CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND BUILDING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," (APPLI- CABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES,) AND IN MACHINERY FOR PROPELLING THE SAME
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HARSLEBEN, of Great Ormond Street, Queen Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting:
}
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twentieth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and twenty-six, in the seventh year of His reign, did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles
Harsleben, His especial licence, that I, the said Charles Harsleben, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Harsleben; my
exors, adiñiors; or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years. therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, mý Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND BUILDING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," (APPLI-
CABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES,) AND IN MACHINERY FOR PROPELLING THE SAME;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Charles Harsleben, by an instrument in writing, under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto 'had; will more fully and
at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said provisoe, I, the said
Charles Harsleben, do hereby declare that the nature and particulars of my
aforesaid Invention or improvements, and the manner of using, constructing,
and carrying the same into effect, is hereinafter particularly set forth and
described, that is to say:-
My improvements in the constructing and building ships and vessels applies
most particularly to such vessels as are used for the purpose of collecting
and bringing fish to large and populous towns or districts in a live state, such
vessels having heretofore been built with large wells or cisterns, which admit
the water of the sea to run into them, but from the large size of such wells
or cisterns they occupy nearly the whole space of the vessel and leave very
little stowage room for other articles, and as such vessels are seldom occupied
in their trade the whole year through, they become useless at certain times, to
the detriment of the vessels as well as their owners. One object of my
improvement is, therefore, to construct vessels fit for the above purpose, fitted up
with proper wells or receptacles for containing the live fish, properly parti-
tioned and separated from each other; but instead of making such wells or re-
ceptacle to communicate immediately with the external water in which the vessel
floats, by holes covered by gratings, as has been before practised, I cause such
communications to be made by large air and water tight cocks or sliding
valves, such as are now used in the mains and other water pipes of the com-
panies for supplying water to the houses of London, by which means I can
either shut off the supply of water to the said wells or receptacles completely
or entirely, or I can open the supply to any extent that may be desirable, I
place one or more of such cocks, valves, or sluices at the head, and a like
number at the stern of the ship or vessel, and I cause all the said wells
or reservoirs to communicate with cach other by large holes cut through the
partitions between one well and another in the direction of a line that would
join the head and stern cocks, valves, or sluices so as to insure a current
of water through the whole of the said wells or reservoirs while the vessel is in
motion, and the said cocks, valves, or sluices remain open, but I cover such
holes in the partitions by open wire work or gratings to prevent the escape of
the fish, or their passage from one well to another. If the vessel in its width
contains two or more sets or series of such wells or reservoirs, then, of course,
a separate water passage,, and head and stern cocks or valves, must be applied
to each of such series of wells or reservoirs; and, if occasion requires, I like-
wise apply such cocks, valves, or sluices to the sides of such vessel.
The use of the above described improvement is almost too obvious to need
description, but it is two-fold. In the first place, as a safeguard to the vessel

page_text: in foul weather, because in the event of the quantity of water and other
burthen within her being found too great the cocks, valves, or sluices may be
all shut, and by applying a pump or pumps to the wells or reservoirs any
required portion of the water they contain may be raised and discharged over-
board, thus giving the vessel any required degree of buoyancy that may be
desirable, which buoyancy may be again diminished to any extent at pleasure
by opening or partially opening the cocks, valves, or sluices; and, secondly,
by keeping all the cocks, valves, or sluices shut, and applying pumps or other
well-known methods for removing the whole of the water out of the wells or
reservoirs aforesaid, they may be made dry, and will continue so, by which
means the vessel becomes fit and ready to be employed in the conveyance of
dry goods, like any other merchant vessel, and may be so employed whenever
it is not wanted for the conveyance of fish. I, morcover, declare that I
occasionally make the partitions herein-before mentioned for dividing and
separating the wells or reservoirs of more than ordinary thickness from one
well or reservoir to another, but that I make them hollow or capable of con-
taining a considerable quantity of air by forming the sides of the said wells or
reservoirs of planks or metal plates, with a space between one reservoir and
another; and these hollow spaces may, if found desirable, on account of leaks
or otherwise, be fitted up with cork or other light and buoyant substances.
