AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF PROPELLING VESSELS THROUGH THE WATER
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PARR, of Union Place, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Fourth, by His Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, beating date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of August now
last past, did give and grant unto me, the said William Pair, His especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Parr,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Wil-
ham Parr, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agrec
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in all is said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF PROPELLING VESSELS THROUGH
THE WATER;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said William Pair, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
iniolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
annear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Parr, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertamed
by the Diawings hereunto annexed, and as follows, that is to say:-
The paddle wheels that have been most generally used to propel vessels
through the water, it is well known, are very imperfect in then principle. on
account of the paddles being immovably fixed to the arms or radhal bais of the
wheels The evil consequence that is experienced in wheels so constructed
consists principally in the great waste of power that must be employed to bring
each paddle out of the water after it has made its stroke Vanous methods have
been contrived to remedy this defect, though lutherto without success, but by
adopting the improvement I have invented, cach paddle may be maile to excit
a voiy powerful propelling effort against the water while in the most favorable
position for that purpose, and when they have effected their strokes alternately
each paddle will change its position at a proper part of its rotation, and 1150
edgeways through the water This desuable object is effected by my imp.oved
method of combining paddles to the wheel, which is as follows -
Diawing Fig 1 represents a side elevation of my unproved paddle wheel for
propelling vessels A, a, a, a, A. A, are six radial flat-sided ans, braced on
united by the hexagonal 11m b, b, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, are six sliding bolts, each
having two chase mortises made though thein, 2, 2. are two studs with square
heads, the stems of which pass through the chase mortises before named, and
the ends being tapped pass through holes made in each arm, where they are
made fast by nuts in the usual way. The sliding bolts are guided by the studs.
and are sufficiently fice to approach and recede to and from the centre of the
wheel, the extent of this motion being regulated by the chase mortises and
inclined planes to be hereafter descubed Each sliding bolt is attached to
a conesponding aim by similar means k, k, h, k, l, k, represent six cylinducal
pins or studs, one of these is fixed to each sliding bolt, and as the wheel
revolves each stud in its 1otation strikes two double aclined planes, one of
which dives each bolt nearer the centre of the wheel, and the other forces
it outwards As there are two sides to each wheel, between which the paddles
are fixed, the parts herein enumerated will be precisely smular, and each part
of the opposite side-that is. a duplicate of those already described-will be
distinguished by the same letters of reference Z is a beveled wheel, fixed on
the axism of the paddle wheel, this gears into a similar beveled wheel n fixed on
the shaft o, which shaft may be driven by a steam engine or any other convenient
power. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, represent end views of six paddles, each of these are

page_text: placed between two opposite arms, and attache 1 thereto by swivels, or any other
convement kind of joint that will permit them to swing freely upon their
bearings. It will be seen, by examining paddle 3, Fig. 2, that the swivel
Joint is not fixed to the centre of the paddle, but rather nearer the outer edge,
by which means one side of the paddle will be inclined to preponderate down-
wards, and consequently, during one part of its 10tation, it will rise out of the
water edgeways. Fig 1 A represents one side of a cast-iron frame, to
which the plumber blocks p and q are fixed, r, s, are two double inclined
planes fixed to the inside of the frame A, these serve to press forward the
sliding bolts, or draw them back, as occasion may require. Fig. 2 represents
an elevation of the opposite side of the paddle wheel, and its frame A, and
Figure 3 shews a front view of the paddle wheel, and also its appendages
before described, each corresponding part being distinguished by the same
letters of reference The paddle shewn at 1, Fig 3, will explain the method
of attaching it to the swivel bar t, the ends of which unite the opposite
arms a, a, is a roller which fiecly turns freely on a pin or stud made fast to
the camage or beaung B, behind and above this is fixed an inclined plane C,
containing, a small recess formed in it, a click or pall; the use of these
appendages will be descubed her cafter.
