IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING PROPULSION IN WATER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hale Holmes, of Fulham, in the County
of Middlesex, Electric Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EFFECTING PROPULSION IN WATER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE
TRANSMISSION OF POWER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hale Holmes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1880.
FREDERICK HALE HOLMES, of Fulham, in tho County of Middlesex, Electric
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING PROPULSION IN WATER, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER."
My Invention relates to the use of hollow watertight paddle wheels of such
capacity and buoyancy as to be capable by their floatative power of supporting and
carrying above the surface of the water a deck platform framing, what I shall
hereafter term a " vessel," with its charge, and arranged so that on the said wheels
being caused to revolve the vessel is propelled. For this purpose I construct the
paddle wheels of metal, wood, papier maché, india rubber, or other suitable
material, and I place around their peripheries projections or paddles at sufficient
intervals and of suitable size. Two, three, four, or more of these wheels may be
used for each vessel according to the requirements for which it is intended; rotary
motion is imparted to them by the manual or pedal power of one or more persons,
or by steam or caloric engines, electric or other motor or motors, in such a manner
that equal speed is given to each wheel, that is to say, that although the wheels
may bo of different diameters, they each accomplish the same speed upon their
respective peripheries. For the purpose of steering or guiding the vessels I omploy
in some cases one or more flat or curved surfaces or plates, which is or are lowered
into the water on one side, so that the resistance causes the vessel to turn in the
required direction; or I use a hinge plate or plates, of rudder like form, capable of
being turned in either direction, and of being raised completely out of the water
when no resistance is required. In other cases I effect the steering or turning of

page_text: the vessel by throwing the wheel or wheels on one side out of gear, or reversing
their motion, whilst the wheel or wheels on the opposite side continue to revolve.
In some cases in lieu of employing paddles fixed to the floatative wheels, I use
an endless chain of floatative paddles passing partially around the wheels, and so
arranged that the buoyancy or floating power of the said wheels and chain is
sufficient to support above the surface of the water the deck or vessel with its
charge. The endless chain consists of a connected series of hollow floatative
jointed paddles of suitable form and buoyancy to give sufficient floating power
and resistance in passing through the water. I place one or more pairs of wheels
on each side of the vessel, and connect each pair by the chain described, so that 1
when rotary motion is given to one or both of the wheels, the chain is caused to
travel; the wheels are so placed that the chain or travelling hollow_paddles-are-
quite immersed in passing on the underside of the wheels, but are completely
above the water when passing on the upper side. When this arrangement is
adopted, I may substitute for the floatative wheels any other construction of wheels
adopted to carry the floating paddles. Or I may dispense with the floating paddles
and use floatative wheels, increased in their cylindrical length and width, their
peripheries of a screw or worm like form.
These cylinders have either around them a spiral web or worm, or the cylinder
itself may be made in the form of a continuous screw and of sufficient iloatativo
power and buoyancy to sustain clear above the water the deck platform or vessel,
and so arranged that on the said spiral cylinders being caused to rotate, the vessel
is propelled.
I arrange two or more such cylinders (formed of metal or other suitable material)-
parallel to one another, at-sufficient-distance apart to ensure stability to the entire
structure, and to avoid undue rolling in rough water. The deck or vessel is
supported from the bearings of the spiral cylinders, and sustained by them above
the water. The floatative power of the cylinders is such that when the deck or
vessel above them is fully loaded, they are, or may be nearly, but not entirely
immersed.
The direction of the thread of the worm or screw on the one side of the vessel is
the reverse of that or those on the other, that is to say, that they are respectively
right and left handed, so that the spiral cylinders being caused to revolve in
: opposito directions, the thrust upon the water is neutralized, and the vessel
propelled in a right line. I provide apparatus and gearing by which the motion
of the cylinder or cylinders on either side may be reversed or stopped, so that on
their both being driven in the same direction, the vessel will be caused to turn as
I on a pivot, or the cylinder or cylinders on the one side being stopped or slackened,
whilst that or those on the other rotate the vessel may be steered to port or
starboard as required.
It will be obvious that the vessels or apparatus herein before described can with a
given force be propelled either ahead or astern with equal facility and velocity.
