Improvements in Propeller-wheels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propeller-wheels.
I, GEORGE W. PELTON, of Muscatine, in the County of Muscatine, and State of
Iowa, United States of America, Inventor, 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 that class of propeller-wheels in which the blades or
buckets have what is known as a "feathering motion" and it has for its object to
construct a wheel of this class which shall be simple, durable and efficient in operation,
and which, in case of injury to any of its parts, shall be readily accessible for the
purpose of making the necessary repairs.
The invention, which is equally adapted to stern and to side paddle-wheels, consists
in the improved construction, arrangement and combination of parts, which will ha
hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a paddle-wheel or propeller-wheel embodying my
improvements.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line a―æ
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line y-y in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the paddles and a portion of the operating
mechanism.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
Referring to the drawings, 1, 1, designate the timbers having the boxes or
bearings 2, 2, in which the central or main shaft 3, of my improved propeller-wheel
is journaled. Permanently secured to the inner siles of the timbers 1 and concen-
trically with the bearings 2 are the spur-wheels 4 which are provided with central
openings 5, through which the ends of the shaft 3 extend. The shaft 3 is provided
with hubs 6 of which there may be two or more, according to the size of the wheel.
Two of these hubs are located at the ends of the shaft adjacent to the spur-wheels 4
and the remaining hubs are to be located equidistantly at intermediate points. In the
drawings hereto annexed three such hubs have been shown, one of them being located
centrally upon the shaft. This will probably be the number of hubs preferably
employed in a wheel of ordinary or moderato size. The hubs 6 are provided each
with a series of radiating arms or spokes 7, the number of which corresponds with the
number of paddles which it is desired to use. In the drawings hereto annexed eight
such arms or spokes have been shown as radiating from each of the hubs. The said
arms or spokes may be re-enforced and strengthened by means of circular rings or
bands S.
9, 9, designate the series of shafts, four in number which are journale in boxes or
bearings 10 which are arranged in the angles between the radiating arms or spokes 7.
The shafts 9 are provided at their ends with pinions 11, meshing with the fixed
spur-wheels 4 upon the timbers 1. Suitally mounted at intermediate points upon the
shafts 9 preferably adjacent to the central hub 6 are pinions 12 that mesh with spur-
wheels 13 which are journaled upon wrist-pins or stub-axles 14 upon the arms or
spokes 7 radiating from the hub, adjacent to which the pinions 12 are mounted.
The spur-wheels 13 are provided with wrist-pins 15, upon which is mounted a
ring 16, the position of which is eccentric with relation to the hub 6. It will be seen
that by the action of the spur-wheels 13 to which it is connected, a rotary movement
will be communicated to the said ring 16, eccentrically with relation to the axis of
the wheel.
At the outer ends of the arms or spokes 7, hoxes or hearings 17 are provided for the

page_text: transverse rock-shafts 18, carrying the paddles 19. Of these paddles one or more will
be mounted upon each shaft according to the number of hubs. The paddles are
constructed each of two separate pieces located on opposite sides of the shaft 18 and
connected with the latter by means of caps or clamps 20 which are secured in any
suitable manner upon the said shafts. One of the clamps or clasps 20 of each of the
transverse shafts is provided with an arm or bracket 21 extending at right angles
thereto. The outer end of said bracket is connected by a pivoted rod or pitman 22
with the ring 16. The parts or sections 23 and 24 of which each paddle is composed
are of unequal size or width, the lower one (by which is meant the one which first
enters the water) being smaller or narrower than the other.
This is for the purpose of lessening the resistance and to render breakage less likely
to occur by the forcible contact of the paddles with the water.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto
annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.
The general construction of my improved paddle-wheel is very simple and inexpensive
and of such a nature as to insure lightness and strength. It will be obvious that the
feathering mechanism, comprising the pinions 12, spur-wheels 13, ring 16, brackets 21
and pitmen 22, may be duplicated at the ends of the wheel if it shall be thought
desirable or advisable to do so.
I also reserve the right to any changes or modifications in the construction and
arrangement of details which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination of the supporting-timbers, the spur-wheels mounted permanently
upon the inner sides of the same, the main shaft extending through said spur-wheels
and journaled in boxes upon the said supporting-timbers, the hubs mounted upon said
shaft and having radiating arms or spokes, the shafts journaled at the outer ends of
said spokes and carrying the paddles, and pinions, spur-wheels, and pitmen for
transmitting motion from the said spur-wheels to the said paddles, for the purpose of
feathering the latter substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the supporting-timbers, the main shaft journaled upon the
same, the stationary spur-wheels attached permanently to the supporting-timbers
concentrically with the main shaft, the hubs mounted upon the latter and having
radiating spokes, the shafts journaled at the outer ends of the latter and carrying the
paddles, the shafts journaled between the spokes of the wheel and having pinions
imeshing with the stationary spur-wheels, the spur-wheels journaled upon the spokes
and meshing with pinions mounted intermediately upon the said shafts, the ring
mounted upon wrist-pins extending from the said spur-wheels eccentrically to the
main shaft and pitmen connecting said ring with brackets extending from the
paddles at right angles to the latter, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the main shaft, the hubs having the radiating arms or
spokes, the shafts journaled at the outer ends of the latier and carrying the paddles
spur-wheels mounted upon said spokes, a ring mounted pivotally upon the said spur
wheels eccentrically to the main shaft, means for transmitting motion to the said
spur-wheels from stationary spur-wheels mounted upon the supporting frame of the
wheel, and pitmen connecting the said eccentric ring with the paddles, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.