CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON WATER
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Collingwood, Watchmaker, and Thomas
Collingwood, Surgeon, both of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON WATER."
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 5th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Collingwood and
Thomas Collingwood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 5th February 1858.
We; EDWARD COLLINGWOOD, Watchmaker, and THOMAS COLLINGWOOD,
Surgeon, both of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON WATER," to be as follows:-
The apparatus is designed to effect the entry of the paddles (by which the
vessel is propelled) into the water edgewise, and also to bring them out of the
water in the same position, in order to diminish or prevent the retarding effect
of the water as the paddles emerge. Upon the main or paddle wheel shaft
is secured a boss, upon the circumference of which, at given distances, are
fixed the arms of the wheel; and between the arms are pivot holes, of a size
commensurate with the intended size of the wheel. Against each face of the
boss is secured a broad circular plate or flange of metal, in which are radiating
slots, equal to the number of pivot holes. These flanges are connected

page_text: between each pair of arms by metallic tie rods passing from one to the other.
Upon each side of the vessel, and also upon the inner sides of the paddle box
opposite are placed two stationary excentrics through which the paddle shaft
passes, and in which it can revolve. These excentrics are loosely encircled by
metallic plates or bands of an oval form (which may be made in halves and
capable of being put upon the excentric as top and bottom cap), from the sides
of which extend arms of the same number as the slots in the flanges, each
arm being connected at its extremity with its fellow on the opposite side of
the wheel by a horizontal metal slide, through the centre of which is a hole
exactly opposite to the pivot holes in the boss. On the inner surface of the
hole in the slide are two oblique projections, forming two tappets or cam
guides, the use of which will be hereafter explained. In the pivot holes of
the boss are inserted round bars or studs of metal, which pass through trans-
verse tie rods, connecting the flanges. Upon these bars are two ribs or threads
exactly opposite each other; these are perfectly plain or straight for a certain
distance, and are suddenly curved in opposite directions about a quarter of a
turn of the bar, consequently, when the slide is caused to move upwards the
tappets or cams move upon the curved portion of the threads, and by that
means cause the bar to make a quarter turn on its own axis, and consequently
the float or paddle which is fixed to the extremity of the bar is caused to
assume a position at right angles to that which it held when the slide was
passing along the plain portion of the rib, and vice versâ; the oval rings
being carried round by the shaft, and the excentrics being. stationary, the
effect of which is to cause the bars to be alternately drawn. to and forced from
the centre of the boss, and thereby causing the required change of position of
the float at the precise time required. To multiply the propelling surface,
floats may be placed side by side, or one set placed around the periphery of
the other, and may be increased to any requisite number. More minute
details of the mechanism and clearly illustrated by Drawings will be described
in our Complete Specification, to be hereafter filed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Collingwood and Thomas Collingwood in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 5th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
COLLINGWOOD, Watchmaker, and THOMAS COLLINGWOOD, Surgeon, both of
Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Edward Collingwood
and Thomas Collingwood, Her especial license that we, the said Edward
Collingwood and Thomas Collingwood, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward Collingwood and Thomas
Collingwood, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON WATER," upon the
condition, amongst others, that we, the said Edward Collingwood and Thomas
Collingwood, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or
under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Collingwood, do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
:-
The Invention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of appa-
ratus designed to effect the entry of the paddles (by which the vessel is pro-
pelled) into the water edgewise, and also to bring them out of the water in
the said position in order to diminish or prevent the retarding effect of the
water as the paddles enter or emerge. In order that the Invention may be
clearly explained and properly understood, I have hereunto annexed two
Sheets of Drawings, one being illustrative of the application of the apparatus.
to rotating paddle wheels, the other shewing a different arrangement or modi-.
fication of the same Invention whereby the paddles are moved in a horizantal
and vertical direction, and having similar letters of reference marked upon.
corresponding parts of the apparatus in all the Figures. In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is.
a side elevation of a paddle wheel of this novel construction, shewing one.
paddle about to enter the water, the second flat and at full stroke at the
bottom centre, and the third paddle feathering and emerging from the water;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the vertical centre shewing the arrange-

