IMPROVE- MENTS IN PROPELLERS, AND IN PROPELLING VESSELS THROUGH WATER
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Fryer, of St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton, in' the
: County of Lancaster, Clerk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Fryer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
September 1861.
I, ALFRED FRYER, of St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton, in the County of Lancaster,
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLERS, AND IN PROPELLING VESSELS THROUGH WATER," to be as
follows:-
On a horizontal rod working on the outside of the vessel is fixed my,
improved propeller, consisting of a strong rectangular frame, the edges of
which are tapered off sharp for cleaving the water; inside the said frame are
placed the floats of the propeller, consisting of a convenient number-of
rectangular boards hung one below the other by their upper corners to hinges
or pivots, so as to swing backwards or forwards as required within the said
frame; and it will readily be understood that when the propeller is at rest the

page_text: said floats bang vertically upon their pivots, in which position when propelled
against the water, they present their broad sides as a propelling surface, but
on the return stroke the said floats swing out on their pivots, and present to
the water their thin edges only, which offer little-resistance.
The said propellers may be applied at the sides or at the stern of a vessel
or in combination, or in any number as may be desired. If the said pro-
pellers are used at the stern of the vessel, two will be required, eacli fixed on a
horizontal shaft working one above the other. The said shafts pass through
stuffing boxes into the vessel, and are there respectively connected by means
of connecting rods to the upper. and lower ends of the vertical lever, which is
free to rock backwards and forwards on its centre, and is at one of its ends
connected with the piston rod of a horizontal cylinder engine, from which it
receives motion. By this arrangement each stroke of the engine causes ono
propeller to advance and the other to retire, and so on in alternate succession.
When the propellers are applied at the sides of a vessel, rocking levers must
bo keyed on the ends of a transverse rocking shaft actuated by a horizontal
engine. The ends of the said rocking levers are each connected with a
horizontal shaft working in bearings on the outside of the vessel, and a pro-
peller is fixed on each of the said shafts. When the vessel has to be
propelled backwards, the said floats. must be allowed to swing out in. an
opposite direction to the one required for the forward motion of the vessel,.
for which purpose each end of the propeller frame is embraced by an oscillating
frame placed transversely, and turning on pivots, the two vertical side bars of
which can cach in turn be caused to act as stops, against which the said floats
rest. The said oscillating frame is adjusted to the position required by means
of chains; these are connected to the top rail of the said frame, and after
passing over a pulley near the centre of the propeller frame, are wound round
a drum keyed on the end of a shaft passing into the vessel, and fitted at its
other end with a wheel for turning the same.
The said propellers can also be applied at the sides of a vessel as an a
auxiliary power for the prevention of shipwreck; such propellers would only be*
used in timo of need to prevent the vessel from being driven ashore, and
would be worked by auxiliary engines placed transversely in the vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Fryer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, T, ALFRED
FRYER, of St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton, in the County of Lancaster, Clerk,.
send-greeting.
should at any
all times there->
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,' by Her Letters:
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her,
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the.
said Alfred Fryer, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Fryer,.
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Fryer, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
after 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 "IMPROVE->
MENTS IN PROPELLERS, AND IN PROPELLING VESSELS THROUGH WATER," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Fryer, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Fryer, do hereby declaré.
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be:
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement:-.
My Invention consists in constructing propellers in manner following, and
in propelling as hereafter described, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in constructing and applying propellers for pro-
pelling vessels by having a piston rod or piston rods, or pairs of piston rods
connected as herein-after described, made to work at the stern or at the sides,
or at such other parts of the vessel as may, in practice, be found convenient,
in such a manner that a prolonged part of each piston rod, or a suitable
additional rod or tube attached thereto, projects into the water. To the end

