Improvements in Propellers
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 12th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
I, ROLAND RHETT, of 96, Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, Book-keeper, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to submerged paddle wheel propellers revolving on
vertical or slightly inclined axes and partially enclosed within a housing by which
the enclosed blades are prevented from counteracting the action of the unenclosed
blades on the ambient water and nullifying the propulsive effect, and it consists of
two such submerged paddle wheels mounted at opposite sides of the stern frame
or keel and revolving opposite directions, each partly within a through housing
open at both sides common to both wheels, the enclosed blades of the two wheels
mutually inter-meshing or passing between those of the other wheel. The front
and rear walls of the housing arc curved to correspond to the peripheral orbit of
the blades which revolve close up to the walls of the housing and the shafts may
be made hollow and water-tight to reduce the weight. The two wheels are geared
together or driven from a common motor so that the alternation or inter-penetration
of their enclosed blades is maintained. The wheels, when of large size, may be
formed of sections one above the other on a common shaft each enclosed in its
own housing.
In operation, the reaction of the blades from the point at which they emerge
from, to the point at which they re-enter, the housing effects the propulsion of the
vessel. The water carried into the housing by the blades of the wheels on
most part,
re-entering meets in opposing currents and is returned and, in
expelled by the inter-penetration of the blades which act as valves at varying
angles within the housing, thus nullifying the counteraction of the propulsive effect
of the exposed or outside blades.
Dated this 12th day of September 1895.
Improvements in Propellers for Vessels.
I, ROLAND RHETT (Bookkeeper) of 96 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, in
the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to
021

page_text: is to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates, more particularly, to propellers in which two paddle
wheels, mounted on vertical axes parallel to each other and placed on opposite
sides of the keel of a vessel, interlock their paddles or blades within a housing
case or wheel-house, leaving the outer paddles free to effect the propulsion.
In the propulsion of a vessel by this form of propeller, there is free and
unobstructed movement of the outer blades; and, as far as possible, the reverse
action of those blades which move forward or in the direction in which the boat is
moving is nullified. These results are accomplished by using a common wheel-
house for both propellers, which are journaled therein in such a position that
the forward or reactive movement of the blades occurs wholly within the
wheel-house.
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stern of a vessel with the propeller in
place.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2, looking forward.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3, looking downward.
Figure 4 is a modification.
1 represents the stern of a vessel into which is built a wheel-house 2. To
the sides of the wheel-house are journaled, in a vertical or slightly inclined
position, shafts 3 carrying paddle wheels 4, 5, the blades of which interlock within
the wheel-house for the purpose hereinafter described. The paddle wheels 4, 5 are
duplicates of each other, and are journaled in suitable bearings 6, 7, one on each
side of the wheel-house, and extend from the load water line to near the keel, being
thus entirely submerged.
Each wheel consists of a shaft 3, and paddles or blades 8. In large wheels, the
shafts will be cast or made hollow and water tight to lessen the weight. The
blades may be cast to the shaft or attached to it in any suitable way.
The wheel-house 2 used in common by both paddle wheels, is open at the sides,
but closed at the top and bottom, as also at the front and rear ends, thus leaving an
opening through the vessel from side to side.
The distance between the paddle wheels and the width of the wheel-house bear
such relation to each other that the blades. of the two paddle wheels shall
interlock within the wheel-house, while the blades outside are free to act upon the
water on both sides of the vessel. The inner faces of the front and rear walls of
the wheel-house are curved as shown in Figure 3 to conform to the peripheries of
the blades of the paddle wheels.
Crank 9, 10 on the upper ends of the shafts and within the vessel afford
means for attaching the driving devices, such as a steam engine, electric
motor, etc.
The operation is as follows:
When the wheels are in action, the outside blades are the propelling medium,
and it is to be observed that each blade leaves the wheel-house as soon as it has
passed across the centre line or "dead centre," beginning immediately to act on the
water to propel the vessel forward; and that it continues in action until it has
made a half revolution and is about to re-act on the water. At this moment, the
blade enters the wheel-house and meets the current generated by the opposite
wheel. The object of using a wheel-house common to both wheels is to shut off
or exclude as much as possible the blades passing through it from all contact with
the water outside. In the reverse movement, the water carried into the wheel-
house from both sides meets in opposing currents, and is returned, and, in most
part, expelled by the interlocking blades, which form valves at various angles
within the case, thus nullifying the reverse or reactive power of the wheels, and
leaving the outside blades to do their work.
Instead of employing a single cast or built-up wheel, when of large size, the

page_text: wheels may each be made in sections, one above the other, each having its own
separate wheel-house, as shown in Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,-
1. In combination with a vessel, a casing or wheel-house, two paddle wheels
rotating partly therein, the blades of which interlock while passing through the
wheel-house, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination in a vessel, a casing, or wheel-house formed therein, paddle
wheels mounted to rotate on vertical or slightly inclined shafts journaled on
opposite sides of the wheel-bouse, the opposing blades of each wheel interlocking
with one another within the wheel-house, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with a vessel, a case or wheel-house formed in the stern thereof,
and opened through the vessel from side to side, interlocking, submerged paddle
wheels journaled to the sides of the wheel-house in a substantially vertical position,
the blades of which interlock within the wheel-house, and means for driving the
wheels in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, in a vessel, of a series of independent wheel-houses,
formed on the stern thereof and opeued from side to side, a vertical shaft journaled
on each side of the series, paddle wheels secured to the shafts, the blades of each
pair interlocking within a wheel-house, and means, such as described, for driving
the wheels, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of May 1890.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.