CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF WORKING SCREW PROPELLERS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ismaël Isaac Abadie, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, Gentleman, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF WORKING SCREW PROPELLERS."
Sealed the 20th February 1855, and dated the 13th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ismaël Isaac. Abadie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1854.
I, ISMAEL ISAAC ABADIE, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF WORKING SCREW PROPELLERS "to be as follows:
Hitherto there has been considerable difficulty in causing vessels propelled
by means of screws to perform the necessary evolutions; inasmuch as the
vessel, being always driven in a straight line by the screw, must be caused to
traverse a circle of very large radius before it could' be turned round. "This
disadvantage, which is exceedingly inconvenient when it is necessary to sheer
alongside of an enemy, or to execute the manoeuvres necessary in a naval
combat, is also very great in performing the most ordinary manoeuvres.
Now, the object of the present Invention is to obviate this inconvenience,
and to give to vessels propelled by screws sucli liberty of movement as will

page_text: allow of their moving in curves of very small radius, so that they may be
enabled to perform any required evolutions, and even to turn round within
their own length. This object is effected by the following arrangement of
parts, and mode of actuating the propeller :-
The driving shaft of the propeller is made in two parts, which are connected
together by suitable gearing, arranged as hereafter described. The screw is
mounted on the outer hinder end of the shaft in the usual manner, this part
of the shaft being detached from that part which is connected with the engine.
The two ends of this extremity, or hinder, part of the shaft, are supported
in bearings on a frame, which is capable of turning on a vertical shaft forming
one of the sides of the said frame. This vertical shaft carries a cog wheel
on its upper extremity, by means of which any amount of axial movement
may be communicated to this shaft, and consequently to the frame and
screw, which may therefore be moved on either side to any required angle
to the main shaft. This vertical shaft is mounted in a step at its lower
end, and the screw is keyed to the short shaft, which forms a prolongation
of the main driving shaft, and carries a bevil wheel that gears when required
into an intermediate bevil wheel mounted on the vertical shaft, which latter
takes into another bevil wheel on the end of the main driving shaft, for
the purpose of communicating the rotary motion from the driving shaft to the
short screw shaft.
The screw rotates in the ordinary manner, it being, however, observed that
the bevil gearing reverses the direction of its rotation, that is to say, it is
moved in a direction contrary to that of the driving shaft.
On turning the vertical shaft, which forms part of the screw frame, either
to the right or left, the screw will be moved from its parallel direction with
the keel of the vessel, and caused to assume any required angle in relation
thereto without stopping the rotation of the screw, which will be continuous
by reason of the intermediate bevil wheel being mounted loosely upon and
turning independently of the vertical shaft; by this means the vessel may be
instantaneously turned round or steered in any direction.
The effect produced by this arrangement will be easily understood. It is.
-similar-to-that-obtained by the ordinary rudder, only it is much more powerful,
and with this difference, that if the screw frame be turned at right angles to
the keel, the vessel will be caused to swing round on a point near-its-centre-s
With this arrangement the rudder becomes nearly useless; but it is desirable
to mount it as usual, as it must be employed when the propeller is not in use
and the vessel is under sail. The rudder may also with advantage be connected
by means of suitable gearing with the vertical shaft, which governs the position,

page_text: of the screw, so as to follow its movements, and assist its action instead of
impeding it, as would be the case if the rudder were stationary.
If it be not required to alter the angle of the screw, the intermediate bevil
wheel may be shifted up out of gear, and the two detached portions of the
screw shaft connected by means of clutches, or in any other suitable manner.
When any evolutions are required to be performed, the two portions of the
screw shaft are detached, and the intermediate wheel is brought down into
gear, and the apparatus worked as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ismael Isaac Abadie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th May 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISMAEL
ISAAC ABADIE, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of-November,-in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Ismael Isaac Abadie, Her special licence that I, the said Ismael Isaac
Abadie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Ismael Isaac Abadie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF WORKING SCREW PROPELLERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I; the said Ismael Isaac Abadie, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Ismael Isaac Abadie, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-