The wells or reservoirs communicate through such partitions by pipes, and by
this means I give so much buoyancy to the vessel as will enable it to carry a
much greater quantity of water within it than any vessel built in the old and
accustomed manner, with water wells or reservoirs for holding live fish, or for
other purposes.
The next object of my Invention and improvement applies to the propelling
or moving ships or other vessels through the water, which I effect by
two distinct means, the first being the application of a double revolving paddle
to be affixed to and used in conjunction with the ship or other vessel, to
be moved in a different manner, to which paddles have heretofore been applied;
and the second a moveable apparatus, which may be used in any water course,
in which the water moves or flows either by the tide or otherwise, and which
said last-mentioned apparatus, being detached from the ship or vessel to
be moved, will tow or draw the same along against the direction of the current,
and may be also used and applied to many other purposes where powerful
rotary motion is required. The form and construction, as well as the mode of
applying my said improved double revolving paddle, will be best understood by
reference to the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1, which represents an end view of a
vessel to which the said double revolving paddles are applied. The paddles are

page_text: called double because placed in pairs at the opposite side of the vessel, where
they are made to revolve like: the ordinary wheels of a steam boat.or vessel;
except that in my improved mode of applying them they revolve in an hori
zontal or nearly horizontal position, and; consequently, they are at all times
under the water or nearly immersed in it; and with a view to produce a pro-
pelling action the two paddles opposite to each other are united together by a
shaft, arm, or axis, upon which the paddles themselves are made to turn in order
that the two paddles in action at the same time on opposite sides of the vessel
may present their flat and extended surfaces to the water, while those paddles
at the other ends of their shaft, arms, or axis, may at the same time present
their thin edges to the water, and pass through it with little resistance. Thus
a, b, a, b, represent two opposite paddles in action; or exposing their full faces to
the water; c, d, c, d, are the shaft, arms, or axles of those paddles, and. e, f, e, fi
other paddles, exactly similar in form and size to those at a, b, but so fixed
upon the shafts or axles c, d, that when a paddle a, b, is vértical, as shown in
the Figure, its opposite attached paddle e, f, may lie horizontally: beneath the
boat or vessel. I use two pair of such united paddles placed at right angles
to each other on each side of the boat or vessel; so that two paddles on
each side of the vessel may always be in action at once while the other
two are shut up or moving. with their thin. edges througli the water: The
above manner in which the said paddles are disposed with respect to each
other will be better seen in the perspective view of the same, Fig. 2; where
the same letters of reference are used to denote the same parts, and I call
each of the said arrangements, such as are there shewn, a. set of paddles.
Each set of paddles revolves round its centre (in the direction necessary to give
the required motion to the vessel upon the strong iron shaft or axle g; h, which
passes through the strong metal tube or socket i, i, fixed at its uppen. end
to beams or timbers k, k, and by such means, aided by proper diagonal braces
or stays, the iron axle g, h, is firmly and steadily maintained in its vertical or
other assigned position while moving. The necessary rotatory motion is com-
niunicated to the upper ends of both the axles g, h; g, h, at the same time by
wheels connected with a steam engine, or any other prime mover of machinery,
as usual in other vessels propelled by machinery; and the projection of the
beams k, k, over the said external paddles prevents their striking against other
vessels or obstacles, and being injured: A false keell is applied under the vessel;
and whenever the vessel is so narrow as. to require the arms c,.d, c; d, with
their paddles to overlap each other when passing under the vessel, as shewn in
Fig. 1, it will be necessary to divide the keel, or cut away so much of it as
interferes with the motion of the said paddles as aforesaid, which will not at

page_text: all impede the motion of the vessel through the, water or the facility of
steering it. The revolution of the arms or axles c, d, c, d, with their paddles
may be continuous or reciprocating provided that it is so carried on that those
paddles which project beyond the sides of the vessel, as at a, b, shall present a
vertical or opposing face to the water for about half their revolution, and that
those which are under the boat or vessel may at. the same time be horizontal,
and move with their. thin or sharp edges through the water until they arrive
near the sides of the vessel, and are required to be brought into action. This
kind of motion may be produced in a variety of ways, either by wheel-work
