Improvements in and Apparatus or Machinery for the Propulsion of Boats, Vessels, and other Floating Bodies.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus or Machinery for the Propulsion
of Boats, Vessels, and other Floating Bodies.
I, HUGH WILLIAM JACKSON WILKINSON of 8 Marlboro Crescent, Bedford
Park, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to the propulsion of boats, vessels, and other floating
bodies hereafter termed vessels in either a forward or backward direction as
desired by means of blades pivotted on vertical axes at the sides of the vessel, the
said blades projecting laterally therefrom below the water line and being caused to
give propulsive effect to the vessel say in a forward direction by being brought to
a position parallel to the sides thereof; any number of such blades may be used
upon both sides of the vessel, and according to my invention I arrange the blades
in pairs, the two blades composing each pair being located one upon each side of
the vessel, and any number of such pairs may be employed but are so operated
that while one pair is moving with propulsive effect, another pair has a retrograde
or ineffective motion, the pairs thus working alternately. The blades are provided
with movable plates or webs which are caused to "feather," or move into an
edgewise position, during, or previous to, the retrograde motion of the blades.
Each blade is carried upon an independent vertical axis at the side of the vessel
as aforesaid, and is operated by an arm or arms extending within the interior of.
the vessel, the inner end or ends of these arms being actuated, that is, rocked to
and fro in a horizontal plane, by a suitable power motor. Thus the interior arms
appertaining to a pair of blades one on each side of the vessel may be connected to
the piston rod of a steam or other cylinder. Such cylinder may be of quadruple
expansion type and the piston rod may pass entirely through the series of cylinders,
its opposite rear end being connected to the inner ends of two rock levers mounted
on fixed centres, the outer ends of these rock levers being connected to the inner
operating arms of the next pair of blades, and by these means while the forward
pair of blades are communicating propulsive effect to the vessel, the next pair will
be given their return motion; in such a case the cylinder or cylinders would be
located in horizontal position lengthwise of the vessel and centrally therein.
Instead however of the connecting rod passing directly through the cylinders
I may employ a separate set of cylinders to operate each pair, and the alternate
motion of the piston rods is maintained by suitable means, say, by a tappet action
effecting the admission of steam at proper sides of the pistons to maintain their
alternate action and thus dispense with the rock-levers before mentioned. Or each
pair of blades may have separate quadruple expansion engines, the piston rod of
the 1st and 2nd cylinders operating one blade, whilst the piston rod of the 3rd
and 4th cylinders operates the other blade, and so on, for each pair of blades; in
all such cases suitable provision should be made by cam or tappet action to connect
the separate engines in order to ensure their action being alternative. Or I may
arrange a series of quadruple expansion or other cylinders upon opposite sides of
the vessel so that each arm may have a separate cylinder or cylinders and piston
rods to put same in action, thus for example the forward blade on the port-side
may be operated by the 1st and 2nd cylinders of a quadruple set, while the next

page_text: rear blade on the same side may be operated by the 3rd and 4th cylinders of the
same set, being suitably connected to ensure alternate motion; the arrangement
for the starboard is similar. Where a set of quadruple expansion cylinders are
arranged upon each side of the vessel, piston rods may pass entirely therethrough,
the forward end say of the port piston rod being connected to the forward port
blade, while the rear end of the same piston rod is connected to one end of a rock-
lever pivotted centrally within the vessel, the other end of the rock-lever actuating
the next rear blade on the starboard side.
I form each of the blades previously mentioned of an open framework, the
frame being of a section designed to offer the least obstruction to its passage
through the water. Within this open framework I pivot the plate or plates or
webs before mentioned which are caused to assume automatically an edgewise
position or to "feather" during the return motion of the blade whilst such plates
lie in the same plane as the blade when the latter is acting, and the direction in
which the vessel travels depends upon whether the plates or webs are "feathered"
at the commencement, or during the outward or inward stroke of the blades.
