IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FOX ACTUATING MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Armitage Brown, of Kingsland Crescent,
Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Armitage Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on th
31st August 1867.
1, JOHN ARMITAGE BROWN, of Kingsland Crescent, Kingsland Road, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOX
ACTUATING MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention when applied to the propulsion of ships and other vessels
consists in the construction and arrangement of two or more separate hori-
zontal propellers attached to either side of the keelson, either at the stern or
bows, or at midships, or at all such parts, outside the lines of the ship or
vessel to be propelled. Each propeller is actuated by means of a vertical
shaft, which may itself be caused to revolve by the longitudinal shaft of the
screw (in cases in which a screw is also used for propulsion) or by a separate
steam engine or other source of motive power. To the base of each vertical
shaft is fixed a boss to which is attached a horizontal axis, one end thereof
being placed in suitable bearings provided in the boss,, whilst the other or

page_text: "
projecting end of the horizontal axis has fixed thereto a "fin" or flat propeller
which revolves with it. The circle described by the "fin" or propeller when
in motion, and the dimensions of the latter, depend upon the size of the
vessel to which it is applied, and the propulsive power required. The
horizontal axis is caused to revolve in its bearings by means of cross beams
or arms placed at right angles thereto, and the ends of the cross beams or arms
being furnished with rollers to diminish the friction whilst traversing the "traverse
rail guides" by which the "fins or propellers are placed in a propulsive position
and brought into a feathering position to cut edgeways through the water when
the propulsive stroke has been made, as herein-after mentioned. The " traverse
rail guides" consist of bars occupying half or a section of the circumference of
the circle described by the propeller. The cross beams or arms being fixed at
right angles and at a certain distance from each other on the horizontal axis,
one of such cross beams or arms while traversing along the " traverse rail guide"
keeps the "fin" or propeller in a steady and firm vertical position for pro-
pulsion. The "fin" or propeller having finished its course of revolution along
the "traverse rail guide," the other cross beam or arm comes in contact
with the "traverse rail guide" turns the horizontal axis half round, and thus
places the "fin" or propeller attached to it in a feathering position to cut
through the back water while the cross beam or arm is traversing the
" traverse rail guide," the propelling and feathering positions of the "fin" or
propeller being thus regulated and governed by the dimensions and position
of the "traverse rail guide"; the "traverse rail guides" are fixed to the
bearings of the vertical shafts, and in some cases additional "traverse rail
guides" may be attached to the keelson of the vessel. The propellers may
be made with any number of "fins" attached to the boss of the vertical shaft,
and each "fin" may be extended or lengthened by means of well-known
contrivances, so as to increase its circle of revolution, in which case the
vertical shafts must be shifted to a greater distance from each other. The
"fins" or propellers can also be variously combined and arranged with
reference to each other so as to suit any particular exigencies, and may be
made to act wholly or partially submerged. The vertical and horizontal
shafts may also, if desired, be made double, that is, with an inner shaft within
an outer tubular one for the purpose of driving twin propellers placed one above
the other.
Although this Invention has been described as being applied to the pro-
pulsion of ships or vessels as before mentioned, yet it may be also applied to
actuate machinery for various purposes in which the pressure of wind or
water may be used as a motive power. When the pressure of wind is

page_text: employed the horizontal "fins" or propellers should be constructed of a
larger size than when used for water propulsion, the arrangements of
mechanism being substantially the same as those before described. In
employing water as a motive power the same mechanical arrangements. will
be employed as those herein-before mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Armitage Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ARMITAGE BROWN, of Kingsland Crescent, Kingsland Road, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Armitage Brown, Her special licence that I, the said John Armitage
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Armitage Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from. time.. to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein 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 "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR ACTUATING
MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Armitage. Brown, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause.the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within. six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent. .
.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Armitage. Brown; 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 :-
This Invention, when applied to the propulsion of ships and other vessels,
consists in the construction and arrangement of two..or more separate, hori

