Improvements in the Construction and Propulsion of Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 31st July, 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Propulsion of Vessels.
I, CHARLES JOHN BURNETT of 8 Chanerry, Old Aberdeen in the County of
Aberdeen, North Britain, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and propulsion of
vessels.
The object of my said invention is both to enable vessels to be propelled at
greater rates of speed than now attained or attainable or to make the present or
greater rates of speed attainable with a very considerable reduction in the amount
of power otherwise required. In vessels as at present constructed, the resistance
of the water to their motion through it increases in such an augmented rate in
proportion (especially after a certain point) as the speed of the vessel is increased
or wished to be further increased that in order to obtain a few additional knots of
speed the power may require to be actually doubled or any way very largely
increased out of all proportions to the additional speed gained or made attainable
or desired to be attained.
In accordance with my invention I build or support the body of the vessel or the
machinery, cargo, crew and passenger portion wholly or partly upon a series or set
of cylinders or more or less approximately cylindrical rotatory rollers of such low
specific gravity either from their being made hollow or from the low specific gravity
of the material or materials of which they are constructed (or from both causes)
that even when loaded with the weight of all the other portions of the vessel, with
power-generating machinery, crew, cargo, &c., intended to be carried by the vessel,
the said rotating cylinders or rollers will yet float light or high in the water, that is
to say with amount of immersion roughly and generally speaking not more, and in
very many cases very much less than half of their diameter. I may employ any
number I please of such supporting rollers and they are to be or may be connected
with the other part of the vessel that is with the machinery, cargo &c. portion or
portions of it in such way and with such contrivances of framework bracing and.
other contrivances as may at once keep them firm and steady and secure in their
relative positions and also at the same time permit of their free rotation when the
vessel is by any propelling force set on motion on the water.
revolve and with the upper half of their circumferential surfaces left out of the
water it is evident that the resistance offered by a vessel of that construction will
be very greatly less and in many cases it may be enormously less than that offered
and experienced by vessels of the ordinary construction with their stiffly resisting
unyielding surface of contact they doggedly tear and plough through the resisting
medium.
Left thus free to
I do not limit myself to any particular length or lengths, or diameter or diameters
of these supporting rollers, any more than I do as to their number or to their being
strictly cylindrical form, from which form they may vary to any extent found
convenient either in their whole length or lengths or any part thereof; while their
terminations may instead of being abruptly truncated be if found convenient or
preferably finished off with any form of taper or curve. Nor do I limit myself as
to their position or positions relative to the other previously alluded to portion or
portions or body of the vessel which they support wholly, or more or less, out of
and above the water for instance their position may be either ahead of and at same
time astern of or both ahead and astern of and also at both sides of or any other
position or positions relative to the other portion or portions of the vessel
which the said rollers wholly or partly support which may be found convenient.

page_text: I may employ a screw or screws, or a paddle wheel or paddle wheels of any
form or forms or number found convenient and placed in any position relative to
the other position or positions of the vessels found convenient, or I may employ
any other mode or modes of propulsion for instance the rotating rollers spoken of
on which the rest of the vessel is supported may instead of having as I have
hitherto stated all their surfaces as smooth as may be, so as to offer the least
possible resistance to the water through,, or over and through which the vessel is
propelled they (the said rollers) being at the same time all left free to be made to
rotate by the said water's action on them, may have in the case of one, all, or any
number of them, their circumference or circumferences furnished with attached
longitudinal projecting boards or other projections of wood, metal or other material,
so that the roller or rollers so furnished may by being placed in working connection
with the vessels steam engine rendered fit to play the same part or do the same
duty or work in the propulsion of the vessel as ordinary paddle wheel or paddle
wheels would have done, and that either with or without the presence and aid
of screw, screws, ordinary paddle wheel or paddle wheels or other propelling
apparatus.
The vessel may be steered by rudder or rudders placed in any position or
positions found convenient or any other mode or combination of modes of steering
may be employed. It may be furnished with a centre board or centre boards either
unweighted or weighted.
The vessel may be ballasted with fixed or movable ballast or with both, so as to
best secure or promote proper location of the centre of gravity and steadying and
stiffness and this with any material or materials, metallic or other and with aid of
any contrivance or apparatus found suitable whether placed inside one of, inside all
of, or inside any number of the rotating rollers, or in or attached to any other
portion or portions of the vessel.
It is by no means absolutely essential or obligatory that the generator or
producer of power should be in every case contained in the vessel, there being
casily conceivable exceptionable cases such as those of vessels intended for the
navigation of some canals and rivers or even ferries where it might be found
convenient for vessels constructed according to the principle of my invention, to
have the power producing engine or machine of whatever nature situated not in
but outside of the vessel.
Dated this 28th day of October 1892.
J. Y. JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Propulsion of Vessels.
I, CHARLES JOHN BURNETT of 8 Chanonry, Old Aberdeen in the County of
Aberdeen, North Britain, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and propulsion of
vessels.
The object of my said invention is both to enable vessels to be propelled at
greater rates of speed than now obtained or attainable or to make the present or
greater rates of speed attainable with a very considerable reduction in the amount
of power otherwise required. In vessels as at present constructed, the resistance
of the water to their motion through it increases in such an augmented rate in
proportion (especially after a certain point) as the speed of the vessel is increased
or wished to be further increased that in order to obtain a few additional knots of
speed the power' may require to be actually doubled or any way very largely

page_text: No text detected.

page_text: may be employel. It may be furnished with a centre board or centre boards either
unweighted or weighted.
The vessel may be ballasted with fixed or moveable ballast or with both, so as to
best secure or promote proper location of the centre of gravity and steadying and
stiffness, and this with any material or materials, metallic or other and with aid of
any contrivance or apparatus found suitable whether placed inside one of, inside all
of, or inside any number of the rotating rollers, or in or attached to any other
portion or portions of the vessel.
It is by no means absolutely essential or obligatory that the generator or producer
of power should be in every case contained in the vessel, these being easily
conceivable exceptional cases such as those of vessels intended for the navigation
of some canals and rivers or even ferries where it might be found convenient for
vessels constructed according to the principle of my invention, to have the power
producing engine or machine of whatever nature, situated not in, but outside of the
vessel.
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 is:
The improvements in the construction and propulsion of vessels substantially as
hereinbefore described.
of July 1893.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.