IMPROVEMENTS 'IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR WATER CRAFT
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
'IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR WATER CRAFT."-A communication from abroad'
by William Robinson Manley, residing at the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 4th September 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment, Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE:
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in' the County. of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PADDLE WHEELS FOR WATER CRAFT" (a communication to me from abroad:
by William Robinson Manley.ca person resident at the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America), and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by.
the following statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention relates to those paddle wheels in which the inclination of the
paddle to the radius of the wheel is varied during revolution. These wheels
may be divided into two classes, viz., those in which the positions of the

page_text: paddles is controlled by a rigid frame radiating from and revolving upon an
axis that is eccentric to the paddle shaft, and those in which the position of
the paddles is controlled by a flexible system of rods revolving upon an axis
that is eccentric to the paddle shaft; of the former class the paddle wheel
invented by Robertson Buchanan, of Scotland, is the type, and of the second
class the so-called Morgan feathering wheel is the type. In both of these
classes the journal or the eccentric upon which the controlling frame revolves
has been secured to the guard at the outer side of the paddle wheel, and as
the guard is frequently made independent of the paddle wheel (the paddle
wheel being overhung outside a pillow block upon the side of the vessel) and
is subjected to strains which change its position relatively to the paddle wheel,
a great strain is thrown upon the controlling frame and its connections with
the paddles. This difficulty has been obviated by applying the controlling
frame to an eccentric secured to the side of the vessel and surrounding the
paddle shaft, but this mode of construction is attended with great disadvantages
which it is not necessary to specify.
The object of the Invention which con-
stitutes the subject matter of the Patent is to retain the advantages incident
to securing the journal or bearing of the controlling frame to the guard of the
paddle wheel, and at the same time to prevent the fluctuations in the position
of the guard (relatively to the paddle wheel) from straining the controlling
frame, its connections, and the paddle wheel. To this end the first part of the
Invention consists of the combination of the controlling frame of the paddles
with the paddle guard (or other support for the journal upon which the
controlling frame turns) by means of a flexible connection which permits the
bearing of the controlling frame to change its position relatively to the said
guard, when the guard changes its position relatively to the paddle wheel
shaft.
The Invention consists further of the arrangement of the said flexible con-
nection diagonally to the vertical and horizontal directions in which the paddle
guard is moved by strains, whereby the journal or bearing of the controlling
frame is moved to the least extent for equal movements of the paddle guard
in vertical and horizontal directions.
The Invention consists further of the arrangement of the radial lines of the
paddle crank arms (by which the controlling frame connects with the
paddles) and the radial of the said flexible connection at equal angles or
thereabouts with the vertical line passing through the axis of the journal
of the controlling frame, whereby the weight of the controlling frame may be
divided equally or thereabouts between, the, paddle wheel and the paddle
guard.

page_text: * The Invention consists further of the combination of the controlling frame,
paddle guard, and flexible connection (which constitute the first part of the
Invention) with the wheel shaft by means of a link connecting the bearing of
the controlling frame and the end of the wheel shaft, whereby the shafts
Con which paddles turn are relieved of the weight of the controlling frame, and
the use of a flexible controlling frame is permitted with the advantages
incident to the first part of the Invention.
Y
.:::
It has been deemed expedient to represent these improvements as applied
to a wheel of the Buchanan variety, the simplicity of which renders it easy to
convey to others a clear understanding of the nature and, operation of the
Invention, and I will proceed to describe the improved wheel, referring to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.. In
the said Drawings Figure 1 represents a side view of the improved wheel and
a fragment of the guard beam; Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the
same at the axis of the paddle shaft, and Figure 3 is a diagram representing
the central lines of some of the members of the paddle wheel. The paddle
wheel proper has two frames A, A¹, supported by and secured to the wheel
shaft B. It has also in the present instance eight paddles C which are
secured to shafts e, which turn in bearings sustained by the paddle wheel
frames A, A', so that the inclination of the paddles to the radii of the paddle
wheel. may be varied by turning or by rocking the said paddles in the wheel
frames upon the axis of their shafts. Each paddle shaft is fitted with a crank
arm D by which the paddle is controlled and the series of crank arms are
connected by their crank pins with the controlling frame E, which is con-
structed to turn upon a journal a that is eccentric to the paddle wheel
'shaft B.
'
In order that the Invention may be embodied in the paddle wheel the
journal or bearing a of the controlling or eccentric frame E, although supported
at the outer side of the wheel by the guard beam F is not rigidly connected
with this beam, but is connected with it by an arm G, baving a journal H
which is fitted to turn in a pillow block I secured to the guard beam F. As
the arm G is free to vibrate upon the axis of the journal H on the guard
beam, while the eccentric frame E is free to turn upon the journal a at the
outer end of the arm, the said arm (G) with its journals constitutes. a flexible
connection between the said eccentric or controlling frame and the guard
beam and permits the latter to change its position relatively to the former, or
vice versa. In order that the second part of the Invention may be embodied
in the said wheel the arm G is made of such length and so set upon the guard
beam that the line connecting the axes of the two journals. H, a (which line is