page_text: of the part so projecting is attached the apparatus herein-after described, and
so constructed that an effective surface of sufficiently large extent is presented
to the action of the water when the piston or pistons is or are making their
outward thrust, and the vessel is thereby pushed or propelled forwards, and
when the piston or pistons is or are drawn back, a small extent of surface; is
presented in 'n suitable form to the action of the water, so that a small
resistance is offered by it to the inward motion of the piston or pistons. When
it is required to back the vessel, it is obvious that the action will have to be
roversed, and the propelling apparatus is mado to present a large surface,
causing great resistance during the inward motion, and to present a small
surface, causing comparatively small resistance during the outward, motion of
the piston or pistons. The said prolongation of the piston rod or additional
rod passes through suitable stuffing boxes, 'and has attached thereto a strong
frame of a rectangular or other form suited to the purpose, made of iron or
other suitable material, the edges of which may be tapered off sharp for
cleaving the water.
1
In the frame I secure a number of floats, that is, boards or pieces of metal
or other material of similar form or character hung one below the other. from
their upper corners by hinges or pivots, so as to swing backwards or forwards,
as required. The floats when the propellers are at rest hang vertically or
nearly so upon their pivots, and in such. position, when propelled against the
water (as they may be by means of the hereafter described combinations and
arrangements of parts), they present their broadsides in aggregate as an entire
propelling surface, whilst on the return stroke the said floats swing out and
present their thin edges only, offering but little rosistance to the water, thus
forming efficient propellers, and if properly placed, as, for example, on each
side of the sternpost, they may be efficiently used as steering mechanism. The
arrangements above referred to, which I employ, for effecting the objects
aforesaid, (consist of a guide frame crossing the said propeller frame at right
angles, or nearly so. The frame is so arranged that it may from time to time.
by a quick thread or by screw gearing, or by other suitable means be brought
close against-those broadsides of the floats or propeller boards which are not
then to be propelled against the water. In the arrangement which I prefer
each piston rod is inado to work in a cylinder of a horizontal cylinder engine
in such a way that the prolonged or added. rod or tube acts directly on the
propelling fraine; that is, each entire propeller should have its own cylinder or
engine, though. as hereafter. other arrangements may be, sometimes adopted.
These propollers may be applied at the sides as well as at the stern, or at the.

page_text: sides only, and when applied at the stern may be placed in the same horizontal
right line or the same vertical right line, that is, side by side, or one above
the other, and in some cases when I work two propellers. by one engine or
cylinder, these are connected by means of their connecting rods to the upper
and lower ends, of a vertical lever, which is free to rock backwards and for-
wards on its centre, and is at one of its ends, by moveable joint and link or by
working in a slot or by other suitable arrangements, connected with the piston
rod of a horizontal cylinder engine, from which it receives. motion. By this
arrangement each stroke of the engine causes one propeller to advance and
the other to retire, and so on, in alternate succession. When the propellers
are applied at the side of the vessel rocking levers should be keyed on to
the ends of a transverse rocking beam having a lever keyed on actuated by a
horizontal engine. The ends of the said rocking levers are each connected
with a horizontal propeller rod working in bearings in the outside of the
vessel, and a propeller frame, as before described, with floats is fixed on each
of the said rods. But this rocking-beam arrangements need not always be
adopted; as the same arrangement, as above set forth, for the stern may be
applied, provided the vessel be fashioned from amidships, so as to afford room
for the propellers to work clear of the sides of the vessel. When the vessel
has to be propelled backwards the said floats are allowed to swing out in an
opposite direction to the one required for the forward motion of the vessel, and
for this purpose each end of the propeller frame may, if thought desirable, be
so constructed as to be embraced by a moveable frame placed transversely and
turning on pivots, the two vertical side bars of which can each in turn. be
caused to act as stops, against which the said floats rest; the said moveable
frame being adjusted to the position required by means of chains, which are
connected to the top rail of the said frame, and after passing over. a pulley
near the centre of the propeller frame are wound round a drum keyed on the
end of a shaft passing into the vessel, and fitted at its other end with a.wheel
for turning the same.
The said propellers can be applied transversely at the sides of a vessel.
towards the stern or the bow as à steering power, so as to turn.tlie vessel
round on her own centre for the prevention of shipwreck; a power.invaluable.
in time of need to prevent the vessel from being driven ashore, and would be
worked by a small auxiliary engine or engines placed transversely in the vessel.
The arrangements for connecting the propeller with the engines may be
varied when. only one piston rod is adopted, and when two propellers .are
employed an arrangement of racks and toothed wheel or sectors may be used,