page_text: zontal propellers attached to either side of the keelson either at the stern or
bows, or at midships, or at all such parts within or outside the lines of the ship
or vessel to be propelled. Each propeller is actuated by means of a vertical
shaft which may itself be caused to revolve by the longitudinal shaft of the
screw (in cases in which the screw is also used for propulsion) or by a separate
steam engine or other source of motive power. To the base of each vertical
shaft is fixed a boss, to which is attached a horizontal axis, one end thereof
being fixed in suitable bearings provided in the boss, whilst the other or pro-
jecting end of the horizontal axis has fixed thereto a "fin" or flat propeller
which revolves with it. The circle described by the "fin" or propeller when
in motion, and the dimensions of the latter depend upon the size of the vessel
to which it is applied and the propulsive power required. The horizontal axis
is caused to revolve in its bearings by means of cross beams or arms placed at
right angles thereto, and the ends of the cross beams or arms being furnished
with rollers to diminish the friction whilst traversing the traverse rail guides
by which the "fins" or propellers are placed in a propulsive position and
brought into a feathering position to cut edgeways through the water when
the propulsive stroke has been made, as herein-after mentioned. The traverse
rail guides consist of bars occupying half of a section of the circumference of
the circle described by the propeller. The cross beams or arms being placed
at right angles and at a certain distance from each other on the horizontal
axis, one of such cross beams or arms while traversing along the traverse rail
guide keeps the "fin" or propeller in a steady and firm vertical position for
propulsion. This "fin" or propeller having finished its course of half a revolution
along the traverse rail guide the other cross beain or arm coming in contact
with the other traverse rail guide turns the horizontal axis half round and
thus places the "fin" or propeller attached to it in a feathering position to
cut through the back water, while the cross beam or arm is travelling along
the traverse rail guide, the propelling and feathering positions of the "fin" or
propeller being thus regulated and governed by the dimensions and position
of the traverse rail guides. The traverse rail guides are fixed to the bearings
of the vertical shaft, and in some cases additional traverse rail guides may be
attached to the keelson of the vessel. The propellers may be made with any
number of "fins" or propellers attached to the boss of the vertical shaft, and
each "fin" or propeller may be extended or lengthened by means of well
known mechanical contrivances so as to increase the circle of revolution, in
which case the vertical shafts must be shifted to a greater distance from each
other. The "fins" or propellers can also be variously combined and arranged
with reference to each other so as to suit any particular exigencies, and may
"

page_text: be made to act wholly or partially submerged. The vertical and horizontal
shafts may also be made double if desired, that is, with an inner shaft within
an outer tubular one, for the purpose of driving twin propellers placed one
above the other (or other purposes.
Although this Invention has been described as being applied to the pro-
pulsion of ships or vessels, as before mentioned, yet it may be also applied to
actuate machinery for various purposes in which the pressure of wind or water
may be used as a motive power. When the pressure of wind is employed the
horizontal "fins" or propellers should be constructed of a larger size than
when used for water propulsion, the arrangements of the mechanism being
substantially the same as those before described. In employing water as a
motive power the same mechanical arrangements will be used as those herein-
before mentioned.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention I now proceed to
explain the construction and manner of performing the same as shewn by
accompanying Drawings.
In the annexed Drawings similar letters are used to describe the like parts
in each Figure.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a pair of horizontal twin propellers which
are shewn as placed one above the other, and working between the keelson R
and the keel T, and are fixed at the stern or other part of the ship or vessel
to which they may be applied; Fig. 2 represents a stern view of the said
propellers; Fig. 3 shews the plan of the same propellers; Fig. 4 shews the
manner such propellers may be applied as compañion propellers marked A, X,
being placed on each side of the keelson, similar propellers may be applied in
an oblique position, as also shewn in Fig. 4 marked B', B', or may be applied
in a vertical position like the usual paddle wheels which are not shewn here;
Fig. 5 shews the plan of the companion propellers marked A, X, the detail
mechanism of feathering the "fin" blade or propelling arm is not shown in
the Figs. 4 and 5, but is substantially the same as that shewn in the Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
;
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are drawn of a larger size to make the details
of the mechanism more distinctly obvious. Fig. 6 shews a cross section of the
twin propellers, as seen in Fig. 2, along the line S, S; Fig. 7 shews the folding
doors marked M, serving as bearings of the horizontal axis,, and also shows
the bars or, fastenings marked h; Fig. 8 shews a cross section of Fig. 7 along
the line P, P; Fig. 9 is the edge view of Fig. 7, shewing the bars or fasten-
ings; Fig. 10 shews a section of the boss, as marked in Fig. 3, along the line
W, W; and Fig. 11 shews more distinctly the cross beams or arms while

