Improvements in Propellors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propellors.
I, FREDERICK ROBBINS LANE of Honeystreet Wharf, Marlborough in the
County of Wilts., Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My improvements relate to that class of propellor in which blades or wings are
jointed to a rod to which a reciprocating to and fro motion is given lengthwise of
the vessel and which close together when the rod is moved in one direction and
open out away from one another when the rod is moved in the opposite direction
stops being used to then prevent the blades from turning too far outwards.
According to my invention I carry the stops by a tube which surrounds the
reciprocating rod-this tube I make to carry two sets of stops one set in front of
the blades and the other in rear of them in such a manner that by moving the tube
either set of stops can be brought into action. When the stops which are in front
of the blades are brought into action the vessel will be propelled ahead and when
those in rear of the blades are in action the vessel will be moved astern. The tube
may be made capable of being slidden lengthwise of the rod and of being locked
to it in its forward or backward position. In order that the tube may carry the
rear stops the tube is made with a boss on its rear end formed in one piece with a
bar which extends upwards and downwards from it. To each end of the bar are
secured two other bars parallel with the reciprocating rod and to some distance in
rear of the propellor blades. These pairs of bars at their rear end are secured to
another vertical bar to which the rear stops are secured. The hinge flap of the
hinge joints which carry the propellor blades are jointed to pins on the ends of a
bar which is secured to the end of the reciprocating rod and which at its ends
passes between and can be moved to and fro between the pairs of bars above
mentioned, or it may be made capable of having a quarter turn given to it around
the rod and of being locked to it in either position. In this case the two sets of
stops would be made to extend at right angles to one another from the rod. The
tube may be made to extend inwards into the interior of the vessel so that the
position in which it is locked to the rod may readily be controlled.
Dated this 30th day of December 1890.
FREDERICK ROBBINS LANE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propellors.
1, FREDERICK ROBBINS LANE, of Honeystreet Wharf, Marlborough, in the
County of Wilts., Merchant, 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:-
My improvements relate to that class of propellor in which blades or wings are
jointed to a rod to which a reciprocating to and fro motion is given lengthwise of
the vessel and which close together when the rod is moved in one direction and
open out away from one another when the rod is moved in the opposite direction
stops being used to then prevent the blades from turning too far outwards.
According to my invention I carry the stops by a tube which surrounds the
reciprocating rod-this tube I make to carry two sets of stops one set in front of
the blades and the other in rear of them in such a manner that by moving the tube

page_text: either set of stops can be brought into action. When the stops which are in front
of the blades are brought into action the vessel will be propelled ahead and when
those in rear of the blades are in action the vessel will be moved astern. The
tube may be made capable of being slidden lengthwise of the rod and of being
locked to it in its forward or backward position. In place of the stops being carried
by a tube surrounding the rod which carries the hinge jointed blades the rod
which carries the hinge jointed blades may be hollow and the stops be carried by
a rod which passes through it.
In place of the two sets of stops being simply moved backwards and forwards
to bring them into their acting positions they may in some cases be at right angles
to one another and require to have a quarter turn given to them to put them in
or out of acting position.
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 a vertical section
through the line A B Figure 2 of one form of a reversible reciprocating propellor
constructed as above described.
Figure 6 is a side elevation and Figure 7 a plan of another form of the
propellor.
Figures 8 and 9 are similar views of this propellor when set for propelling
backwards.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a modified form of the same propellor.
In this figure the parts are shewn in the "go astern" position.
In this form the propellor is formed with two hinged blades. Figure 4 is a
vertical section and Figure 5 a front view of a modified form in which the
propellor is formed with a number of hinged blades.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 A is a rod reciprocated to and fro preferably by its
being directly attached to a piston which works to and fro in the cylinder of a
steam engine. At the rear end of the rod is a globular boss A¹ into which are
screwed pins A² (shewn only in dotted lines in the drawings) and to these pins
are jointed the propellor blades B. C is a tube surrounding the rod A and
capable of being moved endwise along it and of being locked to it in either one
or other of two positions. D is a frame secured to the rear end of the tube C.
EE are stops for limiting the movement of the blades when the propellor is set
for propelling forwards and F F are stops for limiting the movement of the blades
when propelling backwards. The stops E are secured to the forward end of the
frame D and the stops F to the rear end of the frame.
In the drawing the parts are shewn in position for propelling forwards the.
tube C being then locked to the rod A in such a position that the stops E are
brought into action. For propelling backwards the tube C would be slidden back-
wards along the rod A and again locked to it when the stops F had been brought
into acting position.
Ordinarily the propellor would be placed at the stern of the vessel the tube C
being passed through a stuffing box at the stern and the mechanism for shifting
the tube end wise relatively to the rod and for locking it to the rod in either of
its two positions being at any suitable point within the vessel.
In the modification shewn at Figures 4 and 5 a number of propellor blades B
are hinged parallel with one another in a frame G which is carried by the rear
end of the reciprocating hollow rod A and the stops E and F which limit the
movements of the propellor blades are carried by a rod C which passes through
the hollow rod A.
In the modification shewn at Figures 6 to 9 the stops are carried by a rod which
can not only be slidden end wise but also turned within a reciprocating tube by
which the propellor blades are carried. A is a tube reciprocated to and fro by
being attached directly to the reciprocating piston of a steam engine. At its rear
end it has arms A¹ extending from it to which are hinge jointed the propellor
blades B. C is a rod passing through the tube and carrying at its rear end
stops E and F.
In this modification the stops are at right angles to one another. For propelling

page_text: forwards the rod C is drawn backward and locked to the tube A by the lever
arm A which extends from it being turned as shewn in Figures 6 and 7 into
the end G¹ of the slot G which is in the tube. For propelling backwards the
rod is turned to release it from the end G¹ of the slot and the rod is moved forward
and turned so that the arm A is caught in the end G³ of the slot as shewn in
Figures 8 and 9.
In the modification shewn at Figure 10 the construction is the same except that
the rear end of the rod C is made to pass through a boss A' into which are
screwed the pins A' to which the propellor blades B are jointed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained 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. In a reciprocating propellor the combination of hinged propellor blades
carried by a reciprocating rod or tube and two sets of stops carried by a rod or
tube which is concentric with such rod or tube and capable of being locked to it
in either one or other of two different positions so as in one position to bring one
set of stops into action to limit the movement of the propellor blades when
propelling forwards and in the other position to bring the other set of stops into
action when propelling backwards.
2. The construction of reversible reciprocating propellors substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
3. The construction of reversible reciprocating propellors substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated at Figures 4 and 5.
4. The construction of reversible reciprocating propellors substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 6 to 10.
Dated this 30th day of September 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.