page_text: or a rocking lever acting upon the prolongation of the piston rod, and tlio
other rod passing through a plummer block, or the lever working in a slot
made in the before-mentioned rod or other suitable arrangement. The
reversing gear for acting on the said cross frame and thus opening-out or
shutting-to the floats may be by a quick thread with suitable handle, as shewn
by the accompanying Drawings, or a toothed wheel acting on a ratchet, also
shown by the accompanying Drawings, or by any other suitable gearing. Even
when, at the sides the propellers may also have the transverse iron framework
for reversing, as before described, with suitable gearing for moving it back wards
and forwards. The prolongation of the piston rod and the piston rod itself
might be hollow, by which means they would be stronger and lighter.
or a rocking lever acting upon the prolongation of the piston rod, and tlio
other rod passing through a plummer block, or the lever working in a slot
made in the before-mentioned rod or other suitable arrangement. The
reversing gear for acting on the said cross frame and thus opening-out or
shutting-to the floats may be by a quick thread with suitable handle, as shewn
by the accompanying Drawings, or a toothed wheel acting on a ratchet, also
shown by the accompanying Drawings, or by any other suitable gearing. Even
when, at the sides the propellers may also have the transverse iron framework
for reversing, as before described, with suitable gearing for moving it back wards
and forwards. The prolongation of the piston rod and the piston rod itself
might be hollow, by which means they would be stronger and lighter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, side view; Figure 2, plan view; Figure 3, front view of
propeller; Figures 4 and 5, detail views.
In these Figures, A is part of piston rod of steam engine; A', coupling strap
for securing the ends of the piston rod proper to the end of a tube or hollow
shaft A, attached to the aforesaid cross frame B, which regulates the opening out
or shutting to of the floats, the rod or propeller shaft A³ passing through the said
tube, and being secured at one end to the piston. rod (A) by the connecting
block A, and at the other end by a strap or bent iron C to the frame of the
propeller C; a, the quick thread with a corresponding screw nut in it; by
which the relative positions of the propeller shaft and cross frame are regu-
lated as aforesaid, so as to reverse the action of the floats and the
the ship.
progress of
Fig. 4, arrangement of the toothed wheel and rack for actuating the pro-
peller shaft or prolongation of the rod, so as to reverse the nction of propeller
or otherwise. R, the rack; T, the toothed wheel.
Fig. 5, arrangement of rocking lever for connecting the shaft or rods of tiro
propellers with one piston rod in manner aforesaid. S, propeller shaft; V,
rocking lever.
In order to steady the propeller frame when in action, there should be angle
iron or iron bracket guides projecting from the stern or sides of the vessel, pro-
vided with friction rollers.
In practice it is evident that the details shewn by the Drawings and herein
described may be departed from without departing from the character of this
Invention; thus, instead of two propellers at the stern arranged as described,
there may be four or more moro propellers, and this will greatly add to the speed.

page_text: of the vessel; and when side propellers are adopted they may be arranged in
some other way than herein-before. set forth. And I may remark that if four
propellers be arranged at the stern_they may be used to steer with, as two may
be arranged to "back" the vessel and the other two to "go ahead," or two on
one side may be stopped altogether or only slackened, the two on the other
side allowed to go full speed, by which means the vessel will be easily steered
even without any rudder at all. Also the floats, where they come in contact
with the transverse iron frame, may be provided with washers or pieces of gutta
percha or other suitable substance to prevent noise in working. And instead
of the arrangements described and shewn by the Drawings for reversing the
propeller, the following may be used on. each side of the iron framework:-
There is a strong framework of suitable width between the two strong iron
bars, and of suitable depth, which revolves on two strong pivots, the one
attached to the top of the large iron framework, the other at the bottom. The
sides are made sharp to. cleave the water. easily. A small iron bar, very
strong, projects about one foot on each side of these, side iron frameworks at
right angles to the large iron framework. At the centre of the large iron
framework a strong iron support projects out on both sides about one foot; this
is in order to prevent the chains from touching the floats. At the end of these
iron supports two iron pullies are fixed, with the thin sides of the wheels
parallel with the large iron framework, and two are placed horizontally on
the top of the large iron frameworks towards the.centre; a little below or above
the centre of the large iron framework, and strongly attached to it, going
through it about one foot on the opposite side, through a small hole cut in the
lower part of the centre float in a half circular form, there is a long iron rod
round and rather thick; this rod moves backwards and forwards with the
large iron framework even into the vessel through a stuffing box, and goes in
and out, always leaving one foot inside the vessel quite convenient to the engine-
man. To the end of this rod is attached a wheel almost similar to the steering
wheel in a vessel, by means of which wheel, when the engine is stopped, the
engineman turns round this thick iron rod, and fixes it immoveably to the
prolongation of the piston rod by a pin, two chains being attached to the ends
of the side iron bars above mentioned which act as levers, and these chains
being passed over two pullies placed horizontally on. the top of the large iron
framework in the centre, and then over the two pulleys above mentioned,
these chains are passed round this thick iron rod in contrary ways, the rod
being capable of being revolved either way, it follows that whenever the engine-
man revolves a portion of that wheel, the chains attached to the side iron bars

