A NEW AND USEFUL OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING A NAVIGABLE VESSEL
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ethan Campbell, of Boston, of the State of Massa-
chusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW
TY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ethan Campbell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
November 1856.
I, ETHAN CAMPBELL, of Boston, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "A NEW AND USEFUL OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING A NAVIGABLE
VESSEL," to be described and ascertained in and by the following description
and the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 denotes a vertical and
transverse section of the said apparatus; Figure 2; a vertical and longitudinal
section of it.
In such Drawings, A represents a cylindrical case or vessel, provided with
two curved induction pipes or passages B and C leading out of its lower part,
and arranged with respect to one another and the case as shown in Figure 1.
Through the axis of the said cylindrical case a shaft D extends, and turns
freely in the ends of the case. The said shaft has two circular beads E, E,

page_text: affixed upon it eccentrically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of said heads
being placed, as shown in Figure 2, in contact or nearly so with the adjacent
head a of the case A. A tubular winged cylinder F turns freely on the two
heads E, E, it being arranged thereon, as exhibited in Figures 1 and 2.
This cylinder has a wing or rectangular division plate G extending downwards
from it, and directly between the two passages B and C, such wing being
constructed in its length to correspond to the distance between the heads a, a,
of the case A. This wing G is firmly attached to the cylinder F, and when
the apparatus is in operation plays freely through a space b, arranged between
the conducting passages B and C, as shown in Figuro 1; tho sides of such
space being so formed as to be in contact with those of the wing G in
whatever position such wing may be. When the shaft D is put in revolu-
tion it will causo the two eccentric heads E, E, to revolve with it around
and within the case A, such a movement of the heads, operating in connec-
tion with the space 6 and the wing G, serving to create in the tubular
cylinder F a peculiar movement within the said case, by which such cylinder
F will be carried around against the entire inner surface of the case.
In constructing the apparatus, the cylinder F should have such a diameter
as will cause its outer surface while being moved with and by the eccentric
beads to always touch or nearly touch the inner surface of the case in a line
parallel to the axis of the latter. This is an important matter of construction,
as on it the correct operation of the apparatus depends.
If we suppose the mechanism above described to be arranged in the hold
of a ship or vessel, and so that the two passages B and C shall open through
the bottom thereof in such manner that the water in which such vessel may
float may enter the lower ends of them while they are arranged longitudinally
in the vessel, and we put the shaft D in revolution by a steam engine or other
proper means; the action of the apparatus will be such as to cause water to
be drawn through one of the passages B, C, and into the case A, and finally
expelled therefrom through the other of said passages; the propulsion of the
ejected fluid against the water surrounding the vessel will cause said vessel to
be moved or propelled along through said water.
In Figure 1, x, y, z, show three positions of the tubular wing cylinder F
and its wing G during one entire revolution of the shaft D, the said positions
being indicated by dotted lines. By providing one of the passages B, C. with
a closing gate I, and with a valve opening, and valve K arranged above the
gate, as shown in Figure 1, and so that when the passage is closed by its
gate and the valve is opened the said passage may communicate with the
hold of the vessel; the apparatus may be employed to expel water from

