Hello

[tkalkay]

I am new to Paddleducks. I have some problems to send a message and some pictures. Definitely I will learn how to soon. I am from Ankara TURKEY. A retired Civil Engineer at 71. I usually scratch build working boats. Recently I decided to construct a Paddle Wheel Tug.
I Concentrated to make a working Paddle Wheel, prepared AutoCAD drawings and have laser cut. I believe that this will give all necessary experience to install and operate them with my new Tug.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Welcome to PD's tkalkay ....tell us about your planned paddle build.... ...ask many questions...you will find many PD members members from aroud the world only too happy to offer constructive comment & help as needed...... .........Derek from Australia .....

[tkalkay]

Here below I will try to add photos of the Paddle Wheel that I am working on. I reached to a point that I cant go further. UI did not know where to locate the axis of the eccentric wheel that have the arms moving the blades. Is there any rule of thumb or there is any way to calculate, or should I find it by trial and error ?
The wheel diameter is 120 cm and made of laser cut from 1 and 2 mm metal sheet. This will open the way to to me construct a RC Tug. I have no idea which tug I will construct, which probably will be about 80/90 cm long. Upon which I will re-size and construct 2 new wheels.

I will appreciate any help.

[scotfriend]

Hello tkalkay,

first a warm welcome from Switzerland.

To find the right point for the eccentric shouldn't be a huge problem it the point when the paddle enters the water vertical and also leave it vertical, or as much vertical as possible i would suggest.


Best regards Hans

[mjt60a]

Welcome to this wonderful forum 
the way I did mine was lay it on a piece of wood with the approximate waterline drawn on, position the centre of the feathering gear so the floats look to be at a suitable angle and measure how far ahead of the drive shaft the feathering gear needs to be...
...question is, what is the best angle for the floats to enter the water?
The way I saw it, if the floats are vertical they give minimum resistance to the engine/motor but also give no forward 'thrust' (or very little, as they wouldn't really hit the water moving straight downwards...) also, if the ship is moving at speed they could slow it down by presenting a flat 'wall' to the water until they move further around the wheel and start moving horizontally.... and the same applies as they are leaving the water...
so I tried to get mine at a similar angle to the blades of a propeller as they enter and leave the water... though I,m not sure how valid my reasoning or accurate my method is 
whatever, the 'offset' of the feathering gear from the drive shaft will need to be less than the distance from the attachment point of the feathering rod and the pivot point of the float itself, in my case it's about 30% but no doubt will depend on your own wheels

[tkalkay]

Thank you Mick,
For your very comprehensive message. I became aware of the fact that I have to learn a lot for Paddle Wheel Construction.
The wheel that I am trying to construct is not from a valid design, I did it myself by trying to visualize and guess from the photographs.
I tried to send a little video showing that how the blades are operating with their own weight. When I put the feathering gear on blades movements are restricted. Unfortunately the allowed size was not large enough to send the this Short video.
From which I decided that the length of the arms from the eccentric wheel that are transferring the movement to the blades is not proper.
Regards
Taner
Ankara Turkey