IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROPULSION OF SEAGOING SHIPS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM HARVEY at the Office of Messrs. William Grice & Co. No. 89 in the
Wool Exchange No. 25. Coleman Street London. E.C. in the County of Middlesex
Merchant-do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PROPULSION OF SEAGOING SHIPS and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The Object of my Invention is that the propulsion of seagoing vessels shall bo
effected in a manner the simplest safest most powerful and most economical by the
use of an entirely new method of applying the powers of Water and Steam.
In the Drawings the black lines are skeleton lines merely, of position, direction
and surface, showing only contour and not size or scantling of material. The
spaces enclosed by these skeleton lines represont true areas including that occupied
by the size or scantling of material where any such will intervene.
It is
I now proceed to explain the nature and action of the entirely novel method of
the improvement in the Propulsion for seagoing ships which I have invented.
probable that it will completely supersede the Screw as that has done the paddle
since it can be worked by Steam power at half the cost for the same indicated
energy and corresponding speed; while it is much more simple and direct and free
froin possible accident; and the necessary machinery will occupy a much reduced
space. What have already called the "Waterwedge Races" are shewn both in
midship cross section, and longitudinal section of the Ship in Figure 3. by the
letters R¹ R¹. They are two in each ship as shewn; one on each side of the
Backbone of the ship near the keel, though they may be otherwise placed in
the cross section of the ship: but must be always parallel with the keel. Their
dimensions in Figure 3 are in cross section two feet wide by five feet deep: but
these dimensions may be varied to suit each ship and the propulsive power she
requires. The "Waterwedge Races" must always have the shape of a rectangular
parallelogram both in cross and longitudinal sections and horizontally and vertically
to enable the "Waterwedge Race Plungers" to work freely in them. Their length
will depend on the length and type of the ship and the power and speed required.
In the longitudinal section Figure 3. they are fifty tenths of an inch that is
fifty feet long.-For the same length in each ship as the " Waterwedge Race
Plungers" extend the "Waterwedge Races" will be of the size in cross section
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just sufficient to allow the full and free play of the "Waterwedge Race Plungers
without friction. But towards each end of the ship beyond the ends of the
Waterwedge Race Plungers" the "Waterwedge Races" will be bevelled off and
enlarged as shewn in cross and longitudinal sections at Figures 5 and 6. so as to
give the water passing through them free indraught and offput in the direction of
the horizontal arrows in the "Waterwedge Races" R¹. R'. in longitudinal section
Figure 3. When the ship is at rest and the machinery idle the "Waterwedge Race
Plungers will be recessed horizontally in the longitudinal recess as shewn at a. a.
in cross and longitudinal sections of the ship above R'. R'. Figure 3. and then the
whole four pistons U₁₁. U. and U. U₁, two of which only can be shown are at
the top of their range in their water jackets.-These pistons work vertically without
any packing in their waterjackets. They are each attached to the "Waterwedge
Race Plungers" a. a, at or near each end of them as shewn by freely working
hinges or sockets of the strongest and best form; and if the length of the ship and
Waterwedge Race Plungers" require it there may be several pistons along
the length of each "Waterwedge Race Plunger" similarly attached to it, and
working in harmony with each other's action, each separately attached to and
driven direct from the piston Rod of a separate steam cylinder or by any other
suitable mechanical arrangement-As already stated when at rest the " Waterwedge
Race Plungers" will be recessed horizontally in the horisontal recess at a. a, and
the "Waterwedge Races" will shew clear from end to end; but they will have
gratings as shewn in Figure 5 to keep. out. large fish. The first stroke of the
forward piston U₁₁. in longitudinal section Figure 3 downward in the direction of
the vertical arrow will place the forward end of the " Waterwedge Race Plunger"
in the position at c. and the whole framework of the "Plunger" in the position a, c.,
the piston U, retaining the after end of the "plunger" at the after end of the
recess above the "Waterwedge Race" R' at a, until the downward stroke of the
