Improvements in the Construction of the Hulls of Ships and Boats.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of the Hulls of Ships and Boats.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER, of 49 New Man Street, New Town, Sydney,
Australia, at present of 133 Amesburg Avenue, Streatham Hill, Surrey, England,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what inanner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention refers to an improved construction of Steam and Sailing Ships and
boats by which improvements resistance is reduced and a consequent increase of
speed is obtained.
It will be understood that when a vessel of ordinary construction is being driven
or propelled through the water, the submerged portion of the bows has to force
a passage through, and to drive the water displaced against the practically incomi-
pressable water on either side, the amount of resistance being dependent upon the
quantity of water displaced in a given time and the depth of submersion.
Now my invention consists essentially in so forming the bows of the vessel that
it will plough a passage through the water, and raise a large portion of that dis-
placed, above the normal level, so that it will be free from the resistance of the
surrounding water. The water so raised is caused to fall at an angle and to
impinge upon the water in the rear of the bows, thereby assisting the forward
movement of the vessel.
I am aware that the power to be obtained on the falling of a mass of water, can-
not be equal to the force required to raise it, but I have found in practice that loss
in this respect is materially compensated for by the reduction of the resistance
above referred to, so that a vessel constructed according to my invention can
obtain a greater speed with a like amount of power, than one formed in the
ordinary manner.
In carrying out my invention, I form on either side of the bows, an inclined and
curved projection, the lower portion of which dips beneath the water level, the
upper portion being raised above it. The said inclined and curved projections are
so arranged in their rearward portion, that the raised water is guided or thrown
at an angle in a downward direction; so that the impact on or in the niass of water
beneath, tends to assist the propulsion of the vessel.
When my invention is applied to steam vessels, I may use a screw propeller or
propellers at the stern as usual, in which case I form the bows of the vessel as
above described, but I preferably employ a propeller or propellers in the forward
part of the ship, in which case I form orifices in the said curved and inclined pro-
jections in the bows and place the propeller or propellers in a suïtable position or
positions to operate in the water entering therein, and to discharge the water in
the rear at an angle in a downward direction.
When a single propeller is employed, I leave the two forward orifices so that
they meet centrally in the ship, and the two rearward orifices in such position that
the outgoing water is equally divided and delivered outside of the vessel in a
downward direction.
When two propellers are used, I form on each side of the ship, a chamber, each

page_text: of which forms a channel or passage for the incoming and outgoing water. The
screw propellers being placed therein, and the shafts thereof running in suitable
stuffing boxes.
In order to provide for ready access to the propeller or propellers, so as to
enable the same to be removed or repaired, without necessitating the docking of
the ship, I provide means whereby each of the orifices can be closed by a slide,
valve or plug, whereby the chamber in which the propeller is placed, can be
isolated from the outside water, so that upon pumping out the water contained in
the said chamber, the propeller can be readily repaired. The said chamber or cham-
bers, is or are provided with covers or doors, placed above the water line, so that the
same can be tightly closed during the time the propellers are in operation.
I will now proceed to describe my invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which :-
Fig. 1. Is a side elevation, showing the application of the inclined and curved
projections to the bows of a sailing ship.
Fig. 2. Is an end view of same.
179.
Fig 3. Is a side elevation, showing the application of my invention to a
steamship.
Fig. 4. Is an end view of same.
Fig. 5. Is a plan showing the arrangement in connection with a single propeller.
Fig. 6. Is a plan showing the arrangement in connection with two propellers.
Fig. 7. Is a section of same.
a, is the forward end of a sailing vessel, (see Figs. 1 & 2) upon which is formed
an inclined and curved projection, b, upon each side of the bows, the said projec-
tion being shaped somewhat after the manner of a plough share, the lower end, c,
dipping below the water line, d, and the upper portion e, being well above it. It
will be seen that as the vessel proceeds, a large portion of the water displaced by
the bows will be raised and caused to travel up the said incline until it reaches
the point, e, above the water line, when it will be discharged in the direction
indicated by the arrow. With reference to the figures, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.
f, is the forward end of a steam vessel, having upon its bows the inclined and
curved projections, g, in which are formed orifices, h, and, i, which communicate
with a chamber, j, in which is contained a screw propeller, k, which is carried by a
shaft, 1, running through a stuffing box, m, when the propeller is revolved, it
will operate in the water contained in the chamber j, and cause the vessel to be
propelled; a contiual supply of water being transmitted to the chamber, j, during
the passage of the vessel by means of the inclines, g, and the orifices, h, the said
water after being operated upon by the propeller passing out in an angular and
downward direction, through the orifices, i. On either side of the internal part
of the bows of the ship, I form a deflector, n, so arranged as to constitute a con-
tinuous passage between the orifices, h, and, i. The said deflectors approaching
near to the ends of the blades of the propellers, the object. being to confine the
water within the chamber, j, and consequently to revent the driving away of the
water, and to afford a better grip to the propeller.
As the vessel proceeds, the water passes through the orifices, i, and impinges
upon or against the water outside the ship, so. that some of the force required to
raise the water up the incline, g,.is thereby utilised in assisting the forward move-
ment of the ship.
Figs. 6 & 7 Show an arrangement applied to a twin screw vessel, the bows of
which are formed with inclines and orifices substantially similar to those described,
with reference to Figs. 3, 4 & 5. Each propeller is contained within a chamber, n,
which is connected with orifices, q and r, and is provided with deflectors, t; the
propellers are mounted upon shafts, u, which pass through stuffing boxes, v, the
said shafts, u, being operated by twin engines in the usual manner. This arrange-
anent is particularly applicable to ships of broad beam, whilst the arrangement
shown in Figs. 3, 4 & 5 is preferably used for vessels of narrow beam. In both
cases the chamber, ), and the chambers p, can be closed in by covers or doors, s,

page_text: and the orifices, h and i, and y and r, can be closed by cover plates, valves or plugs,
so that the said chambers, s, can be isolated from the outside water.
It will be seen therefore that by pumping out either of the said chambers, access
can readily be had to the propellers, and t¹, for the purposes of removal and
repair, without necessitating the ship being put into dock.
It will be obvious that various arrangements of the methods I have described
can be employed without departing from the nature of my invention; for instance,
the inclined projections, and g may be formed of different angles to those shown
in the drawings, and the chambers, j and, p, and deflectors, t, and, n, may be
varied to suit different requirements.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. In a ship or boat, forming the bows with inclined and curved projections,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
2. In a ship or vessel propelled by steam or other motive power a combination
of inclined and curved projections on the bows and orifices therein with a pro-
peller or propellers substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of September One thousand Eight hundred and Ninety-
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER.