Improvements in Navigable Vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
Improvements in Navigable Vessels.
I, Dr. SEBASTIEN LACAVALERIE, Dentist, of Avenida Sur 2, Traposos à
Colon No. 49, Caracas, Venezuela, South America, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in vessels capable of submarine pro-
pulsion, and my invention is an improvement on the vessel shewn in Letters
Patent of the United States No. 516,395, dated March 13, 1894. The object of
my invention is to provide a vessel which may be easily and rapidly propelled,
either on or beneath the surface of the water, to provide a simple means of pro-
pulsion for the vessel which is not likely to get out of order, and to provide a
series of rudders and operating mechanism therefor, the arrangement being such
that the rudders may be either oscillated or revolved, and made to give to the
vessel any desired up and down or lateral movement and also to give the vessel a
helical movement through the water very similar to the movements of a fish.
A further object of my invention is to construct and arrange the vessel so that
its crew may be as comfortable as possible, that air may be provided when the
vessel is beneath the surface of the water, and that a lookout may be maintained
when the vessel is above the water surface.
To these ends my invention consists of certain features of construction and
combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel embodying my invention ;
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same;
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 5,
and shows the arrangement of the stern compartment of the vessel and the steering
apparatus therein;
Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional plan on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, of the bow of the
vessel;
Figure 7 is a sectional plan on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, of the stern of the
vessel;
Figure 8 is a detail cross section through the vessel's bow and shows the arrange-
ment of the driving mechanism therein; and
Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 3, and shows a modified arrangement of
the steering mechanism.
The vessel, like the one described in the former Patent referred to, is of a
general cigar shape and is largest in cross section at a point just abaft the bow,
and the hull 10 of the vessel terminates at its bow end in a small cone 11 and at
its stern end in a larger cone 12 which forms a compartment large enough to
contain the rudder working apparatus and afford a lookout, as hereinafter described.
The body portion of the hull is independent of the bow and stern cones, the bow
cone 11 being coupled by means of the driving shaft, as hereinafter described, and
the stern cone being connected with the hull by the coupling rings 13 which are
held together by strong bolts 14, as shown best in Figures 3 and 4, these rings
[Price 8d 1

page_text: being large enough for persons to pass conveniently through them in going back
and forth from the hull of the vessel to the stern compartment.
The abutting ends of the hull 10 and cone 12 have in-turned flanges 15 which
are clamped by the coupling rings 13, these rings having outwardly projecting
segments 17 to save friction, which segments bear against the propeller ring 18
which ring turns between the flanges 15 and is held in place by them, these
flanges and the coupling rings 13 serving as a bearing for the ring 18 which forms
the rear end of the propeller. The ring 18 is reduced in the center, as shown at 19
to receive the ribs 20 of the flanges 15, and the ribs thus provide against the
displacement of the propeller ring. The propeller encircles the hull 10 of the
vessel and extends its full length, as shown in Figure 1, the propeller comprising
a series of spiral flanges 21 and their supporting rings 18, 22 and 23. The ring 18
is held as described above, while the rings 22 serve as braces and turn loosely on
the hull 10 without touching the same while the ring 23 is held between the
how cone 11 and the bow of the hull 10, the ring being penetrated by the driving
shaft 24 which is arranged longitudinally in the bow of the vessel and has, at its
forward end, a suitable head to retain it in the bow cone 11.
The driving shaft may be turned by any suitable motor, but electric motors are
preferably used to drive it, because these generate no noxious gases, and the
motors are preferably arranged as described below. The driving shaft is at its
front end journalled in a suitable stuffing box 25 and at its rear end it is mounted
in the ordinary way in a thrust bearing 26, and on the shaft is a worm wheel 27,
see Figures 3 and 4, which is driven by a wheel 28 on the armature shaft 29,
which shaft forms the common shaft of two electric motors 30 which may be of
any approved type and which are driven by storage batteries 31 which are stowed
in the bow compartment 32 of the vessel, but it will be understood that the
batteries. may be disposed in the most convenient places of the vessel so as to serve
for ballast as well as power.
The vessel is provided with a suitable floor or deck 32 and preferably beneath
this, but in any convenient place, are air tanks 33 in which air is held under
pressure to be released as needed for breathing purposes when the vessel is sub-
merged. The vessel is also provided with a suitable door or hatchway 34 to
provide for ingress and egress and to provide also for introducing any necessary
materials into it, and in the vessel are also windows 35 to permit light to enter
when the vessel is above water. The vessel has a stairway 36 leading from the
flour 32 to the rings 13, and on the stern cone 12 is a lookout 37 which may be
fitted with any necessary platforms, etc., and which is provided on its four sides
with windows 38 through which observations may be made, this arrangement
giving a person complete range of the horizon.