piston U is accomplished.-The result of this action is to admit a wedge of
water (from which I have adopted the name) in the direction of the horizontal
arrow above the line a. c, of the " Waterwedge Race Plunger" and to expel
simultaneously an equal volume or Wedge of Water aft out of the "Waterwedge
Race R¹ in the direction of the horizontal arrow below the line of the "Water-
wedge Race Plunger" at a. c. The forward end of the "Waterwedge Race
Plunger" and its piston U, will remain at c, until the first down-stroke of the
piston U is accomplished in the line of the small vertical arrow to d. carrying
with it the after end of the "Water wedge Race Plunger" thus expelling another
wedge of water equal to half the volume of water in the whole length of the
Waterwedge Race" R-Piston U in its turn will remain at d. with the after end
of the "Plunger until the first upstroke of piston U₁₁. is accomplished, and so on
alternately and continually as long as the ship may be required to be in motion in
the direction of the horizontal arrow shewn on the forward part of the ship's keel
over the letter V₁, in longitudinal section Figure 3.; and while the motion of the
ship is in this direction the position of the two rudders W. W will be as shewn
there. The motion of the ship can be at once reversed by bringing both the
pistons U¹, and U₁₂ to the top of their range together, thus carrying the "Water-
wedge Race Plunger" into the recess a. a. in a horizontal line, and then giving the
first down stroke with the piston U₁₂ to d. instead of with piston U.. and following
but vice versa as already described with piston U₁₁. :
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There cannot result at any time any jar or strain to the machinery in tho
working of this novel mode of propulsion and its action will be nearly noiseless
instead of the frightful sawing bump of the Screw. There is no screw or its blades
to be lost by collision or otherwise; or screw shaft to be carried away by excessive
torsion; or bearings heated by side strain. All the motions of my Propeller are
direct and comparatively slow though in their operation giving great power and
speed; and capable of being regulated exactly in both to any type of a perfectly
moulded outer skin of ship such as I have already described in another appli-
cation for a Patent of this date, so that there need be no slip and no waste of

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power. The passage of the water through the Races" R¹. is direct and constant
and will assist the quick and true action of the rudders both fore and aft.
"3
The arrangement of the "Waterwedge Races" and "Waterwedge Race Plungers
is again shewn in longitudinal section and accompanied by plan on a rather larger
scale vist. one sixth of one inch to one foot in Figure 4.-The parts are shewn by
the same letters as in longitudinal section Figure 3. The "Plungers" are shewn
in plan Figure 4 on each side of the Backbone of the ship and may be made either
wholly or partly of metal or wood. They are quite flat from end to end on their
under or lower face or side and of the thickness and length adapted to the power
required for each ship.
If
Figures 5. and 6 are drawn to the scale of one quarter of one inch to one foot
instead of one tenth of one inch to one foot as in Figure 3. to shew on a larger
scale both in cross and longitudinal sections the bevelling out at each end of the
Waterwedge Races" beyond the ends of the "Waterwedge Race Plungers."―The
Waterwedge Races in which the
Plungers" play and the bevelling out or enlargement of the sections is shewn
at a. a. The cross lines b. b. in Figure 5 shew the gratings to prevent the entrance
into the "Races" of large fish.
letters R in each shew the section of the "
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Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is."
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1. The open "Waterwedge Races or passages fore and aft through the bodies of
Scagoing Ships for the play or use in them of the " Water wedge Race Plungers'
Waterwedge Race Plungers" above them substantially
with the recesses for the
as described.
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2. The particular shape arrangement motion and action of the " Waterwedge
Race Plungers," and their pistons actuated by Steam power, in admitting and
expelling the Water in a continuous stream in either direction into and from the
Waterwedge Races" So as to give rapid motion by reaction in an opposite
direction to the current of water in the "Waterwedge Races to Seagoing Ships;
and to reverse that motion at pleasure.-All substantially as described.
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Dated this First day of January 1884.
WILLIAM HARVEY.