Year: 1888

page_text: I AMOS HERBERT CARPENTER, of West Waterford in the County of Caledonia, and
State of Vermont United States of America, Attorney-at-Law, do hereby declue
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
-
Fig 1 is an isometrical perspective view representing my improved wheel mounted
on the shaft when provided with a hub and cam
Fig 2 a top plan view of the cam and its clasp detached
Fig 3 a side elevation of the fork detached
Fig 4 elevations showing certain details of construction
Fig 5 an elevation showing two of the floats or blades and their connecting rod
detached
Fig 6 an elevation showing a modification of the blade or float
Fig 7 an end elevation showing the wheel provided with two cams
Fig 8 a top plan view of the same
Fig 9 in elevation showing the wheel as applied to wind mills
Fig 10 a perspective view of the sleeve detached
Fig 11 a side elevation showing a modification of the wind mill
My invention relates especially to feathering paddle and other wheels and it consists
in a novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully set forth
and claimed the object being to produce a more effective and otherwise desirable device
of this character than is now in ordinary use
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation
In the drawings A represents the main shaft, B the box or bearing in which the
The floats are arranged in
shaft is mounted, (the sleeve and D the floats or blades
pairs the members of each pair being disposed at right angles to each other and con-
nected by a shatt E which is bent at its center into the semi-circular curve, The
shaft A is provided with a hollow boss G in which the shafts E arc journaled, said
last named shatts being arranged at right angles to each other and also to the shaft A
and so disposed that their curved portions are within said boss

page_text: The outer ends of the floats D are provided with centrally arranged studs ✗ and
connected by quadri-cucular braces H the ends of the braces boing halved and over
lipping each other as shown in Fig 1 and the studs X Journaled in holes, m formed
therein, but the braces may be made semi-circular or they may be united in one
piece if preferred
The box B is designed to be supported permanently in any suitable manner and is
provided with lateral projections t on either side Arranged in parallelism with the
shift A and fitted to slide longitudinally in the projections t there are rods, JP, adapted
to engage a flinge or projection on the sleeve C, said sleeve being disposed on the
shaft A between the boss G and box B, and fitted loosely to said shaft A fork K 19
placed astride the box B, its ends, 2, being inserted in slots cut in the rods, J P A
vertically arranged bifurcated rod L is jointed to the fork K said rod being designed
to be journaled in suitable bearings so that when partially rotated in either direction,
the rods J P will be moved into or out of position to engage the projection on the
sleeve, C, when sud sleeve is partially rotated as heroinatter described A clasp M
15 secured firmly to the sleeve ind rendered adjustable thereon by the nut and bolt, b,
said clasp being provided with in arm, y, to which is sccured a curved or cam shiped
bar N This bar stands approximately at right angles to the shift A and partially in
the path of the floats D so that when said shaft is revolved, the edges of the floats
adjacent to the sleeve C will be brought into contact with the Interally curved
portion g of said bur
The wheel when constructed as shown in Fig 1 is designed to be entirely sub-
merged in use but when it is designed to be used as a paddle wheel with the shift A
above the surface Q of the water, two sleeves, C, clamps M and cams N are employed
as shown in Figs 7 and 8, the sleeves being placed at opposite sides of the boss G
and each sleeve provided with cam The cims are so arranged that one will act to
feather the floats when the shaft is turned in a certain direction and the other to
fenther them when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction Each of the sleeves C
is also provided with a miter gear 24 which intei meshes with a miter gear 25 on the
inner end of a shaft, I carrying a miter gear, 27 at its outer end which intermeshes
with a miter gear 29 on the end of a cross connecting shaft, T The shafts L T are
designed to be supported in any suitable manner the object of said shafts and the
gears being to connect the two sleeves and cause them to move in unison and thereby
maintain the cams N in the same relative position with respect to each other
two sleeves are employed they may be locked and unlocked on the shaft A substan-
tially as shown in Fig 1 or in any other suitable manner, the curved portions 9 of the