page_text: represented in the Drawing by the dotted line H, a, and is the radial line of
the flexible connection) is at an angle of 45° with the horizontal and vertical
lines drawn through the axis of the journal H on the paddle guard, and is
therefore diagonal to the vertical and horizontal directions in which the paddle
guard may be moved by strains. Moreover (in order that the third part of
the Invention may be embodied) the crank arms D of the paddles are so
arranged relatively to the flexible connection formed by the arm G that the
central lines of said crank arms (indicated by the dotted lines e, r,) are at the
same inclination to the vertical line J, J, drawn through axis of the journal a
'that the radial line H, a, of the flexible connection is; hence, when the
farm G and the crank arms of the paddles are of equal length, and the radial
line of the flexible connection is at an angle of 45° with the vertical
line J, J, representing the direction of the force of gravity, as is the case in the
-present wheel, the weight of the eccentric controlling frame E is divided
"equally between the paddle wheel and the paddle guard, and the weight is
supported as upon the apex of a right angled isosceles triangle, of which the
two shorter sides are formed by the radial.line H, a, of the flexible connection
'G and by a line a, B, drawn from the axis of the journal a parallel with the
radial lines of the crank arms D of the paddles, and the said shorter sides
represent in magnitude and direction the strains due to the eccentric frame,
which are borne respectively by the paddle beam and paddle wheel. The
strains sustained by the wheel are applied through the crank arms D of the
paddles to the paddle shafts e, and are propagated through the framework of
the wheel to the wheel shaft B. As the strains upon the paddle shafts may
-be objectionable I have connected the extension of the journal a of the
eccentric frame directly with a journal s formed upon the outboard end of the
'wheel shaft B by means of a link N, whose ends are fitted to turn upon the
said two journals so that the portion of the strain of the eccentric controlling
frame borne by the wheel shaft is transmitted directly to it by the link N.
When this link is used there should be a little play in the bearings of the
pins of the crank arms D in the eccentric controlling frame, or the controlling
frame instead of being rigid should be formed of a system of rods radiating
from a ring or hub which turns upon the eccentric journal a, and the said
rods should be connected with said ring or hub by pivots and caused
to revolve by a drag link in the manner practised in constructing the
eccentric controlling frames of the Morgan and Galloway feathering wheels.
In place of arranging the arm G to sustain the strains as a strut or
brace it may be arranged to sustain them by tension; in this case the
journal' on the paddle beam must be arranged above the level of the axis of

page_text: the wheel shaft, as for example with the axis of the journal, at the point g;
and this arrangement is advantageous in a sea steamer, because it permits the
paddle guard to be raised correspondingly, so that it is further above the level
of the water; or if the second part of the Invention is not to be used the
arm G of the flexible connection may be set vertically upon the paddle guard,
and the paddle crank arms D set so as to project, horizontally from the paddle
shafts e. Although the distribution of the weight of the eccentric frame or
controlling frame equally between the paddle shaft and the guard beam is
greatly preferred, this is not essential, because by varying the angle which the
radial line of the flexible connection forms with the horizontal linė passing
through the axis of the journal on the guard beam any desired distribution, of
the weight may be obtained. Thus for example if the arm G be so set when
first adjusted that its radial line is horizontal while the radial lines of the
paddle crank arms are vertical (the two still forming a right angle with each
other), all the weight of the controlling frame will be thrown upon the paddle
wheel, and if on the other hand the radial line of the arm G be vertical while
the radial lines of the paddle crank arms are horizontal all the weight will be
thrown upon the guard beam, and by inclining the radial line of the connecting
arm G more or less to a vertical line, while the radial lines of the paddle crank
arms are set at right angles with it, more or less of the weight of the con-
trolling frame will be thrown upon the paddle wheel, and correspondingly less
or more of it upon the paddle guard. The employment of the flexible
connection between the paddle beam and the controlling frame imparts a
flexibility to the whole system of the paddle which has heretofore been wanting,
and not only diminishes the friction of all the journals, but tends greatly to
reduce the risk of breakage from the straining of the paddle guard in a sea
way, if it does not entirely prevent it. This is evident from a consideration
of what would take place if the guard beam were strained. Suppose, for
example, it were raised relatively to the side of the vessel so as to raise the
axis of the journal H to the point h, Figure 3, as the journal can turn in
the pillow block on the guard beam the central lines of the connecting arm G,
rod or arm of the controlling frame, and paddle crank arms would assume the
mean positions represented by the dotted lines ha¹, a¹ r¹, re, Figure 3,
in which no one of the parts would be strained out of its natural position, and
consequently they would not be unduly strained, the flexibility of the con-
trolling system therefore permits all the members of the wheel to accommodate
themselves to the varying circumstances which may occur in practice. In the
paddle wheel represented in the Drawings the angle formed by the radial
line H, a, of the arm G and the radial lines e, r, of the paddle crank arms is

page_text: an angle of 90°. Although it is believed that this is the best angle for the
members, all things considered, for sea-going vessels, where great strength and
stability of all parts of the wheel are required, this angle need not be pre-
served in cases of wheels for vessels to navigate still waters where the relative
movement of the paddle wheel guard and vessel is small, and the use of the
second part of the Invention is not very important; in such cases when the
equal distribution of the weight of the controlling frame is made between the
paddle wheel and the guard beam, a lesser angle, say, of 45° may be used,
the effect of which is to lessen the divergence of the two lines of pressure.
What is claimed as the improvement in paddle wheels having paddles
capable while in action of varying their inclinations to the radial arms of the
paddle wheel frame is,-
The combination of the controlling frame of the paddles with the paddle
guard by means of a flexible connection, substantially as before set forth.
Also, the arrangement of the said connection diagonally to the vertical and
horizontal directions in which the paddle guard is moved by strains, substau-
tially as before set forth.
Also, the arrangement of the radial lines of the paddle crank arms and the
radial line of the said flexible connection at equal angles with a vertical line,
substantially as before set forth.
Also, the combination of the controlling frame of the paddles, paddle-
guard, flexible connection link, and paddle shaft, substantially as before set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)