OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS IN WATER
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FREDERICK HIME, of the Junior United Service Club in the County of
Middlesex, Lieutenant Colonel Royal Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
SHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS IN WATER," to be as follows:-
->
This Invention consista in a new method of applying the wave motion of flexible
surfaces to the propulsion of ships or other vessels in water.-The wave motion is
produced by the successive movement up and down of a number of horizontal bara,
passed transversely at equal intervals through a long oblong opening or slot in the
keel of the vessel.-The bars project equally on each side of the keel, and are
connected by thin rectangular plates of iron or steel hinged to the bars and to
each other half way between the bars, thus forming flexible surfaces.-The middle
of each bar is rigidly fastened to a vertical plunger, working up and down across
the slot in the keel, and extending upwards through a stuffing box into the interior
of the vessel. The plungers may be made to work successively by two different
arrangements, viz:—
(1st) By connecting the upper ends of the plungers by means of eccentric rods,
to eccentrics fixed helically on a horizontal shaft parallel to the keel, the said shaft
being provided with two cranks, and made to rotate by ateam power in the usual
way, or
(2nd) By making the plungers the piston rods of a row of steam cylinders placed
within the vessel.
In this arrangement, the successive reciprocal movement of the pistons is effected
by the successive action of the slide valves of the cylinders, which is produced by
connecting them to eccentrics fixed helically on a horizontal shaft placed above the
row of cylinders, and made to revolve by any convenient means,
Dated the sixteenth day of September 1884.

page_text: COMPLETE
I, FREDERICK HIME, of the Junior United Service Club, in the county of
Middlesex, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Engineers do hereby declare the naturo of
my invention for
NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
SHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS IN WATER and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
"
This invention has for its object the attainment of greater speed in steamships,
together with economy of steam power.
It consists essentially of a new method of applying the wave motion of flexiblo
surfaces to marine propulsion.
I apply the word "flexible" to a series of stiff rectangular plates of metal,
rendered pliable by being hinged together at their edges. The wave motion in
such a series is produced by the successive movement up and down of three or
more horizontal bars passed transversely, at equal intervals, through a long oblong
opening or slot in the keel of the vessel, about midships.
In practice, the bara taper from the contre to each end, and project equally on
each side of the keel, their length being limited only by the breadth of the ship.
They are connected by rectangular plates of iron, steel or other metal, hinged to
the bars, the series being thus rendered flexible.
In the middle of each bar, and forged in one piece with it, is a square-block of
metal, which slides. between vertical guides, and into this block or crosshead, is
screwed or otherwise securely fixed, a vertical plunger or rod, which passes up
through a stuffing-box into the interior of the vessel.
The said plungers may be made to work up and down successively by either of
the two following arrangements, viz
1st By connecting their upper ends, by means of connecting rods, to cranks or
eccentrics fixed helically on a horizontal shaft, parallel to the keel, the said shaft
being provided also with two or more driving cranks and made to rotate by steam
or other motive power in the usual way; or,
2ndly By using as plungers the piston rods of a row of steam cylinders, placed
within the vessel..
In this latter arrangement the successive reciprocal movement of the pistons, is
effected by the successive action of the slide valves of the cylinders, which is
produced by connecting them to eccentrics fixed helically on a horizontal shaft,
placed in suitable bearings above the row of cylinders, and made to revolve by a
small auxiliary engino, or in any other convenient way.
By the expression "fixed helically," applied to the cranks and eccentrics, I mean
that they radiate successively at equal angles with each other round the axis of the
shaft, so that an imaginary holix may pass through the centres of any two, or
through the centros of all, if equidistant from each other.
Of the two foregoing arrangements, I prefer the second, as it admits of the
direct action of the steam on the propeller, without any intervening rotary motion,

