IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS TO BE PROPELLED BY STEAM POWER
Year: 1860

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LETTERS PATENT to John Hamilton, junior, of Liverpool, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS TO BE PROPELLED BY STEAM POWER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hamilton. at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1860.
I, JOHN HAMILTON, junior, of Liverpool, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS TO BE PROPELLED BY STEAM POWER," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in vessels to be propelled by
steam power. In vessels of light draught, and adapted for shallow water,
difficulty is experienced when paddle wheels are placed at the sides of the
vessel, in making such paddles work efficiently, as the immersion of the wheels
is necessarily so slight that a very slight roll of the vessel raises one wheel out
of the water; and even when the beam of the vessel is horizontal the wheels
are liable to throw the water away from them without producing an adequate
propelling effect. When a single propelling wheel at the stern of the vessel
has been employed this objection is obviated, but a wheel so placed, both by its
weight and also in its action, tends to depress the stern and elevate the bows
of the vessel.

page_text: According to this Invention I-place the wheel in an opening formed in the
vessel usually at a point some distance in advance of the stern; and behind the
wheel I make a groove or passage in the bottom of the vessel for the water
to escape from the wheel. This groove or passage is not made of sufficient
depth to penetrate to any extent into the upper part of the vessel above the
water line, but usually I make the bottom of the groove about to coincide
with the ordinary draft line of the vessel, so that under ordinary circumstances
the part of the vessel immediately behind the wheel does not enter the water,
but nevertheless if the vessel be heavily laiden it becomes immersed and
assists' in supporting the load. I prefer that the groove as it passes away
from the wheel should expand or become wider laterally, to allow the water to
escape more readily, and for the same purpose I cause the parts of the vessel
on the two sides of the groove to decrease in draft progressively in passing
from the wheel to the stern.
If it be desired, as in the case of a vessel having frequently to steam astern,
the groove may be continued-to the bows of the vessel in advance of the wheel,
making the two ends of the vessel similar the one to the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hamilton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HAMILTON, junior, of Liverpool, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Hamilton, Her special licence that I, the said John
Hamilton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,' or such others ás I, the
said John Hamilton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VESSELS TO BE PROPELLED BY STEAM POWER," upon the 'condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Hamilton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or oue

page_text: 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
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 Hamilton, 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in vessels to be propelled by
steam power. In vessels of light draught and adapted for shallow water
difficulty is experienced when paddle wheels are placed at the sides of the
vessel in making such paddles work efficiently, as the immersion of the wheels
is necessarily so slight that a very slight roll of the vessel raises one wheel out
of the water, and even when the beam of the vessel is horizontal the wheels
are liable to throw the water away from them, without producing an adequate
propelling effect. When a single propelling wheel at the stern of the vessel
has been employed this objection is obviated, but a wheel so placed, both by its
weight and also in its action, tends to depress the stern and elevate the bows of
the vessel.
:
According to this Invention I place the wheel in an opening formed in the
vessel, usually at a point some distance in advance of the stern; and behind the
wheel 1 make a groove or passage in the bottom of the vessel for the water
to escape from the wheel. This groove or passage is not made of sufficient
depth to penetrate to any extent into the upper part of the vessel above the
water line, but usually I make. the bottom of the groove about to coincide
with the ordinary draft line of the vessel, so that under ordinary circumstances
the part of the vessel inmediately behind the wheel does not enter the water,
but nevertheless if the vessel be heavily laden it becomes immersed and
assists in supporting the load. I prefer that the groove as it passes away
from the wheel should expand or become wider laterally to allow the water to
escape more readily; and for the same purpose I cause the parts of the vessel
on the two sides of the groove to decrease in draft progressively in passing
from the wheel to the stern. If it be desired, as in the case of a vessel having
frequently to steam astern, the groove may be continued to the bows of the
vessel in advance of the wheel, making the two ends of the vessel similar the
one to the other.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
'

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the after-part of a vessel constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2. shews plan of Figure 1; and Figures 3
and 4 show two transverse sections of the vessel, the one taken aft the paddle
box, and the other taken forward of the paddle box. It is preferred that a
deck house or cabin should be constructed forward of the paddle box.A, as is
shown at B, B, and another aft the paddle box, as is shown at C, C. At the
bottom the vessel is formed with a groove or channel, which expands or widens
as it departs from the paddle wheel to the stern of the vessel, as indicated in
the plan Figure 2 by dotted lines D, D, E, E. In the event of the vessel
being often required to be propelled steruwise a similar expanding passage is
made at the bottom of the vessel forward of the paddle wheel; it is, however,
preferred that a vessel-should be built with the expanding water way only aft
the paddle wheel. I have not thought it necessary to show the paddle wheel,
or the machinery for giving motion to the same, they constituting no part of my
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
GEORGE ANDERSON.
JOHN HAMILTON, JR. (L.B.)