Improvements in the Propulsion of Vessels.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVIDIONAL DIEVITICATION.
Improvements in the Propulsion of Vessels.
I, HAROLD FUBISTER BURGESS, Cordova Street, Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the propulsion of vessels having one
or more screw propellers, and it consists of arranging a concave hood or segment
of a circle directly over the propeller, and extending it for a distance aftwards,
in proportion to the diameter of the propeller, and my object is to increase the
speed of the vessel to which my improvement is attached, by providing an arti-.
ficial resistance for the water that is forced upwards by the blades of the pro-
peller, and, consequently, providing approximately the same resistance for the
blades above the same as beneath where the head of the water is greater.
I attain this object by the mechanical arrangement of the device illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention, sectioned through the centre longi-
tudinally. This shows its position in relation to the propeller, and,
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same.
Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts in the views.
The invention consists of a curved plate 10, which is rigidly fixed to the stern
of the vessel by plate brackets 11, and arranged to lie over the propeller a.
This plate extends for a distance aft with its concaved surface parallel to the
propeller shaft. The contour of said plate is concentric with the path of the pro-
peller blades. This causes the water to be thrown from the blades rearwards,
instead of being allowed to radiate upwards, as is the case without my improve-
ment.
The above plate 10 has its forward end fixed just forward of a perpendicular
line in front of the hub of the propeller, so that the water thrown upwards will
be arrested and received within the concave of the hood and ejected aft.
As shown in Fig. 1 where my invention is attached to a single propeller
the rudder post and rudder stem 6 may be passed through the aperture 10" in
the hood. This arrangement, however, is a matter to be dealt with by the
builder, and does not effect the invention.
From the foregoing it is obvious that the flute formed by the plate 10 may
be made over the propeller by an attachment, as shown, or by a conformation of
the hull at this point, when the vessel is constructed, in which case the brackets 11
would represent the skin or shell of the ship.
Dated this 13th day of September 1899
WILLIAM G. TRETHEWEY,
Agent.

page_text: improvements in the Propulsion of vessels.
I, HAROLD FUBISTER BURGESS, a British Subject, residing in Bank of British
North American Buildings, Hastings Street, in the City of Vancouver, Province
of British Columbia, Canada, Dentist, late of Cordova Street, Vancouver, 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 the propulsion of vessels having one
or more screw propellers, and it consists in arranging a concave hood or segment
of a cylinder directly over the propeller, and extending it for a distance aft,
in proportion to the diameter of the propeller, and my object is to increase the
speed of the vessel to which my improvement is attached, by providing an arti-
ficial resistance for the water that is forced upwards by the blades of the pro-
peller, and, consequently, providing approximately the same resistance for the
blades during the upper part of their revolution as in the lower portion where
the head of the water is greater.
I attain this object by the mechanical arrangement of the device illustrated
in the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification, in which:-
-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention, sectioned through the centre longi
tudinally. This shows its position in relation to the propeller, and,
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same.
Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts in the views.
The invention consists of a curved plate 10 rigidly fixed to the stern of the
vessel by brackets 11. This plate extends aft approximately parallel to the
water line, for a distance not less than the diameter of the propeller, has its
concave surface concentric with the path of rotation of the propeller blades,
as close as practicable thereto and at the sides comes down nearly to the plane
passing horizontally through the axis of the propeller shaft.
This plate 10 has its forward end fixed approximately at a perpendicular line
from the forward end of the propeller hub, and thus the water which would other-
wise be thrown up to the surface is directed aft and a greater propelling effect
is produced.
As shown in Fig. 1 where my invention is attached to a single propeller a
the rudder post and rudder stem may be passed through an aperture 10" in
the hood. This arrangement, however, is a matter to be dealt with by the
builder, and does not effect the invention.
From the foregoing it is obvious that the flute formed by the plate 10 may
be made over the propeller by an attachment, as shown, or by a conformation of
the hull at this point, when the vessel is constructed, in which case the brackets 11
would represent the skin or shell of the ship.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1-A means for improving the propulsion of vessels consisting of an arched
plate 10 fixed to the stern of a vessel over the propeller with its flute approxi-
mately parallel to the water line, and extended aft substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
As a means for improving the speed of a ship, having a hull with a pro-

page_text: peller a, a concave plate 10 forming a flute integral with the said hull over the
propeller and projecting for a distance aft as set forth.
3 In a marine vessel having a hull and a propeller projecting from the stern
thereof below the waterline, in combination with a concaved hood or flute 10
fixed integral with said hull below the waterline, and projecting rearward over the
propeller, substantially as set forth.
Dotad this 15th day of June 1900
HAROLD FUBISTER BURGESS.