In- PROVEMENTS IN FITTING SCREW AND SIMILAR PROPELLERS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wimshurst, of No. 5, Cambridge Lodge
Villas, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN FITTING SCREW AND SIMILAR PROPELLERS FOR PROPELLING
SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 15th November 1864, and dated the 25th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wimshurst at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th May 1864.
I, HENRY WIMSHURST, of No. 5, Cambridge Lodge Villas, Hackney, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTING SCREW AND SIMILAR PROPELLERS FOR PROPELLING
SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fitting screw and similar
propellers for propelling ships and vessels. In order to facilitate the raising
the propeller out of the water to enable the ship or vessel to sail the more
readily and without dragging the screw, I arrange the outer end of the
propeller shaft so that it can turn up into an inclined position. To admit of
this motion a trunk is formed in the stern or other part of the ship or vessel
where the screw is situated, and the outer length of the propeller shaft can be
unclutched from the other part of the shaft. The propeller shaft passes
through a stuffing box at the inner end of the trunk, and the stuffing box is.
itself mounted so that it can turn in the end of the trunk, and it is packed

page_text: both for the passage of the shaft and also around it externally so as to exclude
water or prevent it passing from the trunk to the interior of the ship or
vessel. The outer length of the shaft can be raised by a screw or otherwise,
and when in this manner the outer end of the shaft is brought above water
the propeller may readily be removed from it if desired by operating from the
deck of the ship or vessel. Where more than one propeller is employed
each of them may be arranged in the manner above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Wimshurst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WIMSHURST, of No. 5, Cambridge Lodge Villas, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Wimshurst, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Wimshurst,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Henry
Wimshurst, 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 FITTING SCREW
AND SIMILAR PROPELLERS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Wimshurst, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Henry Wimshurst, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: This Invention consists of fitting screws and similar propellers in such
manner that greater facilities are given to raise the propellers out of the
water, also freeing the vessel from dragging the posts and other parts through
the-water. The screw or other propellers not only work abaft the rudder, but
the same arrangement will apply to those worked or placed one under each
run of the vessel, and are so arranged that when desired are capable of being
raised with the aftermost length of shafting assuming an angular position, the
propeller being then under the stern of the vessel out of the water, and for
such purpose a long slot the size of the shaft is constructed on either side of
the vessel through which the propeller shaft passes, and a trunk which is also
constructed and made water-tight; at the foremost end of the trunk there is
affixed thereto an improved stuffing box made to move on trunnions so that
the shaft which passes through when it is being raised will cause the stuffing
box to oscillate. When the after piece of shafting is lowered on its bearings
then it will form one continuous length secured. together without knuckle
joints...
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued
by me.
:
Figure 1 shows the stern or end view of the vessel with a long slot, which
may be on either side of the stern post with the propeller shaft A raised
within the trunk; Figure 2, an elevation of the quarter and part of the stern
with the propeller (attached to the shaft) raised out of the water under the
stern; Figure 3, end view shewing the propeller submerged, also in dotted
lines, when raised under the stern; Figure 4, part longitudinal section of stern
of vessel through trunk, shewing the general arrangements of propeller and
lifting gear A, the propeller shaft in connection with the propeller, and
machinery; A', A', propeller and shaft in dotted lines under the stern in
angular position; B, the oscillating stuffing box and gudgeons; G, the
carriage box for lifting the shaft with the connections, and purchase for raising
the screw; many other mechanical means may be employed; D, the after
bearing for the shaft to run in, E, E, which represents the top, the bottom,
and the sides of the trunk for the shaft to be raised therein; F, the purchase
or vertical screw; Figure 5 showing a transverse section of F, by the stern
of the vessel being removed; Figure 6, horizontal plan with the shaft A, and
the propeller, the stuffing box B with the gudgeons B', and other parts as
before described; Figure 7, end view of stuffing box B, with gland, &c.
round shaft; Figure 8, section of ball-and-socket joint of the oscillating
stuffing box, and trunk with packings 6, to keep water-tight; Figure 9, end

page_text: view of trunnions with packings; Figure 10 shews a longitudinal section of
a cylindrical stuffing box B, with gudgeons B¹ applied in lieu of the ball-and-
socket joint, as before described.
I would remark that I am aware that it is not new to have the propeller on
a portion of the propeller shaft, which is capable of being raised at an angle
by other means, but with the means of employing an oscillating stuffing box
in combination with other parts herein described.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the
oscillating stuffing box in combination with the parts shown and described,
whereby the propeller and propeller shaft are caused to be raised to the
angular position required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wimshurst, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
HENRY WIMSHURST.
(L.S.)