To provide for steering the vessel vertically, laterally and helically it is pro-
vided with a series of fin-shaped rudders 39, 40 and 41, the rudder 39 being placed
centrally beneath the stern cone 12, the rudders 40 on opposite sides of the said
cone and the rudder 41 at the stern of the said cone. Each rudder is held sub-
stantially parallel with the vessel and is capable of either a rotary or oscillatory
motion, as described below. To this end the rudders are mounted in a substantially
similar way and the rudder 39 is secured to a shaft 42 which is journalled in a
movable box 43, so as to turn with the box and also revolve in it, and this box is
formed on the end of a hollow shaft 45 which turns in a suitable stuffing box 14
on the under side of the cone 12, as shown clearly in Figure 3, and the shalt 45
also turns in a supporting arm 46 of a bracket 47 which is erected in the cone 12
and supports various parts of the rudder working apparatus. The shaft 45 is
provided with a gear wheel 48 which is turned by a gear wheel 49 on a vertical
shaft 50 which is supported in the arm 46 and also in arms 51 and 52 of the
bracket 47, and the shaft is driven by an electric motor 53, and when the shaft
is turned it, by reason of the gear connection just described, turns the hollow
shaft 45 and box 43 so as to move the rudder 39 laterally and thus impart a
lateral movement to the vessel.

page_text: To enable the rudder 39 to be oscillated or revolved on its own axis, the
shaft 42 is provided with a pinion 54 meshing with a pinion 55 on the shaft 56
which extends upward through the shaft 45 and is provided with a gear wheel 57
meshing with a gear wheel 58 on the hollow shaft 59 which, together with other
shafts to be described below, is mounted on the shaft 50 and the shaft 59 is turned
by an electric motor 60. If therefore, in order to give a spiral movement to the
vessel, it is desired to oscillate or revolve the rudder 39, the motor 60 is set in
motion and, by reason of the gear connection just described, the shafts 56 and 42
are turned and the rudder 39 revolved.
It is desirable, in order to get quick steerage, that the main rudder 41 be
given a movement similar to and coincident with the movement of the rudder 39,
and to this end it is connected with the shafts 45 and 56 by the following
mechanism,―
On the shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 61 which connects by means of a chain 62
with a sprocket wheel 63 on the sleeve 64 which forms a part of the box 65
which is journalled on the vertical countershaft 66 mounted in suitable bearings 67
on the top and bottom walls of the cone 12, and this box 65 is held in a suitable
casing 68 and carries the shaft 69 of the main rudder 41, which shaft 69 is
journalled in a stuffing box 70 forming a part of the box 65 and in a box 71 which
slides laterally in a slideway 71° at the rear of the stern cone section 12. It will
thus be seen that when the shaft 45 is turned so as to impart a lateral movement
to the box 43 and rudder 39, it will also, by means of the sprocket wheels and
chains, turn the box 65 and move the shaft 69 and rudder 41 so as to give the same
movement to the rudder 41 that is imparted to the rudder 39.
To provide for revolving the rudder 41 in unison with the rudder 39 its shaft 69
is connected directly to the shaft 56, the shaft 69 being geared by the pinions 72
and 73 to the vertical shaft 66 and the latter is provided with a sprocket wheel 74
which is driven by a chain 75 connecting with a chain 76 on the shaft 56, and
when the shaft 56 is revolved to revolve the rudder 39 it will be seen that it also
imparts a similar movement to the rudder 41.
The side rudders 40 are mounted in a general way like the rudders 39 and 41,
and their function is chiefly to steer the vessel up and down. These rudders are
each secured to a shaft 77 which is held in a box 78 carried by a hollow shaft 79
which is journalled in a suitable bearing 80 in the side of the cone 12, and the
hollow shafts 79 are supported on a transverse shaft 81 extending across the
cone 12, and the shafts 79 are provided with gear wheels 82 meshing with and
driven by gear wheels 83 on a shaft 84 which turns in bearings 85, see Figure 4,
and is held parallel with the shaft 81. The shaft 84 is provided with a worm
wheel 86 which meshes with a worm 87 on the hollow shaft 88, see Figure 3, which
turns on the shaft 50 and is driven by an electric motor 89, and thus, by setting
the motor in motion, the shaft 88 is turned and, by means of the gearing just
described, imparts a movement to both hollow shafts 79 and these move the
boxes 78 up or down, as the case may be, and the boxes move the shaft 77 and the
rudders 40, thus changing the angle of the rudders to the vessel and causing
the latter to ascend or descend.
The rudders 40 are also capable of rotary movement, and to this end the
shafts 77 and the said rudders are connected by pinions 90 and 91 with the
shaft 81, and the latter connects by a worm wheel 92 and worm 93 with the hollow
shaft 94 on the shaft 50, and the said hollow shaft is driven by an electric motor 95
which, on being set in motion, turns the shaft 94 and the latter, by its gearing,
turns the shaft 81, which, by means of the pinions 91 and 90, imparts a rotary
movement to the shafts 77 and rudders 40. It will be seen from the above
description that any necessary movement may be imparted to either rudder, and
thus the direction of the vessel may be very easily regulated.
