IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIP PROPELLERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kennedy, of Whitehaven, in the County of
Cumberland, Ship Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIP
PROPELLERS."
Sealed the 7th November 1862, and dated the 20th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kennedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
*May 1862.
I, JOHN KENNEDY, of Whitehaven, in the County of Cumberland, Ship.
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIP PROPELLERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming propellers by fitting to an axis two blades
in the form of a tail of a fish, and in making the blades more or less deep and
long, and in altering their pitch according to the speed at which the ship to
which the propeller is to be fitted is to be driven.

page_text: SPECIFICATION
in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Kennedy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KENNEDY, of Whitehaven, in the County of Cumberland, Ship Builder, send
greeting.
"
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year, of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Kennedy, Her special licence that I, the said John Kennedy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
John Kennedy, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
SHIP PROPELLERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Kennedy, my executors or administrators, 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.
IN
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Kennedy, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists in forming propellers by fitting to an axis two or
more blades, but I prefer two, each blade being in the form of the tail of a
fish, and in making the blades more or less deep and long, and in altering
their pitch, according to the speed at which the ship to which the propeller is
to be fitted is to be driven.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of four propellers constructed
according to my Invention. The pitches of the propellers shewn at Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4 increase progressively. Figures 5, 6, 7 are views, in vertical

page_text: section, taken at different parts of the propeller, shewn at Figure 1. The
propeller shaft is supported and free to revolve in one or two bearings, as
found most desirable. The propellers may be formed of plates of metal, or
of a single casting, or in any other convenient manner, and, when required,
the blades may be made flexible.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that I claim forming ship
propellers by fitting to an axis two or more blades in the form of the tail of
a fish, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Kennedy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN KENNEDY. (L.S.)