US1829920A - Propulsion wheel - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1931.

INVENTOR Wffiuflycock ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1931 I UNITED STATES WILLIE E. AYCOCK, OF ALEXATNDRIAQLOUISIANA PROPULSION WHEEL Application filed October 11,1929. Serial no. 399,035.

This invention relates to paddle wheels for boats and more particularly to boats of shallow draft.

A primary object of the invention is to so construct a paddle or propulsion wheel'for boats that the water cannot be bucketed by the wheel and consequently less driving power will be required. 7

Another object is to construct the wheel so that a plurality of paddles are in the Water pushing at all times thereby eliminating the impulses produced when only one paddle is in the water at a time, and thereby producing a driving unit having maximum smoothness in operation and which requires a minimum amount of driving power.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a wide range of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention; therebeing shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a 2 propulsion wheel constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with lines arranged to show the water line and the diameter of the wheel in relation thereto.

The paddle or propulsion wheel 10 here shown is composed of a plurality of longitudinally alined endwise disposed connected sections 11 and 12, although it is to be understood that any desired number of sections may be employed. These sections are each made in cross sectional contour in the form of a six pointed star as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and one section is arranged in relation to the other so that the points of each star on one section alternate with the spaces of the adjacent sections as shown in full in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A shaft 13 extends centrally through the sections and is fixed to them projectlng at its ends beyond the outer ends of the sections and provided at said ends with operating elements here shown in the form of cranks 14: which may be connected and operated by any suitable driving mechanism, it,

of course, being understood that the rotation of the crank operates through the shaft 13 to revolve the wheel 10.

This wheel 10 may be constructed of any desired suitable material, either wood or steel and in any number of sections so that when in operationa plurality of paddles will be always in the water pushing at all times against the water and thus eliminating the usual impulses due to use of one paddle only at a time. The points 15 of the six pointed star form the paddles of the wheel and the angle between the points is degrees so that when the wheel revolves the paddles cannot bucket the water thereby requiring much less'power for driving the wheel. The paddles of the section 12 are arranged at an angle of 30 degrees in relation to those of the section 11 thereby insuring a plurality of paddles being always immersed in the water which makes for a smoother driving unit owing to the fact that these immersed paddles are always pushing the water and eliminating the impulses such as are caused when only one paddle is immersed at a time,

Each section is provided at its ends with disks, three being here shown and numbered 16, 17 and 18. The disk 17 constitutes the inner end member for both sections 11 and 12 and to which the ends of the paddle 15 are secured. The diameter of the wheel should be four times the draft of the boat as is shown clearly in Fig. 2, the length of the dot and dash line 19 indicating the di- I ameter of the wheel while the length of the line 20 denotes the draft of the boat. The formation of the wheel as a six pointed star in cross sectional contour causes it to operate in the manner of an overshot water mill and each bucket formed between adjacent paddles is so enclosed that no water can get out at the end of the wheel nor pass from one bucket to the other. The peculiar six pointed star shape of this wheel causes the water to slide freely ofi the paddles preventing any picking up of the water and insuring a smooth operation of the wheel.

It will thus be seen that a wheel of this character is most advantageous for use in shallow draft boats particularly and for use in boats in which the power driving means is comparatively weak.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim:

1. A propulsion wheel, the cross sectional contour of which is in the form of a six pointed star forming paddles arranged at obtuse angles to each other to avoid bucketing of the Water thereby.

2. A propulsion wheel composed of a plurality of sections arranged in longitudinal alinement, each of said sections being in the form of a six pointed star and the points of one section being arranged to alternate with those of the adjacent section, the diameter of the Wheel being four times as great as the draft of the boat on which the wheel is to be used.

3. A propulsion wheel comprising a plurality of paddles with the Water engaging surfaces of adjacent paddles arranged at obtuse angles to cause the water to slide freely therefrom Without bucketing, the diameter of said wheel being four times the draft of the boat in connection with which it is to be used.

WILLIE E. AYCOCK.

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