US138900A - Improvement in feathering paddle-wheels - Google Patents

Description

A. LEFEBVRE.

Feathering Paddle Wheels.

Patented Ma 13.1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIGE.

ALEXANDER LEFEBVRE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEATHE RING PADDLE-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,900, dated May 13, 1873 application filed March 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER LEFEBVRE, of the city and county of San Francisco, State. of California, have invented an Improved Feathering Paddle-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of wheels which are employed for propelling boats and vessels through thewater, and which are intended to offer the least resistance to the entrance and exit of the buckets, by causing them to feather, as it is termed; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the buckets and their operating mechanism, whereby they are caused to enter the water, and leave it at the angle of least resistance, and are at the same time fixed in the proper position during the time of the immersion of the buckets, so that its whole force is exerted to drive the vessel along.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is side elevation of a wheel of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a view of a section of the wheel, showing the operating mechanism more perfectly.

A is the axle, and B B the arms of a paddle-wheel. These arms are strengthened in the usual manner by two or more rims, C, and at the end of each arm is a'transverse rod 'or bar, D, which extends across the wheel, for a purpose hereafter shown. The buckets E are hung loosely from one edge upon rods F, which extend across the wheel at a sufficient distance from the bars D, so that when the bucket is at the furthest point from the center of the wheel the outer edge will just rest against the bar D, and when the bucket is drawn it will swing clear of this bar. The rod or axesF of the buckets extend through slots in the arms B of the wheel, and are supported in supplementary or sliding arms, G, which move out and in, being guided upon the arms B. At the inner ends of these sliding arms are frictionrollers H.

The operating mechanism may be situated near the center of the wheel; and consists of a curved bar, I, pivoted at a point, J, below the center of the wheel. This bar has secured to'it two arms, K K, the ends of which curve inward, so that the friction-rollers'H will pass between the bar I and the arms K.

'When the bar I is moved to one side about its center of suspension, as shown, each friction-roller, as it reaches the arm K upon the side toward which the wheel is turning, will be pressed out by the arm and carry the sliding bar G withit. This forces the axis F of the bucket outward, so that, asthe bucket enters the water, its free edge will be forced back, and will be supported by the bar D, the bucket'becoming at once stationary and rigid until nearly ready to leave the water. The friction-roller H then comes in contact with the bar I upon that side, and is forced inward again, carrying the sliding arms G and the bucket, so that it will thus clear the rod D and swing freely during the remainder of the revolution.

If the wheel is to be reversed, the action of the buckets must also be reversed, and this is done by means of a sliding bar, L, which is connected with the bar I by "an elbowjoint, M, at each end. The bar is connected by a rod, N, with a vertical shaft in theframework which supports the wheel, and this carries a bell-crank lever at the top, which is in turn connected with the other sideof the wheel, and also with the rack-bar 0 just beneath the axle of the wheel, and by which the whole is operated. A pinion, 1?, upon the shaft of the wheel serves to move the rack-bar in either direction when the wheel is reversed.

The outer tooth at each end of the rack-bar is pivoted, as shown, at r, so that when the rack-bar has reached a point which will cause the pinion tomesh with this tooth, it will trip, and the bar will be forced no further; but when the motion is reversed, the pinion will act upon it and move the rack back. This renders my device perfectly automatic in its action, and it is efficient, and not liable to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letthe pinion, substantially as and for the purters Patent, ispose described.

1. The operating-bars Iand K, connected In Witness whereof I have hereunto set with the sliding bar L by the joint M, in commy hand and seal.

bination with the connecting and vertical LE B H bars, and the rack O and ,the pinion I, sub- FE VRE [L stantiallyas and for the purpose described. Witnesses:

2. The rack 0, having its outer tooth at G. W. M. SMITH,

each end pivoted at r, so as to be operated by FRAN OIs J ALLU.

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