IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRO- PELLING VESSELS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Geach, of Prospect Place, Old Bailey,
Falmouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRO-
PELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 15th December 1857, and dated the 8th September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Geach at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
September 1857.
I, WILLIAM GEACH, of Prospect Place, Old Bailey, Falmouth, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for propelling
vessels. For these purposes, towards the after part of the vessel there is a
hollow chamber formed above the keel, in order to receive the propelling
machinery, which consists of a horizontal wheel which works within a
cylindrical case, which has an opening at its under side equal to about half
the diameter, so that the water may rise up through such opening into the
cylindrical case, from which the water is driven by the float boards of the
horizontal wheel through an opening at the side of the cylindrical case; and
in order that the effect of thus throwing or forcing the water out of the case.
may be varied, the cylindrical case is made capable of being turned round, so

page_text: as to bring the discharge opening at its side into different positions at different
times, by which the propeller can be caused to propel the vessel forwards, or
backwards, or sideways, according to the position in which the discharge
opening is for the time being. The cylindrical case is turned by means of a
pinion and shaft, the pinion taking into a cog wheel on the cylindrical case.
The propeller and case can also be raised up or lowered down, so as to admit
of its being removed out of the way when sailing and when propelling forward,
but when it is desired to propel backwards or sideways, then the propelling
machinery is lowered. This 'raising and lowering of the propelling machinery
is by means of a screw and suitable apparatus. The axis of the paddle wheel
receives motion from a steam engine in any convenient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Geach in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GEACH, of Prospect Place, Old Bailey, Falmouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Geach, Her special licence that I, the said William Geach,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Geach, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
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 MACHINERY FOR PROPELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others). that I, the said William Geach, 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 William Geach, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for propelling
vessels. For these purposes, towards the after part of a vessel there is a
hollow chamber formed above the keel, in order to receive the propelling
machinery," which consists of a horizontal wheel which works within a
cylindrical case, which has an opening at its under side equal to about half
the diameter, so that the water may rise up through such opening into the
cylindrical case, from which the water is driven by the float boards of the
horizontal wheel through an opening at the side of the cylindrical case; and
in order that the effect of thus throwing or forcing the water out of the case
may be varied, the cylindrical case is made capable of being turned round, so
as to bring the discharge opening at its side into different positions at different
times, by which the propeller can be caused to propel the vessel forwards, or
backwards, or sideways, according to the position in which the discharge
opening is for the time being. The cylindrical case is turned by means of a
pinion and shaft, the pinion taking into a cog wheel on the cylindrical case.
The propeller and case can also be raised up or lowered down, so as to admit
of its being removed out of the way when sailing and when propelling
forward, but when it is desired to propel backwards or sideways, then the
propelling machinery is lowered. This raising and lowering of the propelling
machinery is by means of a screw and suitable apparatus. The axis of the
paddle wheel receives motion from a steam engine in any convenient manner.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews a plan of the apparatus; Figure 2, an under side view;
Figure 3, a transverse section of the vessel; and Figure 4, part of a longitudinal
section of the vessel, showing a side view of the propelling machinery. a, a, is
the hollow chamber open at bottom, having three float boards or propellers
b, b, on an upright shaft or axis, which is put in motion by a steam engine in
any convenient manner. The number of the propellers 6 may be varied; the
water rises up in the centre of the chamber a, which has an opening d at its
side, through which the water is propelled, and according to the position in
which the opening d is for the time being placed. The circular chamber a is
capable of being raised by the screw e, and of being rotated by the axis f and
the gearing g. The apparatus is lifted out of the way when the wind is
favourable for sailing.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it to understood that I make no claim
to the separate mechanical parts; but what I claim is, the combination herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Geach, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JNO. H. GEACH,
WILLIAM GEACH. (L.S.)
Falmouth.