operating on the arms c, d, or by arms or levers projecting, therefrom and
operated upon by wheel work, or by inclined planes, cams, or excentrics placed
and fixed to the beams k, k, or in any other convenient position; or such
motion may be brought about and produced by oblong projecting pieces of
metal fixed upon the arms c, d, close to the enlarged neck h of the shaft
or axle g, h, through which the. said arms c, d, pass, which said oblong pro-
jecting pieces will act against the underside or face of the flanchi m, formed
upon the lower extremity of the long socket (i), such flanch being equipped
with proper projections to turn the said arms c, d, one quarter round at the
proper moment in a manner which will be better understood by inspecting
Fig. 3, in which i, i, is the lower, part of the long metal socket, drawn to a
larger scale than in the preceding Figures; m, m, the flanch at the bottom of it;
c, d, a part of one of the paddle arms passing through the enlarged bottom h,
of the iron shaft or spindle g, h.; o and r the two oblong projecting pieces
which are fixed on to the arm e, d. These pieces are both of the same form, but
fixed upon the arm in different directions, as will be more clearly seen at p and
7, which are similar pieces similarly fixed upon the other paddle arm, shewn
in transverse section at n. S is a projection from the lower side of the flanch
m, for the purpose of canting or twining over the projecting pieces at the proper
moment, thus, conceiving the arm n to be moving from left to right, or towards
c, so soon as its projecting piece p comes into contact with S p will be turned over
into the same position as the piece o, and 2 will then assume the erect position
of p, and r, in its turn, will be turned over when o will become erect, and so on.
It will be needless, however, to describe the minute particulars of this
means of obtaining the motion, because I do not claim the aforesaid turning
of the paddle arms as any part of my Invention or improvement, which
I confine to the use of such paddles working underneath the vessel, and
under water, instead of working by its sides in the usual and accustomed
manner of working the paddle wheels of steam boats, two or more of the
projecting beams k, k, should be framed together to support the socket

page_text: pieces i, i; and I cause such framing to turn upwards on proper iron bolts,
in the manner of a hinge, at the points t, t, for the purpose of raising the said
paddles out of the water, to repair them or unship them whenever it may
be necessary for any cause to take them away.
And I hereby further declare that whenever I have occasion to apply my
aforesaid improved paddles to sailing vessels which draw deep water, and have
not flat bottoms, as shewn at Fig. 1, or in all cases where the keel of the vessel
cannot be in part removed, so as to enable me to apply my sets of paddles to
revolve in an horizontal direction, I then so place and fix the said paddles on
both sides of the vessel near to the stern, where, from the diminution in the
bulk of the vessel and its narrowing off to the stern post, they may be placed
in sloping positions, and nearly if not entirely under water, as shewn in Fig. 4,
which represents half a stern view of a vessel with my paddles so applied, or
they may be applied in a similar way near the head of the vessel.
Lastly, I declare that the second or detached means, herein-before referred
to, for moving or propelling vessels in all situations where the water moves or
flows in a current, consists in an improvement upon and new application of that
machine called or known by the name of Beatson's Patent Horizontal Wind or
Water Mill; by which it is not only rendered portable, or capable of being
moved from place to place as required, but its power is much increased unto
the same extent of dimensions. Beatson's Horizontal Mill consists of four open
frames, fixed at right angles to each other, upon a central revolving post
at a, b, c, d, Fig. 5, such post being supported in proper bearings made in the
framework. The 4 frames are fitted in with light shutters or flaps, which
turn upon pivots at their two ends, in the manner of luffer boards; and as
the said pivots are placed near the tops of the said flaps they will hang down
horizontally, and completely cover or shut up the frames. The said flaps like-
wise overlap each other at their bottom edges, by which they are prevented
opening except in one direction, consequently if such a set of frames be placed
in a running stream they will be put into rotary motion, for although the
stream will act equally on both the frames a and b on the two sides of the
post, yet as the flaps in 6 cannot open to permit the passage of the water,
those in a will fly open, and thus produce an unequal action on the two sides
of the post. The frames band & will therefore move forwards in the direction
of the stream, while a and c move backwards to meet it; and in so doing they
experience considerable resistance, notwithstanding that their flaps open to
permit the water to pass them, by which the moving power of the machine is
very much diminished.
