The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-30 00:00:00

BLAXLAND'S SUBMARINE PROPELLER.

Among the many inventions, the object of which has been to
substitute for the old avowedly disadvantageous system of
paddle. wheels some mechanical power which should act from
the stern of the vessel, and below the surface of the water, none
has been hitherto formed more efficient in its working, or more
completely overcoming the difficulties attending the problem,
than that of Mr. Blaxland. The propeller itself is extremelyi
simple in form, consisting of a variezle number of arms.
radiating from the centre, the extremity of each arm Wing pro-
vided with a number of flat blades in close succession, and each '
being placed transversely to, and forming a slight angle with,
that immediately below it. The whole surface presented by
each set of blades meets the water at the greatest depth
in an angular position, and in rising or descending allows
the water to pass through the small openings between
the plates. One of the most important and remarkable
points of the invention is the method of conveying the
motion to the shalt of the propeller. This is effected through
the medium of drums and pulleys connected by straps or ropes,
the working of which is perfectly smooth and noiseless, a great
advantage compared with the system of spur wheels and pinions
previously employed, the noise and tremulous motion from
which is represented as intolerable. In bringing his invention
before the public, Mr. Blaxland has followed a course which
by establishing a direct comparison with the old system, settles
the question of superiority in the most unanswerable way.
Its first application of the propeller was to the Jane, a paddle-
wheel steam-boat of three tons, with an engine of i-horse
power. Retaining the same engine, he moved this vessel at a
speed of 7% miles per hour, obtaining an increase of 2% on
its previous velocity. The propeller has been now applied
in the same way to another steam-boat, the Swiftsure, from
which the paddle-wheels have been removed, while the
engines, of 20-horse power each, are retained, and en Satur-
day last, at 12 o'clock, five of the Lords cf the Admiralty,
namely, Lord Haddington, Sir G. Cockburn, Sir W. H.
Gage, Sir G. F. Seymour, and the Right Hon. H. T. L.
Corrr, together with the lion. S. Herbert, the Secretary, were
received cn board by Mr. Blaxland and Mr. Steinman,
Co.
'proprietor with the inventor of the patent. The vessel then
proceeded down the river to within a short distance of Dept-
ford Dockyard, and returned to Whitehall-stairs by a quar-
ter -past two o'clock. During the whole of the trip, their
Lordships paid the closest attention to the working of the
system, and informed themselves minutely on every particu-
lar. The apparatus by which the proper degree of speed
is communicated to the propeller, which, in this instance,
was moved by ropes laid in grooves over the drums, appeared
in particular to raise their admiration at the smoothness and
quietness with which it worked, and on leaving the vessel
I their Lordships expressed themselves very much pleated
with all they Lad seen. Mr. Blaxland was ordered to bring the
propeller to the Admiralty in the course of the week. That
which was used on the occasion was constructed with only tw
arms, the plates at each extremity being five in number. Not-
• withstanding the disadvantages presented by the build of the
Swiftsure, which renders her name somewhat ironical, Mr. Max-
! lind has succeeded in increasing her speedfrom 7i miles to 9 per
hour. An increase of speed such as this, which Mr. Blaxland
in every instance promises, together with the other advantages
I of getting rid of such ineumbrances, both in weight and built,
as paddle-wheel's and boxes, and the absence of all swell from
the motion of the propeller, render it almost beyond a doubt
that Mr. Blaxland will shortly see his invention generally
adopted. It Was elpected that the Jane would also have been
in attendance last Saturday, but this was prevented, in conse-
quence of her having been sent to Endfield, where the capabi.
bties of the invention for canal navigation were to be tested.