IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PROPELLER AND OTHER SHAFTS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PROPELLER AND OTHER
SHAFTS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates particularly to the propellor-shafts of steam-vessels, but
it may be embodied in other shafts which are required to transmit great power and
are subject in use to violent shocks and torsional strain.
In order to increase the strength of propellor-shafts proportionately to their
weight, they have been made tubular, and they have also been made, both solid
and tubular, of steel in order to increase their strength. The production of a steel
shaft of large size, which is solid and free throughout its diameter from fissures,
flaws or weak places, is very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish; and, as a
consequence, steel shafts which are so large that they could have ample surplus
strength if solid and perfect throughout, are often broken by comparatively slight
strain.
The object of this invention is to provide a shaft, preferably of steel, in which
the metal throughout is of uniform quality and possesses in a high degree the
strength to resist tensile and torsional strain, and which may be readily repaired if
broken, by simply removing one of the sections thereof and substituting a duplicate
section, one or more of which duplicate sections may be kept in reserve, or carried
on board the vessel.
According to the said invention I make the shaft in sections which have, or may
have, their ends so formed as to interlock one with another, and each section is
composed of seamless drawn tubes of steel or other metal superposed or drawn one
upon another so as to form a composite body uniform in hardness, tenacity, and
strength throughout its thickness. The shaft and the tube from which it is formed
are preferably made of hexagonal or other polygonal transverse section, and the
centre inay be left hollow, or filled with a similarly shaped core or centre, which
may be of drawn steel and serve as a mandrel on which the first or innermost tube
of the series is drawn.

page_text: I may connect the sections of this shaft by couplings which consist of sleeves
shaped internally to fit the exterior of the shaft and having cylindric exteriors
which enable them to serve as journals fitting bearings, whereby the shaft is
supported, but I prefer to reinforce the shaft by an external covering or casing
consisting of tubular sections which lap over and break joint with the sections of
the shaft, and the ends of which are notched or dogged one into another so as to
form a covering or reinforcement to the shaft, which is continuous from one end to
the other of the shaft. The sections of the external covering or reinforcement may
be composed of seamless tubes superposed or drawn one on another, the interior of
the sections being hexagonal or of other polygonal form to fit the exterior of the
shaft sections, the exterior of the covering or reinforcing sections being cylindric
so as to form a journal at any point at which a bearing may be advantageously
arranged.
In case of the breakage of an inner or outer section of a shaft of the construction
above described, it is only necessary to disconnect the engine, and slide the sections
of the shaft lengthwise in order to remove the broken section and replace it by a
duplicate section.
In practice, the shaft proper is composed of sections which may be of any length
which can be conveniently constructed, and which should not be so long as to
impede the handling of the sections in a vessel, as will be necessary to remove one
section in case of breakage and replace it by another.
As here represented, each section consists of a core or centre and a number of
seamless tubes, superposed one on another in the process of drawing, so as to
form with the core a solid integral section. I prefer to make the tubes of
hexagonal, square or other polygonal shape in transverse section, and the core or
centre of corresponding shape, as the tubes will thus be locked together and to the
centre or core and cannot turn on each other or on the centre or core.
In some
cases I may dispense with the core or centre and construct the shaft sections
solely of drawn tubes, the mandrel being withdrawn after the drawing of the tubes
thereon is completed, but I prefer to draw the tubes upon the core or centre, as a
mandrel and to then leave it in place within the tubes to form a part of the shaft.
I prefer to make the core or centre of a bar of steel condensed and hardened by
drawing it through a die as many times as may be necessary, or by rolling, and the
tubes I prefer also to make of mild steel which may be readily drawn when hot
or cold.
The tubes may be drawn to any desired degree of thickness, say from one half
inch to one inch, and it will be readily understood that this method of construction
enables a shaft to be produced which will have throughout a degree of hardness,
solidity and strength to resist torsional strain, which could not possibly be obtained
in a solid forged or rolled shaft of the same size, or even one much less in size.
To reinforce and strengthen the shaft and also to connect or couple together the
sections of which it is made, I may, in some cases, employ tubular sections which
are of a size to slip outside the shaft sections and form a covering or reinforcement
which is continuous from end to end of the shaft. In other cases I may employ
simple couplings, which are isolated from each other and simply lap on adjacent
sections a little distance on each side of the joint between them.
Each of the outer tubular sections may be built up of tubes drawn one upon
another, the inner tubes being of a transverse section corresponding to that of the
shaft and the outer tubes approaching a cylindric form on their exterior in order to
give the outermost tube a circular periphery, so that it may serve as a journal to a
bearing placed at any point thereon.
It will be understood that the polygonal bore of the tubular sections, by fitting
the polygonal exterior of the shaft sections, locks adjacent sections together, 80
that the rotary motion imparted by the engine to one end of the shaft will be
transmitted to the propellor at the other end thereof. In order to additionally
lock the shaft-sections together, and likewise the outer tubular sections, the shaft-
sections may be notched, dogged, or halved into each other at their adjacent ends,