page_text: Hitherto there has been considerable difficulty in causing vessels propelled
by means of screws to perform the necessary evolutions, inasmuch as the vessel
being always driven in a straight line by the screw, has to traverse a circle of
very large radius before it can be turned round. Now, the object of the
present Invention is to obviate this inconvenience, and to give to vessels
propelled by screws such liberty of movement as will allow of their moving
in curves of very small radius, so that they may be enabled to perform any
required evolutions, and even to turn round within a space equal to their.
own length. This object is effected by the following arrangement of parts,
and mode of actuating the-propeller...
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the stern of a
vessel fitted with my improved..apparatus; 2 is the, deck; 3, the water line;
4, the driving shaft, which revolves in a stuffing box 5, bolted to the hull of
the vessel, and provided with packing, consisting of leather washers or discs 6,
which may be compressed to any required degree by screw bolts tightening up
a gland 7. 12 is a bevil wheel, keyed to the extremity of the driving shaft 4,
which communicates motion to the bevil wheel 17, mounted on the screw.
shaft 18, by means of the intermediate bevil wheel 13, mounted loosely on the
vertical shaft 16, to which the screw frame 21 is affixed. The lower extremity
of the shaft 16 turns in a step 22; it is also supported in the middle by "a's
collar 28, bolted to the timbers of the vessel, and its upper extremity turns in
a bearing bolted to the deck. 11 is a hand wheel, upon the shaft of-which is
mounted an endless screw, which, by gearing into the screw wheel c, imparts
the requisite amount of axial motion to the shaft 16. The outer extremity of
the screw propeller shaft turns in a bearing 20, bolted to the frame 21, which
frame is attached at its upper and lower extremities by bolts to the shaft 16.
23 is an index or pointer, for indicating the position which is required to be
given to the screw for the purpose of performing the various evolutions. -24 is
the rudder.
3
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken about the level of the water line, and
shewing the screw propeller, adjusted at an angle to the keel of the vessel.:
The arrow in this Figure shews the direction in which the screw with its
appurtenances is capable of moving from the position shewn. This improved
arrangement may with great facility be adapted to vessels-of-the-ordinary
construction propelled by screws, as will be readily understood by persons
acquainted with their construction. '
I have in the foregoing description made use of the generic térm "screw,"
but-I wish it to be understood that I intend to include under this head all
kinds of helicoidal or other submerged stern propellers. I would also observe

page_text: that several screws might be adapted to suitable parts of the vessel in order to
gain increased power, and which might all be made to follow one guiding
power. Two auxiliary screws might also be adapted transversely in addition
to the principal screw in order to obtain the lateral movements, but this
arrangement would be less advantageous.
If it be desired to unite the screw shaft to the main shaft in order to relieve
the gearing from the wear to which it would be exposed if working con-
tinuously, this may be effected in the following manner:-29 is a hollow shaft,
which encloses the shaft 16, and is connected with the rudder by means of a
chain 30, taking into the teeth of a pinion 31, keyed on to the hollow shaft 29,
and also gearing into another pinion 32 on the axle of the rudder. At its
upper extremity the hollow shaft 29 is provided with a shoulder, which rests
upon. a threaded collar 33, so mounted as to be capable of simply ascending or
descending without turning. This threaded collar carries a bevil wheel a, and
on motion being communicated, to the bevil wheel a by the bevil pinion a¹
(mounted inside the casing), it will raise or lower the threaded collar 33,.
and with it the hollow shaft 29. The shaft 16 is provided with one or more
studs or projections b, which are made to enter either longitudinal slots or
annular recesses in the hollow shaft 29, according to whether the hollow
shaft 29 and the shaft which it encloses are intended to turn together or not.
The vertical shaft 16 can neither ascend nor descend, and when the hollow
shaft is in the position represented at Fig. 2, the studs will be in the longi-
tudinal slots, and will connect the hollow shaft 29 with the shaft 16, which
it encloses. When, on the contrary, the shaft 29 is raised up, the studs will
turn in the annular recesses without producing any effect on the vertical
shaft. A feather or feathers on the upper end of the shaft 29 fit into vertical
slots in the boss of a worm wheel c, which rests upon the wheel a, and is
driven by a worm upon the shaft or axle of the steering wheel 11, for the
purpose of communicating an axial motion to the shaft 29. Instead of a
single worm, two might for greater strength be adapted, one at each side of
the wheel c, the axles of the two worms being geared together to ensure their
simultaneous action; and in order to act with greater rapidity, the intermediate
wheel c might be connected with the driving shaft of the engine in such a
manner that the required direction might be imparted direct. therefrom to the
screw propeller, only in this case it would be necessary to employ any
of the
known means of gearing to permit of instantaneous action.
When the screw is not in action the rudder is worked by this wheel by
means of the hollow shaft 29 and its endless chain 30, the vertical shaft 16
remaining fixed and in its normal position, as seen in Fig..1..