page_text: on one side become contracted, and thereby bring the iron sides of the small
iron framework close to the floats, and on the other loosened in the same pro-
portion; and when he has revolved the wheel as far as the framework to which
the side iron bars are attached will allow him, he will fasten the wheel there
with a strong iron pin to the prolongation of the piston rod, and the effect will
be that the thick sides of the side iron framework will be kept immoveably
fixed, so that the floats will be prevented on that side from going beyond them:
And if he wishies to reverse the position of the floats so that they may be open
the contrary way, and be kept firm at the other side, and thereby make the
vessel go backwards, he will merely have to take out the iron pin, which kept
the wheel immoveable, and turn the wheel round the contrary way, until the
side iron frameworks revolving on their pivots cause their other iron sides to
press on the contrary side of the large iron framework, and then fix the iron
pin in the wheel to keep it immoveable as before described. When one
cylinder only is used with.the ratchet and wheel, two friction rollers may be
used, one above and the other beneath the iron rods if necessary, in order
to keep them from bending upwards or downwards in the least. The
propellers at the stern and the sides can be entirely secured within the
vessel on every side excepting the side facing the water, but if a trans-
versé engine and propellers placed towards the stern be used, two sides
must be open, namely, the one facing the water and the other at
the stern, in order not to retard the vessel. Where these openings aro
placed a few tapering iron bars may be added to protect the propellers
and a wooden or iron slide. which can be easily raised up or lowered down,
may be added, if desired, to close the openings altogether, and thereby exlude
the water from them; this will make it most easy to repair the propellers,
should they by any possibility get out of order, even whilst at sea, an advantage
which the screw and paddle wheels have not. Another way of reversing
which could be resorted to; if considered necessary; is by having double floats
in each iron framework, the extremities of the floats on each side being
united together by a piece of iron, which is secured. to the side of the extre-
niities of the floats by a large screw or pin, but in such a way as to allow tho
hole in the iron to be considerably larger than the screw or pin, and thus to
allow the float to move backwards and forwards when necessary. The double
floats being thus separately joined, the top on each side are so. united
together, that by raising the top on one side all the floats on, that side. become
open and all tlio floats on the other shut, and vice versa.. The.operation of
raising the top float on one side, or pulling down the bottom one on the

page_text: other side, which will have the same effect, is easily, effected by having, a
transverse iron 'bar, with pullies on each side fixed on the top and bottom of
the iron framework of the propeller, and a chain or rope' passing over the
pulley from the top or bottom float, or both if desired, and passing into the vessel;
through a stúffing box, that is to say, the chain or rope is attached to 4 bar of
iron, which freely passes through a stuffing-box following the motion of the
propeller; thus it will happen, that by merely moving this bar about a footi
backwards or forwards, the motion of the propellers will be reversed; this:
movement can be performed by any of the aforesaid methods described in the;
Specification in connexion with the reversing apparatus..
. A second. way of preventing the floats from opening too much can be effected.
by uniting the floats as herein-before mentioned, and securing the bottom from
opening above a certain height. Also studs may be let 'through the frame of
propeller to prevent the floats from rising higher than necessary, thereby:
ensuring accuracy in their motion, and preventing the. possibility of their.
being wrenched upwards.
I
:
. Another mode of constructing the apparatus for reversing is as follows:
Three iron frameworks are employed, the two outer ones immoveable, and
joined together on the centre one. The floats are attached; the centre one
rests on one end of a lever at each side of the two outer frames with an
opening in it which secures it in its position when the lever is moved back-
wards or forwards, and this backwards and forward motion of the lever brings
the floats against the further or nearest framework, and thus causes the floats.
to act in such a manner as to make the vessel advance forwards or backwards
without reversing the engines. The double framework. is fastened in this
case to the prolongation of the piston rod or the additional rod or tube; the
two levers can be fastened together at 'their lower ends' by a strong iron bar,
with a moveable joint and connecting rod passing through a stuffing box into
the vessel, which is acted on by any of the means mentioned in the above
Specification relating to the reversing gear.
Another mode of constructing apparatus for reversing may be employed.
The floats are made to overlap each other a little at the bottom, and slots are
made, where they are fixed to the iron framework by means of rods passing
through stuffing boxes. These floats can be raised a little, and pushed back-
wards or forwards as desired, and then let down immediately, and thus their
position can be changed. When strength is required, anything that is men-
tioned in these Specifications as only single may be doubled or trebled, or
increased to any number that may be considered necessary for the size and

page_text: strength of the vessel. And I may add that I can work the transverse.
propeller, even without an auxiliary engine, by the engines at the stern of the
vessel by means of a bell-crank and other suitable machinery connected with
the piston rod or its prolongation. Moreover, these propellers and engines.can
be easily raised or lowered to suit the cargo of the ship, that the propelling
power may be as near as possible in the centre of gravity of the vessel; this
is effected by having the horizontal engines fixed to a bed-plate, so that by
means of powerful screws and windlasses they can be lowered and raised at
pleasure. The stuffing boxes through which the propellers play can at the
same time be raised or lowered by being fixed in wood fastened in grooves
made water-tight, and according as this wood, by suitable machinery, is raised
or lowered, the propellers are raised or lowered.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the combination of parts
forming the reciprocating propelling apparatus, as described and shewn in the
Drawings; also the modes of applying propelling apparatus, constructed and
applied as described and shewn in the Drawings, for steering or aiding in
steering, as well as for driving vessels forwards or backwards.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Fryer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One-
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness to the signature of said
Alfred Fryer,
B. WALKER,
71, Fleet St., E.C.,
ALFRED FRYER. (L.S.)
(Genl. Patent Company, Limited.)