Improvements in Propelling and Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, uth June. 7890
Complete Specification Left. 20th Mar.. 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
[Communicated from abroad by SOCIÉTÉ DE TRACTION ELECTRIQUE SUR
LES VOIES NAVIGABLES, of 28 Rue St. Lazare, Paris, in the Republic of
France.]
Improvements in Propelling and Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a floating device suitable for the propulsion and steering
of vessels ou cauals, rivers and in general upon all navigable water ways.
This propeller device which is composed of a small hollow rudder preferably of
iron, and having at its rear extremity a screw propeller actuated by an electric or
other motor, is placed at the rear of the vessel which it serves both to propel and
guide.
These floating propellers are applicable at will to vessels of any shape and
dimensions irrespective of the bulk of the vessel below the water line, that is to say,
the water line of the rudder propeller is invariable, and independent of the weight
of the cargo on board.
The rudder is composed of a hollow sheet metal case, hermetically closed and
containing an electro-motor; the joints of this case are all rivetted excepting a
pcrtion of its lid or cover which is fixed by means of bolts and jointed with india-
rubber packing, thus insuring a tight closure.
The fixed part of the lid or cover is traversed by oil conduits for the motor
bearings and by the conducting wires. The said lid or cover further carries two
pipes one of which descends into the bottom proper of the casing forming the rudder,
and the other terminating just inside the lid or cover; this arrangement permits the
driving out by compressed air of any water that may, in spite of precautionary
measures have accumulated in the case owing to defective rivetting or other unfore
seen causes. A pressure of air is maintained in the case sufficient to prevent the
entrance of water through the stuffing box of the propeller screw.
The rudder is so constructed as to allow of its being quickly and easily provided
either with an electro-motor, or with a volatile oil, gas, petroleum or other motor,
the weight of which however, must be sufficiently light in order that the position
of the water line of the rudder may not be altered.
The screw propeller shaft, traverses the bottom of the sheet metal case forming
the rudder and is supported therein by suitable bearings; this shaft is furnished
at its inter end with a coupling for attaching it to the shaft of the electro-motor.
This latter, when required for use, is placed into the space provided, and its shaft
is coupled to the screw shaft by suitable keying or otherwise. In cases where
another than an electro-motor is required for use in actuating the screw propeller
such motor will occupy the space provided, instead of the electro-motor.
For this purpose the screw propeller as before mentioned is mounted on a shaft
separated from the motor shaft to which it is connected by means of a sleeve or collar.

page_text: traversed by a. cottar or pin which serves to couple the motor to the screw
propeller and also to permit a change of motors without displacing the screw
propeller or its shaft.
The weight of this rudder chamber, motor and propeller is so calculated that its
water line remains invariable. This invariable water line must be found in order
that the screw may work in a suitable layer of water, below the surface level.
The screw propeller is protected against collisions or concussions by means of a
guard fixed to the flanks of the rudder.
The rudder carries outside that end opposite the screw, a vertical metal tube
capable of being opened longitudinally on hinges, for the purpose of holding the
rudder post.
This latter is a wooden or iron rod set at right angles to the plan of the vessel,
and having another rod or bar parallel to this same plan adapted for use as a
tiller.
The length of the rudder post is such that the immersed portion is flush with the
bottom of the vessel while the upper part projects above similar to ordinary rudder
posts so that the tiller may be in the usual position.
This rudder post is fixed to the vessel by means of a movable metal collar
which carries at each side a rod, one extremity of which is bent so as to form
a book whilst the other extremity is provided with screw thread and carries a nut.
When the rudder propeller is required to be attached to a vessel the ordinary
rudder is removed and replaced by the rudder post above mentioned the hooks on
the aforesaid rods are placed upon the upper part of the stern of the vessel, and by
tightening the aforesaid nuts the rudder post is firmly fixed. But under these
conditions the rudder post would tend to slide in the collar and would not remain
vertical; in order to obviate these inconveniences, above the collar before mentioned
is placed a second collar which is provided with a small shoulder like the first, but
at its lower part. This second collar is also provided with two holes and the
rudder post is also traversed by holes of the same diameter and arranged at
certain intervals lengthwise. The post is first placed in the vertical position,
which it is required to occupy, subsequently the second collar is caused to slide
along until it rests upon the first collar which is fixed to the vessel; then a pin is
passed through the holes of the collar and of the post.
By these means the rudder post is prevented from sliding vertically while it is
left free to rotate in the first mentioned collar so that the said post and with it the
rudder-propeller may be moved either way by the tiller.
According to a modification of our invention the rudder propeller is provided at
its forward end with a flange pierced with holes the said flange being fixed to the
rudder post by means of pins.
In another modification the rudder propeller is provided at its forward end with
a groove passing from below upward vertically by means of which the fastening to
the rudder post is effected.
In a third modification the rudder propeller has likewise a vertical groove but
provided with a tenou at the upper part; this tenon permits of varying the vertical
position of the rudder-propeller relatively to the vessel.
A further modification has, at its line of attachment to the rudder post, three
projecting plates, each of which is provided with a hole.
Dated this 20th day of June 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling and Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 floating device suitable for the propulsion and
steering of vessels on canals, rivers and in general upon all navigable water
ways.
This propeller device, which is composed of a small hollow rudder preferably
of iron, and having at its rear extremity a screw propeller actuated by an electric
or other motor, is placed at the rear of the vessel which it serves both to propel and
guide.
These floating propellers are applicable at will to vessels of any shape and
dimensions irrespective of the position of the water line of the vessel, that is to say,
the water line of the rudder propeller is invariable, and independent of the weight
of the cargo on board.
and
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figures 1 and 3 represent to a small scale a propeller device attached to a ship.