page_text: rotating with the boss in the direction of the dart and their transition from
the propulsive into a feathering position, as may be traced in Fig. 2, in the
propeller marked X, X. Letter A, in the above Figures, denotes the vertical
or main shaft, which shaft in the twin propellers works within the tubular
vertical shaft marked B; to the lower end of the main or vertical shaft A is
fixed' the lower propeller marked V, V, with its boss E, E, as seen in Figs. 1
and 2; the lower end of this main shaft A works in the footstep or socket C
fixed in the keel T, as also seen in Figs. 1 and 2. This vertical or main
shaft A is actuated by gearing of bevel wheels fixed on the upper end of it, or
by other more convenient means, and attached to a steam engine or other
motive power. The tubular vertical shaft B works in the bearing D, which is
fixed into the keelson R and passes through it, as seen more distinctly in the
cross section, Fig. 6. The boss E, E, of the upper propeller X, X, as seen
in Figs. 1, 2, and more distinctly in 6, is fixed to the lower end of the tubular
vertical shaft B, and works upon the boss E, E, of the lower propeller which
is in the space or chamber V, V, although not shewn, and up. against the end
of the bearing D, as seen in the Figs. 1, 2, and 6. The tubular vertical
shaft B is also supposed to be actuated by gearing of bevel wheels or other-
wise, in the same manner as the main shaft A. Each of the bosses E, E, E, E,
as seen in the propellers marked. X, X, of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and in the cross
section, Fig. 6, and those of the propellers marked V, V, though not shewn
in the Figs. 1 and 2, are provided with sockets F, F, F, F, which sockets are
bored to a certain depth into the boss E, E, E, E, to receive the butt end of
the horizontal axis marked F¹, in which socket F it will revolve. On each
horizontal axis F¹ is fixed on the part projecting from the socket F in the
boss E a pair of cross beams or arms marked H₁ and H2 set at right angles
to each other and the horizontal axis, and made either on one nave or boss or
separately and keyed to the horizontal axis, so that each cross beam or arm
H and H2 should correspond with its appropriate traverse rail, guide, or
tram K and Kb, which it should freely traverse, as seen in the Figs. 1 and 2, in
the propellers marked X, X, and in Figs. 3 and 6, both ends of each cross beam
or arm and H2 are made rounded like a roller, or may be provided with
friction rollers marked O, as seen in the Figs. 1 and 2, in the propellers
marked X, X, and in the Figs. 3 and 6. The end of each horizontal axis
projecting beyond the periphery of the boss E and the casing G is furnished
with a "fin" blade or flat propelling arm marked 1', as seen in the Figs. 1,
2, 3, 4, and 5. The boss of each propeller may have 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, such
horizontal axis with "pins," blades, or propelling arms attached to it. The
casing G is made of plate iron, which being fixed to the periphery of the

