IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE of PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS THROUGH THE WATER, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and
Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE of
PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS THROUGH THE WATER, AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by Monsieur Fidèle
Motte, of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1878.
66
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS THROUGH
THE WATER, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." (A communication from abroad by
Monsieur Fidèlo Motte, of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium.)
This Invention consists of a combination composed of a helix or screw and of a
sort of turbine immersed upon the same shaft in front of the ship in the pro-
longation of the centre line of the ship. The screw is in front, and the turbine
against the ship in such manner that in the simultaneous rotatory movement of these
two elements combined the helix directs the water in a direction parallel to its
axis towards the turbine, which makes the current of water deviate, and throws
it out normally to its own axis centrifugally.
Two things are important to notice here,―
1st. The screw acting on the inert water of the sea exerts the greatest possible
tractive force for the benefit of the ship.
2. The turbine projecting laterally and circularly, the water that is delivered
by the screw takes off the impact of the sea from the ship, so that however great
the speed, the apparatus forms a void in front of the ship, and thus takes away all
the resistance from the part behind the turbine. Thus, if Mr. Fidèle Motte be

page_text: correct in his theories, the greatest impediment to the increase of speed in steam-
ships, the front resistance of the water, is entirely overcome.
The wings of the screw or helix are inclined at about 45 degrees, more or less.
The wings of the two elements, screw and turbine, can however be varied in
number and inclination without materially injuring their effect, but must be
curved so as to suit each other. The back of the turbine nearly joined to the
vessel is bell shaped to facilitate the escape of the water.
The arms of the screw are fixed upon the boss keyed to the shaft. Those of the
turbine are fixed to the boss, and to its bell-shaped prolongation.
A cylinder in the screw has for its object to attach such number of smaller
vanes as one may desire, and other small vanes can be attached in the turbine.
The entire system solidly united is keyed and held by a ring upon the shaft
projecting out in front of the ship.
The topgallant forecastle, above the apparatus already described for propelling,
(herein after called for shortness by its French name the "attracteur), throws back
and prevents the water from rising above the apparatus; it also protects the
apparatus, and makes the latter project all the water out laterally.
To assist in this latter effort a space is cut out under the deck, and wings or
guides placed to gradually change the direction and throw the water out.
The "attracteur" receives a very rapid rotary movement by means of the shaft
connecting it with the engines. This shaft being solidly held the ship is rapidly
forced through the opening in the water made for it by the "attracteur." In this
action the section of water corresponding to that of the apparatus is in some sort
taken up and thrown forcibly on the sides of the passage of the ship; at the same
there is produced an absence of pressure in front upon a section at least equal
to that the apparatus occupies, whilst that at back of the ship there is produced a
complete absence of pressure if one can give the ship a greater speed than that
due to a head of water equal to the depth of immersion of the ship.
It is Mr. Motte's opinion that if we can give a ship an immersed section which
will not go beyond that of the "attracteur," either by diminishing the size of the
ship or increasing the diameter of the "attracteur," one would be able to realize
excessive speeds, limited only by the impossibility of turning the "attracteur"
Whilst too we consider
beyond a given number of revolutions in a given time.
that the current of water projected laterally without cescession by the "attracteur,"
and animated by a very great speed, is not of a nature to occasion upon the
uncovered front section of the ship anything like the resistance to displacement
that inert water would give, we must allow that even those parts not protected
by the "attracteur" will not impede materially the passage of a ship armed with
Mr. Motte's "attracteur."
"
To obtain great speeds in small vessels the inventor gives the hull a semi-
cylindrical section below concentric with the "attracteur." This formation will
be necessary in canoes and pleasure boats in order that the "attracteur
may be
completely immersed. The muscular force of the crew can replace the motive
force of steam, and this system can be used instead of oars by suitable arrangement
of crank or cranks connected with the "attracteur" shaft by frictional or other
gearing, so that the crank shall rotate in the direction of the axis of the boat or
gearing, so arranged that the movement of the handle shall resemble that of the
handle of the oar in rowing.
The exact arrangement can be varied in a variety of ways to suit the different
forms of boats, but with frictional gearing I prefer to use pulleys covered with
leather.
In order to facilitate the realization of the greatest possible speed it may be
found desirable to have in addition to the above means two screws of mean
dimensions jutting out at the extremity of the flanks of the ship astern. Their
axes will be placed obliquely to the centre line of the ship, and at the same time
incline, so that their upper extremities emerge towards the poop, in the which
they prolong themselves, so as to be actuated by the engines; through these

