Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
I, NILS GUSTAF KNUT HUSBERG of 28, Cow Cross Street in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The object of this invention is to facilitate the propulsion of seagoing vessels.
1 attain this object by the use of floats secured in certain novel positions to a belt,
and which belt is in gear with wheels arranged one in front of the other in a longi-
dinal direction of the ship.
The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a side view of a ship to which the improved float-belt paddle mechanism
is applied, as indicated by the dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3
is a plan or top view of some floats secured in a single series to a chain, which latter
is represented inerely by a dotted line. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a chain
carrying four series of floats and Fig. 5 a longitudinal central section of Fig. 4.
1, 1 represent a pair of wheels arranged one in front of the other in a longitudinal
plane of the ship 2. 3 represents a belt, or endless chain, to which the paddle-
floats 4 are secured. There will generally be at least one pair of the wheels 1 on
each side of the vessel, except where the propelling apparatus is placed in an inner
channel, or between two connected boats of a small size, when a single pair of
wheels with a corresponding float-belt may suffice.
The floats are secured to the belt in an oblique position to its central longitudinal
plane.
Should they all be arranged in a single series and parallel to each others, as are
the three first ones on the left hand side of Fig. 3, there would be a lateral pressure
on them all in one and the same direction, which would cause a bending of the chain
with corresponding frictions.
On the other hand, if arranged, like the four nearest the right-hand side of said
figure, in a single series, but in such a manner, that one crosses another if both be
sufficiently prolonged, making thus, some of them, by preference every second, an
acute angle on one side of and with the central plane of the belt, while the inter-
mediate ones make each also an acute angle with same said plane, but on the side

page_text: opposite the first-mentioned, both said angles being measured in the same direction
and if they alternate in obliquity in this way throughout the whole length of the belt
there will not be present the aforesaid bending of chain and corresponding frictions;
because the opposite lateral pressures on the floats in the water will balance cach other.
Such an arrangement of the floats in a single series can therefore be used for small
boats. It would not be very suitable for large ones, because it requires the belt to
be comparatively long.
For the larger boats, or ships, it will be necessary to arrange the floats in two or
more parallel series, so as to get the float-belt as short and light as possible. Each
series may then have its floats arranged obliquely one to another in the manner just
described and shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 3.
It is, however, better to have all the floats of each separate series parallel to each
other and use an even number of such series. In half the number of these series
will the floats be so arranged, that each one of them makes, for instance, an acute
angle on one side of and with the central plane of the belt, while each float of the
remaining series makes an acute angle in the same direction as the first mentioned, but
on the opposite side of and with said plane. All the lateral pressures of the water
on the floats in action can by this arrangement be made to balance each others.
The floats of two corresponding series, such as those above described, that is to
say-two to a belt secured series in which the floats are all parallel, or about parallel,
to each other in either series separately, but in which those of the one series would, if
prolonged, make each an angle with any one of the other series, should alternate in
positions in the manner shown in Fig. 4, that a float of the one series may not stand
opposite one of the corresponding other series. The propelling power of the float-belt
is hereby augmented, because a greater quantity of new water comes by this arrange-
ment in contact with the floats than when each float of the one series is placed quite
opposite a float of the other series.
A float-belt, having but two corresponding series of paddle-floats secured to it, will
generally be mounted upon its wheels with the outer edges of the floats of the two
series (the edges widest apart) foremost, so that these edges enter the water before
their inner ones. when the vessel is propelled forwards, because the amount of new
water, that then requires to come in contact with them, is, and will by this arrange-
ment be, greater than in backing, or when the motion of the belt is reversed.
It is, however, in many cases, necessary to have the water's action on the floats
equally large for the two opposite motions, and 1 secure therefore to the belt some
other corresponding series of floats 5, which I arrange obliquely to it, but in a
reversed position to those of the aforementioned corresponding series, so that the
outer edges of the floats 5 come hindermost on the upper part of the belt and do
therefore in back, or reversed motion, enter the water before their inner ones.
It is
not necessary that the floats 5 should, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, be arranged just
under the floats 4, but may as well be secured to the intermediate links in any con-
venient position above or below their central horizontal plane.
The floats, which may each be formed in one piece with a link, or secured to it by
rivets, or by other means, should have curvilinear upper and under edges, be placed
as widely apart as practicable and be driven with great velocity.
Hollow closed drums, or vessels 6 of suitable form and construction, are fixed, or
adjustably secured, to the boat 2, one on each of its sides a little above the water line.
They will be used with boats that are comparatively long and narrow, their object
being to arrest the lateral rolling motion and facilitate the forward motion of the
vessel.

