Improvements in and connected with the Propulsion of Ships or Vessels, and in the Machinery therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1891--Accepted, 19th Mar., 1992
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Propulsion of Ships or
Vessels, and in the Machinery therefor.
I, WILLIAM MACGOWAN,, of Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Marine
Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts of propelling mechanism and fittings
for the propulsion of sailing ships, steamers or vessels by auxiliary steam'or other
motive-power engines; being mainly developments of, or improvements upon my
former Patent No. 2761 Feb 22 1887 and devised for the more perfect carrying
into practice of the said former improvements.
The improvements generally consist, first, in forming the stern post of the ship
or vessel with a recess of a depth preferably fully more than half the width of the
propeller blades rounded at the upper and lower ends approximately to the
extremities of the shape of the blade, and continued parallel or nearly parallel in to
the central boss carrying the outer end of the stern tube and bearing of the propeller
shaft this stert. post having also formed or fitted on it bosses for the carrying of
the lower and upper swivelling pintles of the rudder preferably nearly in a line with
the centre of the propeller blades or behind this, a nearly corresponding recess
being cut in the back of the rudder to clear the propeller blades.
And further in fitting and securing the overhung hollow central crosshead or
propeller boss by a bored eye and turned flange to a flange on the end of the
propeller shaft, secured by tight fitting screw studs and bolts; and in turning or
swivelling the propeller blades to the desired pitch by a crank secured by a tapered
eye and groove and feather with securing screw nut and pin, on the extreme inner
end of each spindle of the propeller within the hollow boss. And in having the
steel crank pin cottered in the other end of the crank fitted within a bronze or gun-
metal bush sliding transversely in planed slotted slides in opposite ends of a cross-
head formed on the outer end of the longitudinal reciprocating spindle, passed in
through guide bushes in the hollow propeller shaft, and having the outer end of
this rod, beyond the crosshead, guided in a recess bored on the inside of the end
closing in cap of the hollow propeller boss, the reciprocation of this rod and cross-
head within the propeller shaft oscillating the propeller blades to the desired pitch
within the vessel. Or as an alternative to these cranks for oscillating the propeller
spindles and blades, segmental bevel wheels may be similarly mounted and secured
on the inner ends of their spindles and have a bevel wheel working into tliese
segmental wheels, similarly secured on the outer end of a steel or bronze rotating
feathering shaft fitting in bearings within the hollow propeller shaft, so that the
turning of the feathering shaft from the inside of the ship within the propeller
shaft as hereinafter described would by these bevel wheels within the hollow boss,
turn or feather the blades to the desired pitch, instead of the crosshead and recipor-
cating shaft before mentioned; and the propeller blades in this case might be
more of an ordinary or elliptical pear shape.
Another improvement, consists in coupling the inner end of the hollow propeller
shaft by a strong hollow or recessed flange to a corresponding Hange on the solid
driving shaft connected to the engine, the coupling flange on the hollow propeller
shaft being put on by a deep tapered eye and feathers, with transverse pins through
and shaft to prevent the possibility of longitudinal shifting, and at the same
time allow of the propeller shaft being removed from the stern end. These coupling
eye

page_text: flanges would be secured together by turned tapered bolts fitted in bored tapered
holes secured by nuts and cross pins.
Further improvements consist in new arrangements and combinations of
mechanism for either traversing the draw spindle or turning it when it is a rotating
shaft within the propeller shaft, for feathering the propeller blades as before stated
within the ship. One arrangement for effecting this consists in turning the inner
end of these spindles parallèl, either with a square threaded screw on them or not,
according as they are drawing or turning spindles, and fitting round them bronze or
gun-metal bushes within the inner jointing Hange end of the propeller shaft, and
corresponding jointing end of the driving shaft, with large sunk bearing collars,
into which the turned eye of a rotating wheel would be fitted, to give tight bearing
and wearing surface. This wheel might either be a spur wheel fitted on the screw,
or a screw wheel within the hollow recess of the coupling flanges also fitted on the
screw of the inner spindle as a turning screw nut to reciprocate it longitudinally.