page_text: and the outer tubular sections correspondingly notched, dogged, or halved into each
other for a like purpose.
The end tubular section on which is secured the hub of the propellor may be of
about half the length of the other sections and may be welded or otherwise secured
fast to the shaft, and the sections of the shaft and of the covering or reinforcement
may break or lap joints relatively one to the other.
The propellor hub is sometimes secured directly on the shaft, the hub having a
polygonal bore to fit the shaft. The couplings also, which are internally polygonal
to fit the exterior of the shaft, may be externally cylindric to serve as journals.
These couplings may be of solid forged metal or built up of tubes drawn one on
another as described with reference to the tubular sections. In this case also the
adjacent ends of shaft-sections are notched, dogged, or halved one into the other.
In case of breakage of any section of the shaft or reinforcement, the engine can
be uncoupled from the shaft and the sections thereof can be shifted lengthwise
sufficiently to remove a broken section and replace it by a spare section. In case
of breakage of any one of the shaft sections, it will only be necessary to slip the
couplings lengthwise of the shaft and introduce a new section therein.
A shaft constructed in the manner described may be composed of sections having
their ends cut square and provided with ordinary flanged couplings shrunk or
otherwise secured upon them and bolted together.
Dated this 20th day of Tu1 100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Propeller and other Shafts.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PROPELLER AND OTHER
SHAFTS" 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 more particularly to the propeller shafts of steam vessels,
but it also relates to other shafts which are required to transmit great power and
which are subject when in use to violent shocks and torsional strain.
In order to increase the strength of propeller shafts proportionately to their
weight, they have been made tubular, and they have also been made, both solid
and tubular, of steel in order to increase their strength. The production of a steel
shaft of large size which is solid and free throughout its length from fissures, flaws
or weak places, is very difficult if not impossible to accomplish; and as a con-
sequence steel shafts, which are so large that they could have ample surplus
strength if solid and perfect throughout, are often broken by comparatively slight
strain.
The objects of this invention are to provide a shaft, preferably of steel, in which
the metal throughout is of uniform quality and possesses in a high degree the
strength to resist tensile and torsinal strain, and which may be readily repaired
if broken, by simply removing one of the sections thereof and substituting a
duplicate section, one or more of which duplicate sections may be kept in reserve,
or carried on board the vessel. .
According to the said invention I make the shaft in sections which have or may
have their ends so formed as to interlock one with another, and each section is
composed of seamless drawn tubes of steel or other metal, superposed or drawn
one upon another so as to to form a composite body uniform in hardness, tenacity
and strength throughout its thickness. The shaft and the tubes from which it is
formed are preferably made of hexagonal or other polygonal transverse section,
and the centre may be left hollow, or filled with a similarly shaped core or centre
which may be of drawn steel and serve as a mandrel on which the first or inner-
most tube of the series is drawn.
I may connect the sections of this shaft by couplings which consist of sleeves
shaped internally to fit the exterior of the shaft and having cylindric exteriors
which enable them to serve as journals titting bearings whereby the shaft is
supported, but I prefer to reinforce the shaft by an external covering or casing
consisting of tubular sections which lap over and break joint with the sections of
the shaft, and the ends of which are notched or dogged one into another so as to
form a covering or reinforcement to the shaft, which is continuous from one end
to the other of the shaft. The sections of the external covering or reinforcement
may be composed of seamless tubes superposed or drawn one on another the interior
of the sections being hexagonal or of other polygonal form to fit the exterior of the
shaft sections, the exterior of the covering or re-enforcing sections being cylindrical

page_text: arranged.
In case of the breakage of an inner or outer section of a shaft of the construction
above described, it is only necessary to disconnect the engine and slide the sections
of the shaft lengthwise in order to remove the broken section and replace it by a
duplicate section.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a shaft embodying this inven-
tion and having outer sections interlocked together at their ends to form a covering
or reinforcement continuous throughout the length of the shaft.
Figure 2 is an external view of such shaft.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the shaft, and
Figure 4 is a similar section of the outer covering or reinforcement.
Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section and side view of a shaft in which
the sections are connected by couplings isolated from each other in a direction
lengthwise of the shaft.
Figure 6 is an end view of the shaft shown in Figure 5 and the hub of a
propeller secured thereon, and
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the shaft and an end view of one of the
couplings.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
The shaft proper A is composed of sections which may be of any length which
can be conveniently constructed, but which should not be so long as to impede the
handling of the sections in a vessel, as will be necessary to remove one section in
case of breakage and replace it by another.
As here represented each section consists of a core or centre a, and of a number
of seamless tubes b, superposed one on another in the process of drawing, so as to
form with the core a solid integral section. I prefer to make the tubes b of
hexagonal, square or other polygonal shape in transverse section, and the core
and centre a of corresponding shape, as the tubes will thus be locked together and
to the centre or core and cannot turn on each other or on the centre or core.
In some cases I may dispense with the core or centre and construct the shaft
sections solely of drawn tubes, the mandrel being withdrawn after the drawing of
the tubes thereon is completed, but I prefer to draw the tubes upon the core or
centre a as a mandrel, and to then leave it in place within the tubes to form a part
of the shaft.
I prefer to make the core or centre a of a bar of steel condensed and hardened
by drawing it through a die as many times as may be necessary, or by rolling ;
and the tubes b I prefer also to make of mild steel which may be readily drawn
when hot or cold.
The tubes may be drawn to any desired degree of thickness, say from one half
inch to one inch; and it will be readily understood that this method of construc-
tion enables a shaft to be produced which will have throughout a degree of hardness,
solidity and strength to resist torsional strain which could not possibly be obtained
in a solid forged or rolled shaft of the same size, or even one much less in size.
In the drawing the shaft A is represented as composed of four superposed
tubes b on the solid core or centre a but any number of tubes may be used.
To reinforce and strengthen the shaft A, and also to connect or couple together
the sections of which it is made I may in some cases, employ tubular sections B,
as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 which are of a size to slip outside the shaft
sections A and form a covering or reinforcement which is continuous from end to
end of the shaft, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In other cases I may employ
simple couplings B' which are isolated from each other and simply lap on adjacent
sections a little distance on each side of the joint between them as shown in
Figure 5.
Each of the outer tubular sections B, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, is built up of
tubes c, drawn one upon another, as best shown in Figure 4, the inner tubes being'