page_text: ment and connexion of the eccentrics and scrolls or swivel slides with the
paddles; Fig. 3 is a side section of a segment of the wheel shewing the posi-
tion of the sliding nuts for working the swivels when the paddles are at the
top and bottom centres; Fig. 4 is a back view of the slotted disc shewn in
Fig. 1, illustrating more clearly the action of the sliding nuts which are
shewn in section, one nut being upon the plain slide of the swivel as when
the ovoid is at its lowest point, the other nut being upon the swivel or scroll
and in the position as when the paddle is flat at the full stroke. Fig. 5 illus-
trates an arrangement of an internal grooved eccentric, which may be applied
instead of the surface eccentric and ovoid connecting bar for working the
sliding nuts, as by this arrangement each arm is independant and unconnected
with the one opposite, as will be seen in the instance of the ovoid bar in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an end section shewing the method of increasing the propelling
power by additional paddles placed side by side. Upon the main or paddle
wheel shaft a is secured a boss b, upon the circumference of which at given
distances are fixed the arms of the wheel c, c, c, c. Against each side of this
boss is secured a broad circular plate or flange of metal d, in which are the
radiating slots e, e, e, equal to the number of paddles a', a¹; through these
slots tie rods f. ff. f, pass connecting the ovoid slides g, g; g, together, upon
each side of the wheel, and the plates d, d, arc secured together by the rods or
bars, or plates h, h, h. Upon each side of the vessel, and also upon the
inner sides of the paddle box opposite, are placed two stationary inverted
eccentries i, i, i, i, through which the paddle shaft passes, and in which it.
can revolve; these eccentrics are loosely encircled by metallic plates or straps
9, 9, 9, of an ovoid form (which may be made in halves and capable of being
put upon the eccentric as top and bottom cap); from the sides of these plates
extend the arms 1, 1, 1, which are connected through the slots e, e, to the cor-
responding or fellow arm on the opposite side of the wheel by the tie rods or
metal slides f. f. f, through the centre of which is a hole opposite to the slots
in the flanges; on the inner surface of these holes in each of the sliding con-
necting bars or rods f, f, f, are two oblique projections forming two tappets or
sliding nuts m, m, m, within which work the swivels or scrolls n, n, n, which
are formed of bars or rods of metal, having thereupon two ribs or threads
opposite to each other. The ribs or threads are plain or straight for a certain
length, and are suddenly curved in opposite, directions about a quarter of a
circle or any other required angle forming a swivel or scroll, so that when the
tie rods and nuts are caused to move upwards, the nuts move or slide upon
the curved portion or scroll of the threads, and by that means cause the rods
upon which they are secured to make a quarter turn upon their own axis,

page_text: and consequently to impart a similar motion to the floats or paddles, causing
them during their rotation to assume a position at right angles to that which
they held whilst the nuts were passing along the plain portion of the rib, and
vice versa when the wheel is employed at the stern or end of the vessel, the
floats would assume an angle of forty-five degrees. The sliding motion for
actuating the swivels is imparted to the sliding rods and nuts by the ovoid rings
being carried round by the shaft, and the eccentrics being stationary cause the
said bars to be alternately drawn to and forced from the centre of the flange,
and thereby cause by means of the swivels the necessary change of position of
the floats as they enter and emerge from the water."
I would here remark that by the particular formation or shape of these:
swivels the paddles or floats may be caused to enter the water flat or at any
required angle, and to emerge in like manner, and either to begin to
"feather" as soon as they have passed the lowest centre or otherwise, or
when they are leaving the water, and that they may remain edgewise and
motionless during two-thirds of the revolution, only coming into action as
they enter the water, or they may commence to "feather after they pass the
top centre, so as to prepare them for entering the water flat or at any angle
required. These paddle wheels when entering absolutely flat or perfectly
edgewise may either be used submerged entirely or otherwise, and either in
a position as ordinarily occupied by paddle wheels or in pairs upon each side
of the bow or stern of the boat, or singly at the stern post, or in any other
convenient position, but it is preferred to use them at a slight angle when
not submerged. It will be evident that by causing the paddles to swivel only
the eighth part of a circle they would assume an angle of about 45 degrees
at the bottom, and completely flat the remaining two-thirds, and would
therefore act upon the principle of a screw wherever applied.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a different arrangement of appa-
ratus, by which the vessel to which it is applied may be propelled by the
horizontal motion of the paddles instead of a rotatory motion, as in a wheel;
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. In Fig. 1 a, a, is a framing for sup-
porting the shaft a¹ and eccentrics b, b, (two to each series of paddles), and
c, c, are vertical guide rods, upon which the horizontal eccentric rod d slides;
e, e, is a bar in which are situated the nuts for turning the swivels in a similar
manner to that before described; and f, f, f, are the arms or rods to the
lower end of which the paddles g, g, g, are secured, and at their upper ends
are provided with the necessary swivels h, h, h, for turning the paddles; each
of the paddle arms pass through a socket 1, the socket being secured upon
pivots i, i, i, in the eccentric rod d, which has a motion imparted to it from

page_text: the eccentrics, and cause it to slide laterally on the sliding bushes k, k, and
also a vertical motion causing it to rise and fall upon the uprights c, c. It
will thus be seen that at the shaft and eccentrics rotate they cause the paddles
to enter the water edgewise and at any angle (governed by the swivels and
eccentrics) to peform a horizontal stroke and to "feather," as they are lifted
and emerge from the water, and remain edgewise until they assume their
position for the following stroke. The number of paddles may be increased,
as shewn in Fig. 2, one set being at full stroke whilst the others are
returning.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be distinctly
understood that we claim the novel arrangement, combination, and construc-
tion of apparatus for propelling vessels on water at whatever part of the
vessel the same may be applied, and whether used entirely submerged or
partially covered by the water, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Collingwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
THOMAS COLLINGWOOD. (L.S.)