page_text: boss E will revolve with it; this casing G also serves as a protection against
seaweed, reeds, or other foreign material impeding the free progress of the
cross beams or arms H¹ and H2 along the traverse rail guides or trams Kª and
Kb. In the casing G are made apertures marked M, through which the hori-1
zontal axis passes; these apertures are made to act as folding doors, as seen in
Fig. 7, to open and shut in order to let the horizontal axis F¹ with its cross
beams or arms H₁ and H2 be taken out, as seen in Fig. 3, when such is
required to be unshipped; the unshipment should only be made when the "fin,"
blade, or propelling arm is in its propulsive position, but not when in motion;
the apertures in the folding doors M are a half circle cut out on each half of
the folding doors.M, which when closed forms the bearing in which the hori-
zontal axis F¹ revolves, and which horizontal axis F¹ is retained in its bearings
by a small rim or shoulder marked J, as seen in the cross section, Fig. 6,
which is made on the horizontal axis F' acting within the folding door M,
which when shut and barred or fastened keeps the horizontal axis F¹ firm in its
socket F and bearing M for action, as seen in Fig. 3, where one of the
folding doors M is shewn open to allow the horizontal axis F¹ to be taken out
or unshipped, which can be done while under water, as the bars h are easily
unfastened, as seen in Fig. 7; these folding doors M are made on hinges fixed
to the periphery of the boss E, as also seen in the Figs. 7 and 10. The
traverse rail guides or trams K and Kb, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, in the
propellers marked X, X, and in Figs. 3, 6, and 11, consist of two separate
flat bars, each bar or traverse rail guide or tram K and Kb form an elevation
or bridge on the iron plate or iron framework L, to which it is fixed,
having an incline at both ends of about 1 in 3 (or about 20°); these bars or
traverse rail guides or trams, marked K and Kb, are placed one within the
other at such a distance from each other that each will conform with its
appropriate cross beam; for instance, the cross beam H³ will travel along the
tram K, and the cross beam or arm H2 will travel along the tram Kb; these
traverse rail guides or trams K and Kb form along their elevated surface
more or less the half or a part of the circumference of a circle struck..out
from the centre of the main or vertical shaft described by the cross beams or
arms Hand H while rotating with the horizontal axis, on which they are
fixed, and which horizontal axis, is attached to the boss of the main or vertical
shaft. The length of the elevated surface of the traverse rail guide or tram
Kb from one incline to the other, say, is about or of the circumference of
the circle of this said tram Kb, which gives the proportion of the propulsive
stroke, the dimensions of which can be regulated as circumstances may
require by lengthening or shortening the elevated surface of the tram K.

page_text: The traverse rail guide or tram marked K, which also is to be seen in the
said Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 11, forms the outer tram, along which the
feathering cross beam or arm travels, marked H; the dimensions of the
feathering stroke depend on those of the propulsive stroke, which being
about or of the circumference of the circle, which allows the dimen-
sions of the feathering stroke to be about or of the circumference. of
the circle of the elevated surface of this said tram Ka from oue incline to the
other, leaving for each of the two inclines, in which the horizontal axis by
means of the cross beams or arms performs its two half revolutions. The
various positions of the fins, blades, or propelling arms, in their propulsive and
feathering motions, are to be traced in the Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the propulsive
action is being performed by the fin, blade, or propelling arm marked I', as
seen in Fig. 1, in the propellers marked X, X, also in Fig. 3, and when
it has finished its propulsive stroke the cross beam or arm H', which is fixed.
on the same horizontal axis, F' being in a vertical position comes in contact
with the incline of the outer traverse rail guide or tram Ka, and is drawn up
the said incline while rotating with the said horizontal axis F, as seen in
Fig. 2, marked H¹, in the propellers marked X, X, and also more dis-
tinctly seen in Fig. 11, marked H', which cross beam or arm H' turns the
horizontal axis and places the fin blade or propelling arm marked I in a
féathering position, and keeps it in this position until it has. finished its
feathering stroke, when it is again put into its propulsive position by the inner
cross beam or arm marked H2, as seen in Fig. 2 in the propellers marked
X, X, coming in contact with the incline of the inner traverse rail guide or tram
Kb, as seen in the Figs. 2, 3, and 11, and thus alternately and in rotation
the propulsive and feathering actions are performed while the main or vertical
shaft of such propeller is kept in motion. The upper iron plate or iron frame-
work L, L, to which the traverse rail guides or trams K and K are fixed, is
attached to the keelson R, and the lower iron plate or iron framework L, L, is
fixed to the keel T. In every pair of propellers one of them should rotate
reverse to the other, to have a direct propulsive power and such pro-
pellers can have their forward and reverse motion separately, the same
as the usual paddle wheels or twin screws. All the dimensions and
proportions of the said propellers depend on the size and measurement of
the ship or vessel to which such propellers are applied, at the same time
taking into consideration the power required to propel such ship or vessel.
The form of propellers term companion, as seen in Fig. 4, marked A, X,
A. X, although the mechanism is not shewn, have substantially the same
mechanical construction for feathering the propelling arm or blade as that