page_text: two lateral stern screws are obtained the following advantages according to
Mr. Motte:
1st. The propulsion adjusts itself to the attraction of the ship.
2nd. The sea will be closed up again at the stern, so that the pressure will be
more or less re-established against the ship, and thus produce economy of increase
the forces of progression.
-
3rd. The steering of the ship will gain considerably in promptitude by the
facility that these screws can be made to possess of moving at variable speeds
independently of each other.
The rudder must descend lower than the bottom of the ship so as to act in
calm water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd July 1878.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
THROUGH THE WATER, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication
from abroad by Monsieur Fidèle Motte, of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of
Belgium.
In describing this Invention I shall keep throughout to an exact literal trans-
lation of the description and Drawings as they were sent me by the said Fidèle
Motte with orders to file, as follows:-
"1. This Invention consists of a combination of a helix or screw and of a sort of
turbine placed under water in front of the vessel upon the same axis situated on
the prolongation of the centre line of the vessel. The helix is in front, and the
turbine against the ship in such manner that in the simultaneous rotary movement
of these two combined elements the helix directs the water parallel to its axis
towards the turbine, which in turn makes the current of water deviate and throws
it out perpendicularly to its axis in a centrifugal manner.
Two facts of capital importance result from this combined action.―
The first is that the helix acting in the inert mass of the sea brings to bear to
the profit of the vessel the greatest amount of traction possible in acting upon the
inertia of the water.
The second is that the turbine projects laterally and radially, the water which
is delivered by the helix removing the pressure of the sea from the front of the
vessel, so that by increasing the speed of the machinery in like manner, will, in
reason the speed of the ship be increased; that is to say, that a vacant space, or
better, an absolute absence of pressure in front of the ship over all the surface
covered by the turbine is caused by the latter. Therefore by this means the most
important element in calculating the performance of vessels, the square of the
speed, disappears.
I call this apparatus by the name of "attracteur."
"2. Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: "3. The attracteur A, B, is composed First, of a helix A, of which the blades are
inclined to about 45 degrees, and are of any desirable number; Second, of a kind of
turbine B, of which the curved vanes are also of any desirable number, and more
or less inclined. The blades of the two elements A and B are made to accord with
each other by curved surfaces shaped to correspond with each other. The back of 5
the turbine nearly touching to the ship is bell shaped to facilitate the escape of
the current of water in its altered direction and to obviate as much as possible the
shock of the current of water.
"4. The vanes of the helix are fixed upon the boss D. keyed to the shaft E.
Those of the turbine are also, fixed to the boss and to its prolongation the bell 1
mouth b¹.
"5. The cylinder C in the screw has for its object the attachment of such number
of vanelets c as one may desire. Also of such number of vanelets o¹ inside the
turbine as may be found desirable.
"6. The entire system solidly united is keyed and retained on the outside by a 1
ringe upon the shaft E, the end of which comes out in front of the ship.
7. F, hull of the ship; G, load line.
"8. H, Prolongation of the deck of the ship above the "attracteur" destined, 1st, to
throw to one side the water which is above the apparatus; and 2nd., to protect
the apparatus; and 3rd., to prevent the water projected upwards by the 2
"attracteur" from falling over the deck of the vessel.
"9. This last object is materially assisted in its accomplishment by a hollow I
cut out under the deck, and by directing boards K fixed to the vessel, which, by
their contours proportioned in suitable curves, change the direction of the water
thrown out above by the "attracteur," and make it deviate towards the sides of
the vessel.
"10. The "attracteur "receives a very rapid motion, revolving in the direction of
the arrows figured in the plan, by means of the shaft connected with the engines.
This shaft being solidly held, the ship is rapidly drawn into the opening in the
sea formed by the "attracteur." In this action the section of water corresponding
to that of the apparatus is in a measure taken and thrown out powerfully upon the
sides of the passage of the ship. In the meantime there is produced an absence of
pressure on the bows over an area at least equal in cross section to that of the
apparatus, whilst at the stern of the ship there is produced an absence of pressure
likewise, which will be complete when a speed is given. to the vessel, equal to that
due to a head of water corresponding in height to the depth of immersion of the
vessel.
"11. It is evident that if one could give to the ship an immersed section which
would not exceed that of the attracteur, either by diminishing the size of the
vessel or giving the attracteur a greater diameter, one would then be able to
realize excessive speeds which would have for a limit only the impossibility of
making the "attracteur" revolve more quickly after passing a certain number of
revolutions per minute.
"12. Meanwhile, when one considers that the current of water projected without
cessation laterally by the attracteur, and animated by a very great speed, in not of
a nature to cause a resistance to the passage of the vessel at all comparable to that
which would take place in a mass of inert water, one is obliged to admit that the
front parts of the vessel not covered by the attracteur will not occasion an
important hindrance to the rapidity of motion due to the action of the new
apparatus.
13. In order to cause or render possible the obtaining of extra speed at least
for little vessels, and above all in calm waters, one can give to the hull the
transverse section shown in Figure 4, in which the attracteur covers as completely
as possible the submerged part of the vessel.
14. This conformation will necessarily be adopted in pleasure boats, or others
where the draft is so small that the attracteur will be completely immersed.. In
this case the muscular force of the boatman will replace, the steam motor. For this

page_text: purpose, and to conserve the agreeable gymnastic exercises and advantages_of
rowing, I adopt a system of transmission of power appropriate to that end. For
this purpose I have a vertical bracket supporting a small crank; this crank is
connected by friction gearing on a vertical shaft gearing into the crank shaft with
the attracteur shaft. If two boatmen are to work it there are two cranks with
the gearing between; if four boatmen, two sets, both gearing into the attracteur
shaft.
"15. In order to facilitate the realization of the greatest speeds possible I propose
to adopt besides the above-described particulars two helices or screws projecting
out from the sides of the ship at the stern, their axis being placed obliquely to
that of the ship, and at the same time inclined in such manner that their superior
extremity shall emerge towards the poop, in the which they prolong themselves so
as to receive the action of the engines.
By means of these lateral posterior screws one obtains the following advantages:
1st. That the propulsion takes advantage of the attraction of the vessel.
2nd. The sea will be re-closed at the stern in such manner that the pressure will
be more or less established under the vessel, thus procuring advancement of
progression and economy.
3rd. The evolutions of the ship will gain thereby considerably in promptitude by
one being able to move these screws at variable speed, and independent of one
another.
"16. The rudder must descend lower than the bottom of the ship, so as to act in
calm water."
Having now described the said Fidèle Motte's Invention exactly as it was
communicated to me, I claim,-
1st. The combination of a screw and a turbine in one propeller, substantially as
described.
2nd. The combination of a bow propeller with two inclined screws at the
stern.
3rd. The mode of propelling a vessel through the water by removing the
water in front and pulling the vessel into the void thus formed, substantially as
described.
In testimony whereunto, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord 1878.