IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Jack, presently of 135, Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS."
Sealed the 1st June 1880, and dated the 24th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Jack at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1879.
ROBERT JACK, presently of 135, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE WHEELS."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in paddle wheels for steam ships
or vessels, consists in arranging and constructing the floats, paddles, or blades
thereof in a new or improved manner.
According to the Invention the floats, paddles, or blades, instead of being placed
at right angles to the periphery of the wheel, as hitherto, are arranged so as to
constitute each one screw thread or portion of a screw thread, the blades, paddles,
or floats, being also curved throughout their lengths after the manner of the blades
of a screw propeller, and placed in an inclined or oblique direction in relation
with the periphery of the wheel. In constructing paddle wheels for a vessel as
hereinbefore set forth the floats, paddles, or blades of one wheel are set or inclined
in the reverse direction to those on the other wheel. The floats, paddles, or blades
so constructed enter and leave the water gradually, and a reduction of the slip or
loss of power caused by the floats, paddles, or blades as bitherto made is effected.
A saving of power and a diminution of the jar or shock on the vessel and
machinery, as well as a diminution of the tear and wear on the paddle wheels
and on the hull is also attained, and the steering of the ship or vessel is likewise
facilitated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Jack in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd June 1880.
ROBERT JACK, presently of 135, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PADDLE-WHEELS."
"
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in paddle-wheels for steam
ships or vessels, consists of a new or improved construction and arrangement of the
floats, paddles, or blades of such wheels, whereby a better propelling effect is
obtained than with the ordinary paddle wheels hitherto in use, whilst at the same
time a saving of power and a reduction of tear and wear on the machinery, hull,
and wheels of the vessel is effected, the steering being also facilitated.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner, in or under
which the same is or may be used or carried out in practice, reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figurs marked thereon,
that is to say,-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan looking from A, Figure 1, of a paddle wheel, the floats, paddles, or
blades of which are constructed and arranged in accordance with my said Invention.
As shown by these Figures the floats, which may be made of wood, iron, or other
Buitable material, instead of being fixed at right angles to the periphery or circum-
ference of the wheel frame, as in the ordinary paddle wheels hitherto in use, are
arranged at an inclined or oblique angle to the circumference of the wheel, that is
to say, the float B whose outer end is secured in the ordinary manner by bolts and
nuts a to the arm C of the frame has its inner end secured in like manner, not to
that inner arm of the frame which is opposite or corresponding to the arm C, as
would ordinarily be the case, but to the inner arm which is opposite to the arm D
of the frame, the other floats, paddles, or blades E, F, G, H, I, J, and K, being all
arranged in the same manner. The floats under this arrangement are longer than
the floats for a like size of wheel would ordinarily be, and to more securely hold
them in position I prefer in broad wheels to employ an additional or central frame,
the arms L of which are equi-distant between the outer and inner arms to which
the ends of each float are bolted, the said floats being also bolted to the arms L, as
indicated at b, Figure 1. Each float, paddle, or blade is curved or twisted in the
direction of its length after the manner of the blades of a screw propellor, so that
when placed in position it forms a screw thread or portion of a screw thread on the
breadth of the wheel, or in other words the combined floats when in position
constitute a screw or worm wheel.
Any desired degree of curve or twist may be given to the floats, paddles, or
blades, and as an effect of this construction and arrangement each of the said floats
enters the water end first and breaks the water, gradually exerting propelling
action on the vessel until the float reaches a perpendicular position, when it again
leaves the water end, first gradually and smoothly, and lifting very little water with
it. By so entering and leaving the water a reduction of what is known as the
'slip" or loss of propelling power caused by the manner in which the ordinary
straight and flat float breaks the water is effected, and at the same time jar or
vibration on vessel and machinery is diminished.
..
I also find with the Invention in operation that there is practically no side
thrust with the paddle wheels constructed as set forth, and that the steering of, the
vessel is facilitated.
By constructing and arranging the floats as described the water, when the wheels
are in the act of propelling the vessel forward, in lieu of being delivered directly to
the rear, as by the ordinary floats, is delivered with an outward motion from the
side of the paddle wheels, which are thereby rendered especially applicable for

page_text: towing or hauling purposes, the disturbed water or back wash passing free or
comparatively free of the vessel or body in tow. By the same arrangement the
water is delivered inward in backing the vessel, but by fixing the floats on the
frame of the wheel in a reverse position to that hereinbefore described and shown,
that is to say, by securing the inner end of the float B to the arm of the inner
frame which is opposite to or in a line with the arm N of the outer frame, the
wheels may be made to deliver the water inwards during forward, and outwards
during backward propulsion.
The wheels constructed as described are also especially adapted to vessels of light
frame and draft of water, such as vessels built of steel, as by their employment
freedom from shake or vibration is attained.
Figure 3 of the Drawings is a diagram showing the arrangement of the wheels
relatively with each other on the paddle shaft. These wheels in propelling
forwards are arranged to deliver the water outwards, but by reversing the position
of the floats the water may he delivered inwards towards the side of the ship or
vessel.
Any desired number of the improved floats, paddles, or blades, may be fixed round
the frame of the paddle wheel, short arms extending from the inner to the outer
rim of the wheel being employed, to which to secure the said floats when a greater
number thereof are used than there are arms in the frame, and when the improved
wheels are propelled by a single cylinder engine balance weights are attached to the
frames of the wheels between two arms, as indicated in dotted lines at O, Figure 1,
instead of employing the usual iron float hitherto used for the purpose of balancing
the engine. I prefer to construct the balance weights in two halves, one placed
inside and the other outside the frame, the separate pieces being bolted, rivetted
or otherwise fixed together as seen at c.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically 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 herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Constructing the paddles, floats, or blades of paddle-wheels curved or twisted in
the direction of their lengths after the manner of the blades of a screw propeller,
and arranging the said paddles, floats, or blades in an inclined or oblique direction
around the frames of paddle-wheels, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Jack, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Ninteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.