page_text: The vertical shaft 16 has two longitudinal slots cut in its lower part for
the reception of two feathers d, Fig. 2, which are connected to the hollow
shaft 29 above by two keys, enclosed in the annular recess at the lower part
of the said hollow shaft. The feathers d are connected at their lower part to
a collar e, round which the bevil wheel 13 revolves, which wheel is composed
of two parts bolted together, and holding between them a ring e', which serves
to prevent the wheel from slipping off the collar. The object of the feathers d
is to allow of the adjustment to the vertical shaft 16 of the screw frame 21,
and at the same time to allow the motion of the hollow shaft 29 to be trans-
mitted to the collar e. It will now be understood that the wheel 13 being
connected by the feathers d to the hollow shaft 29, it is only necessary to
raise this latter to disengage the wheel 13 from the wheels 12 and 17, into
which it gears, to prevent the action of the driving shaft upon the screw. It
is, however, necessary when the propeller is required to be employed, to con-
nect the screw shaft 18 with the driving shaft 4, in order that the rotation of
the driving shaft may be transmitted directly upon the screw. This is effected
in the following manner:-The shaft 16 has at its lower part an enlargement
f, having an opening cut through it for the passage of the collar y (see Fig. 3),
and screw shaft 18. The collar 9 has a groove cut in it for the reception
of a ring h, having an opening of an oval form, and which is connected by
two links and j on one side to the enlargement f; and on the other to the
collar e. When the collar e rises. it tends to straighten the two links vertically,
which will thereby bring the ring h, and consequently the collar f, nearer to
the projecting rod or clutch of the wheel 12; the ring h, in consequence of its
oval form, will facilitate this movement by rising, as the link i being attached
to the enlargement cannot move in that direction; the ring will therefore
rise, and cause the collar to slide towards the clutch. By this means,
the movement of the wheel a, worked by the winch handle on the axle
of the pinion a', will, through the hollow shaft 29 and the feathers d, raise
the collar e, and carry the wheel 13 out of gear with the wheels 12 and 17;
_ and _at_the_same_time, by means of the links i and j and the ring h, the
collar or clutch will be carried forward and brought into connection with
the driving shaft 4, the bevil, wheels being by this means thrown out of gear.
It will be understood that this arrangement is only useful when the gearing
is not employed; but as there is no disadvantage attending the employment of
these latter, this connecting and disconnecting apparatus may be dispensed
with, and the screw rendered independent of the driving shaft by any suitable
means..
If it be not desired to employ the propeller (as the screw, if connected withi