Figure 2 shows on a larger scale a longitudinal section of the propeller deviće
Figure 4 a horizontal section thereof.
Figure 5 is a vertical section and
Figure 6 a plan showing the means of attachment of the rudder post to the
vessel.
Figures 7 to 14 represent on a smaller scale several modifications of devices for
the attachment of the propeller device.
The rudder is composed of a hollow sheet metal case A, hermetically closed and
containing an electro-motor; the joints of this case are all riveted excepting a
portion of its lid or cover B which is fixed by means of bolts a and provided
with packing strips b of indiarubber thus ensuring a tight joint.
The fixed part of the lid or cover is traversed by oil conduits for the motor
bearings and by the conducting wires. The said lid or cover further carries two
pipes c and d, one of which e descends into the bottom proper of the casing forming
the rudder, and the other d terminating just inside the lid or cover; this arrange-
ment permits the driving out by compressed air of any water that may, in spite
of precautionary measures have accumulated in the case owing to defective
rivetting or other unforeseen causes. A pressure of air is maintained in the case
sufficient to prevent the entrance of water through the stuffing box e of the propeller
screw C.
The rudder is so constructed as to allow of its being quickly and easily provided
either with an electro motor, M as indicated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, or
with a volatile oil, gas, petroleum or other motor, which however must be suffi-
ciently light to ensure that the position of the water line of the rudder may not be
altered.
The screw propeller shaft C, traverses the bottom of the sheet metal case A and
is supported therein by suitable bearings g; this shaft is furnished at its inner end
with a coupling h for attaching it to the shaft of the electro-motor. This latter,
when required for use, is placed in the space provided, and its shaft is coupled to
the screw shaft by a key cottar or the like. In cases where a motor other than an

page_text: electro-motor is required for use in actuating the screw propeller C such motor will
occupy the space provided, instead of the electro-motor.
For this purpose the screw propeller as before mentioned, is mounted on a
shaft separated from the motor shaft to which it is connected by means of a
coupling traversed by a cottar or pin i which serves to couple the motor to the
screw propeller and also to permit a change of motors without displacing this screw
propeller or its shaft.
The weight of this rudder chamber, motor and propeller is so calculated that
its water line remains invariable. This invariable water line must be found in
order that the screw may work in a suitable layer of water, below the surface
level.
The screw propeller C is protected against collisions or concussions by means of
a guard k fixed to the flanks of the rudder.
The rudder carries at the end opposite the screw C, a vertical metal tube D
capable of being opened longitudinally on binges for the purpose of holding the
rudder post shown separately in Figure 5.
This latter is a wooden or iron rod E set. at right. angles to the plan of the
vessel, and having another rod or bar F parallel to this same plan adapted for use
as a tiller.
The length of the rudder post E is, such that the immersed portion is flush with
the bottom of the vessel while the upper part projects above similar to ordinary
rudder posts so that the tiller may be in the usual position.
This rudder post is fixed to the vessel by means of a movable metal collar m
which carries at each side a rod n, one extremity of which is bent so as to form
a hook n whilst the other extremity is provided with screw thread and carries a
nut n
When the rudder propeller is required to be attached to a vessel, the ordinary
rudder is removed and replaced by the rudder post above mentioned; the
hooks n¹ on the aforesaid rod are placed upon the upper part of the stern of
the vessel and by tightening the aforesaid nuts n², the rudder post is firmly
fixed. But under these conditions the rudder post would tend to slide in the
collar m and would not remain vertical; in order to obviate these inconveniences,
a second collar o is placed above the collar m, which is provided with a small
shoulder like the first, but at its lower part. This second collar o is also provided
with two poles and the rudder post is also traversed by holes of the same diameter
and arranged at certain intervals lengthwise. The post is first placed in the vertical
position, which it is required to occupy, subsequently the second collar o is caused
to slide along until it rests upon the first collar m which is fixed to the vessel;
then a pin is passed through the holes of the collar and of the bar.
By these means the rudder post is prevented from sliding vertically while it
is left free to rotate in the first mentioned collar m so that the said post and
with it the rudder-propeller may be moved either way by the tiller.
In Figures 7 to 14 is represented the principal forms to be applied to the rudder
with modifications of the fastening devices.
According to Figures 7 and 8 the rudder propeller is provided at its forward end
with a flange p pierced with holes the said flange being fixed to the rudder post by
means of pins.
Figures 9 and 10 represent a rudder propeller provided at its forward end with
a groove passing from below upward vertically by means of which the fastening to
the rudder post is effected.
Figures 11 and 12 indicate a device having likewise a vertical groove, passing
from below upwards but provided with a tenon at the upper part; this tenon
permits of varying the vertical position of the rudder propeller relatively to the
vessel.
Figures 13 and 14 represent a rudder having attachment to the rudder post, three
projecting plates s, each of which is provided with a hole.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An improved floating propeller device capable of being used on canals, rivers
and the like, and constructed with the object to either serve solely as a propeller
device or constructed so as to serve at the same time as a steering mechanism; also
for towing ordinary vessels.
2. The constructional arrangements for tightly closing the casing containing the
motors and the propeller shaft.
3. The combination of the casing and its driving mechanism, allowing of the
propeller device serving as a floating propeller with fixed flank and of being adapted
to all kinds of vessels.
4. The method of connecting the propeller device to the stern of vessels.
5. The constructional arrangement of the propeller shaft so as to allow of the
same being alternately driven by an electric or any other kind of motor, gas, vapour-
or petroleum engine.
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..