54 
chains on the wheels or cylinders. Mr. 
G. claims, as his invention, the applica- 
tion of floats or paddles fixed on the 
chains, and applying them either on the 
outside of single vessels, or between 
double vessels, for the purpose of navi- 
gation, as circumstances may permit. 
The endless chains put in motion by 
the rotation of the wheels or cylinders 
round which they pass; the mode of 
fixing these floats or paddles, so that the 
greatest number of them in contact with 
the water shall be perpendicular to the 
horizon, is a circumstance which entirely 
obviates that loss or waste of power, 
arising from the oblique position of the 
paddies on the common paddle-wheel, 
both as it enters and leaves the water ; 
and also the method by which the chains 
steadily maintain their position, notwith- 
standing the resistance of the water and 
the curvature of the chains and paddles 
between the wheels. 
The advantages of the chain-paddles 
over the wheel-paddles depend chiefly 
on this principle, that the propelling 
power of the paddles is in proportion to 
the extent of surface, which acts upon 
the water in a horizontal direction. For 
it is evident, that any motion they impart 
to the vessel, is always in a direction ex- 
actly opposite to that in which they aot 
upon the water; whence, so far as the 
stroke or pressure is either upwards or 
downwards, so far they only give the 
vessel a shock in the opposite direction, 
but impart no progressive motion. 
Now, from the nearly horizontal position 
of the chains, the paddles always enter 
and jeave the water ina direction nearly 
perpendicularly, and are all either 
wholly or very nearly so, when in the 
water; whence, the whole always act 
upon the water, and consequently pro- 
pel the vessel in a horizontal direction. 
"he perpendicular position of the chain- 
paddles also prevents the waste of 
power, as well as the shock which the 
vessel receives, and the dashing back of 
the water, arising from the wheel-pad- 
dles entering and leaving the water at so 
small an angle with it. Also, from the 
Jength and horizontal position of the 
chain; so great a number of paddles are 
always in the water at the same time, 
that a much greater surface acts upon it, 
than can possibly do so with the wheel- 
paddles.— Repertory. 
— 
To J. Wuitcuer, of Helmet-Row, Old- 
street, Mechanic; M. Pickrorp, of 
Wood-street, Carrier; and J. Wuit- 
New Patents and Mechanical Inventions. 
[Aug. 1, 
BOURN, of Goswell-street, Middlesex, 
Coach-smith; for an Improvement in 
the Construction of the Wheels-of all 
Wheeled Carriages, and of all other 
vertical Wheels of a certain size. 
The invention consists in the applica- 
tion of friction-rollers of certain pro- 
portionate dimensions, connected toge- 
ther, and revolving upon outer and inner 
circles, the circumferences of which cir- 
cles must bear the same proportion to 
each other, as the circumferences of 
the rollers bear to each other.. The 
Patentees make two plates or rings, 
which are to be employed as the outer 
circles, of steel or iron case-hardened, or 
other strong material, which are rivetted 
or screwed, or otherwise attached on to 
the sides of the fellies of the wheels, so 
as to leave a groove or space between 
such outer circles. The friction-rollers 
are formed with different radii, in one 
piece, but act like two rollers of different 
diameters, joined together, and revolving 
upon one common centre. That part 
which has the larger diameter, for the 
sake of explanation, is called the larger 
roller (though, in fact, it is only the lar- 
ger periphery of a roller), and the other 
is called the smaller roller (though, in 
fact, it is only the smaller periphery of a 
roller). They calculate the diameter of 
the outer circles, and form sets of rollers 
(called the larger friction-rollers) of 
steel or iron case-hardened, or of brass 
coated with steel, or iron case-hardened, 
or other strong material, with grooves 
round their peripheries to work on the 
edges of these outer circles, and reyolve 
in them, The numbcr of friction-rollers 
will depend on the number of revolutions 
they are to make ;~ the greater the num- 
ber of revolutions,.the smaller will be the 
diameter of the friction-rollers, and there 
will consequently be room for a greater 
number of then, in the outer circle. 
They then make a circular plate or ring 
of iron or other strong material, called 
the middle ring, to which the friction- 
rollers are attached, at equal distances, 
by axles or pivots, as hereinafter mention- 
ed; this middle ring is to be constructed 
of such a diameter, that it may stand 
free of the outer and inner circles, and 
so that the larger friction-rollers, being 
attached, may freely roll upon the edge 
of the outer circle. In holes made 
through this middle ring at regular dis- 
tances, they fix shafts or spindles pro- 
jecting from each side, on which spindles 
the friction-rollers are put, there being 
a hole through their centres for that pur- 
pose, 
