Improvements in Propelling Apparatus for Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling Apparatus for Vessels.
I, LOUIS BEYER of 2258 Brightwood Avenue, City of Washington, District of
Columbia, United States, Engineer, do hereby declare 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in propelling apparatus for all classes
of vessels, and the object of the invention is to produce a propelling apparatus,
that is very simple in construction and operation, not liable to get out of order,
and which can be applied to small as well as large boats or vessels of kind.
Another object is to avoid the slip of the propellers or wheels now in use, and
consequent loss of power occasioned, and instead to obtain the full force of the
surface exposed to the water.
any
Still another object is to facilitate the accessibility of the different parts of the
mechanism, either for the purpose of changing the speed of the vessel, reversing
the action of the paddles employed, or for necessary repairs, oiling, etc.; and
finally to operate the paddles by hand, foot, steam, electricity, compressed air, or
other power desired.
With these objects in view, my invention consists in the employment of one or
more paddles operated by mechanism in such manner that, when the paddles exert
their force against the water, they expose their entire surface against it, they are
then turned a quarter of a revolution, so as to feather themselves; it also consists
in the construction of certain details, and arrangement of parts, as will be more
fully described hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 represents a plan or top view of propelling-apparatus in position in the
stern of the vessel.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.
Figs. 3-7 are details of the same.
In the drawings A (Fig. 2) represents part of the stern of a vessel, of any size
In
and construction, and any kind of boat or vessel, canal-boat, steam boat etc.
this stern the mechanism is firmly secured. It consists of one, two or more
paddles B (Figs. 1, 2, 4 & 5) (four paddles being shown in the drawing) and each
is attached to a shaft arranged in journals C. The paddles are formed of the upper
round part b and the lower flat part b', and one side of this flat part is made wider
than the other sile, from the centre line of the paddle, especially when two or
more paddles are employed, so that they can readily pass each other, when in
motion. By this means the centres of the part b can be brought closer together,
and the turning of the paddles for feathering is also facilitated. The paddles
especially for large vessels, are made of wrought iron, steel or other suitable
material. The upper part b extends between the arched segments or arcs D
(Figs. 1 & 2) made of two pieces with a space between them for said part b, and
they are secured to the deck or other place on said vessel, and said part 6 is provided
with a bearing block d (Figs. 4-6) which guides the paddle at its upper end.
Near the top of the paddle is secured a crank-arm e, carrying at its outer end a
friction-roller bearing against the side of the segment to prevent friction.
To the block d a connecting-rod E (Figs. 1, 2, 4-6) is attached, connected in
turn to the upper end of the lever F, pivoted to a fulcrum G secured in any
suitable manner to the vessel. About centrally of lever F another connecting-

page_text: rod H is connected at one end, while its opposite end is attached to the crank-pin of
shaft J mounted in bearing i.
If desired, the piston-rod of the engine may be directly connected to said
lever F, or other driving mechanism may be employed.
The reversing mechanism consists of double-armed levers K (Figs. 1 & 6)
pivoted at k to the stern of the vessel; the longer arm of each lever is connected
by a connecting-rod M with a jointed yoke M (Figs. 1-3), in which a cam or
crank m secured to crank-shaft J operates. The crank in imparts motion to lever K
in either direction.
Each of the levers K is connected by rods L (Figs. 2 & 4-6) with a forked
lever D' loosely arranged on the axle of the paddles 6 6', or on the ends of said
axle respectively. One of these levers D' is shown in Fig. 2 in its middle
position. If the levers K are operated by the yokes M', the levers D¹ are
rocking to and fro, i.e. are swinging from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that
shown in Fig. 5.
The position of the crank-arms e is always an oblique one, see Fig. 6; when
the paddles have finished their way in one direction, they must be turned by 90°,
which is effected by the action of the ends of the forked levers D¹ on said
cranks e. If, for instance, that paddle which moves in the direction of arrow 8,
Fig. 6, has finished its way, the crank arm of that paddle will lie close to the
arm d¹ of lever D¹. At the same time, the crank-arm of the other paddle (moving
in the direction of arrow 9, Fig. 6) will lie close to arm d³ of the respective
lever D. In this moment, lever K is acted on by rod M, so that the respective
arms d' and d² of the two levers D' in question are pressed against the cranks e,
whereby the latter are turned together with the paddles. The operation is
repeated at each reverse of the stroke.
The paddles denoted by I in Figs. 1, 2 & 5 have just been turned by the
impact of the arms d² of the respective levers D₁ on the respective arms or
levers e, and they are about to commence their return stroke. The wider side
of the paddles proper b¹ is directed then to the rear, so that the water itself
keeps the respective paddles in proper position during the time of the return-
stroke.
As soon as the paddles have finished that stroke, and have been turned again
by the meeting of the respective parts d² and e, they are in the position denoted
by II in Figs. 1, 2 & 4. If, now, the respective paddles are moved rearwards by
pulling connecting-rod E in the direction indicated by arrow 9 in Fig. 6, the water
constantly tends to turn the paddle proper so, that the position of the wider
side of the latter is opposite to that shown in Fig. 5. Such turning is, however,
prevented by the respective arm e laying against the lower bow of the respective
segment D.
As a modification of crank e on the paddle with friction roller f, a double
crank e (Fig. 7) having each arm provided with a friction roller f¹ may be
employed. It is secured to the upper end 6 of the paddles, and extending on both
sides of the segments, imparts greater steadiness to the paddles.
The paddles, when arranged in pairs, may work together, or one inside and one
outside, or they may be operated singly, i.e. one at a time, and operated so, that tl.c
vessel can be turned on its centre.
If at any time, especially when at sea, the vessel is pitching fore and aft, the
paddles may be set deeper into the water, to prevent racing of the engines, or to
give greater surface against the water. If from any cause one of the paddles
should become broken, it can be hoisted up and unshipped for repair, and can be
replaced in position.
Many advantages are possessed by this propelling apparatus, among which may
be mentioned, that by feathering the paddles, no resistance is offered, whilst in
the other directions, the entire surface is exposed to the water and the full
power can be exerted; the power of the paddles may be increased or decreased by
changing the fulcrums.

page_text: Having 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 is :-
:―
1. The combination of one or more paddles, arranged to receive a quarter turn
by means of arched segments, arranged over the upper part 6 of the paddles B,
and friction rollers on the cranks secured to the upper ends of the paddles, with
mechanism for operating said paddles in pairs or singly, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
2. The combination of one or more pivoted paddles, the double segments
arranged over the upper parts 6 of the paddles B, and the friction roller with
connecting-rod connected to vertically pivoted levers F, and with piston-rods or
intermediate mechanism adapted to act directly on the propeller, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination of arched segments arranged over the upper parts 6 of
the paddles B, provided with cranks carrying friction rollers, and mechanism to
operate said paddles, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.
4. The propelling-mechanism herein described, consisting of one or more
paddles B, having cranks e, with friction rollers f moving against the segments D,
arranged over the upper part 6 of the paddles B, and operated by blocks d, to
which the connecting-rods E are connected, and to the vertically pivoted levers F,
actuated by any motive power, in combination with reversing mechanism, all
constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 12th dor of October 1893
LOUIS BEYER,
By Geo. H. Rayner,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.