US2241159A - Propeller wheel for steamboats - Google Patents

Description

Filed Sept. 7, .1939

3, ago J Hedluk Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROPELLER WHEEL FOR 'STEAMBOATS Hugo J. Redlich, Stillwater, Minn.

Application September '7, 1939, Serial No. 293,814

2 Claim.

- tion wherein the vanes or paddles will leave the water substantially perpendicularly, thereby avoiding the lifting of water as in present constructions, enabling the improved wheel to produce greater power.

It is further aimed to provide such a construction having a multiplicity of vanes or blades whose position is controlled through cam and crank means operable by a drive shaft.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following, taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ilustrating the improved propeller wheel and Figure 2 is a view in end elevation looking from the right of Figure 1, showing the improved propeller wheel.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, Ill designates parallel longitudinally extending beams of a ship, upon which suitable bearing structures H are fastened, preferably being sectional, by means of bolts or the like l2.

Journaled in the bearing structures H is a drive shaft I3 for the propeller wheel, the same usually being driven from the steam engine on the ship or boat on which the beams l are mounted, as through suitable connection with oppositely extending cranks M at opposite ends of the drive shaft l3.

Said shaft I3 is rigid with and part of the propeller wheel which has a skeleton framework l5 rigidly connected to the shaft and including radial spokes l6, connecting members I1, and longitudinal bars at l8, l9 and 20.

Blades or vanes, preferably. rectangular as shown at 2| are employed in any desired number and shafts 22 extend therefrom which are journaled in the bars [9 and 20. In addition, pins 23 extend from the vanes 2| in alinement with the shafts 22 and they are journaled in recesses 24 in the bar l8. At the inner end, each shaft 22 is provided with a crank 25, which by means of pins 26, are pivotally connected to links 21 adapted for reciprocation in paths parallel to the shaft l3.

A pair of cams 28 through which shaft l3 rotates, are rigidly bolted at l5 to bearing structures H, and each has a cam rib 29 thereon which is engaged by a groove or bifurcated portion 30 at the outer ends of the links 21.

As a result of the construction described, upon rotation of shaft l3 and the propeller wheel as a whole therewith, cam ribs 29, since the cams 28 are stationary with respect to the shaft l3, will cause the links 21 to reciprocate in paths parallel to the shaft |3. Such reciprocation of the links 21, by reason of the crank connections at 25 and 26, will rock the shafts 22 and accordingly rock the vanes or blades 2|. In practice, the rocking so occurs that the vanes or blades 2| impinge upon the water, whose level is shown at 3|, only when the vanes pass through the water, since the cam means moves the vanes to perpendicular or vertical position as they emerge from the water. As a result, the vanes do not lift the water as is usual in propeller wheels at the present time. As a result, the propelling action is accomplished with a minimum of churning or disturbance of the water and the propeller will produce considerably more power.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A propeller wheel of the class described comprising a drive shaft, a skeleton frame rigid thereon, vanes having shafts journaled in the frame, links parallel to the drive shaft projecting through and outside of the frame, crank connections between the second mentioned shafts and drive shaft, bearing means for the drive shaft, a cam surrounding the drive shaft located outside of said frame, bolts securing said cam rigidly to the inner side of the bearing means, and an operative connection between the links and cam, to cause reciprocation of the links as the shaft rotates to move the vanes substantially vertically out of water and to move them through water in an impinging position.

2. A propeller wheel of the class described comprising in combination with spaced supporting beams, a drive shaft transverse with respect thereto, a skeleton frame rigid on said drive shaft, vanes having shafts journaled in the frame, links parallel to the drive shaft projecting through and outside ofthe frame at each side thereof, crank connections between the second mentioned shafts and drive shaft, bearing means for the drive shaft surmounting each beam, a cam through which the drive shaft passes located between the frame and each bearing means, bolts securing said cams rigidly to the inner side of the beams and bearing means, and operative connections between the links and cams to cause reciprocation of the links as the shaft rotates to move the vanes substantially vertically out of water and to move them through water in an impinging position.

HUGO J. REDIICH-

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