The floatative paddle wheel may be used as a means of transmitting motive
power from a tidal stream, or from their floating power they rise and fall with the
tide. The wheel or wheels is or are pivotted to one end of a hinged frame or
carriage of such length that the rise and fall of the tide will cause it to describe an
arc of a circle. The wheel or wheels is or are caused to revolve by the current of
the stream in which it or they float, and rotary power is transmitted from the axle
or axles by suitable gearing.
In some cases instead of the hinged frame or carriage I erect vertical frames or
carriages, and between them place one or more floatative wheels, the said frame
acting as guides to the bearings, and allowing the said wheels to freely rise and fall
with the tide.
Power is transmitted from the axle or axles of the wheel or wheels by suitable
gearing through a vertical shaft; this shaft may have partially or entirely along it
a continuous key or keyway, so that it my pass through the bosses of the gearing

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Frederick Hale Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
January 1881.
FREDERICK HALE HOLMES, of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, Electric
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING PROPULSION IN WATER, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER."
My said Invention relates to the use of hollow watertight paddle wheels of such
capacity and buoyancy as to be capable by their floatative power of supporting and
carrying above the surface of the water a deck platform or framing (hereinafter
designated a vessel) with its charge, and arranged so that on the said wheels being
caused to revolve the vessel is propelled. For this purpose I construct the paddlo
wheels of metal, wood, papier maché, india rubber, or other suitable material, and
I place around their peripheries projections or paddles at sufficient intervals and of
suitable size. Two, three, four, or more of these wheels may be used for cach
vessel, according to the requirements of the purpose for which it is intended.
Rotary motion is imparted to the wheels by the manual or pedal power of one or
more persons, or by steam or caloric engines, electric or other motors, in such a
manner that equal speed is given to each wheel, that is to say, that although the
wheels may be of different diameters they each accomplish the same speed upon
their respective peripheries. For the purpose of steering or guiding the vessels 1
employ, in some cases, one or more flat or curved surfaces or plates, which is or are
lowered into the water on one side, so that the resistance causes the vessel to turn
in the required direction; or I use a hinge plate or plates of rudder like form
capable of being turned in either direction, and of being raised completely out of
the water when no resistance is required. In other cases I effect the steering (or
turning) of the vessel by throwing the wheel or wheels on one side out of gear,
or reversing their motion, whilst the wheel or wheels on the opposite side continue
to revolve.
In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings,―
Figure 1 represents a portion of a vessel showing in elevation the floatative
paddle wheel.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show respectively a side elevation, end elevation, and plan of
my Invention applied as an aquatic tricycle.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 represent respectively a side elevation, front elevation, and
plan of one arrangement of steering apparatus; Figures 9 and 10 an elevation and
plan respectively of another arrangement of steering apparatus.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the paddle wheels a are constructed of steel, iron,
wood, or other suitable material in cylindrical form, and are made of such diameter
and length that when submerged to a given depth they displace a body of water
equal in weight to the combined weight of the wheels themselves, the vessel they
support, and the load the vessel is intended to carry. In Figure 1 the wheels are
shown submerged to the depth they would be when the vessel is fully loaded.
Around the periphery of each wheel 1 arrange a series of paddles b, which are
firmly attached to the arms c of the wheel, or may be arranged to "feather" in a
similar manner to ordinary "feathering paddles." These paddles are made of
sufficient area to afford the necessary "grip" or "bito" in the water as the wheel
revolves. According to this arrangement of my Invention four or six, or more, of
the floatative paddle wheels are arranged in equal number on each side of the vessel,
and in some cases I place an additional wheel ahead or astern, or both. The axle e of
each wheel revolves in suitable bearings d, which bearings support the vessel free

page_text: wheel or wheels, and allow for the rise and fall of the floatative wheels by the
action of the tide.
In order that rotary motion may always be transmitted in the same direction,
whichever way the floatative wheel may be caused to run by the outgoing or
incoming current of the stream, I use in combination with the gearing a clutch or
clutches, lovers, or forks and weights connected by a chain or other suitable
connection with a floating buoy, and so arranged that the direction of the current
causes the buoy to move to the limit of its chain, thereby pulling the lever or fork,
and actuating the clutch. By this means the current is made to alternately throw
the clutch into gear with one of two gear wheels, consequently when by the
alteration of the current the rotation of the floatative wheel or wheels is reversed,
the direction of the motion of the main shaft which the vertical shaft drives is not
altered, but continues-to-turn in the same direction.