page_text: of a transverse section corresponding to that of the shaft A, and the outer tubes
approaching a cylindrical form on their exterior in order to give the outermost
tube a circular periphery, so that it may serve as a journal to a bearing placed at
any point thereon.
It will be observed that the polygonal bore of the tubular sections B, by fitting
the polygonal exterior of the shaft sections A, locks adjacent sections together, so
that the rotary motion imparted by the engine to one end of the shaft will be
transmitted to the propeller at the other 'end thereof. In order to additionally
lock the shaft sections A together, and likewise the outer tubular sections B, I have
shown the shaft sections as notched, dogged or halved into each other at their
adjacent ends, as at d, and the outer tubular sections B as correspondingly notched,
dogged or halved into each other as at e, for a like purpose.
The end tubular section B*, on which is secured the hub C of the propeller, may
be of about half the length of the other sections and may be welded or otherwise
secured fast to the shaft A, and it will be seen from Figure 1 that the sections A of
the shaft, and B of the covering or reinforcement, break or lap joints relatively
one to the other.
In Figure 5 I have shown the propeller hub C as secured directly on the shaft A,
the hub having a polygonal bore to fit the shaft. In that figure also the couplings B
which are internally polygonal to fit the exterior of the shaft are externally
cylindrical to serve as journals. These couplings may be of solid forged metal, or
built up of tubes drawn one on another as described with reference to the tubular
sections B. In this case also the adjacent ends of shaft sections are notched,
dogged or halved one into the other as shown at d.
In case of breakage of any section A or B of the shaft or reinforcement shown
in Figures 1 and 2, the engine can be uncoupled from the shaft and the sections
thereof can be shifted lengthwise sufficiently to remove a broken section and
replace it by a spare section. In case of breakage of any one of the shaft
sections A shown in Figure 5, it will only be necessary to slip the couplings B¹
lengthwise of the shaft and introduce a new section therein.
A shaft constructed in the manner described may be composed of sections A
having their ends cut square and provided with ordinary flanged couplings shrunk
or otherwise secured upon them and bolted together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. A shaft consisting of seamless drawn tubes superposed or drawn one on
another; substantially as herein described.
Second. A shaft consisting of seamless drawn tubes superposed or drawn one on
another, and having a polygonal or other transverse section, whereby the tubes are
locked together and prevented from turning one relatively to another, substantially
as herein described.
Third. A shaft consisting of a core or centre of rolled or drawn metal, and tubes
of corresponding form drawn or superposed on the core or centre and on one
another; substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The combination with a shaft composed of sections each consisting of
drawn tubes superposed one on another, and having a polygonal transverse section,
whereby they are locked against turning, of coupling sleeves fitting the exterior of
the shaft and serving to couple together the sections thereof; substantially as
herein described.
Fifth. The combination with shaft sections each composed of drawn tubes
superposed one on another and having a polygonal transverse section, of coupling
sleeves each composed of drawn tubes superposed one on another and fitting the
exterior. of the shaft sections; substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The combination with shaft sections each composed of drawn tubes
superposed one on another and having a polygonal exterior, of a reinforcement or

page_text: covering, continuous throughout the shaft and composed of sections each consisting
of drawn tubes superposed one on another; substantially as herein described.
Seventh. The combination with shaft sections having their ends interlocked and
each composed of drawn tubes superposed one on another, and having a polygonal
transverse section, of a covering or reinforcement consisting of tubular sections
fitting the exterior of the shaft from end to end thereof, and also having their ends
interlocked; substantially as herein described.
Eighth. The combination with shaft sections having their ends interlocked and
each composed of drawn tubes superposed ono on another and having a polygonal
transverso section, of a covering or reinforcement consisting of tubular sections
also having their ends interlocked and composed of drawn tubes superposed one on
another, the interiors of the tubular sections fitting the exteriors of the shaft
sections, and the exteriors of the tubular sections being cylindrical to serve as
journals; substantially as herein described.