cams being of course disposed it opposite sides of the shaft, A and so arranged as to
project in opposite directions with respect to the floats D as shown in Fig 8
When
I sometimes cut way the sides of the floats as shown at 45 in Figs 6 and 11 and
provide the shafts E on which they are mounted with lateral projections or tappets 50
so disposed as to engige the cams N and turn sud shaft, floats constructed in this
manner having been found preferable to those shown in Fig 5 for certain uses
The application of my improvement to wind mills is illustrated in Figs 9 and 11 in
which the shaft A is represented as arranged vertically in the tower or frame-work 52,
on which the mechanism is supported
In Fig 9 the mill is represented as provided with two pairs of sleeves, C
Between the members of each pair of sleeves there is a collet 35, which is firmly
secured to the shaft A by a set screw, and each member of the pair is provided with a
flango which is bolted to the flange on the adjacent end of the companion member by
a bolt 37, passing over the collet, the sleeves thus united being left free to turn on the
shaft but prevented by the collet from falling or moving longitudinally thereon
The collets may however be omitted and the sleeve be supported by the bosses
beneath them
Each sleeve, C, carries a cam N for feathering the floats D, the shafts of which are
Journalled in bosses G substantially as in Fig 1 Each pair of the sleeves is also
rigidly connected with a tail-piece W by a rod, 40, the action of the wind on said tail
piece governing the position of the cams N and keeping them at all times in proper

page_text: position with respect to the floats D it being of course understood that the wind acts
upon the floats to revolve the shaft and thus drive the mill
In Fig 11, but one hollow hub, G is employed, this being preferably secured to the
upper end of the shaft A
Beneath said hub, a series of solid hubs, 54, are secured to the shaft A by means of
the screws, 55 The upper set of float shafts are provided with curved stops f, at their
centers which are disposed within the hollow hub G, as already described but the
lower floats are fitted to revolve on the outer ends of horizontally arranged stud
shafts 56, which are rigidly secured equidistant from each other in the hubs, 54 by set
screws, 65 the lower series of floats being connected with those immediately over
them by bars 57 to which the inrer lower corners of the floats are pivoted as shown
at 58 so that when the uppermost floats are feathered the lower ones will all be
feathered in unison therewith A horizontally arranged bar 40 is centrally journaled
on the hollow hub G with an antifriction bearing 64, said har being provided at one
end with a tail-piece, W and at the other with a counterbalance 53 No collets are
emyloyed and but one cam bar N which is secured to the bar 40 in position to engage
the inwardly curved tappet arms, 50, on the upper or curved float shafts, 59, as the
floats are revolved
A large collet 62, is secured to the shaft, A over the seat, 60, which is mounted
on the tower 52 Said collet, 62, has a horizontal bearing surface in which there is an
annular groove near its periphery and there is a corresponding annular groove in the
seat 60, in which is disposed a series of balls, as shown at 67, to form an antifriction bearing
It will be obvious without further explanation that the mechanism described in
Fig 11 with one or more heads of blades or floats, can be used as a water wheel by
omitting the tail piece W and the rod, 40, and weight, 53, and rendering the cam N
stationary so as to feather the floats, D at a point best adapted to receive the full force
of the current and that the same method of connecting the separate heads of floats
may be used in case of paddle, water and other wheels and that any number of heads
of floats may be employed
In the use of my improvement when constructed as shown in Fig 1, the shaft A is
revolved in the direction of its arrow and when one of the floats D strike the cam
bar N as described, the sleeve C, will be revolved on said shaft until its projection
strikes the end of the rod, J, and stops the advance of said bar The float continuing
to revolve with the shaft A and the cam bar N being now stationary the shaft E on
which the float is mounted will be turned in its bearings in the boss G, one-quarter of
a revolution thereby feathering the float which is in contact with said bar or bringing
it into position at right angles to the shaft A and its companion flost into working
position or in parallelism with the shaft A, the floats being successively brought into
contact with the cam-bar as said shaft revolves and "feathered" in a manner that will
be readily understood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicit
description.
