Fin-like Propellers for Ships and other Vessels,
Year: 1899

page_text: Fin-like Propellers for Ships and other Vessels,
I, STEFAN VON KVASSAY, of Pápa Kettornyulak, Hungary, Royal Hungarian
Ministerial Councillor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
This invention relates to a construction of fin-like propellers for ships and other
vessels, which operate in a similar manner to fishes' fins for propelling the ship.
These fin-like propellers consist of a number of flaps which are pivoted between
two sector plates that are in their turn pivoted to an axis fixed to the ship's side,
and which are moved alternately inwards and outwards in corresponding slots
in the side of the ship.
The said flaps are so arranged and actuated that when the sector plates are
turned outwards on their axis, the flaps turn into such a position that the water
can flow freely through between them, while when the sector plates are turned
inwards the flaps close together so as to form a closed surface that presses in a
backward direction upon the water situated between it and the ship's side, and
thus has the effect of propelling the vessel forward.
A number of such fin propellers, actuated by the ship's engines are preferably
arranged in pairs on each side of the ship, symmetrically to the middle vertical
plane thereof, one or more such pairs being so arranged as to act in the contrary
direction to the other pairs, for the purpose of propelling the ship backwards and
for facilitating the manoeuvreing thereof.
The construction of such fin-propellers is shewn on the accompanying draw-
ings; Fig. 1 shews a perspective view of one of the propellers, Fig. 2 shews a
horizontal section of a fin propeller in its partly open position pivoted to the side
of a ship, Fig. 3 shews a front view of the fin-propeller, Fig. 4 shews a vertical
section of the side of the ship with the fin-propeller in the inward position.
Fig. 5 shews a diagrammatic plan of a ship with several pairs of fin-propellers
applied thereto.
The fin-propellers are composed of two sector shaped plates a of from 45° to 60°
in width connected rigidly together by an axis b which is pivotally mounted on
the side of the ship.
Between the plates a, at the outer radial edges thereof are arranged side by
side a number of vertical flaps & turning on pivots carried by the plates a; the
flaps are of such a width that when closed they bear with their free edge against
the pivoted edge of the next flap, thus forming a closed surface, and being thus
prevented by their said abutment from turning beyond the said point.
The flaps can turn-inwards-on-their-pivots-to-an-extent limited by stops, in
which inward position, as shewn at Fig. 2, they form an angle with the outer
edge of the sector plates which is preferably about equal to the angle formed by
the said plates with the sides of the ship in their open position.
The sector plates when closed inwards are situated in corresponding narrow
slots f formed in the sides of the ship, the outer surface of which is slightly

page_text: recessed at the part between the said slots, as shown at Figs. 2 and 4 so that
when the propellers are closed inwards the flaps fit into the said recess as shewn,
so as not to project beyond the general surface of the ship's side, and they thus
offer no appreciable obstruction to the forward motion of the ship.
As shewn at Fig. 5 there may be arranged any desired number of the said fin-
propellers in the side of the ship. preferably in pairs 1, 2, 3, placed symmetri-
cally to the longitudinal axis of the ship, one of these pairs 3, 3, being arranged
in positions the reverse of those of 1 and 2, so that when in action they will propel
the boat backwards and will facilitate the manevreing of the boat.
The fin-propellers are all actuated from the ship's engines by any suitable
known gear.
The motion of the fin propellers can be so arranged that the one propeller com-
mences its inward or propelling motion when the next propeller on the same side
commences its outward or idle motion, so as to prevent any jerky motion in the
propulsion.
The motion of the pairs of propellers, or even of the single propellers need
however not be synchronous, but may begin at different times so as to overlap
each other.
.
Each fin propeller can be disconnected from the motor by a clutch device at
the end of its working stroke, and all of them may be put out of action in this
way in the event of the vessel being propelled by sails, or when landing.
The described to and fro motion of the fin propellers may be effected by any
suitable known means such as by means of crank levers fixed on their axis b,
and such cranks may be directly connected by rods with the pistons of steam or
other motor cylinders or with reciprocating gearing worked by electromotors so
that the motive power is applied directly without loss of effect.
The action of the said fin like propellers is as follows:-
During the outward motion of the sector plates the flaps & turn open auto-
matically on their pivots until they come in contact with the inner stops: they
thus offer practically no resistance to the water flowing through the open spaces
during the outward motion of the propeller.
On the propeller being then moved inwards all the flaps are closed automati-
cally by the pressure of the water behind them and the closed surface thus formed
consequently forces the body of water behind it backwards, thereby effecting a
forward propulsion of the vessel.
Dated this 19th day of Sentember 1890
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, STEFAN VON KVASSAY, of Pápa Kettornyulak, Hungary, Royal Hungarian
Ministerial Councillor, 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:—
This invention relates to a construction of fin-like propellers for ships and other
vessels, which operate in a similar manner to fishes' fins for propelling the ship.
These fin-like propellers consist of a number of flaps which are pivotted between
two 'sector plates that are in their turn pivotted to an axis fixed to the ship's side,
and which are moved alternately inwards and outwards in corresponding slots
in the side of the ship.

