The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-09
kNAPP'S ROLLER BOAT
To be 800 Feet Long and 200
in Diameter.
HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR
Capable of Carrying 10000
Tons of Freight.


for the Leader writes from Chicago: Last
year the world was amused then perplexed,
then astonished at the efforts of Frederick
A. Knapp, daring Canadian inventor, to
navigate a huge boat which rolled on the
sea like a barrel. The initial trip Of the
experimental boat convinced a number of
capitalists that Mr.. Knapp's invention
would revolutionize the science of naviga-
ton, and now with thousands of dollars at
his command the inventor is letting con-
tracts for the construction of the first
Knapp roller boat 1t will enter into active
competition with steam and sail vessels Of
the present type for the worlds water traf-
fic The big cylinder will be finished and
launched at the beginning of next summer.
The success of the first. full-sized roller
boat, the initial steps III the building OF
which are now occupying the attention of
Mr.. Knapp and his associates in Chicago,
will mean a complete and sweeping revo-
luton of all deep water transportation.
If this pioneer roller achieves no greater
speed than that made by the crude model
which has been operated in Toronto Bay,
the crafts now blowing the inland seas may
read their orders to tie up in permanent
quarters, for the carrying capacity of the
roller boat is immensely greater on the
same draught than that of the prevailing
type of vessel, while the power required
to propel it is far less.
To form a correct mental image of the
roller boat, picture a huge barrel or cylin-
der 500 feet long, SO feet in diameter, and
"a feet from the hollow core to the outer
surface. This is constructed of boiler
plate so rivited as to be air-tight. 1t has
an inner, an outer and middle skin, these
tubes being held at proper distances from
one another by circular partitions form
ing ari-tight compartments which make
the boat unsuitable
Not only is this great barrel the shell Of
the boat, but it is also its propeller-the
wheel which gives the craft it's actual trav-
cling capacity. Think of a boat with
paddle wheel 500 feet broad and s6 feet in
diameter! But the term paddle whseI" is
not strictly applicable in this case, for the
roller boat has neither screw nor paddles.
The 4-inch Trails running from end to end
of the outside of the cylinder are better
described as cogs which set into the water
and enable the roller to roll forward over
the sea instead of merely revolving with
out progress. The progressive action of
the cylinder is similar to that of the broad
tired wheels of the country traction en-
CINE pulling its way up hills the cogs with
which the tires are crossed biting into the
roadway and giving footheld and pulling
power. g. ST
Within the tunnel or core of this hollow
cylinder is suspended the boat proper, or
the portion carrying the passengers. crew,
cargo, and engines. The cylinder revolves
around this inner cradle, the latter always
remaining level. Only at the points where
the spider work. of the cylinder projects
down to the Journals or huge hollow
steel axles by which the central section OF
the boat is suspended. does frame work Of
the roller came in contact with the hang
ing or non-rotating part of the craft The
suspended interior is divided into three
lengths. two long sections separated by a
short one. The short central section of
the inner cradle contains the engines. one
end section the first-class, and the other
end the second class passengers The pas
sage from one to another of these sections
is through the hollow journal which is
a part of the non-rotating life center of tire
boat. AS three steel aXles in a roller boat
for ocean service. ar ebored by tunnels ten
feet in diameter. it will be seen that they
are ample for earring all the electric light |
ing cables. telegraph and telephone wires, |
heating tubes. etc. and for offering pas
sageway. The steering is done by rudder
"drags'' at each end operated from a
bridge suspended outside the boat
A knotty problem in the construction OF |
this boat was the application OF the power |
by which the outside cylinder is revoIved. |
This is accomplished by a battery of three !
engines having a long. upward stroke the |
pistons being attached 70 'crsnks" OF the I
big driving shaft. The points on he circle I
Of the shaft at which the pistOns apply /
the power are equidistant from each other. /
or 100 degrees apart. Al each end OF the 4
driving shaft is powerful cog-wheel fit /
ted into the cogs Of the cylinders bear +
ing, or more properly into an internal spur .