page_text: and clear above the surface of the water. The wheels are revolved by steam
engines or other motors, and (by means of clutches or other well known mechanical
contrivances) can be thrown out of gear or reversed, as will be well understood.
When the Invention is used as an aquatic velocipede the paddle wheels are
sufficiently buoyant to support the framing of the apparatus, and the rider or
riders clear above the water. This arrangement is shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of
the Drawings. The hollow or floatative portion of the paddle wheels fis preferably
of circular or oval section, and constructed of thin metal, papier maché, india
rubber, or other suitable material, and either made in one continuous tubular ring
or in segments; g is a tyre, of vulcanized rubber or other substance, to protect the
wheels when they are run upon land; h, a light wire spoked wheel, to the periphery
of which the hollow paddle portion of the wheel is attached. The two larger
wheels aro attached to a spindle i, which revolve in bearings j, motion being
transmitted to the said spindle from the crank shaft by the chains ; m is a
tubular framing, which carries the bearings at one end and terminates at the other
in a pivot n, in which the hind wheel can be turned for the purpose of guiding the
apparatus; o is the saddle; p, steering handle by which through the pinion and
rack 9, connecting rod r, and lever arm 8, the hind wheel can be turned. In cases
where the steering is not effected by a pivotted wheel or by an ordinary rudder I
sometimes employ an arrangement, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, and next herein-
after described. a is a rudder attached to a vertical spindle b, which is capable of
rising and falling and turning in bearings c. Attached to the spindle is a pro-
jection which carries a roller d; this roller travels in a cam path e.
When the
rudder a is in a right line with the vessel it is clear of the surface of the water, but
when turned in either direction by the lever or tiller f the rollor following the cam
path e causes the rudder to descend, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 7; or I may
use flat surfaces g (Figures 9 and 10) attached to arm h; these arms are pivotted
at i, and are normally kept in an upward position by springs ; or their equivalents.
It will be obvious that when one of these surfaces is caused to descend into the
water it will offer a resistance on one sido of the vessel and effect the desired
steering. If both surfaces are simultaneously submerged they will act as a brake
and retard the speed of the vessel, but when both are clear of the water there will
be no resistance, and the vessel will be free to proceed at its full velocity.
use
In some cases instead of employing paddles fixed to the floatative wheels
an endless chain of floatative paddles passing partially around the wheels, and so
arranged that the buoyancy or floating power of the said wheels and chain is
sufficient to support above the surface of the water the deck or vessel with its
charge. The endless chain consists of a connected series of hollow floatative pivoted
paddles of suitable form and buoyancy to give sufficient floating power and
resistance in passing through the water. I place one or more pairs of wheels on
each side of the vessel, and connect each pair by the chain described, so that when
rotary motion is given to one or both of the wheels the chain is caused to travel.
When this arrangement is adopted I may substitute for the floatative wheels any
other construction of wheels adapted to carry the floating paddles.
In Figure 11, a, a, a, are a series of hollow chambers made of iron, steel, wood,
or other suitable material, and of such dimensions as to afford the desired buoyancy;
they are hinged together at b, which hinges engage with recesses or forks d' on
floatative wheels c, d. It will be obvious that the revolution of the wheels will
cause the chain of hollow paddles to travel in the water and effect the propulsion
of the deck or vessel supported above by the bearings of the wheels.
According to another modification of my Invention I obtain the floatative power
by means of cylinders with their peripheries of a screw or worm like form. These
cylinders have either around them a spiral web or worm, or the cylinder itself may
be made in the form of a continuous screw, and of sufficient floatative power and
buoyancy to sustain clear above the water the deck platform or vessel, and so
arranged that on the said spiral cylinders being caused to rotate the vessel is
propelled. I arrange two or more of such cylinders (formed of metal or other

page_text: suitable material) parallel to one another at sufficient distance apart to ensure
statility to the entire structure and to avoid undue rolling in rough water. The
deck or vessel is supported from the bearings of the spiral cylinders and sustained
by them above the water. The floatative power of the cylinders is such that when
the deck or vessel above them is fully loaded they are or may be nearly, but not
entirely, immersed. The direction of the thread of the worm or screw on the one
side of the vessel is the reverse of that or those on the other, that is to say, they
are respectively right and left handed, so that the spiral cylinders being caused to
revolve in opposite direction the thrust upon the water is neutralized and the
vessel propelled in a right line. I may provide apparatus and gearing by which
the motion of the cylinder or cylinders on either side may be reversed or stopped,
-so that on their both being driven in the same direction the vessel will be caused
to turn 'as on a pivot, or the cylinder or cylinders on the one side being-stopped-or
slackened whilst that or those on the other rotate the vessel may be steered to port
or starboard as required. This arrangement of my Invention will be understood
by reference to Sheet 2 of the Drawings, in which Figure 12 is an elevation of a
vessel with two spiral cylinders arranged on each side.