In carrying out my invention and by way of example (although it is to be
understood that I do not limit myself to such precise mechanical combinations) the
inner end of each blade is securely keyed or fixed to its vertical shaft, the boss of
the blade and part of the blade itself fitting in a recessed portion at the side of the
vessel, while the ends of the shaft pass through upper and lower bearings and
glands to the interior of the vessel. To the upper and lower ends of the shaft the
operating arms for rocking the blades are securely fixed, and the inner ends of
these arms connected, say by a crosshead, are operated by the power motor as
aforesaid. The feathering plates are mounted within the blade frames upon
horizontal axes and connected by arms and connecting rods, so that when the upper
blade or blades is or are feathered, the lower blade or blades occupy the same
position. The upper plate is fitted with an arm pivotted to a loop or slide upon
say the upper member of the blade framework, so that when such slide is operated
in a direction at, or about, right angles to the plane of the blade, the position of
the plates is altered. This slide may be conveniently carried, or may form part of,
an arm, extending from a sleeve through which the vertical shaft of the blade
passes freely. This sleeve extends through a gland to the interior of the vessel
where it is provided with an operating arm. By partially rotating this operating
arm relatively to the blade, when the latter is in its forward position, the plates
may be brought into an active position, and when the blade is in its rearward
position, a proper motion given by the sleeve arm to the slide will feather the
blades for their return motion; such motions of the sleeve arm in the interior of
the vessel may be communicated by any suitable mechanical means as will be well
understood, but a convenient way of effecting this motion automatically is to pivot
to the blade-operating-arm at a proper distance from the vertical shaft of the
blade, a connecting rod, the opposite end of which latter is pivotted to a crank arm
of a length equal to the distance at which the opposite end of the connecting rod is
pivotted from the blade shaft, and thus the rocking of the blade arm produces a
parallel motion of the connecting rod. The crank arm is pivotted on a fixed
centre, and to its rocking end I pivot a centrally jointed pair of links, the opposite
end thereof extending and being pivotted to the sleeve arm of the feathering
apparatus the central joint pin of these links is located in a lengthway slide
parallel with the direction of motion of the connecting rod, the lengthway slide is
formed in a block carried in guides and capable of being moved at right angles to
the connecting rod. By these means the sleeve arm and consequently its slide,
follows the motions of the blade but its position relatively thereto may be changed
by forcing forwards the lengthway slide and distancing the sleeve arm more or less
from the crank arm.
It will be understood that by my invention the vessel may be propelled in either
direction all according to the time at which the plates are feathered relatively to
the position of the blades, and for this purpose the mechanism is so arranged

page_text: that the plates can be feathered at either the forward or rearward position of the
blades.
D
י
718
1
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in and Apparatus or Machinery for the Propulsion
of Boats, Vessels, and other Floating Bodies.
I, HUGH WILLIAM JACKSON WILKINSON of 8 Marlboro Crescent, Bedford
Park, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention refers to the propulsion of boats, vessels, and other floating
bodies hereafter termed vessels, in either forward or backward directions as
desired, by means of paddles projecting laterally therefrom below the water line
and being caused to give propulsive effect to the vessel say in a forward direction
by being brought from their laterally projecting position to a position parallel to
the sides thereof. Any number of such paddles may be used upon both sides of
the vessel and according to my invention I arrange the paddles in pairs, the two
paddles composing each pair being located one upon each side of the vessel and
any number of such pairs may be employed but are so operated that while one
pair is moving with propulsive effect, another pair has a retrograde or ineffective
motion, the pairs thus working alternately.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 to 8 inclusive illustrate by diagram plan views general arrangements
of propulsive mechanism according to my invention.
Figure 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of one of the paddles and its operating
parts, Fig. 10 is a plan view of a similar paddle and parts,
Fig. 11 is a section taken through the paddle frame and showing movable blades
therein.
Fig. 12 is a somewhat varied arrangement for feathering the blades
simultaneously and
Fig. 13 is a diagram of blade operating links.
"
Each of the paddles represented in the diagram plan views Figs. 1 to 8 by the
lines marked A is composed of a frame provided with movable blades or webs
which latter are caused to "feather" or move into an edgewise position, as here-
after more particularly described, during or previous to the retrograde motion
of the said paddles A.
Each paddle is carried upon an independent vertical axis B at the side of the
vessel as aforesaid and is operated by an arın or arms C extending within the
interior of the vessel D, the inner end or ends of these arms C being actuated, that
is rocked to and fro in a horizontal plane, by a suitable power motor. Thus as
indicated in diagram Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the interior arms C appertaining to a pair of
paddles one on each side of the vessel may be connected by connecting rods E to
the piston rod of a steam or other cylinder F. Such cylinder or cylinders F may
be of high pressure, compound, triple, quadruple expansion or other convenient and
suitable type.
In some cases as indicated at Fig. 4 the piston rod may pass entirely through
the cylinder or series of cylinders F one end of the piston rod being connected by
rods E to the arms C of one pair of paddles while the opposite end of the piston
rod is connected to the inner ends of two rock-levers G G pivotted on fixed centres,

page_text: •
'
the outer ends of these rock-levers GG being connected to the inner operating
arms C of the next pair of paddles A, and by these means while the forward pair of
paddles are communicating propulsive effect to the vessel, the next pair will be
given their return motion; in such a case the cylinder or cylinders F would be
focated in horizontal position lengthwise of the vessel and centrally therein.
