IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING PROPELLERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of
Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING PROPELLERS."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Henry Mallory, of the City of
Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st July 1874.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING PROPELLERS," a
communication to me from abroad by William Henry Mallory, of the
City of Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield, in the State of Con-
necticut, United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of propellers

page_text: which are constructed so as to be turned to the right or left upon a
vertical axis for the purpose of steering the vessel.
In the usual construction of this class of propellers the adjustment or
swing is limited. The object of this Invention is to so construct the
propeller and its connections that its extent of swing may be unlimited,
that is, that it may be rotated completely around, if desirable, and the
Invention consists in two vertical shafts, one within the other, one of
said shafts supporting a horizontal shaft which forms a bearing for the
propeller, and serves as a means for turning the propeller in a horizontal
plane, the other revolving communicates power to the propeller to cause
its revolution, as more fully herein-after described.
A is a vertical shaft supported in suitable bearings at the top and
bottom. To this shaft a shell B is attached, the centre of which is the
axial line of the propeller, and within this is a horizontal shaft C attached
to the hollow shaft A, so as to become practically a part of it. This
shaft C extends at right angles from the hollow shaft A, and on this the
hub D of the propeller is arranged and secured, but so as to revolve
freely on the said shaft C. Within the hollow shaft A is the driving
shaft E, caused to revolve by the application of power thereto in any
convenient manner. On this shaft is a bevil gear F within the shell B,
and on the hub a corresponding bevil gear G, the the two gears working
together, so that the revolution of the shaft E will cause a corresponding
revolution to the propeller. The hub D is provided with blades H of
any suitable construction.
This
A rotation is imparted to the outer shaft A. independent of the shaft E
by any suitable means, here represented as by a worm L working into a
gear N. By the turning of the shaft A the horizontal shaft C will be
swung to the right or left accordingly, and may be turned entirely
around, different positions being shown in Fig. 3 in broken lines.
turning of the shaft A. turns the propeller to change the direction of the
vessel, as may be required, and without in the slightest degree changing
the revolution of the propeller. If turned at right angles, as at a, Fig. 3,
the power of the propeller will be exerted transversely only; if reversed
from the position in Fig. 2, that is, the shaft A turned one-half around,
then the power of the propeller will be exerted in the opposite direction.
These are the two extremes, one of which will exert the power of the
propeller to force the vessel forward, and the other to force it backward,
the propeller always revolving in the same direction, so that at any time

page_text: when it is required to reverse the action of the propeller it is only
necessary to turn the shaft A one-half around, which may be done
without the slightest degree of slackening the engine.
While I have represented the inner shaft as the driving shaft, and the
outer shaft to support the horizontal or bearing shaft, it will be evident
that this order may be reversed, as seen in Fig. 4, it only being essential
that the axial line of the two shafts shall be common to both.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of July, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there
after during the term 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 for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING PROPELLERS," a communication to me from
abroad by William Henry Mallory, of the City. of Bridgeport, in
the County of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next add immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improvement in that class of propellers
which are constructed so as to be turned to the right or left upon a
vertical axis for the purpose of steering the vessel.
In the usual construction of this class of propellers the adjustment or
swing is limited. The object of this Invention is to so construct the
propeller and its connections that its extent of swing may be unlimited,
that is, that it may be rotated completely around, if desirable; and the
Invention consists in two vertical shafts, one within the other, one of
said shafts supporting a horizontal shaft which forms a bearing for the
propeller, and serves as a means for turning the propeller in a horizontal
plane, the other revolving communicates power to the propeller to cause
its revolution, as more fully herein-after described.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side view; Fig. 2,
a vertical central section; Fig. 3, a top view; Fig. 4, a modification.
A is a vertical shaft supported in suitable bearings at the top and
bottom. To this shaft a shell B is attached, the centre of which is the
axial line of the propeller, and within this is a horizontal shaft C attached
to the hollow shaft A, so as to become practically a part of it. This
shaft C extends at right angles from the hollow shaft A, and on this the
hub D of the propeller is arranged and secured, but so as to revolve
freely on the said shaft C. Within the hollow shaft A is the driving
shaft E, caused to revolve by the application of power thereto in any
convenient manner. On this shaft is a bevel gear F within the shell B,
and on the hub a corresponding bevel gear G, the two gears working
together so that the revolution of the shaft E will cause a corresponding
revolution to the propeller. The hub D is provided with blades Hof
any suitable construction.
A rotation is imparted to the outer shaft A independent of the shaft E
by any suitable means, here represented as by a worm L working into a

page_text: gear N. By the turning of the shaft A the horizontal shaft C will be
swung to the right or left accordingly, and may be turned entirely
around, different positions being shown in Fig. 3 in broken lines. This
turning of the shaft A turns the propeller to change the direction of the
vessel, as may be required, and without in the slightest degree changing
the revolution of the propeller. If turned at right angles, as at a, Fig. 3,
the power of the propeller will be exerted transversely only; if reversed
from the position in Fig. 2, that is, the shaft A turned one-half around,
then the power of the propeller will be exerted in the opposite direction.
These are the two extremes, one of which will exert the power of the
propeller to force the vessel forward, and the other to force it backward,
the propeller always revolving in the same direction, so that at any time
when it is required to reverse the action of the propeller it is only
necessary to turn the shaft A one-half around, which may be done
without the slightest degree of slackening the engine.
While I have represented the inner shaft as the driving shaft, and the
outer shaft to support the horizontal or bearing shaft, it will be evident
that this order may be reversed, as seen in Fig. 4, it only being essential
that the axial line of the two shafts shall be common to both.
I claim the two vertical shafts A, E, one within the other, one of said
shafts supporting a horizontal shaft which forms a bearing for the
propeller, and serves as a means for turning the propeller in a horizontal
plane, the other shaft revolving and combined with mechanism to
communicate a corresponding revolution to the propeller, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-