Figure 13 is a plan of the same showing the screws or worms of the cylinders
respectively right and left handed.
Figure 14 represents another form of cylinder having around it a spiral web or
worm.
Referring to Figures 12 and 13, a, a, are hollow floatative cylinders made in the
form of a three threaded screw.
-The-cylinders are of such diameter and length that when immersed to a given
depth in the water their displacement is equal to the combined weight of the
cylinders themselves, the vessel they support, and the load the vessel is intended to
carry. In Figure 12 the water line shewn indicates about the depth the spiral
cylinders are submerged when the vessel is fully freighted.
The spiral cylinders a are made of iron, steel, or other suitable material, and
formed with one, two, three, or more distinct threads or worms according to the
diameter of the cylinder pitch of screw and amount of buoyancy required. At
the ends of each cylinder is fixed a journal or spindle b; or the spindle may pass
through the entire length of one or more cylinders; suitable bearings c receive the
journals and support the deck or vessel above. The spiral cylinders a may be driven
from the ends by gearing bands or chain, and wheels d or other convenient means
from a steam engine or engines, or other motors or motors, and by means of clutches
or other well known mechanical contrivances, the cylinders may be jointly or
severally thrown out of gear for the purpose above mentioned. The vessel may be
provided with a rudder of ordinary construction, or the steering apparatus before
described may be applied. Instead of constructing the spiral cylinders themselves
in the shape of a screw as just described, they may be formed of a plain hollow
cylinder e, as shown in Figure 14, carrying a spiral web or worm f which may be
continuous or in segments at suitable positions on the periphery. It will be
obvious that without departing from the principle of my Invention the construction
and arrangement of hollow Hoatative paddle wheels the combined wheels and
floatative chain and the spiral cylinders may be varied, and applied to vessels of
different forms and designs to those shown in the Drawings, the distinctive
characteristic of my Invention being in each case that the vessel is supported
free above the surface of the water, and that the floatative power is given by the
propeller of the vessel.
According to another part of my Invention the floatativo paddle wheel may be
used as a means of transmitting motive power from a tidal stream or river. For
this purpose one or more wheels are pivotted to one end of a hinged frame or
carriage of such length that the rise and fall of the tide will cause it to describe an
arc of a circle. The wheel or wheels is or are caused to revolve by the current of
the stream in which it or they float, and rotary motion is transmitted from the axlo
or axles by suitable gearing. In order that rotary motion may always be

page_text: transmitted in the same direction whichever way the floatative wheel may be caused
to run by the outgoing or incoming current of the stream, I use in combination
with the gearing a clutch or clutches, lovers or forks, and weights, connected by a
chain or other suitable connection with a floating buoy and so arranged that the
direction of the current causes the buoy to move to the limit of its chain, thereby
pulling the lever or fork and actuating the clutch. By this means the current is
made to alternately throw the clutch into gear with one or two gear wheels,
consequently, when by the alteration of the current the rotation of the floatative
wheel or wheels is reversed, the direction of the motion of the main shaft is not
altered but continues to turn in the same direction.
transmitted in the same direction whichever way the floatative wheel may be caused
to run by the outgoing or incoming current of the stream, I use in combination
with the gearing a clutch or clutches, lovers or forks, and weights, connected by a
chain or other suitable connection with a floating buoy and so arranged that the
direction of the current causes the buoy to move to the limit of its chain, thereby
pulling the lever or fork and actuating the clutch. By this means the current is
nade to alternately throw the clutch into gear with one or two gear wheels,
consequently, when by the alteration of the current the rotation of the floatative
wheel or wheels is reversed, the direction of the motion of the main shaft is not
altered but continues to turn in the same direction.