page_text: In either arrangement it will be seen that as the horizontal bars rise and fall
successively, the distances between them continually vary within certain narrow
limits, and consequently the plates connecting them must be made in two pieces,
either hinged together so as slightly to double up, or overlapping and sliding in
grooves on each other, so as to expand and contract.
I prefer the latter arrangement, as it admits of the plates closing telescopically
and forming a plane surface, when it may be desired to dispense with steam and go
under sail only.
In order more clearly to explain my Invention and to shew in what manner
I carry it out in practice, I will now proceed to describe by reference to the
accompanying three sheets of drawings, its mode of action in arrangement No 2,
that is when the propeller in worked by the direct action of the pistons.
VICI 29 1Viącu by the anger action of the pistons.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus partly in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the flexible plates, through the line X X on Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1 through the line Y Y-and Fig. 4 is a diagram
representing the relative positions of the plates, at successive stages in their
motion.
The same letters refer to the same parts in each figure,
The flexible plates as shewn in these drawings are in two parts,- an upper
plate A and a lower plate B.
The plate A is bent round the edges of plate B, as clearly shown at C C, Fig 2
and 3, so that the said plates can slide freely, the one on the other, and yet always
present a plane surface to the water. They are preferably cut out as shewn at D
in Fig 2, to save unnecessary weight.
The said plates are hinged or jointed at their edges to cross bars E, so that they
practically form one continuous flexible plate.
The cross-section of the plates A and B shewn in Fig 3, represents the said
plates when in the horizontal position, and not in the inclined position shewn in
Fig. 1 as will clearly be seen.
Four plates and five cross-bars are shewn in the drawing but it will be under-
stood, that they may be increased in number to any desired extent, or if preferred
only two such plates may be employed, the action in all cases being the same.
At the centre of each cross-bar E, is a block or cross-head F sliding in suitable
fixed guides H, placed in the opening J in the keel K of the vessel.
The said cross-heads form the termination of the piston-rods of the inverted
steam cylinders L and the said piston-rods pass through stuffing-boxes M to prevent
water entering the vessel.
The said cylinders are provided with valve chests N and slide-valves or other
suitable valves in the usual way, the said valves being worked by eccentrics O,
keyed upon a shaft P. The said eccentrics are fixed upon the said shaft, so that
their centres radiate successively at equal angles with each other around the axis
of the said shaft, as before explained, and therefore upon the rotation of the
shaft, by means of an auxiliary engine or other suitable device, steam will be
admitted successively to the steam cylinders L, so that a wave-like motion of the
flexible plates will result. To reverse the motion of the vessel it is only necessary
to reverse the rotation of the shaft carrying the eccentrics. A small space Q
is left at the ends of the plates, to allow for the sliding motion and each plate is in
practice, preferably constructed in halves, to allow it to be placed on the cross-bar,
and it may then be joined by a joint strip and rivets as shewn at R, or in any other
suitable manner. If preferred instead of the plates A and B sliding one upon the
other, they may be hinged together in the centre, as before described.
When it is desired to place the vessel under sail only, steam is cut off and the
plates and pistons all fall to the lowest point through the action of gravity, so that
the plates simply form a flat continuous platform under the vessel and offer no

page_text: practical resistance to the passage of the vessel through the water. My invention
herein presents a great advantage over the ordinary screw propeller, which causes
great resistance when out of use, to a vessel under sail, unless costly and cumber-
Bome apparatus be provided for lifting it out of the water.
-
The flexible plates A. B, need not necessarily be made of the width shewn in the
cross-section Fig. 3; but may, if desired, extend almost to the full width of the
ahip.
A reference to the diagramn Fig. 4 shews five successive stages of the positions of
'the plates in a complete revolution. of the eccentric shaft.
In No 5 the plates have arrived again at the position ahewn in Fig 1. The
horizontal arrows shew the direction in which the vessel is moving, and the vertical
arrows shew the direction of motion of the plates relatively to the vessol in each
figure. Similarly placed arrows, also show the direction of motion of the ship.and
of the plates in Fig. 1..
I wish it to be understood, that in carrying out my invention in practice, I do
not confine myself to the precise details of construction shown and described in tho
drawings; but, having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare
that what I claim, is
1. The application to marino propulsion of the wave motion of a series of metal
plates hinged to horizontal bars and worked up and down substantially in the
manner herein before described and shewn.
2. In flexible plates, employed to propel vessels by wave motion, the construction
of such plates, in two halves united by hinges or joints substantially as herein-
before described.
3. In flexible plates, employed to propel vessels by wave motion, the construction
of such plates in two halves, the one half sliding upon the other in suitable guides,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
Dafad this 10th day of June 1885
AMBROSE MYALL
Agont for the Applicant.