page_text: the driving shaft, would offer too great a resistance to the progress of the
vessel), the hollow shaft 29 must be raised sufficiently, merely to ungear the
intermediate wheel 13 without connecting the collar or clutch with the driving
shaft; by this means the screw will be free to turn loosely. In order again
to bring the wheels into gear, the winch handle on the axle of the pinion a¹ is
to be turned, so as to lower the hollow shaft 29; the clutch will then be with-
drawn by means of the links i and j, and the wheel 13 coming again into gear
with the wheels 12 and 17, the apparatus will be in a position for performing
any evolution required. Care must be taken to reverse the motion of the
engine when the gearing or ungearing operation is performed, as it must be
borne in mind that the bevil gearing reverses the direction of rotation imparted
to the driving shaft.
Fig. 4 represents in vertical section a modification by which the bevil
gearing may be dispensed with. a' is a ring, having an annular;
groove formed
in its inner face for the reception of pins b, b, b, b, projecting from the ends
of the propeller blades c¹, c', c¹, c¹; these latter are connected in pairs, and set
in a contrary direction to each other, the shafts which unite them being bent,
in order to allow of their passing over cach other in the centre, inside a hollow
boss, formed of two parts bolted together. This arrangement allows of the two
pairs of blades oscillating one upon the other within the same centre of motion.
In this arrangement the ring governs the position or pitch of the screw
blades, as, by causing it to advance or retire, the blades are caused to turn on
their pivots, and assume a greater or less degree of inclination, and thus alter
the pitch of the screw. In order to cause the vessel to swing round, or to
steer it in any required direction, the ring is turned in one direction or the
other; the inclination of the ring will alter the position of the blades, which
being adapted to the centre in pairs, one extremity of each pair will be pre-
sented edgewise to the action of the water, and will consequently produce no
effect thereon; whilst the other extremity will act with its whole surface, and
will thus impart motion to the vessel in one direction or the other, according to
the direction of rotation communicated to the driving shaft, or the position of the
blades produced by the ring, the vessel being by this means caused to turn round.
This ring I mount in guides which will allow of its being moved backwards
or forwards, in order to alter. the pitch of the screw, and to it are connected
four rods, which are capable of being moved, either altogether, in order to
move the ring backwards or forwards, or two of them in one direction and the
other two in the other, in order to vary its inclination either horizontally or
vertically. As the best position required to be imparted to the ring under

page_text: different circumstances can only be determined by experience, screws or levers
in connection with these rods are employed to move them, as will be easily
understood by any conipetent mechanic.
Another arrangement of a very simple nature for doing away with the bevil
gearing is represented in sectional elevation at Fig. 5. 4 is the driving shaft
which terminates in a ball at its outer extremity. This ball fits into a socket
formed in the propeller boss, and it is provided with two small pins x, a, which
work in slots formed in the socket. The operation, of this arrangement is
very simple. The rotary motion of the shaft 4 is transmitted to the boss of
the screw by means of the resistance offered by the pins a, a, and when it is
desired to turn the frame carrying the screw, this latter is to be acted on by
means of the vertical shaft, which terminates at the point y, and turns in a
step. in a bracket attached to the stern post of the vessel. The upper part of
the propeller frame is rigidly attached to the vertical shaft, as in the first
instance, and its lower part rests in a step below.
4
The shaft 4 being set in motion, the screw will, as above mentioned, be
caused to turn with it by means of the pins a on its spherical extremity,
but as these pins are capable of playing longitudinally in the socket of
the boss, they will, by reason of the spherical form of the ball, allow of the
boss, together with the screw frame, being set at any required angle either
to the right or left without interfering with the rotary motion of the shaft.
It will be seen that in this arrangement the screw is connected directly to
the driving shaft by means of the ball and socket joint. A clutcli arrange-
ment may be provided inside the vessel for allowing the steersman or engineer
to throw the screw out of gear with the driving shaft, in which case it would
be desirable to provide some means for lubricating the joint.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention, and shewn the best
means with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I desire
-it-to-be-understood-that-what-I-claim-as-my-Invention, and desire to secure
under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, steering vessels in any direction required, by means of a screw or
other stern propeller, so mounted and adapted to the driving shaft as to be
capable of being moved into a line at an angle to the line of the keel. I
claim this mode of using stern propellers, whatever may be the form and
number of propellers employed for that purpose, and whether the required
inclination of the screw or propeller be obtained continuously or only at certain
periods, as above mentioned.
Secondly, I claim connecting the rudder to the screw either permanently or

page_text: temporarily, in order that the inclination of the latter may determine that of
the rudder to any required position, and thereby facilitate the changing of the
direction of the vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ismael Isaac Abadie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
A. PERPIGNA.
I. I. ABADIE. (L.S.)