IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM RIVERS OR STREAMS OF WATER, AND FOR FACILITATING BOATS ASCENDING AND DESCENDING RIVERS, OR STREAMS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Longo Vinchiaturo at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
June 1867.-A communication from abroad by Louis Roman, residing
at Rue de Seine, Paris, in the Empire of France.
I, JOSEPH LONGO VINCHIATURO, Le Marquis de Cosentino, of Charing Cross-
Hotel, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE
POWER FROM RIVERS OR STREAMS OF WATER, AND FOR FACILITATING BOATS
ASCENDING AND DESCENDING RIVERS, OR STREAMS," to be as follows:-
In constructing apparatus for obtaining motive power from rivers or streams
of water two parallel endless chains are employed extended between and
gearing with chain wheels on two horizontal axes at a distance apart from one
another. The endless chains are connected to one another by numerous rods
or bars which pass transversely across the space between the two chains;
these rods carry paddles or floats which project out at right angles from the
chains. The axes of the chain wheels supporting the chains are carried at
such a distance above the surface of the water that the paddles or floats on
the portion of the chain below the chain wheels dip into or are immersed in
the water whilst the paddles on the portion of the chain above the chain
wheels are raised out therefrom. The axes of the rollers turn in bearings,
carried by vessels, held at a distance apart from one another by suitable frames
and tie bars, so that the endless chain of paddles works in the space between

page_text: the vessels; or the axes of the endless chains might be otherwise carried.
Fixed guide rails are employed to keep the endless chains from sagging or
swaying down as they pass from one chain wheel to another. Small flanged
rollers carried on the ends of the tranverse rods connecting the two chains
run upon these rails, and thus the chains are supported. As the action of the
stream of water upon the paddles or wings of the endless chains gives to these
chains a continuous rotary motion, the chains by gearing with the chain
wheels cause the axes of these wheels to revolve also. Motion may be trans-
mitted from these axes to pumps carried by the vessels, and may then be used
for irrigating purposes, or the power obtained may be employed to enable
boats to ascend the stream, or it may be applied to other purposes.
When it is required to put the apparatus out of action the movement of
the apparatus may when the apparatus is only of small dimensions be arrested
by a clutch or friction break, but for large apparatus a trough is employed
which can be raised so that with the aid of sluices the water may be shut off
from acting on the paddles or floats of the chain. To facilitate boats
ascending and descending rivers a chain passing around and gearing with a
chain wheel is employed, the two ends of the chain being connected to two
boats. Each boat is furnished with wings or floats which can be caused to
stand out from the boat so as to offer a considerable surface to the stream of
water. When a boat is descending the stream the wings are caused to project
out from the boat; but the wings of the boat ascending the stream are folded
in close to its side; by this means the stream of water acting on the descending
boat will by the chain or cord connecting the boats draw the ascending boat
up the stream. The pair of boats so connected with one another may be
employed for towing vessels. These boats also may be provided with similar
wings or projections which may be caused to stand out when the boats are
descending the stream. The axis of the wheel around which the chain or cord
passes may also be driven from one of the axes of the apparatus herein-before
described for obtaining motive power.