AN IMPROVED FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL."-A communication from
abroad by Ross Forward, of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, State
of Ohio, United States of America. Gentleman.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 1st December 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
0 unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has

page_text: been communicated to me from abroad by Ross Forward, of Cincinnati,
Hamilton County, State of Ohio, United States of America, Gentleman.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
-
The Invention relates to the paddle wheels used by steamers, and
consists in making them work to any depth beneath the surface, thereby
increasing the resistance to the paddle or blade at the most effective
point for propelling the vessel and lessening the power required to move
it at a given speed.
The Invention will first be described in connection with the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings and then pointed out in the claim.
Figure 1 of the Drawing is a side elevation; Figure 2, a top view;
Figures 3 and 4, detail views of the improved wheel.
A represents a firmly fixed frame through which runs the shaft of
wheel B having radial arms band perimeters b¹; C are the paddles pivoted
';
near the ends of arms b, and made heavier on one side c than on the
other c', so that gravity will always tend to keep them in a perpendicular
plane; they are also wider on side c than c¹, the latter being one-fifth to
one-sixth less in order that the greater pressure of water on one side of
pivot will cause them to let go at the proper moment. care studs at
each upper end of the paddles, and c³, c³, opposite shoulders on each side:
of the stud. A paddle at the top of wheel will hang by gravity in a
perpendicular plane, and by turning with the wheel will continue to do
so until arrested by stud d on slide D advancing under shoulder c³
which it does before reaching the horizontal or touching the water, in
which position it is held cutting the water in an arc corresponding with
that in which the wheel moves, until it arrives at the proper point for
most effective work which is within 30 to 35 degrees of a line of per-
pendicular to shaft on which it revolves when the slide stud d withdraws,
so as to release the shoulder c³ when the uneven pressure of water on c
and c¹ and the heavier weight of c causes the paddle to fall out and
assume a perpendicular position, from which for the distance of 60 or 70

page_text: against the solid body of water.
Then the slide stud d withdraws
leaving the paddle blade to swing loosely on its pivots and assume the
upward path of least resistance through the water, and thence to its
place of starting.
The cam at each end of paddle with stud and shoulders is so graduated
in reference to the eccentric groove which governs the slide and with-
draws the stud d, that when the paddle is coming into position it does
not fall with a sudden blow; but the stud dimpinging and sliding upon
cam e, the blade is brought gradually to the perpendicular where it is
held by stud c. The arm slides D have pins & projecting into eccentric
groove E, whereby they are moved at the proper time to fasten and
loosen the paddle blades and govern their motion. F is a circular
plate in which is fastened by clamps f¹, f', the eccentric plate G. so as
to form the eccentric groove E for the reception of slide pins d'. This
plate, if left free to move, from the force of impact from pins d¹, d², would
revolve in either direction in circular frame A wherein it is held by
side pieces a¹, but being provided with projections or stops f", ƒ³, is
capable of moving only until projections f³, f, come in contact with
stud a², as shown on frame A, being held at rest on either side of same
according to the direction the wheel is revolved, each change of direction
causing the plate F to turn accordingly, and in so doing bring the
cccentric groove in a reverse position in reference to a vertical or
horizontal line and the centre of wheel, whereby the slides are moved
and the paddles governed in same manner and held in same relative
positions in the water, whether the wheel is moved backward or forward.
If to free thic wheel from icc or for any other reason it is desired to
move same without the moving of slides or governing of paddles,
stud a being removed permits all to revolve together.
It will be observed that when the blade or paddle reaches a point
where the retarding power of water to be lifted is encountered, the
paddles let go and being free to feather take the line of least resistance,
rising to the surface feathered and lifting no water whatever in the rear.
I thus make a wheel with movable paddles so arranged as to feather and
cut the water in front, sinking beneath it with almost no resistance
until it arrives at the effective point, and thence pushing to the length
of ouc-fifth the diameter of the wheel or to the point where the

page_text: 4th. The combination with studs d, c, c³, of intermediate cam to
prevent sudden impact as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.