A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN OCEAN STEAMERS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, of the City and
County of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America,
for the Invention of "A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN OCEAN STEAMERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ross Winans and Thomas
Winans at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 19th June 1858.
We, Ross WINANS and THOMAS WINANS, of the City and County of
Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT
IN OCEAN STEAMERS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the improvement of ocean steamers, not essentially
different in form from those hitherto in general use.
In an application for another Patent made simultaneously with this, we
have described an arrangement which we deem the most advantageous for
giving a nearly uniform speed to vessels having a spindle shaped hull; and
our present Invention is intended to give the same advantages, as far as
possible, to vessels having hulls of the usual form. This end we accomplish
by fitting the vessel with a water-tight trunk for the accommodation of a
vertical transverse propelling wheel of larger size than could advantageously
be used under any plan heretofore devised. The hull of the vessel has a
transverse opening through its lower part, of sufficient size to accommodate
the wheel presently to be described. This space is enclosed before and behind
by water-tight partitions and covered by a water-tight roof, forming a trunk
open below. A propeller is arranged in this trunk in such manner, that its

page_text: blades will project out of the trunk beyond the surface of the vessel, at the
bottom and on both sides."
The shaft of the propeller passes through suitable stuffing boxes in the
water-tight partitions, and derives motion from a steam engine, with which it
may be connected by a crank at either end. The body of the propeller
wheel may be made in any way in which strength and lightness are combined.
We propose,
however to apply the screw blades to the periphery of a drum.
In this way nearly the whole cavity of the trunk will be occupied by the drum
of the wheel, which should be water-tight to give it buoyancy.
In vessels where the breadth is much greater than the depth, we propose to
use two transverse propelling wheels arranged side by side in the trunk, and
for the purpose of strengthening the vessel, a central partition might pass
through the middle of the trunk to any distance fore and aft of it, and it
might extend from the keel upwards to any required beight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Ross
WINANS and THOMAS WINANS, of the City and County of Baltimore, in the
State of Maryland, United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
1858, in the twenty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans,
Her special license that we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, our 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of
"A NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN OCEAN STEAMERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, 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

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) -
Fig. 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a vessel embracing
our improvement; Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section of the same,
through the line x x, of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 represents a similar section through
a vessel of a form different from that shown in Fig. 2, but also embracing our
improvement; and Fig. 4 represents a side view of a vessel embracing our
improvement, and is intended to show how its hull may be strengthened.
Fig. 5 is a modification to be referred to hereafter.
Our Invention relates to the improvement of ocean steamers not essentially
different in form from those hitherto in general use.
In an application for another Patent made simultaneously with the appli-
cation for this, we have described an arrangement which we deem the most
advantageous for giving a nearly uniform speed to vessels having spindle.
shaped hulls; and our present Invention is intended to give the same advan-
tages, as far as possible, to vessels having hulls of the usual form. This end
we accomplish by fitting the vessel with a water-tight trunk for the accommo-
dation of a vertical transverse propelling wheel of larger size than could
advantageously be used under any plan heretofore devised.
The hull (A) of the vessel has a transverse opening through its lower part,
of sufficient size to accommodate the wheel presently to be described. This
opening is most advantageously placed at that part of the length of the vessel
at which side paddle wheels are placed, which is generally nearer the stern
than the bow; this space is enclosed before and behind by water-tight
partitions (a, b,) and covered by a water-tight roof (C) forming a trunk open
below. A propeller (P) is arranged in this trunk in such manner, that its
blades will project out of the trunk beyond the surface of the vessel, at the
bottom and on both sides. The shaft (S) of the propeller passes through
suitable stuffing boxes in the partitions (a, b,) and derives motion from a steam
engine, with which it may be connected by a crank at either end. The body
of the propeller wheel may be made in any way in which strength and lightness
are combined.
We propose, however, to fasten the screw blades upon t
the periphery of a