page_text: seen in Figs. 1 and 2 in the propellers marked X, X, except that the com-
panion propellers have each only a single main or vertical shaft which revolves
in the bearing D; such companion propellers ás marked A, X, A, X, a are
placed one on each side of the keelson at the stern or other part. of the ship
or vessel, as shown in Fig. 4, and also in the plan of the same in Fig. 5,
marked A, X, A, X. The companion propellers are proposed to be applied
to a ship or vessel when the measurement of its beam is about 20 or more
feet, and those termed twin propellers, as shewn in the Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
may be applied when the ship or vessel is less in the measurement of
its beam. Such form of propellers may be applied in an oblique position with
the main shaft A inverted, and may be placed at midships or other part of the
vessel, one or more on each side along the bulwarks, as seen in Fig. 4,
marked B¹, B¹; but when entering a harbour or crowded place one of the
fins, blades, or propelling arms must be placed in a position as not to extend
beyond their guard beam. Such propellers may also be applied in a vertical
position as the ordinary paddle wheel. The protection of the fins, blades, or
propelling arms of the companion and twin propellers from injury while in
action (which propellers however should be made not to project beyond the
lines of the ship or vessel, except when purposely extended) will greatly depend
in the convenience the position they occupy will present for such purpose in
the ship or vessel to which they are applied, and which can be effected by
placing bars of angle or T iron along the under part of such propellers, as
marked N, as seen in the Figs. 2 and 3, and also by covering such bars
with boards to form a false bottom, or various other ways; but neither the
gearing by which these propellers are actuated nor the means adopted for
protecting them from injury is claimed as part of this Patent.
This Invention has already been herein mentioned as being applied to
actuate machinery for various purposes in which the pressure of wind is
employed; the fins, blades, or rather wings should be constructed of a larger
size than those used for water propulsion, and that the iron plate or iron
framework to which the traverse rail, guides, or trams are fixed should be
attached to a tubular shaft through which the main or vertical shaft passes,
and in which it revolves. To the upper end of this main or vertical shaft are
fixed the fins, blades, or wings, which are actuated by the wind in this manner
constructed; the traverse rail, guides, or trams can regulate and govern the
actuating fin, blade, or wing so as to keep it in a vertical and right horizontal
angle with the current of wind. The other arrangements of the mechanism for.
feathering the fin, blade, or wing are substantially the same as those already
described for propulsion.

page_text: Having now described the nature and construction of my said Invention,
and explained the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood
that I claim the mechanism, as herein described and shewn by accompanying
Drawings, as a combined apparatus for propelling ships or other vessels; but
more especially I claim the peculiar mechanical contrivance of feathering the
fin, blade, or propelling arm, and the manner of performing and regulating
the same in the various positions of its stroke; and also employing the same
mechanism as a motive power for actuating machinery by the pressure of
wind or water; but I may here observe in conclusion that I do not confine
myself to the precise details or arrangements as herein described and shewn
as before named, which may be varied without deviating from the characteristic
features of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Armitage Brown, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN ARMITAGE BROWN. (L.S.)