Having enumerated the various parts, and shewn the way they are combined,
I shall now explain how they act when set in motion by a steam engine or
any other convenient power
-
The
Fig 1 represents the position the paddles, and other parts combined therewith,
assume when the paddle wheel is moving in the direction of of the daits
paddle marked 1 lays or rests upon the aim a, and is free to turn or move upon
its swivel Joint, but when it descends to the position shewn at paddle 2, the
stud coming in contact with the double inched place, forces the sliding
bolt c outwards, and the hook or catch formed on the end of the sliding bolt
passes over the edge of the paddle as shewn at d, and retams it as firmly as if
it was nnmovably fixel to the aim of the wheel It should be observed that,
as both sides of the paddle wheel, and also the paddles, are alike, and then
parts of appendages exactly similar, the same movements of parts occur simul-
taneously on each side of the wheel, by which means both sides of the paddles
become locked at the same instant In this state it Legins to make its effort
against the water, passing on as shewn at a, paddle 3. and it continues to do
o. exerting its effort against the water advantageously until it attains the
position shewn at paddle 4. where, if the paddle was immovably fixed
to them. it would then have to move upwards in nearly an houzontal
position, which it is well known produces great waste of power without effecting

page_text: any beneficial result. But when my improved wheel anives at the position
shewn by the paddle 4, the stud & stukes against the double inclined plane s,
and by this means the sliding bolt is diawn or forced back; and the paddle
being released and fice to swing upon its swivel Joint, falls into the position
shewn in dotted lines at D, the heaviest side of the paddle preponderating
downwards, by which means it will be so placed as to rise edgeways though
the water from the point at which it is unlocked, and which is at about an
angle of forty-five degrees from the perpendicular line E, F. As the aims
continue to lise the paddles continue to swing, as may be seen by examining the
paddle 5; therefore, if it meets with a current of air it will yield to it like the
vane of a weather cock, and consequently pass through it also edgeways, and of
course produce less resistance in passing through that medium As the wheel
proceeds in its rotation the paddles gradually approach the aims until they
come in contact, as shewn at paddles 6 and 1, and as cach of the paddles
descend into the water it is locked and unlocked by the means before described.
One of the great advantages attending this peculiai mode of combining paddles
to a wheel for the purpose of propelling consists in the facility and advantage
with which they may he worked when completely submerged; for as cach paddle
is released immediately after it has made its stroke against the water and set at
liberty to swing upon its joint, and having also a preponderating side, it will
always present an edge to the medium or fluid through which it has to pass,
forming thereby little or no resistance during the part of its rotation that is not
actively employed in propelling. As each paddle is alternately released and at
liberty to swing freely upon its swivel, there is a possibility that by any violent
or sudden concussion one or more of the paddles may be thrown over to the
opposite side of the arm or arms a, and be completely reversed in position,
as shewn by the parts represented in dotted lines at G, in Figure 2. To
remedy this inconvenience, each paddle has a small lever or conductor fixed
at one end, as shewn at u, v, v, v, v, v, which effect the return of the paddles to a
proper position, to be locked by the swing bolts in the following manner :-
When the paddles are in a proper position to be locked, the levers or con-
ductois v, v, v, v, v, v, pass freely between the inclined plane C and roller w,
but when by any accident they are reversed in their position, as shewn in dotted
lines at G, the lever or conductor v comes in contact with the inclined plane C,
and as it slides over or down it the paddle is elevated and partly turned over;
and as the aim a continues to descend the point of the level or conductor v
strikes the upper surface of the roller u, which completely turns the paddle
over in time to be locked by the sliding bolts The point on end of the small
pall inclosed in the recess under C, shewn in dotted lines, extends outwards a

page_text: little, so as to form in effect a lengthened portion of the inclined plane C, and
by that means the end of the lever or conductor vis guided until it reaches
and takes a bearing upon the roller u, which changes the position of the paddle
to the state shewn at paddle 2, where it is represented as locked, and ready to
make its stroke as it descends into the water. If the inclined plane C was
made to extend as far outwards from the centre of the paddle wheel as the
pall has the effect of making it, it would not permit the paddles to revolve
in a contray direction to propel the vessel stern foremost, but when that takes
