An Improved Paddle Wheel with Feathering Vanes or Blades.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Paddle Wheel with Feathering Vanes or Blades.
I, REINHOLD HEERE, of No. 10, Kleine Rosenthaler Strasse, Berlin, in the
German Empire, Teacher, 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:-
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The present invention relates to an improved paddle wheel with feathering
vanes or blades, which by virtue of its special construction is applicable for high
sea navigation as well as for inland navigation.
The applicability of the hitherto devised constructions of paddle wheels with
feathering vanes or blades is only very limited, as, in view of the actuating
mechanism for obtaining the feathering of the blades, which acted only on one
side of the blade axle, and the jamming of the blade axles in their bearings
consequently resulting herefrom, the width of the blades could only be minimal.
It is therefore obvious that these paddle wheels could only be employed with
vessels of a comparatively small size; the jamming of the blade axles on the.
other hand causing a considerable loss in motive power. These drawbacks, it
was proposed to remove in a number of constructions, for instance by dividing
the blades longitudinally and by applying the motive power at the centre of the
thus produced double blade paddle wheel, but none of these constructions have
proved to be successful. In the instance recited the loss of motive power was
augmented by the arrangement as mentioned; these losses in motive power in the
various constructions being so considerable when the vessel assumed an oblique
position or in the case of a lateral pressure of the waves on the vessel that even
the generally employed paddle wheels were useless to serve as stern paddle wheels
for high sea navigation.
The improved paddle wheel which forms the subject of the present application
and the blades of which are actuated upon at both ends from the engine on the
vessel directly, is successfully applicable for high sea navigation as well as for
inland navigation in view of the fact that in the first instance the motive power
by the agency of the main shaft, which if necessary may be driven at both ends,
and by the agency of two cross-shaped frames one of which is rigidly mounted
on said main shaft, is uniformly supplied to both ends of the paddle wheel blades;
whilst simultaneously the second cross-shaped frame causes the variation in the
position of the blades, so that the latter assume the required angle in regard to
the water, or their feathering respectively, by being suitably connected to said
cross-shaped frame which supports the blades at either end thereof. In view of
these arrangements the blades are prevented from jamming in their bearings.
whatever position the vessel may be in; lateral pressure of the waves likewise
not demanding any consideration, as it cannot exercise any detrimental effect on
the action of the blades, so that these latter may be constructed and employed
of any desired suitable width. A paddle wheel with feathering blades con-

page_text: structed in such a manner is applicable for the largest sized vessels, in addition
the amount of motive power required is considerably reduced in comparison to
the hitherto known constructions of paddle wheels and of screw propellers.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my improved paddle wheel.
Fig. 2 is a section through the paddle wheel in the direction of the longi-
tudinal axis of same, on line A-A of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one of the blades of the paddle wheel.
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating, the position of the paddle wheel
in regard to the stern of the vessel.
On the shaft a are rigidly mounted at either end two cross shaped structures c,
the opposite arms of which are connected by stay rods d so that they form a
strong frame. The shaft a may, if necessary, be provided with cranks b at either
end arranged at an angle of 90° to each other. The shaft penetrates outside the
cross-shaped structures c two eccentrics e which are stationary and thus serve as
bearings for the shaft. On the circumference f of these two eccentrics e are
rotatably mounted two likewise cross shaped structures g. These structures are
situated adjacent to the structures e and firmly connected to each other by means
of stay rods i. The driving frame e imparts motion to the frame g by means
of suitable couplings such for instance as cranks h which are pivoted on the one
hand to one of the arms of the frame c and on the other hand to the adjacent arm
of the frame g. The staying of the frame y pass through slots in projections
on the back of the blades or vanes m or through slots in the body of the vanes
respectively. Rollers k serve for attaining an easy movement in the slots. Each
two opposite arms of the driving frame e, which is firmly mounted on the shaft a,
are rotatably connected at their extremities by means of bolts to one of the
blades m, thus supporting them.
The motion imparted to the shaft a from the source of motive power, if neces-
sary by the auxiliary of the cranks b, will rotate the frame e constituted as above
described; simultaneously in view of the connection between the frame c and the
frame the latter will be rotated around the eccentrics e, and by virtue of the
moveability of the stay rods i of the frame g in the slots in the vanes or blades m
these latter will feather or be caused to vary their positions in regard to the two
frames in a regular and predetermined manner respectively as required.
In view of the novel features of construction and combination of parts in my
improved paddle wheel, motion will be imparted uniformly and directly to the
blades or vanes whilst simultaneously their feathering is attained in a uniform
manner without any jamming, which it has not been able to hitherto obtain in
paddle wheels with feathering vanes.
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
I claim is:
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1) An improved paddle wheel with feathering vanes having the vanes m sup-
ported in a cross shaped frame c rigidly mounted on the shaft a, a second cross
shaped frame g for regulating the feathering of the vanes being movably
mounted on stationary eccentrics and rotated by the first frame c by being pivotally
connected to the latter by means of suitable couplings, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
2) In an improved paddle wheel with feathering vanes of the class described
the arrangement of stay rods i connecting the opposite arms of the two cross
shaped structures which together constitute the frame g, said rods passing through
slots in the vanes m in connection with friction rollers k to regulate the feathering
of the vanes over their entire surface.
3) An improved paddle wheel with feathering vanes having its parts con-

page_text: structed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.