Instead however of the piston rod passing directly through the cylinders I may,
as indicated by Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, employ a separate set of cylinders F to operate
each paddle, and the alternate motion of the piston rods is maintained by suitable
means say by a tappet action effecting the admission of steam at proper sides of
the pistons to maintain their alternate action and thus dispense with the rock-
levers before mentioned with reference to Fig. 4. Each pair of paddles A may
have separate quadruple expansion engines the piston rod of the first and second
cylinders operating one paddle while the piston rod of the 3rd and 4th cylinders
operates the other paddle and so on for each pair of paddles; in all such cases
'suitable provision should be made by cam or tappet action to connect the separate
engines in order to ensure their action being alternative. Or I may arrange a
series of quadruple expansion or other cylinders upon opposite sides of the vessel
see Figs. 5, 6 and 8 so that each arm may have a separate cylinder or cylinders
and piston rods to put same in action, thus for example the forward paddle on the
port-side may be operated by the 1st and 2nd cylinders of a quadruple set, while
the next rear paddle on the same side may be operated by the 3rd and 4th cylinders
of the same set, being suitably connected to ensure alternate motion; the arrange-
ment for the starboard is similar. Where a single or a set of cylinders are
arranged upon each side of the vessel, piston rods as at Fig. 7 may pass entirely
therethrough, the forward end say of the port piston rod being connected to the
forward port paddle while the rear end of the same piston rod is connected to one
arm of a rock lever G pivotted centrally within the vessel D, the other end of the
rock lever G actuating the next rear paddle on the starboard side, the forward
paddle on the starboard side and the aft paddle on the port side being acted upon
by the starboard cylinder or cylinders F. In some cases the connecting rods E
may be dispensed with as shown by Fig. 8 and oscillating cylinders employed. At
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the cylinders may be placed forward or aft of their respective
paddles, and also as in Figs. 7 and 8 the bow of the vessel might be opposite to
that shown by the diagrams.
I form each of the paddles previously mentioned of an open framework, the
frame being of a section designed to offer the least obstruction to its passage
through the water. Within this open framework I pivot the blades or webs before
mentioned which are caused to assume automatically an edgewise position or to
"feather" during the return motion of the paddle whilst such blades lie in
the same plane as the paddle when the latter is acting, and the direction in which
the vessel travels depends upon whether the plates or webs are feathered at the
commencement or during the outward or inward stroke of the blades.
I will now by way of example describe mechanism suitable for carrying out my
invention, that is means whereby the paddles may be carried, a construction of the
paddle frames and mechanism or parts whereby the blades thereof may be
feathered, although it should be understood that I do not limit myself to the
precise mechanical details shown. With this object I will now describe the
construction and mechanism connected with one paddle referring to Figs. 9 and 10.
The paddles and levers shown at Fig. 9 are turned into the same plane as the
drawing in order to facilitate the illustration, while Fig. 10 shows the part in
original position. B is a vertical shaft carried within the body or plating D of the
vessel, and free to be rocked in bearings carried from the interior framework, say
an upper bearing B' and a lower step bearing B'; the bottom brass or equivalent
of the lower bearing B' is made vertically adjustable and takes the weight of
the part.
The inuer end of the paddle frame A is securely keyed or fixed to its vertical
rock shaft B, the boss of the paddle frame and part of the paddle frame itself

page_text: fitting in an inwardly recessed portion. in the side D of the vessel, while the ends.
of the shaft B pass through upper and lower bearings and glands B B to the
interior of the vessel. To the upper and lower ends of the shaft B the operating
arms C for rocking the paddles are securely fixed and the inner ends of these
arms C, connected say by a cross head C, are operated say through a connecting
red E as shown by the power motor as aforesaid.
The bars composing the paddle frame A as will be observed by reference to.
Fig. 11 are of a somewhat flattened section in order to offer as little obstruction as
possible to its motion, and the feathering blades A are mounted within the open-
spaces of the frame A, being supported by trunnions A³, Fig. 9, adapted to turn
In order that all the-
(on a horizontal axis) in bearings in the frame ends.
blades A¹ may be feathered at the proper time I connect the same by arms and
connecting rods so that when one blade A' say the upper blade, is feathered, the
lower blades are caused to occupy a like position. To effect this result, I provide
the upper blade A¹ with a depending arm A' fixed thereto as shown at Fig. 11,
and the lower blades A' also with similar arms A³, these being connected by
connecting rods A so that the blades move simultaneously.