page_text: The said flaps are so arranged and actuated that when the sector plates are
turned outwards on their axis, the flaps turn into such a position that the water
can flow freely through between them, while when the sector plates are turned
inwards the flaps close together so as to form a closed surface that presses in a
backward direction upon the water situated between it and the ship's side, and
thus has the effect of propelling the vessel forwards.
A number of such fin propellers, actuated by the ship's engines are preferably
arranged in pairs on each side of the ship, symmetrically to the middle vertical
plane thereof, one or more such pairs being so arranged as to act in the contrary
direction to the other pairs, for the purpose of propelling the ship backwards and
for facilitating the manoeuvering thereof.
The construction of such fin-propellers is shewn on the drawings accompanying
my Provisional Specification. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the propellers.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a fin propeller in its partly open position pivotted
to the side of a ship, Fig. 3 is a front view of the fin-propeller, Fig. 4 is a
vertical section of the side of the ship with the fin-propeller, in the inward
position.
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan of a ship with several pairs of fin-propellers
applied thereto.
The fin-propellers are composed of two sector shaped plates a of from 45° to 60°
in width connected rigidly together by an axis b which is pivotally mounted on
the side of the ship.
Between the plates a at the outer radial edges thereof are arranged side by
side a number of vertical flaps d turning on pivots carried by the plates a: the
flaps are of such a width that when closed they bear each with its free edge against
the pivotted edge of the next flap. thus forming a closed surface, and being thus
prevented by their said abutments from turning beyond the said point.
The flaps can turn inwards on their pivots to an extent limited by stops, in
which inward position, as shewn in Fig. 2, they form an angle with the outer
edge of the sector plates which is preferably about equal to the angle formed by
the said plates with the sides of the ship in their open position.
The sector plates when closed inwards are situated in corresponding narrow
slots f formed in the sides of the ship, the outer surface of which is slightly
recessed at the part between the said slots, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4, so that
when the propellers are closed inwards the flaps d fit into the said recess as shewn,
so as not to project beyond the general surface of the ship's side, and they thus
offer no appreciable obstruction to the forward motion of the ship.
As shewn at Fig. 5 there may he arranged any desired number of the said fin-
propellers in the side of the ship, preferably in pairs 1, 2, 3, placed symmetri-
cally to the longitudinal axis of the ship, one of these pairs 3, 3, being arranged
in positions the reverse to those of 1 and 2, so that when in action they propel
the vessel backwards and facilitate its manoeuvring.
The fin-propellers are all actuated from the ship's engines by any suitable
known gear.
The motion of the fin-propellers can be so arranged that the one propeller com-
mences its inward or propelling motion when the next propeller on the same side
commences its outward or idle motion, so as to prevent any jerky motion in the
propulsion.
The motion of the pairs of propellers, or even of the single propellers need
however not he synchronous, but may begin at different times so as to overlap
each other.
Each nn propeller can be disconnected from the motor by a clutch device at
the end of its working stroke. and all of them may he put out of action in this
way in the event of the vessel being propelled by sails, or when landing.
The described to and fro motion of the fin propellers may be effected by any
suitable known means such as by means of crank levers fixed on their axis b,
1
Each nn propeller can be disconnected from the motor by a clutch device at
the end of its working stroke. and all of them may be put out of action in this
way in the event of the vessel being propelled by sails, or when landing.
The described to and fro motion of the fin propellers may be effected by any
suitable known means such as by means of crank levers fixed on their axis b.
and such cranks may be directly connected by rods with the pistons-of-steam-or

page_text: other motor cylinders or with reciprocating gearing worked by electromotors so
that the motive power is applied directly without loss of effect.
The action of the said fin-like propellers is as follows:-
During the outward motion of the sector plates the flaps & turn open auto-
matically on their pivots until they come in contact with the inner stops: they
thus offer practically no resistance to the water flowing through the open spaces
during the outward motion of the propeller.
On the propeller being then moved inwards all the flaps are closed automati-
cally by the pressure of the water behind them and the closed surface thus formed
consequently forces the body of water behind it backwards, thereby effecting a
forward propulsion of the vessel.
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:-
1. A fin-like propeller having a number of flaps pivoted between a pair of
pivoted sector plates, so arranged that when these plates are projected through
horizontal slots in the side of a vessel, the flaps open apart to let water pass
freely between them, and when the plates are retracted the flaps are closed
together by the pressure of the water which is pressed between them and the
vessel's side, this pressure propelling the vessel.
2. The arrangement of a number of pairs of propellers such as
are above
referred to symmetrically on the opposite sides of the vessel, these being actuated
directly by the pistons of motor engines, along with one or more oppositely acting
pairs for reversing and manoeuvring the vessel.
Dated this 15th day of May 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.