place the levers or conductors v, v, v, v, v, v, striking against the projecting end
of the pall, cause it to recede, and by that means the paddles are enabled to revolve
either way,
when the paddles revolve in a contrary direction to the darts, and
propel the vessel backwards, they will act in the unlocked position, because then
the bars a, a, a, a, a, a, form a bearing to counteract the resistance of the water,
this will be perfectly understood by examining the parts represented in dotted lines
at G, the paddle being in that fragment of the arın a shewn in the position it
assumes when revolving in a continiy direction to the darts. But when the
paddle wheel is made to revolve in the direction of the daits, then the paddles
will be turned over or reversed by the inclined plane C and the roller u, and
locked by the sliding bolts before described. I shall here observe that the
reverse parts of the double inclined planes r and s will be in use to move
the sliding bolts when the wheel revolves in an opposite direction to the daits;
for although the paddles will not requie to be locked, yet the bolts must be
moved the same distance by the reverse side of the double inclined planes
In this
Fig. 4 represents a plan or bird's eye view of one of my improved paddle
wheels, fixed to a vessel, which is partly shewn in dotted lines at II
view the frame A, A, containing the paddle wheel and its appendages, is fixed
to the head of the vessel, which I consider the most advantageous pait, for
when the water is removed from the head of the vessel by the action of the
paddle wheel, and thrown on each side towards the stern, the water assumes
the form of an inclined plane, being lowest at the head, and consequently the
vessel meets with less resistance at the head to impede her progress But
although I prefer the method of placing the paddle wheel at the head of the
vessel, yet it may be placed at the stern, or one on each side, in the usual
manner, without departing from the improvement I have invented and described
herein. Of course, the mode of connecting the paddle wheel or wheels to the
power that is to drive them must be accommodated to the cucumstances of
the case, but these are so obvious to any competent engineer that it would
be needless to give any directions upon that head. I shall, however, observe,
that when such wheels are placed either at the head or stein of a vessel, it will

page_text: be necessary to defend the fiame and paddle wheel with a strong fender of
timber, firmly united to the framing or timbers of the vessel. Where steam
vessels are employed in making short voyages, very little difference is produced
in their draught of water from the consumption of coals, which must of course
tend to lighten the burthen of such vessels. But as fuel is continually
replenished at the end of cach voyage, it renders any provision for that circum-
stance unnecessary. But where steam vessels are employed to make long
voyages the great quantity of coals that are consumed will make a very
considerable difference in the draught of the vessel, and consequently the paddles
would not dip sufficiently deep into the water when the vessel was near the
end of such a voyage To remedy this convenience, Fig 5 represents
a portion of one of the aims of the paddle wheel to which the two wrought-iron
staples w, w, aro fixed; a is a false or moveable aim placed in the two staples,
and it is there fixed by two screws that pass through the upper end of cach
staple; the false aim has screw holes made m it, about six inches apart, by
which means it may be fixed to the staples at any convenient listance from
the centre of the paddle wheel, where such arms are used, frame the paddle
wheel must be made proportionally longer, and the inclined planes and roller
which lock and direct the paddles must be made adjustible so as to act upon
the paddles when their distance from the centre of the wheel is either increased
or diminished. Paddle wheels of this description may be made of any suitable
metal or material, but I prefer cast iron for the im and arms of the wheel, and
wrought iron for the swivel bars and paddles; and although I prefer the
proportions of their parts as herein given, yet they may be varied to a
considerable extent without departing from the pinciple of my Invention.
And I further declare that I do not confine myself to use six paddles only;
for any suitable number may be used, provided the inclined planes, sliding
bolts, and other appendages herein described are properly placed and adjusted,
so as to suit whatever number may be used.
And I hereby further declare that my improvement or improvements in
propelling vessels consists ―
Firstly, in combining swinging paddles with sliding or locking bolts, and
causing such bolts to be moved at proper intervals by double inclined planes,
by which means paddles may be made to use out of the water edgeways, after
they have made a propelling stroke in the most advantageous part of their
rotation.
Secondly, in combining and applying therewith a double inclined plane and
roller, by the use of which, in the way I have described, each paddle will be
forced into a proper position to be locked, and thereby rendered effective