Year: 1886

page_text: I, JOHN SUTTON of Formby in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The blades of screw propellers when not in motion cause considerable resistance
to the passage of a ship or vessel through the water, when under sail or being
towed, and much difficulty in steering, and to obviate this expensive apparatus
for feathering the propellers or for lifting them out of the water are fitted to some
ships.
I consider that were the propeller free to revolve with the action of the water
against it, the resistance would not be nearly so great, and it is to enable me to
carry this out by uncoupling or disconnecting the shaft that the invention is
designed. To uncouple the shaft at one of its joints merely, would be to leave it
free to move longitudinally towards the stern, when the pressure of the water
came upon the propeller. It is to prevent this that my invention is designed.
•
In carrying out the invention I construct a bracket or pedestal preferably in the
form of a bearing. This is securely fastened to the tunnel of the shaft, and stayed
by means of rods against the bulk head, so as to be sufficiently rigid to bear the
pressure acting against the propeller. It may be lined with brass or other soft
metal, and faced on one side with the same. A sleeve or collar is securely bolted
or otherwise fastened to the shaft, with a flange or collar which abuts against, or
almost against the face of the bracket. The face of this collar is preferably fitted
with friction rollers or balls which bear against the face of the bracket. The bracket
and sleeve are preferably made in two pieces, so that they can be easily bolted or
fitted in position. A wrought iron clamp may also be secured to the shaft, to
prevent any possibility of slipping, should it be thought necessary. The distance
between the bulk head and the bracket should be sufficient to allow of the
packing in the stern tube being renewed when required. Where the bulk head
is insufficiently strong, or not conveniently situated, the bracket may be stayed
in any other suitable manner.
•

page_text: When it is intended to proceed under sail or otherwise without the assistance of
the propeller, the sleeve or clamp is securely fixed to the shaft, and one of the
couplings of the shaft unfastened. The action of the water on the propeller blades
cause them to revolve, offering but slight resistance and the sleeve or collar
abutting against the bracket prevents the pressure on the propeller, drawing the
shaft out of its normal position. The propeller blades revolving with the motion
of the ship do not churn up the water in the same way as when stationary, and
the steering of the ship is not interfered with as would otherwise be the case.
Date Lon] 1000

page_text: revolving with the motion of the ship do not draw the water after them in the
same way as when stationary, nor is the steering of the ship interfered with as
would otherwise be the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim broadly the use of a flange on the propeller shaft
to bear against the face of the bearing, as I am aware shafts have been made with
a solid flange forged and turned thereon, but that what I claim is:
1st. A screw propeller shaft having a sleeve or collar clamped thereto, so that its
face, or friction balls or rollers set therein shall bear against the face of a firmly
fixed bearing or pedestal when the coupling is disconnected, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2nd. The apparatus for holding the shaft when the screw is not being driven
but is disconnected from the engines, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described.