If it is now desired to reverse the action of the floats, the rod L is revolved to
withdraw the rod J, and push forward the rod P thereby permitting the sleeve C, to
be revolved by the float in contact with the bar N until the projection v passes the
center and strikes the projecting end of the rod P whereupon the floats will be
' feathered" substantially as before described but upon the opposite side of the
shaft A thereby reversing the action of the wheel without reversing the movement of
the main shaft
The shafts, E on which the floats are mounted are prevented from revolving too
far in either direction by the curved central partitions f, within the boss G, the curve
of one shaft striking the strught portion of the other and stopping its revolutions, as
shown by the dotted lines in Fig 5 thereby rendering it unnecessary to provide stops
for the floats on the exterior of sud boss When one of the floats strihos the curved
portion, 9, of the cam bar N and is feathered as the mun shaft revolves, it will be
obvious that the companion float on the same float shaft will be brought into working
position and will be kept in working position by the straight portion of said cam bar
until the feathered float in contact therewith has passed the same,

page_text: When the improvement is constructed as shown in Figs 7 and 8 the floats will be
feathered by one of the cams when the main shaft is revolved in a certain direction
and by the other cam when said shaft is revolved in the opposite direction
I do not confine myself to mounting the rods JP in the box B, as they may be
mounted in any suitable manner if so arranged as to properly engage the projection
on the sleeve
Neither do I confine myself to adjustably securing the cam N to the sleeve, C, as
the cam may be formed integral therewith if preferred, nor to the use of the rod L
and fork K, for actuating the rods, JP as any suitable means for that purpose may be
employed, nor to the use of the braces, H as these may be omitted if desired
Hiving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 18 -
' 1 In feathering paddle or other wheel, the shaft A provided with the hollow
boss, G, in combination with the shafts, E, carrying the floits, D and provided with
the curved portions, f, said flort-shafts being journaled in said boss at right angles to
each other and their curved portions disposed within sud boss, substantially as
described
2 In feathering paddle or other wheel, the quadri-circular braces, H in com-
bination with the feathering florts D, provided with the studs X, substantially as set
forth
3 The sliding rods JP in combination with the box B, fork K, rod T4, and sleeve, C,
mounted on the shaft A ind provided with the projection substantially as described
4 The cam bir N, in combination with the sleeve, C, provided with the projection
sud bar being adjustable on sad sleeve substantially as described
5 The floats, D mounted at right angles to each other on the shaft, E having the
curve, fsud shaft being journaled in the hollow boss, G in combination with the
shaft A, means for feathering said floats, and means for reversing said florts, sub-
stantially as described
6 The clasp M provided with the arm, y and bolt and nut bin combination with the
cam bir N and sleeve C, provided with the projection substantially as set forth
7 In a device of the character described the combination of the following instru-
mentalitics, to-wit,-
‚¯ màn shaft, box or bearing for sud shaft, a hollow boss
connected with said shaft, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and provided with a
projection, movable rods or equivalent devices adapted to engage said projection at
opposite sides of the main shaft and serve as stops for said sleeve, a fork and rod or
equivalent means for actunting sud rods, two shafts curved at their centers and
carrying floats at their outer ends, sud float shafts being journalled at right angles in
said boss ind having their curved portions disposed therein, and a cam mounted on
said sleeve and adapted to engage said tappets or floats and feather the latter as the
main shaft revolves, substantially as described
8 The float D cut away at its sides as shown at 45, in combination with the shafts E
provided with one or more laterally projecting tappets, 50, substantially as set forth
9 In a device of the character described, the shaft A provided with the hollow
bosses, G G and fixed collet, 35, two connected sleeves C, mounted on sud shaft one
at either side of said collet and each provided with a cim N, four shafts, E ench
carrying a flost, D, at its outer end and being bent at its center as shown at f two
of said shafts being centrally journalled in each of sud bosses it right angles with
each other and with the shift A and a tail-piece or steerer W connected with said
sleeves, all being combined and arranged to operate, substantially as set forth
10 Inn device of the character described the combination of a main shaft provided
with a bollow boss, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and provided with a cam and tul
piece or steerer, means for supporting the sleeve on the main shaft, two float-shifts
provided with bends or curses at their centers and floats at their outer onds, said floats
shafts being journaled at right angles to sad boss and having their curved portions
disposed therein, the members of each pair of floats being arranged at right angles to

page_text: each other, and said cam so disposed on sud sleeve as to stand in the path or partially
in the path of said floats and feather the same as the main shaft revolves, substantially
as set forth
11 In a device of the character described the combination of a main shaft, provided
with four hollow bosses, a pair of connected sleeves disposed on said shaft between
