Year: 1896

page_text: I, THOMAS CONNOR, of 573 Cathcart Road, Glasgow, Teacher, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to what is known as roller ships or vessels and it has for its
object to improve their construction.
In carrying out my invention I make the ship or vessel with, say, six large wheels
or rollers which are hollow and of sufficient buoyancy to support the main structure
of the ship or vessel. The large buoyant wheels are preferably disposed as follows,
one at the bow, four amid-ships arranged in pairs, and one, a steering wheel, at the
stern. The four wheels amid-ships are preferably arranged to be controlled and
driven by a single engine of compound, triple expansion, quadruple expansion, or
other type. The bow and stern wheels may, if desired, be driven by gearing, or
hydraulic, or pneumatic power from the main engines, or by a separate engine
or engines; or, if desired, these wheels may not be propelled.
Each driving wheel (or the whole of the wheels) is provided with flutes, paddles
or equivalent whereby they can be made to grip in the water like an ordinary paddle
wheel and urge the vessel forward. The wheels with their paddles are preferably
fluted or ribbed circumferentially in order to strengthen them. The paddles can be
either fixed or movable.
The steering of the boat is a special featuro of the invention, it is effected by the
stern wheel or roller which is mounted in bearings on a horizontal turntable which
is capable of revolving in grooves or roller or other bearings in the structure of the
body of the ship. The turntable with its roller or wheel is revolved, when it is
desired to steer the ship, by means of a steering engine and chains in the manner
at present in vogue in steamships. The pivot bearings of the stern wheel are
preferably carried by a fork which is pivotted in an arch carried by the turntable.
If desired the arch and fork may be dispensed with and the axle of the steering
wheel carried in bearings on the turntable.
The body of the ship may be of any suitable construction it is preferably made
on the platform principle.
No part of the body of the slip is in contact with the water, the large buoyant
wheels being alone in contact therewith and supporting the whole structure. =
Any number of buoyant wheels can be used in the construction of the ship.
Under this invention the ship is directly urged forward by the action of the
paddles of the buoyant wheels.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896.

page_text: I, THOMAS CONNOR, formerly of 573 Cathcart Road, Glasgow, now of 16 Niths.
dale Gardens, Crossmyloof, Glasgow, Teacher, 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:-
This invention relates to what is known as roller ships or vessels and it has for 5
its object to improve their construction.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, which show, by way of
illustration, a method of constructing a small vessel, say, of 20 feet in length.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the vessel.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan and
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the vessel.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, Fig. 5 a front or end elevation and Fig. 6 a section
of one of the rollers or wheels...
Fig. 7 is a view of the steering roller or wheel.
Figs. 8 and 9 show different types of wheel.
In carrying out my invention I make the ship or vessel with, say, six large
wheels or rollers a, a, a², as, as, as, which are hollow and of sufficient buoyancy to
support the main structure of the ship or vessel. The large buoyant wheels are
preferably disposed as follows, one a at the bow, four a¹, as, as, at, amidships
arranged in pairs, and one as a steering wheel, at the stern. The four wheels
amidships are preferably arranged to be controlled and driven by a single
engine of compound, triple expansion, quadruple expansion, or other type. The
bow and stern wheels may, if desired, be driven by chain or other gearing c,
or hydraulic, or pneumatic power from the main engines, or by a separate
engine or engines.
d is a "Gilmour" patent boiler (No. 25287 dated 11th Nov. 1896) although any
other well known and suitable type of boiler may be used according to the size
and speed of the vessel. e is a casing covering in the upper part of the
wheels. fare partitions.
Each driving wheel (or the whole of the wheels) is provided with flutes,
paddles or equivalent whereby they can be made to grip in the water like an
ordinary paddle wheel and urge the vessel forward. The wheels with their
paddles are preferably fluted or ribbed circumferentially in order to strengthen
them. The paddles can be either fixed or movable.
The wheel shown by way of example at Figs. 4, 5 and 6 consists of a hollow
metal drum inade in two parts rivetted together down the centre. As shown
at h Fig. 6 the rim or circumference of the wheel is preferably made V shape.
i are cross stays. jare the paddles. The paddles form, as shown, somewhat
triangular shaped teeth or buckets with the bevelled or inclined rim h.
The steering of the boat is a special feature of the invention, it is effected by the
stern wheel or roller a which is mounted in bearings k in a horizontal turntable k¹
which is capable of revolving horizontally by means of grooved wheels on an angle
iron ring or in grooves or roller or other bearings in the structure of the body of
the ship. The turntable with its roller or wheel is revolved horizontally when it is
desired to steer the ship, by means of a steering engine and chains m, m', indicated
by dotted lines, in the manner at present in vogue in steamships. The pivot
bearing n of the stern wheel is preferably carried by a casing o, or a fork, which is
pivotted in an angle iron or other arch p carried by the framing of the ship. If
]
1

page_text: desired the pivot bearing may be dispensed with and the axle of the steering wheel
be carried in bearings on the turntable.
9 represents an engine for driving the stern wheel a³.
Figs. 8 and 9 show other forms of buoyant wheels having buckets or paddles
which may be used for ships.
The body of the ship may be of any suitable construction it is preferably made
on the platform principle.
No part of the body of the ship is in contact with the water, the large buoyant
wheels being alone in contact therewith and supporting the whole structure.
Any number of buoyant wheels can be used in the construction of the ship.
Under this invention the ship is directly urged forward by the action of the
paddles of the buoyant wheels.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A roller ship or vessel having the main structure or body supported and urged
forward by buoyant wheels, provided with paddles, floats, buckets or their
equivalent, and revolved by means of machinery carried by the ship or vessel,
substantially as set forth.
2. A roller ship or vessel, such as claimed in Claim 1, baving a buoyant steering
wheel which is capable of revolving in both a vertical and horizontal plane,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th dar of Tune 1807
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.