page_text: drum fastened to the shaft. In this way nearly the whole cavity of the trunk
will be occupied by the drum of the wheel, which should be water-tight to give
it buoyancy.
In the form of vessel shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the blades of the
propeller project at the sides and bottom, but not beyond the line of the keel,
the keel itself and the timbers or framework adjoining it may be strengthened
to give the requisite stiffness and strength to the bottom of the hull, thus
compensating the want of continuity in the sides in the part occupied by the
trunk. That portion of the hull which is above the trunk may also be
strengthened by a truss or other framing, in a manner similar to that in which
long river boats are stiffened, as shown in Fig. 4. In some cases it might be
deemed advisable to allow the propeller to project below the straight line of
the keel and to bend or curve the keel, or to place timbers or framework
below to strengthen the hull, and thus retain the advantages of a continuous
keel.
In vessels with flatter bottoms (such as the one shown in section in Fig. 3)
the blades of the propeller may project at the bottom below the line of the
keel, as well as beyond the sides; and in such case the desired strength
might best be given, not by strengthening the keel, but by beams (T) on
either side of the bottom.
This improved arrangement of the propeller may be applied to vessels
already built, but it is evident that it will be most advantageous to adapt the
structure of the vessel originally for the reception of the trunk, strengthening
framing, and other new parts. If the vessel should be constructed with
reference to the employment of a trunk and propeller of this kind, the section
of the hull below the water line in the parts adjacent to the trunk, should be
made concentric with the propeller at as many points as possible, in order that
the greatest area of propelling surface may be projected. When a vessel
constructed as above described rolls or heels over to one side from the force
of the wind, if a portion of the propeller be lifted out of the water on one side,
a corresponding portion is immersed on the other side; and the same is true
when the vessel on an even keel is passed by waves causing an elevation of
the surface of the water on one side, and a depression on the other. In either
case, nearly the same proportion of the propeller will remain immersed, thereby
giving a more uniform rate of progression to the vessel when it rolls, or is in a
heavy sea, than could be obtained with side wheels. A trunk arranged in this
way also permits the use of a propeller of greater diameter than could other-
wise be used in vessels of similar form; but the advantages which result from
the use of a screw propeller of large diameter re more particularly described

page_text: in the before-mentioned application for another Patent, and need not therefore
be described here.
Our improved mode of construction will permit the use of a short shaft, for
the propeller is brought near to the engine or engines; the most advantageous
position for which, when large and powerful, as in ocean steamers, is adjacent
to the best position for the trunk and propeller. An engine may be placed
either before or behind the trunk, or two may be used, one before and the other
behind it. In either case we attain a far greater compactness of arrangement
in the machinery than is possible with the ordinary stern or quarter propeller.
The advantages of our arrangement of the engines are more fully set forth
in an application for another Patent made simultaneously with the application
for this.
The position of the wheel within the hull dispenses with the framework
required to support the shaft and blades of a stern propeller, and this is
advantageous, as all such frames add resistances to the motion of the vessel.
In our improvement, the hull itself affords the support and no other resistance
is superadded. The pitching of the vessel cannot, under our improved
arrangement, lift the wheel out of the water and immerse it alternately, as
may happen when it is at the stern, and thereby cause shocks in the machinery
similar to those caused by rolling when side wheels are used. The trunk has
been described as placed not far from the middle of the vessel, this position.
being considered by us as the most advantageous; but if it should, for any
reason, be deemed advisable, it may be placed in other parts of the length of:
the hull, the general advantages being retained, so long as it is kept within
the hull.
We have described above a single transverse propelling wheel as the most:
suitable for carrying out our Invention, when the relative depth and width of
the vessel are such, as to admit a propelling wheel of such size that its blades
will project from both sides of the hull; but in certain forms of vessels the.
breadth being much greater than the depth, it would be more convenient to
use two transverse propelling wheels arranged side by side in the trunk; and
for the purpose of strengthening the vessel, a central partition might pass
through the middle of the trunk to any distance fore and aft of it, and it
might extend from the keel upwards to any required height.
This modification enables us readily to apply many features of our improve-
ment to wide and comparatively flat bottomed vessels, and with great
advantage, although not with the full effect which results from its application
to vessels of forms better adapted to its use.
Various arrangements have been made for the accommodation of wholly or

page_text: partially immersed propellers, but none of these attain all of the advantages
which we propose to gain. Thus two submerged propellers have been placed
low in the hull of the vessel, one on each side; in this case the diameter of
the wheels cannot be as great as in our plan, and a more rapid motion of the
engine is required.
Again, a vertical longitudinal trunk has been used in the hull to enclose a
paddle wheel projecting through the bottom; but such an arrangement of the
paddle wheel has never been made with practical success, nor would our pro-
pelling wheel so arranged be practically successful. A vertical transverse
propeller has also been placed in the "dead wood" at the stern, but this
position limits its size; and it cannot be made, as ours is, of a diameter limited
only by the width or depth of the hull; and the parts which require to be
added for the support and protection of the wheel, present resistance to motion
through the water in addition to that of the hull itself, which additional
résistance we avoid by placing the trunk and the supports for the wheel within
the hull.
We are aware that it has been proposed to use an annular propeller
revolving around a vessel; but such a form, from the great amount of friction
produced and its liability to distortion, owing to its want of strength, could
not be employed with success; besides, our Invention is easily distinguished
from such a contrivance, as this refers only to a propelling wheel which has a
continuous radial support from the axis of rotation. All such arrangements
ȧre therefore essentially different from ours.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that under the
above recited Letters Patent, we claim, the combination of a vertical transverse
trunk within the hull of a vessel with a screw propeller of large diameter,
whose blades shall project beyond the outline of the hull, substantially, as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Thirteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1858.
Witness,
GEO. BECKENBAUGII.
ROSS, WINANS.
THOS. WINANS.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)