In the former case the spur wheel would be turned by a spur pinion on the inner
end of a short longitudinal screw spindle, working in bushes in the flanges, and
passed out through a stuffing box in one of these, and having its outer end working
in a bearing bracket screwed to the side of the driving shaft, with a square on its
out end, so as to be turned by a strong oscillating hand lever, to turn the shaft
and pinion and also the wheel working on the screw of the rod within the propeller
shaft, to reciprocate it longitudinally to set the blades to any desired angle or bring
them in line with the axis of the shaft or keel when that was desired. For fixing
these in any desired position, a screw pointer bracket would be fitted on the screw
of this setting spindle, with a jam nut on its one side, which when screwed up woul!
secure the spindle in the position it was set to, and also the internal wheels and
draw spindle and propeller blades, the pointer by an index cut on the shaft showing
to the person setting the propeller blades, the angle at which they were set for, the
time being. When a screw wheel was fitted within the hollow recessed coupling, a
screw or worm would be formed on the centre of a transverse shaft working out
through bearing bushes half in one side and end of each coupling flange; and
stuffing boxes would be fitted on each outer end of this spindle. One end of the
spindle would be stronger than the other, and have a square on it for being actuated
by a hand lever, or it might be a wheel in this case shipped on to the square end of
this spindle, for turning the screw wheel in this case. The other lighter end of the
screw spindle beyond its stuffing box, would have a screw and transverse pointer
Bracket on it, equivalent to that on the former longitudinal screw, traversed in a
groove or other equivalent on an index bracket secured to the coupling flange, so
that the position of this pointer would also show,the angle to which the blades were
set, and the screw pointer would have a jam nut also to secure it in the position it
was set to.
In the case in which the internal spindle has to rotate to feather the propeller
blades, then these spur pinions or screw pinions would be keyed on to the internal
spindle instead of working as screw nuts on it and turn the spindle instead of recipro-
cating it to feather the blades by the bevel wheels within the hollow propeller
stern boss. A thin joint of red-lead, or canvas and red-lead, or other equivalent
would be fitted between the joint flange couplings to make these water-tight; and
the stuffing-boxes on the internal screw spindles for setting and fixing the propeller
blades at the desired angle would prevent all water passing in through the hollow
propeller shaft.
Dated the 19th February 1841
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Propulsion of Ships or
Vessels, and in the Machinery therefor.
1, WILLIAM MACGOWAN of No. 9 Montgomery Street Ardrossan, County of
Ayr, Scotland, Marine Surveyor, 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:―
My said invention, has reference to, and comprises, improvements in the construe-
tion or arrangement, and combination, of the parts of propelling mechanism, and
fittings for the propulsion of sailing ships, steamers, or vessels, by auxiliary steam,
or other motive power engines, being mainly developments, of or improvements
upon, my former l'atent, No. 2761 Feb 22 1887, and devised for the more perfect
carrying into practice of the said former improvements. And in order that my said
invention, and the manner of performing or carrying the same into effect or
practice, may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended two explanatory
sheets of drawings, in which the same reference letters are used, to indicate corre-
sponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1, is an elevation, to a small scale of part of the stern end of a
ship or vessel, shewing the sternpost P, the rudder R. propelling blades A A, pro-
peller boss B, on which the blades A. A are mounted, also part of the shafting S S',
and coupling flange F', which connects the shaft S to the propeller boss B, at its
flange or turned flange face F.
Figures 2, 3, and 4, are sectional views of the new or improved propeller boss B,
with internal mechanism, to be hereinafter more particularly described.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 shews a sectional elevation or view of the inuer end of
shaft S, (the other end of which is connected with the boss B) where coupled to
driving shaft S, connected with engine. It also shews the mechanism which
actuates the reciprocating rod C, which moves freely through the shafts S, and
axially projects into the boss B, where it connects with the blade-spindles a a, by
means of cranks K K, as seen in Figures 2 and 3 Sheet 1.
Figure 2 of Sheet 2, shows an elevation of exterior of coupling flanges F2 F",
also setting spindle C, with index pointer N, jam nut n, bearing bracket b', and
end square C.
Figure 3 of Sheet 2, is an end view of coupling flange F3 of shaft S¹, showing
coupling bolts and nuts, and part of stuffing box.
Referring to these drawings, the nature and novelty of my invention consist all
as follows: First, as shown in Figure 1 Sheet 1, in forming the sternpost P, of the
ship or vessel, with a recess 0 0, preferably symmetrical, of a depth preferably,
fully more than half the width of the propeller blades A A, rounded at the upper
and lower ends, approximately to the extremities of the shape of the blades A A.
and continued parallel into the central eye E, formed in the sterupost P, which
carries the outer end of the stern tube T, and bearing of propeller shaft S. The
sternpost P has also formed or fitted on it gudgeons G, for carrying the swivelling
pintles p, of the rudder R, preferably in a line with the centre of propeller
blades A A, a nearly corresponding recess 0 0¹, to that O in the sternpost ',
being formed in the rudder R, preferably of such dimensions, that the rudder R,
being swung on its swivelling pintles p, to an angle approximately 45°, to line
of keel of ship or vessel, or in nautical "parlance "hard a port or starboard, that
the propeller blades A. A, being carried round by the revolution of the shaft S, ou
its axis will pass clear of the rudder R; even should the blades A A, not be
feathered to any angle, from line of keel or shaft S. And further in forming the
hollow central boss B of a new or improved construction, as shown at B, B, B" B
in Figures 2 to 4 Sheet 1, having a bored eye, and turned flange face for
1.

