IMPROVED GEAR POR ACTUATING SCREW AND OTHER LIKE PROPELLERS OP NAVIGABLE VESSELS BY MANUAL, ANIMAL, OR, MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, AND FOR ELEVATING, LOWERING, CONNECTING, OR DISCONNECTING SUCH PROPELLORS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Bright, of Bristol, in the County of
Gloucester, Master Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVED GEAR POR
ACTUATING SCREW AND OTHER LIKE PROPELLERS OP NAVIGABLE VESSELS BY
MANUAL, ANIMAL, OR, MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, AND FOR ELEVATING, LOWERING,
CONNECTING, OR DISCONNECTING SUCH PROPELLORS."
Sealed the 11th February 1868, and dated the 13th August 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the' said John James, Bright at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th August 1867.
I, JOHN JAMES BRIGHT, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Master
Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, for "IMPROVED
GEAR FOR ACTUATING SCREW AND OTHER LIKE PROPELLERS OF NAVIGABLE VESSELS
BY MANUAL, ANIMAL, AND MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, AND FOR ELEVATING, LOWERING,
CONNECTING, OR DISCONNECTING SUCH PROPELLORS," to be as follows (that is to
say):-
This Invention consists of a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for actuating
screw or other like propellers of navigable vessels, which is more particularly
applicable when not provided with steam power, and is chiefly intended for
use in calms, or when entering bar barbours.
The screw or other like propeller is mounted within an opening in the dead
wood of the stern within a suitable metal frame supported and working two
vertical screwed shafts which have their bearings on the top of. the keel or
keelson-within-the-screw-opening and extend to the deck. On the head of

page_text: each of these vertical screwed rods is keyed a toothed wheel, and between
which is mounted an intermediate toothed wheel which gears into both of the
toothed wheels on the heads of the vertical screwed shafts; this intermediate
wheel is keyed on to a vertical shaft working within suitable bearings. The
axle of the intermediate wheel extends upwards, and at the head is formed
square, is fitted with a key or handle by which the same may be turned round,
which giving motion to the two parallel vertical screwed rods thus raise or
lower the screw or other propeller a certain distance within the range of the
propeller, opening in the dead wood, and the well in the counter of the vessel.
The short axle on which the propeller is mounted is provided with an oblique
toothed wheel which when in position gears into a second oblique toothed
wheel keyed on to the end of an oblique shaft, which extends through the
run or counter of the vessel on one side of the inner stern post, passing through
a stuffing box or tube which extends a little above the deck of the vessel.
The upper end of this oblique shaft is mounted in suitable bearings, and a
third oblique toothed wheel is keyed on to the head of the oblique shaft
which. gears into a fourth toothed wheel on an horizontal driving shaft, on
which is fitted a clutch or sliding collar, to which is keyed a toothed pinion,
with a toothed circle on the outer edge of the under side of a large capstan;
or into an inner toothed circle also on the under side of the capstan. When
a lower speed is required the toothed pinion may be withdrawn and dis-
connected from the capstan when required for the purpose herein-after
explained. This capstan is covered over with a deck house or platform, and
the upper end of which capstan carries a winding barrel above-the roof of the
deck house or platform to be used for warping when the propeller is in action
or disconnected.
If preferred this apparatus may be used in connection with a donkey or.
other small motive-power engine in place of manual or animal power:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John James Bright in the Great Seal Patent Office on 3
the 12th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JAMES BRIGHT, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Master Mariner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight bundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me; the said
John James Bright, Her special licence that I, the said John James
Bright, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John James Bright, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 "IM-
PROVED. GEAR FOR ACTUATING SCREW AND OTHER LIKE PROPELLORS OF NAVIGABLE.
VESSELS BY MANUAL, ANIMAL, OR MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, AND FOR ELEVATING, .
LOWERING, CONNECTING, OR DISCONNECTING SUCH PROPELLORS," upon the condition...
(amongst others) that I, the said John James Bright, my executors or adminis--
trators, 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 John James Bright, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is. to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by ther
following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
This my said Invention consists of a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for
actuating screw and other like propellers of navigable vessels, which is more
particularly applicable when not provided with steam power, and is chiefly:
intended for use in calms or when entering bar harbours.
The screw or other like propeller is mounted within an opening in the dead
wood of the stern within a suitable metal frame supported and working on two
vertical screwed shafts which have their bearings on the top of the keel or keelson
within the screw opening and extend to the deck. On the end of each of these
vertical screwed rods is keyed a toothed wheel, and between which is mounted
an intermediate toothed wheel which gears into both of the toothed wheels on
the heads of the vertical screwed shafts. The intermediate wheel is keyed
into a vertical shaft working within suitable bearing, the axle of the inter-
mediate wheel extending upwards, and at the heed is formed square and fitted
with a key or handle, by which the same may be turned round, which giving
motion to the two parallel vertical screwed rods thus raise or lower the screw
or other propeller, a certain distance within the range of the propeller opening
in the dead wood and the well in the counter of the vessel. The short axle on
..י..