page_text: Improvements in the Propelling Mechanism for Navigable Vessels.
I, NILS GUSTAF KNUT HUSBERG, of 28 Cow Cross Street in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the propulsion of seagoing vessels.
I attain this object by the use of floats secured in certain novel positions to a belt,
and which belt is in gear with wheels arranged one in front of the other in a
longitudinal direction of the ship.
The improvements are illustrated in the drawing left with the provisional specification,
in which drawing-
Figure 1. is a side view of a ship, to which the improved float-belt paddle
mechanism is applied, as indicated by the dotted lines. Fig: 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of some floats secured in a single series to a chain, which
latter is represented merely by a dotted line. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of
a chain carrying four series of floats and Fig. 5 a longitudinal central section of
Fig. 4.
1, 1 represent a pair of wheels arranged one in front of the other in a longitudinal
plane of the ship 2. 3 represents a helt or endless chain, to which the paddle floats 4
are secured. There will generally be at least one pair of the wheels 1 with a
corresponding float-belt on each side of the vessel; but a single pair of wheels and
float-belt may suffice where the propelling apparatus is placed between two connected
boats of a small size.
The floats are secured to the belt in an oblique position to its central longitudinal
plane. Should they all be arranged in a single series and parallel to each other, as
are the three first ones on the left hand side of Fig. 3, there would be a lateral
pressure on them all in one and the same direction, which would cause a bending of
the chain with corresponding frictions. On the other hand, if arranged like the
four nearest to the right-hand side of said figure, in a single series but in such a
manner that one crosses another if both be sufficiently prolonged, making thus some
of them, by preference every second, an acute angle on one side of and with the
central plane of the belt, while the intermediate ones make each also an acute angle
with same said plane, but on the side opposite the firstmentioned, (both said angles
being measured in the same direction), and if they alternate in obliquity in this way
throughout the whole length of the belt there will not be present the aforesaid bending
of chain and corresponding frictions, because the opposite lateral pressures on
the floats in the water will balance each other. Such an arrangement of the floats
in a single series can therefore be used for small boats. For vessels of a larger
size it will be necessary to arrange the floats in two or more parallel series, so as
to get the float-belt as short and light as possible. Each series may then have its
floats arranged obliquely one to another in the manner just described and shown

page_text: on the right-hand side of Fig. 3. It is, however, better to have all the floats of
one and the same series parallel to each others and use an even number of such
series. In half the number of these series will the floats be so arranged, that each.
one of them makes, for instance, an acute angle on one side of and with the central
plane of the belt, while each float of the remaining other series makes also an acute
angle in the same direction as the firstmentioned but on the opposite side of and with
the said plane. All the lateral pressures of the water on the floats in action can by
this arrangement be made to balance each others.
The floats of two corresponding series, that is to say-two to a belt secured series
in which the floats are all parallel to each others in either series separately, but in
which those of the one series would, if prolonged, make each an angle with any one
of the other series, should alternate in positions in the manner shown in Fig. 4, that
a float of the one series may not stand just exactly opposite one of the corresponding
other series. The propelling power of the float-belt is hereby augmented, because
a greater quantity of new water comes by this arrangement in contact with the
floats than when each float of the onc series is placed exactly opposite a float of the
other series.
The float-belt, that has but two corresponding series of paddle-floats secured to
it, should be mounted upon its wheels with the outer edges of the floats foremost, so
that these edges, which are fartherst from the centreplane of the belt enter the water
before their inner ones when the vessel is propelled forwards, because the amount of
new water that then requires to come in contact with them, is, and will, by this
arrangement, he greater than in backing, when the motion of the belt is reversed. It
is, however, in many cases, necessary, or desirable, to have the water pressures on.
the floats equally large for the two opposite motions, and I secure therefore to the
belt some other corresponding series of floats 5, but the obliquity of these
floats to the belt is such, that their outer edges in backing, when the motion
of the belt is reversed, enter the water before their inner ones. The floats 5 may
be arranged in any convenient positions above or below the floats 4.
The floats should be placed as widely apart as practicable and the float-belt be driven
with great velocity. Each float may be formed in one piece with a link, or secured
to it by rivets or by some other means. Motion may be transmitted from the motor
to either of the wheels 1.
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 1
claim is :
A vessel-propelling mechanism consisting of a belt, or endless chain, carrying
paddle-floats arranged obliquely to the central plane of the belt and also to each other,
the belt being in gear with wheels arranged one in front of the other in a longitudinal
plane of the vessel.