Improved Steam-ship Propeller.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Steam-ship Propeller.
Sir HENRY DE BURGH LAWSON, of Gatherley Castle, Richmond, Yorkshire,
Baronet, and RICHARD OWEN, of 77 Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C,
Parliamentary Bookseller. We do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists in the use of a propeller composed of an air-tight drum
with deep flanges, between which are fitted a series of screw-blades forming in
combination continuous or endless screws confined between two or more circular
walls or flanges, whereby on the revolution of the said air-tight drum, the several
screw-blades or portions of the endless screw or screws will be caused to act in
succession on the water contained in the space between the said walls or flanges.
The propeller is intended to be fitted to the vessel at such a level that the
lower surface of the drum will rest on the water, and thereby increase the
vessel's power of flotation, the drum being caused to roll over the surface of
the water as the vessel is propelled through it.
The said endless screw or screws are arranged in a circle of larger diameter than
that of the drum, and each successive portion of the blades are caused by the
revolution of the drum to act on the water enclosed within such portion, and the
walls or flanges on each side thereof, as well as by the under surface of the drum,
the only outlet for the water being in the rear of the propeller..
By the blades acting on the water enclosed as stated, they will be caused to take
a firm hold of the water, thereby the ordinary tendency of a paddle wheel to
produce a swell in the water will be obviated, thus rendering our improved
propeller of the utmost utility, specially for vessels on rivers and canals where
it is important to avoid injury to the banks thereof.
It is also adapted to increase the speed of vessels and for this purpose more
than one pair of propellers may be applied thereto.
The propelling wheel may also be constructed without a drum to suit the
position in which it may be required for propulsion, the essential feature of the
invention consisting of an endless screw propeller with two or more confining
walls or enclosures, whereby such propeller will be caused to act continuously
on the volume of water contained between the said walls or enclosures, and with
the increased effect due to its lateral confinement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
This drawing is a perspective view of a propelling wheel constructed according
to our invention, and may be applied to the vessel in the most convenient position
for propulsion; A is the air-tight drum, B the walls or flanges-forming enclosures
for limiting the passage of water; and Ć the continuous screw-propeller between the
said walls or flanges, the endless screw or screws formed by the combination of
blades C are arranged in a circle of larger diameter than that of the drum A (with
or without a space between the periphery of the drum and the endless screw or
screws), and each successive blade or portions of the endless screws C are caused
by the revolution of the propelling-wheel to act on the water enclosed within such
screw-blades or portions of the endless screws and the walls or flanges B at each side
thereof, as well as by the under surface of the drum A, the only outlet for the water
being in the rear of the propeller.
In the foregoing description reference has been made to a propelling wheel with
a drum, but our invention is not confined to such construction. When the drum is

page_text: dispensed with, the walls or enclosures between which the continuous or endless
screws are fitted will be strengthened as required by suitable ribs or stays.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we hereby declare that we do not claim as of our
invention any of the separate parts of apparatus or mechanism hereinbefore
described, but what we do claim as of our invention is,-
First. The combination of a continuous or endless propelling screw or screws
with a drum the flanges of which form walls or enclosures to confine the water
laterally, thereby rendering the action of the wheel partially hydraulic, as herein-
before described.
Secondly. The combination of a continuous or endless propelling screw or
screws with side walls or enclosures for laterally confining the water acted upon
by the screw-blades, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof we, the said Sir Henry de Burgh Lawson, Bart., George
William Adolphus Fitz George, and Richard Owen, have hereunto set our
hands and seals this First day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and ninety.
Witnessed by―
A. H. W. DE BURGH-LAWSON.
C. M. OWEN.
HENRY DE BURGH LAWSON.
RICHARD OWEN.