page_text: which the propeller is mounted is provided with an oblique toothed wheel,
which when in position gears into a second oblique toothed wheel keyed into
the end of an oblique shaft, which extends through the rim or counter of the
vessel on one side of the inner stern post, passing through a stuffing box or
tube, which extends a little above the deck of the vessel. The upper end of
this oblique shaft is mounted in suitable bearings, and a third oblique toothed
wheel is keyed into the head of the oblique shaft, which gears into a fourth
motion toothed wheel on an horizontal driving shaft, on which is fitted a
clutch or sliding collar, to which is keyed a toothed pinion which gears into a
toothed circle on the outer edge of the under side of a large capstan, or into an
inner toothed circle,, also on the under side of the capstan; when a lower speed
is required; and the toothed pinion may be, withdrawn and disconnected
from the capstan when required for the purpose herein-after explained. The
capstan is covered over with a deck house or platform, and upper end of
which capstan carries a winding barrel above the roof of the deck house or
platform to be used for warping when the propellor is not in action or
disconnected.
If preferred, this apparatus may be used in connection with a donkey or
other small motive-power engine in place of manual or animal power.
That this my said Invention may be more readily understood and seen
I have hereunto annexed Drawings showing the practical application of my
Invention; like letters and figures marked thereon being used to denote
similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vessel showing the propeller shaft in dotted
lines, platform and capstan house in section; and Figure 2 is a top view or
plan of the same with the capstan house removed.
A, the propeller; B, short propeller shaft, on the inner end of which is
keyed C, small mitre toothed wheel, into which gears D, a second mitre wheel
on the end of E, the intermediate drving, shaft, on the upper end of which is
keyed F, a third mitre wheel, which gears into G, a fourth mitre wheel keyed
into the outer end of H, an horizontal driving shaft, on which is fitted K,
a sliding toothed wheel, which gears into L, a toothed circle on the under side
of M, the capstan. The sliding wheel K may be geared into an inner toothed
circle, also fixed on the under side of the capstan, when a slower speed is
disired. N, a warping barrel on the end of the capstan; P, the capstan;
Q, capstan bars.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the propeller frame and apparatus for
lifting the propeller.
R and R', pair of vertical screw shafts, which carry S, the propeller

page_text: frame, the outer ends of which are fitted with T, female screw blocks;
U and U, toothed wheels, keyed into the heads of the screwed rods
immediately above the deck of the vessel, into which gears V, an intermediate
wheel, to the spindle of which is fitted W, a handle for working the same..
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a schooner, to which the Invention is applied,
showing the style of rig and sails that I prefer to use to which
is applied.
my Invention
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how I believe the same may be best carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the relative
proportions or dimensions of the several parts, as it will be readily seen the
same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention; but
what I claim is the general arrangement, combination, and mode of working
the several parts, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-.
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Bright, have hereunto set
my band and affixed my seal, this Seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN JAMES (L.S.) BRIGHT.