page_text: coupling to a flange F¹ on the end of propeller shaft S, secured by tight fitting studs
or bolts. Also, for the purpose of swivelling the propeller blades A A, by their
spindles a a, (the extremities of which project into the interior of the boss B) by
cranks K K, secured by tapered eyes, and groove and feather at and nuts KK,
to the ends of the spindles a, and in having the steel crank pins , cottered in
the other end of the cranks K K, fitted with bronze or gun metal bushes V V,
sliding transversely in planed slotted slides W. W, in opposite ends of the cross-
head C, formed on the outer end of the reciprocating rod C. passed in through
guide bushes in the hollow propeller shaft S, and having the outer end of the
rod C, beyond the crosshead C¹, guided in a recess 02, bored in the inside of
the closing end cap m. The reciprocation of the rod C, and crosshead C¹, within the
propeller boss B, and shafts S oscillates the propeller blades A. A, to any desired
pitch, or angle, by the cranks K K, all as particularly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4
of Sheet 1. And further in forming the hollow central boss B, of such shape
exteriorly and general relative dimensions, that the proportions of its major axis,
(coinciding with the line 1-1 Figure 2 Sheet 1) to its minor axis, (coinciding
with the line 2-2 Figure 2 Sheet 1) approximates to the cognate proportions
of an ellipsoid, the blades A A being mounted on its major axis by short
spindles a a, formed with the blades A. A, projecting through the extremities
of major axis or bosses BB, preferably fitted with bushes into the interior
of the hollow central boss B. The ellipsoidal proportions of my improved pro-
peller boss B, may vary in their major and minor axes from a small definite
practical inequality to an equality such that the major axis is as 2 to 1 of the
minor axis, whereas in my former Patent No. 2761 Feb 22 1887, the pro-
pelling blades (as seen in the accompanying drawings of that Patent) were
mounted at the extremities of the long radial arms of a crosshead, forged or formed
on the extremity of the shaft which revolved the crosshead. As shown in the
figures on Sheets 1 and 2, I have substituted a spheroidal boss B of ellipsoidal pro-
portions, flange faced or flanged at F for attachment to the flange F of the shaft S.
which revolves it. Another improvement consists in coupling the immer end of the
hollow propeller shaft S, by a strong hollow or recessed flange F, to a corresponding
flange 3, of the solid driving shaft S', connected with the engine, the coupling
Hange 2, on the hollow propeller shaft S being put on by a deep tapered eye e¹,
and feather or key e, with transverse pins through the eye e¹, and shaft S, to
prevent possibility of longitudinal shifting, and at the same time, allow of the pre-
peller shaft S, being removed from the stern end. These coupling flanges F2, F",
would be secured together by turned and tapered bolts, fitted in bored and tapered
holes, and secured by nuts and cross pins. Another improvement consists in an
arrangement and combination of mechanism for traversing the draw spindle or
reciprocating rod C, within the hollow propeller shaf: S for feathering the propeller
blades A A, from within the ship or vessel. On the reciprocating rod C, Figure 1
Sheet 2 is formed a square threaded screw C³, at that part of the rod C, and of
such length as suitable, its middle point approximately in the same plane as the
junction of the coupling flanges F2 F3 Bronze or gun metal bushes b, are fitted
round the reciprocating rod C (where the square threaded screw C³ is formed)
within the inner jointed flange F, at end of propeller shaft S and corresponding
jointing flange F3 of the driving shafts S', with large sunk bearing collars, into
which the turned axle eye ³, of a rotating spur wheel d, would be fitted to give
tight bearing and wearing surface. The axis of the spur wheel d is a hollow serew
fitted on to the square threaded screw C³ formed on the reciprocating rod C. The
spur wheel d, would be rotated by a spur pinion d'; on the immer end of a short
longitudinal screw spindle C, working in bushes b, in the flange and passed out
through a stuffing box gland (Figure 3 Sheet 2) in one of these flanges, and
having its outer end CC, working in a bearing bracket, screwed to the side of
the driving shaft S', with a square on its end C5, so as to be turned by any suitable
oscillating lever to actuate the pinion d. The turning of the spur wheeld, by the
pinion would reciprocate the rod C, and set the blades A:A, to any desired angle

page_text: up
or bring them into a line with the axis of the shaft S, or the keel of the vessel or
ship. A screw pointer bracket N, would be fitted on the screw C of the of the
setting spindle, with a jam nut n, on its one side, which when screwed would
secure the setting spindle C, in the position which it was set to, and also the internal
wheels d d', and draw spindle or reciprocating rod C, and propeller blades A. A...