page_text: such hold and discharge it therefrom; so that should the vessel spring a leak,
or by any means get stove, we shall have at command a powerful apparatus
by which it may be freed from water, such apparatus under other circum-
stances being employed to propel the said vessel, as specified. A fire engine, or
apparatus for lifting and forcing water, may be constructed essentially in the
manner as above specified.
What I claim as my Invention is, the combination and arrangement of
the wing cylinder F and its wing or division plate G, with the eccentric
heads E, E, or their equivalent, and the cylindrical case A provided with
passages B, C, arranged substantially as specified, the whole being made
to operate in manner and for the purpose or purposes as herein-beforo
explained.
And I also claim the above described arrangement and application of a
gate I, and a valve opening, and valve K, or their equivalents, with respect
to the induction passage of the apparatus, and so that such apparatus may be
employed in a vessel, either to propel the same or to free her hold of water,
as specified.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ethan Campbell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRÉSENTS SHALL COME, I, ETHAN
CAMPBELL, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, A.D. 1856, in the
twentieth year of Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Ethan Campbell, Her special license that I, the
said Ethan Campbell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Ethan Campbell, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
of "A NEW AND USEFUL OR "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING A NAVIGABLE
VESSEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ethan Campbell,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ethan Campbell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification and the accompanying Drawing, of which Figure 1 denotes a
vertical and transverse section of the said apparatus; Figure 2, a vertical and
longitudinal section of it. Figure 8, an inner elevation of one of the eccentric
heads which are applied to the shaft, to be herein-after described. Figure 4
is an end view of the tubular wing cylinder and its wing. Figure 5 is a sido
elevation of the wing cylinder and its wing as they appear when applied to
the shaft and its eccentric heads. Figure 6 is an end view of the propeller
case, and shows the positions of inclined steam engines when applied for the
purpose of operating the shaft. Figure 7 denotes an elevation of two pro-
peller cases, their shafts, and connecting bell crank, they when in uso being
arranged athwartships of a vessel, and so as to open out of her hold and on
opposite sides of the keelson thereof.
In such Drawings, A represents a cylindrical case or vessel, provided with
two curved induction pipes or passages B and C leading out of its lower part,
and arranged with respect to one another and the case as shown in Figure 1.
Through the axis of the said cylindrical case a shaft D extends, and turns
freely in the ends of the case. The said shaft has two circular heads E, E,
affixed upon it eccentrically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of said heads
being placed, as shown in Figure 2, in contact or nearly so with the adjacent
head a of the case A. A tubular winged cylinder F turns freely on the two
heads E, E, it being arranged thereon, as exhibited in Figures 1 and 2. This
cylinder has a wing or rectangular division plate G extended downward from
it, and directly between the two passages B and C, such wing being con-
structed in its length to correspond to the distance between the heads a, a, of
the case A. This wing G is firmly attached to the cylinder F, and when the
apparatus is in operation plays freely through a space b arranged between the
conducting passages B and C, as shown in Figure 1, the sides of such space b
being so formed as to be in contact with those of the wing & in whatever
position such wing may be. When the shaft D is put in revolution it will
cause the eccentric heads E, E, to revolve with it around and within the
case A, such a movement of the heads, operating in connection with the
space b and the wing G, serving to create in the tubular cylinder F a peculiar

page_text: movement within the said case, by which such cylinder F will be carried around
against the entire inner surface of the case.
In constructing the apparatus, the cylinder F should have such a diameter
as will cause its outer surface, while being moved with and by the eccentric
heads, to always touch or nearly touch the inner surface of the case in a line
parallel to the axis of the latter. This is an important matter of construction,
as on it the correct operation of the apparatus depends.
If we suppose the mechanism above described to be arranged in the hold
of a ship or vessel, and so that the two passages B and C shall open through
the bottom thereof in such manner that the water in which said vessel may
float may enter the lower ends of them while they are arranged longitudinally
in the vessel, and we put the shaft D in revolution by a steam engine or
other proper means, the action of the apparatus will be such as to cause water
to be drawn through one of the passages B, C, and into the case A, and
finally expelled therefrom through the other of said passages; the propulsion
of the ejected fluid against the water surrounding the vessel will cause said
vessel to be moved or propelled along through the said water.
In Figure 1, x, y, z, show three positions of the tubular wing cylinder F and.
its wing G during one entire revolution of the shaft D, the said positions
being indicated by dotted lines. By providing one of the passages B, C, with
a closing gate I, and with a valve opening, and valve K arranged above the
gate I, as shown in Figure 1, and so that when the passage is closed by its
gate and the valve is opened the said passage may communicate with the
hold of the vessel, the apparatus may be employed to expel water from such
hold and discharge it therefrom; so that should the vessel spring a leak, or by
any means get stove in, we shall have at command a powerful apparatus, by
which it may be freed from water, such apparatus under other circumstances
being employed to propel the said vessel, as specified. A fire engine, or
apparatus for lifting and forcing water, may be constructed essentially as above
specified.
What I claim as my Invention is, the combination and arrangement of
the wing cylinder F and its wing or division plate G, with the eccentric
heads E, E, or their equivalent, and the cylindrical, case A provided with
passages B, C, arranged substantially as specified, the whole being made
to operate in manner and for the purpose or purposes as herein-before
explained.
And I also claim the above described arrangement and application of a
gate I, and a valve opening, and valve K, or their equivalents, with respect

page_text: to the induction passage of the apparatus, and so that such apparatus may be
employed in a vessel either to propel the same or to free her hold of water,
as specified.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and affixed my
seal, this First day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
ETHAN CAMPBELL. (L.S.)
ETHAN CAMPBELL. (L.s.)