Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Ships and Boats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Ships and Boats.
I WILLIAM THOMAS LANGLEY-SMITH of Spring Lodge, Dean Road, South
Croydon Surrey, Agent to a Public Company, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:―
An air-tight drum revolves at the stern of the vessel immediately in front of the
rudder. This drum contains recesses (as many in number as may be found
necessary) to receive as many floats.
The floats slide in grooves and drop in succession by gravitation as they each
arrive at the under part of the drum in its revolution. The drum is submerged to
within three feet of the keel of the vessel, which keel is carried and continued along
under the centre of the drum till it reaches the rudder-post. The portion of the
keel beneath the drum is so constructed that it forms an inclined or curved plane
gradually letting down and afterwards gradually raising the floats until they are
in their recesses again flush with the circumference of the drum. Each float runs
upon a roller.
There is an outer skin or casing which encloses the drum to prevent the water
entering the ship but this outer skin or casing only continues to the lines of the
stern of the vessel, leaving the drum revolving in a thin sheet of water inside
the casing and where the casing ceases the drum is freely exposed to the
water.
A shaft fixed to the drum pierces the casing through stuffing boxes and
is worked direct from cranks driven between the casing and the sides of the
ship.
The propellor is called "The Langley Propellor." It has for its object greatly
increased speed and steadiness in the progress of the ship through the water
as owing to the direct stern action of the propellor oscillation is almost entirely
avoided.
A further advantage is found in the (comparatively) short length of the driving
shaft.
In consequence also of the machinery being placed at the stern of the vessel
a large and valuable space in the centre of the ship is released for other
purposes.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Ships and Boats.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS LANGLEY-SMITH, of Spring Lodge, Dean Road, South
Croydon, Surrey, Agent to a Public Company, 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 that class of propeller which consists of a revolving
submerged air tight drumm from which blades or floats are projected in turn.
The upper part of the drum is contained in a water tight casing within the vessel
whilst its lower part is exposed to the water.
A shaft fixed to the drum passes out through stuffing boxes in the casing and a
carries at its ends cranks which lie between the casing and the skin of the vessel
and are driven by connecting rods from the engine.
The floats slide in recesses in the drum and drop in succession by gravitation as
they each arrive at the under part of the drum in its revolution.
The upper part of the portion of the keel beneath the drum is cut away so as to 4
form a cam surface allowing the floats to gradually descend and afterwards gradually
raising them until they are again in their recesses with their outer edges flush with
the circumference of the drum.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vessel fitted with a propeller according to my 4
invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section and Figure 3 a transverse section.
A is the body of the vessel. B is the air tight drum. CC are radial partitions
forming recesses for the floats D. E are rollers upon the floats.
F is the

page_text: keel. H is a casing around the drum inside the vessel to prevent the entrance of
water. JJ are stuffing boxes in the casing through which passes the shaft K
to which the drum B is fixed. L L are cranks at the end of the shaft K.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim generally a propeller consisting of a submerged
air tight drum from which blades or floats project in turn but what I do
claim is :-
The combination with such a drum of an opening cut completely through the
keel and operating as a cam to raise the floats as the drum revolves substantially
as described.
D
1
Ր
1001
WM. THOS. LANGLEY-SMITH.