IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFAC- TURING THE SAME
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fisher, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFAC-
TURING THE SAME
"
Sealed the 20th October 1853, and dated the 9th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fisher at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th May 1853.
I, JOHN FISHER, of Liverpool aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME," to
be as follows:-
A propeller on the screw principle, the arms rising from an oval or
egg-shaped boss or nave, placed lengthwise upon the propeller shaft.
And the propeller blades being formed with a number of long slots cut
through them in an angular and slightly curved direction from the

page_text: face, and extending from the boss towards the outer edge, to allow a
free passage for the water from the front to the back of the propeller.
On the back of the outer ends of the propeller blades there is a ridge
of flange formed to act upon the water, so as to confine it for a short
distance beyond the propelling arms, and thereby prevent a consider-
able amount of the commotion usualy caused in the water by screw
propellers generally.
This Invention will be readily seen and understood by a reference to
the annexed Drawings. Like letters refer to simular parts.
Figure 1, is a view of the back of the propeller.
A, the driving or propelling shaft.
B, an oval or egg-shaped boss, upon which are fixed,-
C, the blades of the propeller.
D, slots or grooves cut through the propeller in in an angular and
slightly curved direction from the face of the blades (the angles of the
slots are more acute than that at which the front of the propelling
blades are fixed).
E, a ridge or flange raised on the outer edge of the back of the
propeller (to partially confine the water during the action of the
propeller).
Figure 2, is a side view of the oval boss, showing a section of one of
the propeller arms.
The object of this part of the Invention may also be accomplished.
should the cuts or slots in the propeller blades extend entirely to the
outer edge of the propeller arms.
The second part of this Invention consists in coating the propeller
with an enamel like unto that used in coating hollow ware, whereby a
smooth surface can be given thereto at a very small cost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Fisher in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 9th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN FISHER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Fisher, Her special licence that
I, the said John Fisher, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Fisher, 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 for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME,"
upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said John Fisher, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
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 John Fisher, do hereby de-
clare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists, first, of forming the blades of a screw, or
such like propeller, with openings through them for the passage of
water, and also in making such blades with ridges or flanches at the
back; and, secondly, my Invention consists of coating screw, and such.
like propellers, when made of wrought iron, with enamel. And in

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, shows a plan; Figure 2, an edge view; and Figure 3,
an end view of propeller blades, made according to the first part of my
Invention. Each blade a, a, may be made of a portion of the screw, or
the blades may be flat; the outline or contour of the blades may be,
as heretofore, varied; my Invention not relating to the form of propeller
blades, but to the perforating them, and in combination therewith the
forming them with flanches or ridges at their outer ends, but I make
no claim to the flanches or ridges separately. b, b, are numerous
inclined and slightly curved openings through the propeller blades
through which the water may pass, and these may be employed with-
out the flanches or ridges. c, c, are flanches or ridges at the outer
ends of the blades, and at the back thereof. d, is the boss or nave
fixed to the propeller axis, and it is of an oval or partly egg-shape
form; but this may be varied, and forms no part of my Invention.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, show views of one of the blades a, a, of the
form I prefer; but I do not confine myself thereto, as the form of the
blades a, may be varied, and such is the case in regard to the form of
the openings b, b. Figures 8, and 9, show two other propeller blades,
with different form of openings b, b, through the same. In the above
description and Drawings the propeller blades and their bosses are, in
each case, made in one piece of metal; but this may be varied, and the
blades made separate and fixed to the boss.
The second part of my Invention consists of obtaining to the blades
of propellers, when made of wrought iron, smooth surfaces by enamel-
ling such surface. The process of applying enamel to various articles
made of wrought iron being well understood, it will not be necessary
to describe the same here, as the process, when applying to the sur-
faces of propeller blades, does not vary from that in applying enamel
to the surfaces of other articles. This part of my Invention consists of
applying such a coating to the surfaces of propeller blades so as to obtain
greater smoothness.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is, first, the making propeller blades with openings through them for
the passage of water, and also when in combination therewith the
forming the outer ends of the propeller blades with ridges or flanches,
as explained.
Secondly, I claim the coating of propeller blades with enamel.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fisher, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
JOHN FISHER. (L.S.)