IMPROVEMENTS IN LEVER SAILS, AND IN SUBMERGED FEATHERING PROPELLERS
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Parker at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th March 1859. .
I, JAMES PARKER, of Claremont Cottage, Lilford Road, Camberwell, Surrey,
Solicitor's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LEVER SAILS, AND IN SUBMERGED FEATHERING PROPELLERS,"
to be as follows:-
1st, greatly to increase the results hitherto obtained from wind power; and,
secondly, so far as regards vessels, to apply the same in a more advantageous
manner by an improved method of propulsion, one of the advantages being
that vessels may sail directly against the wind.
The nature of the first branch of my Invention is to multiply the power
produced by the pressure of the wind, by receiving the same upon direct-acting
lever sails, by which term I mean sails placed upon arms attached to a
central shaft, similar to the arms of an ordinary water wheel, so that
the portion of the sails exposed to the wind (when the vessel is sailing in the
wind's eye) recede directly from the wind, the other portion of the sails being
protected from the wind by a curved screen, inclining to and directing
the wind upon that portion of the sails not protected by the screen.
multiply the power obtained from the central shaft by so connecting that
shaft with the driving shaft of the propeller, that the latter shaft shall revolve
more or less slowly than the former, according to the leverage or power
desired to be obtained.
I
My improved submerged feathering propeller consists of two wheels
fastened to two separate shafts, placed parallel to and at a convenient distanco

page_text: from each other, in an air channel or trough formed in the bottom of
the vessel, the ends of the shafts passing through the sides of the trough, and
the wheels being so placed in the channel or trough that their circumference
projects below the trough into the water. An endless chain, with paddle floats
attached thereto, passes round the wheels, so that the floats travel between
the wheels. in a straight line; the number and size of the floats may be
varied, so as to adopt the propeller to any given vessel. I cause the floats to
feather by attaching the same to the chain, by means of a pin at each end of
the float, so that the float can freely move upon the pins when connected with
the chain. These pins I place, not opposite to the centre of the float,
but nearer to the bottom, and I place stops in front of the lower portion of
the float on the chain. When the floats are drawn through the water by
the chain, the greater surface of the upper portion of each float keeps
the lower part tight against the stops, and the float is then at a right angle
with the water; but directly the float begins to lift out of the water, and the
immersed portion of that part above the pin becomes less than the portion
below the pin, the lower portion of the float is forced backward, and the float
is feathered. The returning floats being feathered, drive but little air out of
the trough, and I supply the small portion so driven out either by a fan, or, if
the vessel be of deep draught, by a pump or other suitable means. When
the lever sails are applied to a sharp vessel, the power may be multiplied less,
and, the speed thereby increased in proportion.
I also claim the application of lever sails before mentioned to the propulsion
of vehicles on land, to draw ploughs and other agricultural implements, and to
drive mills and other machinery.
I also claim the submerged feathering propeller in connection with steam
power, either alone or in conjunction with wind power, obtained by the lever
sails before mentioned.