Figure 15 is an elevation of the improved tidal water wheel.
Figure 16, a plan.
Figure 17, an elevation showing to an enlarged scale the gearing and clutch
arrangement in connection with the floating buoy.
Figuro 18, a plan of same.
'
The hollow paddle wheels a are constructed of wood, steel, iron, or other suitable
material, and are of such dimensions that they afford sufficient floating power when
immersed to a given depth to support their own weight and the weight of the
framing and gearing with which they are connected. Around the hollow wheels a
are fixed a serios of paddles b of suitable area for exposure to the prossure of the
current. A shaft or spindle c passes through and is firmly keyed to the centre of
tho wheels, and is carried by bearings attached to the hinged carriage or framing e.
The carriage e, which may be of timber, iron, or steel, is carried by hinge bearings f
which are attached to a jetty or other convenient structure. The hinge bearings f
are each made with an opening through the centre to allow the main shaft g to pass
freely through either or both of them. A shaft h supported by bearings i, j, k, from
the carriago e, has at either end a bevel toothed wheel, the two wheels being
marked respectively l, m, the level wheel gearing with a wheel n keyed to the
shaft or spindle c of the paddle wheels, and the bevel wheel m engaging with the
two bevel wheels o, p, which run loose upon the main shaft g. It will be evident
that when the paddle wheels a are revolved by the current, rotary motion will be
transmitted to both the wheels o, p, the motion of which will bo reversed when the
paddle wheels turn in the opposite direction. The arrows indicate the various
directions of the wheels when the current is running at high tide. The dotted lines
show the position at low tide when the current is reversed. A double joggle clutch r
is capable of sliding freely upon the main shaft g, in which there is fitted a feather
key 8.
A levert centred at has at one extremity a fork u to engage with a recess in
the clutch r, and at the other extremity a roller v, which enters a curved slot w
formed in the quadrant end of a weighted lever, which lever is pivotted at ¹, and
is at its extremity attached to a chain or rope and connected to the floating buoy y.
When therefore the current runs in the direction indicated by the arrow, the buoy
will be floated the same way and will turn the lever upon its pivot a³, so that the
clutch will be thrown into gear with the wheel o by reason of the curved slot w
operating the roller v. When the current is reversed the clutch will engage with
the wheel p, and the main shaft g will consequently continue to be revolved in the
same direction.
2"
In some cases, instead of the hinged frame or carriage, I erect vertical frames or
carriages, and between them place one or more floatative wheels, the said frame
acting as guides to the bearings and allowing the said wheels to freely rise and fall
with the tide. Power is transmitted from the axle or axles of the wheel or wheels
by suitable gearing through a vertical shaft. This shaft may have partially or
entirely along it a continuous key or keyway, so that it may pass through the bosses
of the gearing wheel or wheels and allow for the rise and fall of the floatative wheels
by the action of the tide. In this case a similar clutch arrangement to that shown
in Figures 17 and 18 is adopted, but the lever x, instead of forming part of the
quadrant with slot w, is keyed on to the spindle a¹, which is considerably extended

page_text: in length in order to. allow the buoy y to float clear of the paddle wheels, the
quadrant being also keyed on to the spindle a¹.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The use of hollow watertight paddle wheels of such capacity and buoyancy
ns to be capable by their floatative power of supporting and carrying above the
surface of tho water a vessel or frame with its charge, and arranged so that on the
said wheels being caused to revolve the vessel or frame is propelled, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
Second Thouse-in-combination with hollow floatative wheels, or with wheels of
other forms of construction as herein set forth, of chains-of-hollow.floatative paddles,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Third. The use of hollow floatative spiral cylinders or floatative cylinders carrying
a spiral web, or webs, or worms, so arranged that the said cylinders are capable by
their floatative power of supporting and carrying above the surface of the water a
vessel or frame with its charge, so that when the said cylinders are caused to
revolve the vessel or frame is propelled, substantially as herein befere described.
Fourth. The use of hollow floatativo paddlo wheels for the purpose of transmitting
power from tidal streams or rivers, the said paddle wheels being arranged so as to
operate substantially in the manner herein before described.
_In_witness wheroof, I, the said Frederick Hale Holmes, have to this my
Specification set my hand-and-scal, this Fifth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.