SELF-ACTING TRANSVERSE FLOATS FOR THE PROPELLING OF STEAM VESSELS WITHOUT ANY BACKWATER
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Vines at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th August
1860.
I, RICHARD VINES, Veterinary Surgeon, of 3, Gt. College Street, Camden
Town, in the Parish of St. Pancras, and in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "SELF-ACTING TRANSVERSE FLOATS
FOR THE PROPELLING OF STEAM VESSELS WITHOUT ANY BACKWATER," to be as
follows:-
. By the rotary action of the wheels the floats enter the water in a transeverse
direction, and by its pressure becomes immoveable and in a fixed state. Each
float on leaving the water, the pressure being removed, then presents an
oblique direction, thereby discharging the whole of the backwater, an object
never before accomplished in so simple and effectual a manner and without
any mechanical assistance, except the pecular structure and placement of the
floats within the wheels.
The following statement will show how this is accomplished. The wheels,
as likewise the floats, are made of metal or otherwise, and intended to work
the vessel on the right and left sides; each wheel having a central body, from
around which is passing three or more rows of spokes diverging toward their
outer circumferance, and surrounded by one or more felloe-like bands con-
nected togather transversely directly or indirectly. Such connection not only
tend to strengthen each wheel, but keep the floats in their proper situation.

page_text: The wheels as also differ in form, but still the general principal as regards the
Invention are the same in each. These wheels are divided into first and
second class. There are in the first class three or more rows of rods or spokes,
sixteen or more in each row, and to every spoke of the inner row of the right
and left wheels less than a fourth from the inner circumferance of the felloe
by a cilindrical hinge and shoulder-like structure is attached a float. The
inner rows of spokes being those nearest the sides of the vessel are those from
which the floats take their moveable action, while the middle and outer rows
of spokes (or if more) of the right and left wheels not only strengthen but act
as stops, preventing the floats previous to and while in the water assisting in
propelling the vessel taking only a transverse direction. The second-class
wheels are right and left, having three or more rows of spokes in each, but the
number of spokes, as likewise the floats, are less than in the first class. The
number of spokes, as also the floats, are differant in differant wheels. In each
the floats are larger than in the first-class wheels, and instead of being
attached by an hinge-like structure to the inner first row of spokes are placed
on, the second, extending a greater distance toward the body than in the first-
class wheels, while the outer row of spokes, as in the latter, act as stops,. pre-
venting the floats previous to and while in the water taking otherwise than a
transverse direction. The first inner row of spokes not only tend to strengthen
each wheel, but keep the floats in their situation; and as regards the form of
the floats of the first and second class, see Drawings.
A, right; B, left; C, cilindrical or hinge-like structure; D, outer largest
surface; E, inner and lesser surface. The inner and lesser side E of the first
and second-class floats is also made much thicker in substance than the outer
or larger side B, consequently when placed in an horizontal balance at A,
cilindrical or binge-like structure, the lesser side will be greater in weight than
the outer or larger side, and the object of such is explained as follows:-By the
rotary action of the right and left wheels the floats on the fore part of each
previous to entering the water from being placed on a horizontal balance, their
moveable centre being from inner rows of spokes of each wheel. The inner
and lesser side of each float being greater in weight than the outer or larger
surface causes the floats when in such a situation to take a transverse direc-
tion, and which is maintained by the middle or outer row of spokes acting as
stops from being placed nearly in a line with the inner row of spokes, but
superior to the upper surface of each float. By such pecular placement the
floats enter in a transverse direction, and then become fixed and immoveable
from the pressure of the water being greater on the outer, larger, and broarder
surface than in the inner and lesser side. This transverse direction of the

page_text: floats while in the water is also maintained by the midde and outer row of
spokes acting as stops preventing the outer and larger side of the floats passing
beyond the transverse direction. On leaving the water, the pressure being
removed, the inner side of each float being greater in weight than the outer,
then takes an oblique direction, thus discharging the whole of the backwater,
thereby greatly assisting in propelling the vessel, an object never before
accomplished in so simple and effectual a manner. As the rotary action of the
wheels continue, the floats again assume the transverse direction, and continue
in a fixed and immoveable state while in the water, thereby gaining all the
advantage towards propelling the vessel as the transverse permanent im-
moveable floats, but superior to those from discharging the hole of the
backwater in the simple and effectual manner already discribed, and which
cannot be accomplished by the transverse fixed floats.