In Figure 9 I have shown a slightly modified form of rudder-working apparatus
which has the same means, as above described, for moving the rudders 40 and 41,
but two of the motors are taken from the shaft 50 and motors 96 and 97 used for

page_text: working the rudders 39. The motor 96 is connected by a worm 98 and worm
wheel 99 with the shafts 45 of the box 43, so as to move the box and its rudder
when necessary, and the motor 97 is connected by a worm 100 and worm wheel 101
with the shaft 57, so that when necessary the motor 97 may be started, the shaft 56
turned and the rudder 39 revolved in the manner already indicated.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and powerful
means is provided for propelling the vessel and that the rudder arrangement is
such as to bring it under perfect control and enable it to be moved like a fish in
almost any direction. I have shown a peculiar form of gearing particularly
adapted to impart the necessary movements to the several rudders, but I do not
confine myself to this gearing, as I claim the arrangement of the rudders, and it is
obvious that other equivalent means may be used to work them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
clain is,
1. A marine vessel, characterized by an elongated body tapering at the ends
and a revoluble propeller encircling the body and provided with spiral flanges, the
propeller being journalled at its ends only and suitably braced at necessary
intervals along its length, substantially as described.
2. A marine vessel, characterized by an elongated body, tapering at its ends, a
propeller encircling the body and journalled at its ends only, the propeller being
stiffened at necessary intervals by ring braces, and a series of oscillatory aud
revoluble rudders arranged at the sides, on the bottom, and at the extreme stern
end of the vessel, substantially as described.
3. A marine vessel, comprising a hull tapering at the ends and a revoluble
screw arranged longitudinally on the hull and journalled at its ends, substantially
as described.
4. A marine vessel, comprising a hull tapering at the ends, a revoluble screw
arranged longitudinally on the hull and journalled thereon at its ends, and ring
braces encircling the hull and secured to the screw, substantially as described.
5. The combination, with the bull and its encircling screw, of the revoluble
driving shaft secured to one end of the screw, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the hull and its encircling screw, of the driving shaft
secured to one end of the screw, and the pair of motors having a common armature
shaft geared to the driving shaft, substantially as described.
7. A marine vessel, comprising a central body portion, cones secured to the
bow and stern of the said body portion, a revoluble screw encircling the body
and journalled at the ends thereof, and suitable couplings to hold the cones in
place, said couplings being arranged to also fasten the screw, substantially as
described.
8. In a marine vessel of the kind described, the combination, with the hull and
stern cone, of the in-turned flanges on the aforesaid parts, the revoluble propeller
arranged on the hull and provided with a ring entering between the flanges, and
fastening devices to hold the flanges and ring together and permit the turning of
the ring, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with the hull and stern cone of the vessel and the in-turned
flanges on the said hull and cone, of the propeller encircling the hull, the propeller
ring secured to one end of the propeller and entering between the flanges,
means, as the groove in the propeller ring and ribs on the flanges, to hold the ring
in place, and the clamping rings to fasten the flanges together, substantially as
described.
10. The combination, with a sub-marine vessel, of a series of rudders arranged
at the end and on the sides of the said vessel, substantially as described.
11. The combination, with a sub-marine vessel, of a series of rudders arranged
at the stern on the under side and on opposite sides of the said vessel, substantially
as described.

page_text: 12. The combination, with a sub-marine vessel, of a series of rudders on the
under side and on the sides thereof, the rudders being capable of oscillating
movements in relation to the hull of the vessel and being also revoluble on their
own axes, substantially as described.
13. The combination, with the vessel and the side, bottom and end rudders
thereon, of mechanism for simultaneously moving the bottom and end rudder and
for independently moving the side rudders, substantially as described.
14. The combination, with the vessel, of the boxes journalled at the stern and on
the bottom of the vessel, the shafts carried by the boxes and adapted also to
turn therein, the rudders on the shafts, and gear mechanism for either
simultaneously moving the boxes or rotating the rudder shafts, substantially as
described.
15. The combination, with the vessel, the rudders on the sides, bottom and end
thereof, the boxes journalled on the vessel to carry the rudders, the shafts secured
to the rudders and journalled in the said boxes, a motor geared to the stern and
bottom boxes to move them, a second motor geared to the shafts of the stern and
bottom rudders to turn them, a third motor geared to the boxes of the side rudders
to move them, and a fourth motor geared to the shafts of the side rudders to turn
them, substantially as described.
16. The combination, with the vessel and the box arranged to slide in its stern,
of the rudder having a shaft carried in the said sliding box, and means for moving
the rudder bodily and revolving it, substantially as described.
17. A marine vessel having its several parts constructed and arranged to operate
in substantially the manner described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of September 1894.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.