each outer pair of said bosses, a collet attached to said main shaft between each pair of
said sleeves eight float shafts carrying floats at their outer ends and provided with bends
or curves at their centers, two of said float shafts being journaled in each of said bosses
and having their bent or curved pornons disposed therein, a cam or cam bar secured
to each of said sleeves and adapted to feather said floats as the main shaft revolves
and a tail-piece or steerer connected with said sleeves and adapted to turn the same by
the action of the wind thereon, substantially as described
12 In a device of the character described, the combination of a main shaft provided
with a hollow boss, a sleeve disposed on said shaft at each side of said boss and
provided with a cam, two float shafts carrying floats at their outer erds and provided
with bends or curves at their centers, said float shafts being Journalled in said boss
with their bent or curved portions disposed therein and means for connecting said
sleeves to cause them to operate in unison, said cams being so arranged on said sleeves
as to project in opposite directions and stand on opposite sides of the main shaft in or
partially in the path of said floats for feathering the same, substantially as set forth
13 In a feathering paddle or other wheel, the combination of the following
instrumentalities to-wit a main shaft, a box or bearing for said shaft, float shafts
Journaled in said main shaft and carrying floats at their outer ends, the members of
each pair of said floats being arr inged at right angles to each other, means for
feathering sud floats and means for keeping the floats in proper working position
when not feathered substantially as set forth
14 In a feathering paddle or other wheel, the combination of the following
instrumentalities to-wita main shaft, a bearing for said shaft, float shafts journalled
in said main shaft, and carrying flo its at their outer ends, the members of each pair
of said floats being arranged at right angles to each other, means for feathering said
floats, means for keeping the floats in proper working position when not feathered,
and stop mechanism or means for preventing the floats from being turned too far in
either direction substantially as described
15 In a feathering paddle or other wheel the feathering floats, D, pivoted at their
outer ends to a connecting brace or braces substantially as set forth
16 In a feathering paddle or other wheel the combination of the following
instrumentalities to-wit a main shaft float-shafts journalled transversely in or on
said main shaft and carrying floats at their outer ends, each pair of said floats being
arranged at right angles to each other and a cam or cam bar adapted to feather said
floats, substantially as set forth
17 In a feathering paddle or other wheel, the shafts, L provided with miter
gears 29, and the sleeves C provided with the miter gears 44 and cams N constructed
and arranged to operate, substantially as set forth
18 The cam bar N provided with the curved portion 9 in combination with the
main shaft, A and shafts E carrying the floats, D, substantially as described
19 In a feathering paddle or other wheel, the hub 54, secured to the shaft A and
provided with the radially arranged stud-shafts, 56 the floats D, loosely journaled on
said stud-shafts, the hollow hub G, secured to the shaft A two float shafts 59, journalled
at right angles to each other in said hollow hub, two floats rigidly secured to each of
the shafts, 59, and arranged at right angles to each other, a tappet arm for each of
said floats, said arms being secured to the shafts .9, the cam-bar N secured to the
sleeve C, and bars 57, pivoted to a small arm 68, attached to the upper and lower sets
of floats to cause them to feather in unison, said cam bar N being disposed in the
pathway of the tappet arms and said float shafts curved in opposite directions at or
near their centers to serve as stops for said shafts, the curved portions being disposed
within said hollow hub, substantially as set forth
20 In a feathering paddle or other wheel, the combination of a main shaft A to

page_text: which is secured the solid hub, 54 provided with radially arranged stud-shafts 56, the
floats, D loosely journalled on said stud shafts, and the rods or birs 57, pivoted to an
arm, 68, attached to said floats and adapted to turn or feather any number of fans or
floats, substantially as set forth
21 In a device of the character described the hub 54 secured to the shaft A and 5
provided with the radially arranged stud shafts, 56, the floats D loosely journaled on
said stud-shafts, the hollow hub G secured to the shaft A, two float shafts 59,
Journalled at right angles to each other in said hollow hub, two floats rigidly secured
to each of the shafts 59, and arranged at right angles to each other, a tappet arm
for each of said floats, said arms being secured to the shafts 59, the rod 40, pivoted
above the hub G, and supported thereon by balls, 64, and provided with a
tail piece W, counterbalance 53, and cam bar N and bars, 57, pivoted to an arm, 68
attached to the upper and lower sets of floats to cause them to feather in unison said
cam bar N being disposed in the pathway of the tappet arms and said flont shafts
curved in opposite directions at or near their centers to serve as stops for said shafts, 1
the curved portions being disposed within said hollow hub, substantially as set forth
22 In a device of the character described, the main shaft A having attached to its
lower portion, the collet 62, in combination with the seat, 60, balls, 67 float shafts and
floats, D, and sad balls disposed between said collet and seat, substantially as
set forth.
ร