An Improved Means for the Propulsion of Steam Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Means for the Propulsion of Steam Vessels.
I, WILLIAM MORRIS TUCKER of Nelsonpoint, County of Plumas, California,
U S.A., Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In this invention the steam vessel is provided with two longitudinal cavities,
one on each side of the keel, open at the bottom to the water, and of any suitable
length, say one eighth the length of the vessel. Within and along each cavity
is mounted in bearings a screw propeller shaft, each shaft carrying a number of
screw propellers say from four to six, at suitable distances apart. The bearings
of the two propeller shafts are carried on upon bars fixed across the longitudinal
cavities where they take take by their ends into recesses and are there fixed by
keys. The two propeller shafts are connected to the vessel's engines.
Dated this 25th day of February 1897.
THOMAS RICHARD SHILLITO,
9 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Means for the Propulsion of Steam Vessels.
I WILLIAM MORRIS TUCKER of Nelsonpoint, County of Plumas, California,
U.S.A., Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a transverse section on line 1-1 of
Fig. 2 of the hull of a vessel with the propelling mechanism of this invention,
applied thereto. Fig. 2 a bottom plan view thereof. Figs 3, 4, 5, refer to details,
Fig 4 being a section on line 4-4 of Fig 1.
In carrying out the invention two longitudinal cavities or chambers 2, 3, are
provided one on each side of the keel 1. These cavities may be and preferably are
arranged near the stern of the vessel and they may be of any desired length
depending entirely upon the number of screw propellers to be placed therein and
the number depending on the size and draught of the vessel.
In the cavity 2 the propellers 5 are mounted on a shaft 6 and in the cavity 3
the propellers 7 are mounted on a shaft 8 both shafts being in connection with the
engine of the vessel and passing for this purpose through suitable stuffing boxes 9
located in the inner end wall of the respective cavities, and collars 10 may be
attached to the shafts to engage against the stuffing boxes 9 by means of screws,
said collars being removed when it is desired to remove a shaft. 11 are keys by
[Price R71

page_text: which the propellers are fixed on the shafts and the bearings 12 for the same aro
secured on the upper side of bars 13 removably fixed across the cavities, for which
purpose the opposite sides of the cavities are provided with L shaped recesses 14
into which the ends of the bars may pass. Each end of a bar 13 is provided with
a vertical mortise 15 into which keys 16, 17, are inserted after the ends of the bar
have been seated in the recesses. The key 16 has a shank portion 18 and a head 19
the latter extending laterally from each side of the shank and also forwardly from
one edge thereof. The head 19 is made to fit closely against the sides of the
recess 14. The key 17 is substantially in the form of a wedge.
In inserting a bar 13 one end is placed in a recess 14 near one end of this latter
and the other end of the bar is placed in the opposite recess near the opposite end,
the ends of the bar being in the horizontal portions of the recesses.
Then by
drawing the bar to a position directly at right angles to the cavity so that the two
ends are in a direct line with the vertical portions of the recesses 14, the ends of
the said bar may be moved downward therein. The shank 18 of the key 16 is
forced through the mortise in the end of the bar, said mortise being extended
sufficiently towards the centre of the bar to allow the key to be placed therein
without striking the inner side of its head against the side of the cavity. After
inserting the shank of the key through the mortise, the key is to be forced outward
so that its head will engage in the recess 14. After this the wedge key 17 may
be forced into the mortise between its inner end and the inner edge of the key 16.
As a further means for securing the key 16, a pin 20 may be inserted through
perforations formed in the bar 13 and in the shank of the key.
The main object of the invention is to obtain an increase of speed over other
propelling devices without correspondingly increasing the driving power or con-
sumption of coal.
Having now particularly described and useo tained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim,
is:-
1. A vessel having a cavity or chamber arranged along its keel, a propeller shaft
extending longitudinally through said cavity, a number of propellers on said shaft,
and supporting bars for said shaft having their ends removably engaged in
recesses in the sides of the cavity, substantially as described and shewn.
2. A vessel having parallel cavities or chambers arranged along its keel, an
outlet opening at the bottom, a propeller shaft arranged longitudinally in each
chamber, transverse bars for supporting said shafts and having their ends fitted
into shaped recesses formed in the opposite sides of the cavity, keys for securing
said bars in the recesses, and propellers on said shafts, substantially as described
and shewn.
3. A vessel comprising a hull having parallel longitudinal cavities or chambers
formed along its keel ☐ shaped recesses formed in the opposite sides of each cavity,
transverse bars adapted to engage their ends in said recesses, the bars having
transverse mortises, a key having a shank portion to, engage through a mortise
and a head to engage in a recess, a wedge shaped key for securing the first named
key in position, propeller shafts supported on said transverse bars and propellers
removably secured on said shafts, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 6th day of November 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.