The pointer N, by any index divisions cut upon the shaft. S. would shew to the
person setting the propeller blades A. A, the angle at which they were set to for the
ime being. Although I have only described one arrangement and combination of
mechanism for feathering the blades A A, by the reciprocating rod C, with cross-
head C, and cranks K K, within the propeller boss B, it is to be understood, that
any other equivalent arrangement heretofore used or known may be adapted to the
other substantive parts or elements of my invention. The main and substantive
parts of my invention, either as parts or as combinations consists in the constructive
form, of the sternpost P, in having a large single recess O, within which a propeller
may revolve, an improvement upon my former Patent No. 2761 Feb 22 1887,.
wherein there was shewn in the accompanying drawings of that Patent, Figure 1
Sheet a sternpost with two small segmental recesses, adjacent to the small blades
of propeller therein shewn. Also the formation of rudder R, with a large singlé
recess corresponding to the large single recess O, in the sternpost P, both
recesses together forming the propeller space within which the propeller revolves,
the formation of the large single recessed rudder R, enabling also the shaft S, with
the boss B attached to it, to be withdrawn sternwards from the ship or vessel, pro-
vided the rudder R be swivelled on its pintles to its maximum angle with the line
of keel of the ship or vessel.
Another substantive part of my invention, is the constructive form of an ellip-
soidal boss B, (or it may be a spherical or ordinary form of propeller boss) with a
Hange face F, or turned plane face or flange for attachment to a flanged end F of
a propeller shaft S, with suitable strong stud bolts or coupling bolts. Also the
corresponding flanged end F', of the propeller shaft S, is a substantive improvement,
and an essential of the combination, of a flange faced propeller boss B, and flanged
propeller shaft S. Another substantive part of my invention consists, in coupling
the inner end of shaft S, by a recessed coupling flange F2 fitted on a shaft S, having
a deep tapered eve e and feather e, also the enclosure of the spur wheel d, and
pinion wheel in a recess within the coupling flanges 2 and 3, also the setting
spindle C, and the index pointer N. The material of my improved propeller
boss B, and of the propeller blades A A, and also of the feathering mechanism
as a whole, may be of brouze, gun-metal, or other suitable metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said iuven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:-
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination, of the parts.
of a feathering propeller and fittings, substantially as herein described, and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In ships or vessels; propelled by steam or other motive power, the
construction and arrangement of a sternpost having a large single recess, within
which a propeller may revolve, substantially as and in the manner herein described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In ships or vessels propelled by steam or other motive power, the cou-
struction and arrangement of a rudder having a large single recess within which a
propeller may revolve, substantially as and in the manner herein described, and.
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In ships or vessels propelled by steam or other motive power the
combination of a sternpost P, and a rudder R, cach having a large single
recess O, O', which together form the space, within which a propeller may revolve,
substantially as and in the manner herein described, and shown in the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: Fifth. In propellers of ships or vessels, the construction of the central boss B, of
spheroidal form either of ellipsoidal or spherical proportions, and Hangé faced, or
with a flange for attachment to a flanged propeller shaft, substantially as and in the
manner herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In feathering propellers of ships or vessels the combination comprising a
hollow central boss B, with flange face F, or flanged for attachment by means of
coupling bolts or stud bolts to a flange F, on propeller shaft S, and having two
propeller blades A A, mounted opposite each other, upon the boss B, in eyes B¹ B",
by means of their short stems aa, projecting into interior of hollow boss B, and
attached to feathering mechanism, substantially as and in the manner herein
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The construction of propeller shafts S of ships or vessels, having the
inner end formed or fitted, with a recessed flange with deep tapered eye e¹ and
feather for attachment to driving shaft S', and having their outer end formed or
fitted with a flange F, for attachment to propeller boss, substantially as and in the
manner herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
<
Eighth. I ships or vessels, the combination of feathering, mechanism for
feathering propellers," comprising a spur wheel d, and pinion wheel d', enclosed
within recessed Hanges FF, and actuated by a spindle C, having an index
pointer N, all for actuating a reciprocating rod C, and thereby feathering the
propeller blades A A, substantially as and in the manner herein described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated 15th love of October 1801
WILLIAM MACGOWAN.