My improvement therefore consists, in the first place, of two closely boarded

page_text: sereens or shields, which I place, one before the said mill in the manner and
form shewn at g, h, in the plan of the apparatus at Fig. 6, and the other in
the direction l, m, for the purpose of receiving the stream of water, and
guiding it directly upon the frames to be moved, and likewise in placing
the whole machine upon a raft or platform, so as to be independent of
the ground upon which it stands, and capable of being moved from one place
to another.
By the first of the said improvements that portion only of the stream that
can produce a beneficial action, as indicated by the arrows at K, Fig. 6, is
permitted to act upon the frames, and the returning frames c, a, will move
nearly in still water through the intervention of the screen g, h. In this way
the power of the machine is very considerably increased, and any machinery
applied to the top of the central post or spindle may be employed to wind up a
rope for towing or drawing vessels, or to the sawing or other preparation
of timber for ship-building, or to a variety of other useful purposes were
powerful rotary motion is required. The construction of the raft or bottom
platform, as well as the framing for the support of the central post or spindle,
must be very strong and substantial, but need not be described as it will be
obvious to every competent workman, and I do not claim it as any part
of my Invention. But I do claim the use and application of the closely
boarded or otherwise constructed screens g, h, and 7, m, applied as aforesaid.
And I likewise claim the means which I make use of for rendering the
machine portable or capable of being moved from one place to another, and of
fixing and holding it in any place while it is in use, which are as follows:-
Around the platform or raft herein-before mentioned I fix a sufficient number
of casks, metal tanks, or other hollow and air-tight vessels, having passages of
communication with each other; or else I construct one large tank or chamber
of sufficient magnitude to give that buoyancy to the whole machine which will
permits its being floated, or towed from one place to another. When such casks,
tanks, or other hollow vessels are filled with air, and an air-pipe is carried
from them in a perpendicular direction to some distance above the surface of
the water, a cock or cocks is fixed to the lower part of the air vessel, so
formed for the purpose of admitting the water into the same when required,
and the key or handle of such cock must be of such length that it may stand
above the water when the machine is sunk. Having floated the entire machine
to the place where it is to be used, and having prepared a level bottom for it to
stand upon, by dredging or any of the usual and accustomed processes, I steady
it between barges or other vessels, and then by opening the said cock or cocks
I admit the water into the said air vessel (the air escaping by the air pipe),

page_text: consequently it may be sunk or lowered to its situation at any speed, and with
the greatest nicety and precision, and as the water is to remain in the said air
vessel it will no longer have a tendency to float, and the water cock or cocks
may be shut. I then lower a considerable quantity of iron or other heavy
ballast, and with this cover all such parts of the platform as will not impede
the current of water, but each piece of such ballast has a rope or chain attached
to it for drawing it up again, and the upper ends of these ropes or chains are
not permitted to sunk, but are nailed or otherwise fixed to some part of the
framing that is above water. Lastly, I have four or more long and strong
iron screws with sharp points; which pass downwards through the bottom plat-
form and terminate upwards in iron rods standing above the surface of the
water, and by turning these rods I drive the said screws to a sufficient distance
into the ground to take good hold and prevent the machine from shifting out
of its place; and if any further steadyment should be required I procure it by
means of stay or guy ropes or chains affixed to anchors or mooring blocks
around the machine, and made fast at their other ends to the upper part of the
framing of the machine above water, and in this way the utmost strength and
steadiness may be procured. To remove the machine at any future time, all
the stay and guy ropes, if used, must be removed, the screws which have been
forced into the ground must be withdrawn, and the ballast be raised by the
ropes or chains attached to it as aforesaid. The water cock or cocks must be
shut, and the suction pipe of a common pump must be let down into the air-
pipe aforesaid, or may be constantly kept therein, provided it does not stop up
the air passage. By working this pump all the water will be drawn out of the
said casks, tanks, or air vessel, which will become filled with air by means
of the air pipe. In this way buoyancy is again restored to the machine,
and it may be inoved without difficulty. By constructing a number of such
machines across a rapid river, placing them as close together as the power and
quantity of the stream will adinit, moving power to a very great extent may be
obtained, and may be applied to the towing or drawing of vessels, or to many
other useful purposes; and by placing such machines at intervals up a stream,
river, or in any current, vessels may be towed from the one to the other to any
extent required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Harsleben, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.
CHARLES (L.S.) HARSLEBEN.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1827, the aforesaid Charles Harsleben came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and twenty-seven.