearly so, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The device for maintaining the returning blade with its edge opposed to
the resisting fluid, as shown in Figure 6, or its substantial equivalent.
Seventh. Providing the blades with feathering guards, substantially as shown.
Eighth. The arrangement of the endless carrier, pulleys, or chain wheels, axially
pivoted blades free to rotate on their axes without restraint on the working side,
and the casing or trunk adapted to form a blower, substantially as represented in
Figure 8, and as specified.
Ninth. The current motor, substantially as represented in Figures 9 and 10, and
as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Goodrich, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
JOSEPH GOODRICH. (L.S.)