The upper blade A is fitted with an arm H, the outer end of the latter being
pivotted to a loop, slide, or link H' upon or near the upper member of the paddle
framework A so that when such slide is operated or the link H' is drawn in
direction at or about right angles to the plane of the paddle, the position of the
plates A is altered. This link H' may be conveniently pivotted at H2 and jointed
at H³ to an arm J extending from a sleeve J¹ Fig. 9 through which the vertical
shaft B of the paddle A passes freely. This sleeve extends through the gland B³
to the interior of the vessel where it is provided with an operating arm J.
By partially rotating this operating arm J' relatively to the paddle say for
example when the latter is in its forward position, the plates may be brought into
an active position closing the apertures of the frame A and being supported by the-
the rebates A. When the paddle is in its rearward position a proper motion
given to the sleeve arm J' will feather the blades for their return motion.
Instead of employing the arm H fixed to the upper blade A¹ as shown at Fig. 11,.
I in some cases, mount on the axis of the blade A¹ a toothed wheel H as shown at
Fig. 12; the wheel H is operated at proper times by means of a chain H¹ passing
over pulleys H* H* carried upon the paddle framework. The arm J is connected
to the chain H' so that by a motion of the arm J the chain is moved, the wheel H
partially revolved and the blade A' moved into the required position.
The required motions of the sleeve arm J' in the interior of the vessel may be
communicated thereto by any suitable mechanical means as will be well under-
stood; thus for example, and as is indicated by the diagram plan view Fig. 13,
this motion can be effected automatically by pivotting to the paddle operating
arm C at a proper distance from the vertical shaft B of the paddle, a connecting
rod L, the opposite end of which latter is pivotted to a crank arm L' of a length
say, about equal to the distance at which the opposite end of the connecting rod L.
is pivotted from the paddle shaft B. The crank arm L' is pivotted at L' on a
fixed centre, and to its rocking end I pivot a centrally jointed pair of links M M',.
the opposite end or ends of the link or links M' thereof extending and being
pivotted to the sleeve or blade arm J' of the feathering apparatus. The central
joint pin M' of these links is located in a lengthway slide N, and this lengthway
slide N is carried in guides N' and capable of being moved at or about right angles.
to the connecting rod L. By these means the sleeve arm J' follows the motions of
the paddle but its position relatively thereto may be changed by forcing forwards
the lengthway slide N say by means of the piston rod of the cylinder K and
thereby adjusting the position of the sleeve arm J' more or less from the crank
arm C as required.
Another convenient arrangement is shown at Figs. 9 and 10 for turning or
feathering the blades of the paddles by operating the blade arm J' and in which
a cylinder, preferably an oscillating cylinder K is provided, the trunnions of which

page_text: are pivotted to and carried by the rocking arm C of the paddle shaft B. The
piston (of the above mentioned cylinder K) is connected to the lever J' on the end
of the sleeve J' to which is connected the lever J for operating the blades A' of
the paddle A as aforesaid. This cylinder K may be worked by steam, air,
hydraulic, or any other pressure.
The valve of the cylinder is automatically moved by any convenient or known
meaus at every stroke of the paddle at proper times thereby putting the piston and
levers connected thereto into action and turning the blades A' of the paddle to the
required position and retaining them in that position by the pressure in the
cylinder as long as is necessary.
It will be understood that by my invention the vessel may be propelled in either
direction all according to the time at which the blades A are feathered relatively
to the position of the paddles, and for this purpose it is convenient that the
mechanism should be so arranged that the blades can be feathered at either the
forward or rearward position of the paddles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim as my improvements in and apparatus or machinery for, the propulsion of
boats, vessels, and other floating bodies, is as follows:-
1. The paddles pivotted on vertical axes at the sides of the vessel and located
below the water line, such paddles consisting of a framework carrying blades
capable of being feathered or turned edgewise at proper times, and means for
reciprocating the paddles substantially as described and with reference to Figs. 1
to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the paddles each composed of a frame pivotted on
vertical axes at the sides of vessel and located below the water line, movable
blades mounted in the paddle frame, and means for reciprocating the paddles; of
mechanism for automatically feathering or turning the blades edgewise in the
paddle frames at the commencement and during the inoperative stroke of the
paddle, and for returning and maintaining the blades in the same plane with
the paddles at the commencement and during the operative stroke of the paddles
substantially as described.
3. The general arrangement and combination of the parts constructed and acting
substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 9 to 13 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of May 1896.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.