IMPROVE- MENTS IN FEATHERING AND VARYING THE PITCH OF SCREW PROPELLERS FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Alexander Owen, of the City of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FEATHERING AND VARYING THE PITCH OF SCREW PROPELLERS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Alexander Owen
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th March 1862.
I, ROBERT ALEXANDER OWEN, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FEATHERING AND VARYING THE PITCH OF SCREW PROPELLERS
FOR STEAM SHIPS," to be as follows:-
I make a boss or centre piece for the propeller, and bore out the recesses
for the spindles of the blades two or more different sizes, leaving a shoulder
for the collar on the spindle of the blade to rest upon, so that by the insertion
of nuts or bushes cut in halves parallel to their axis, I allow the blades to turn
right round on their axes without weakening the spindles of the propeller
blades by having slots cut in them. I also make the blades with a collar on
the spindle, and insert the halves of the nuts or bushes between the collar on
the spindle and the shoulder on the lower part of the propeller blade, and
screw them into the boss together, or I key them into the boss and fasten
them with keeps or other suitable mechanical contrivance. I make the
propeller shaft with a long coupling, so that I can draw the shaft in or push
it out at pleasure by means of screws, wedges, or other suitable apparatus,

page_text: and I obtain the feathering or rotary motion of the propeller blades from this
inward and outward motion of the main propeller shaft, or other shaft, rod, or
cylinder passing through the stuffing box or gland in the stern of the vessel;
and I communicate motion to the propeller blades by means of a rack cut in
the shaft or cylinder, and a pinion or wheel on the end of the spindle of the
propeller blade, or by means of wedges cut in the shaft or cylinder, and a die
on the end of the propeller blade; or by levers or other mechanical appliances
which shall be worked by the inward and outward motion of the main or
other shaft, rod, or cylinder, passing through the stuffing box or gland in the
stern of the vessel. I make two or more holes or recesses in the collar on the
spindle of the propeller blade with a lock or bolt, so that by means of levers
or other power worked by a shaft or rod, or shafts or rods, passing through the
said stuffing box or gland, I can lock or unlock at pleasure either in the
feathered position or at any pitch for which I have a corresponding hole in
the collar on the spindle of the propeller blade, and by means of this locking
or bolting I take the strain off the machinery which I use for feathering.
94
I make all the machinery, both for feathering and locking, revolve with the
shaft inside the stuffing box or gland, and keep all as water-tight as necessary
by means of india-rubber or other suitable material inserted in slots cut for
the purpose; or I use a cylinder surrounding the shaft and other machinery
which revolve with them inside the stuffing box. It is evident that I have
complete command of the locking and feathering gear when in the screw
alley or engine room, and can feather or otherwise in any position of the
propeller, avoiding the necessity of it being brought to a stand for that
purpose.
I turn the propeller bodily by means of a square end on the propeller shaft
and a corresponding square in the propeller boss, or by a cutter or key right
through the propeller boss, and a slot in the main shaft to allow the inward
and outward motion; or when I use the cylinder I key, the propeller per-
manently on the propeller shaft, rendering the outer bearings unnecessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Alexander Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ALEXANDER OWEN, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 3
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letter's
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Alexander Owen, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Alexander Owen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such* others
as I, the said Robert Alexander Owen, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEATHERING AND VARYING THE PITCH OF SCREW
PROPELLERS FOR STEAM SHIPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Robert Alexander Owen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should' par-
ticularly 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 Robert Alexander Owen, 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 the
following statement (that is to say):-
-
.
I make a boss or centre piece for the propeller and bore it out to fit the
propeller shaft communicating with the engines; I then bore out the recesses
for the spindles of the blades of two different sizes, for the purpose of leaving
a shoulder for the collar on the spindle of the blade to rest upon, and I tap or
cut a thread in the larger recess and fit a nut into it; which nut is bored out
to fit the blade spindle; or I use a bush instead of the nut, and cut two key-
ways or slots one on either side of the bush, and secure it in its place by
means of keys passing through slots cut through the boss and the keyways in
the bush, and this nut or bush is then cut in halves parallel to its axis, so that
I can insert it in its place on the blade spindle. I also form a collar on the
blade spindle and insert the balves of the nut or bush between this collar and
the outer end of the spindle, and secure the spindle in its position by screwing
the nut into the recess cut out for it in the boss; or I place the halves of the
bush instead of the halves of the nut, and after having placed the spindle with
the halves of the bush in their proper position, I secure the bush by means of

page_text: keys passing through the slots cut for the purpose, and on the inner end of the
spindle I fix a pinion to communicate the motion to the blade. I make the
shaft for the propeller of two sizes, one to fit the fore part of the boss, and the
.other the after part, and I extend the small size a short distance forward of
the blade spindles; on this small part I fit a cylinder and make its outer
diameter the same as the large part of the shaft, and allow the cylinder to
slide fore and aft on the small part of the shaft. I plane out spaces fore and
aft in this cylinder opposite each pinion on the blade spindles, and cut or
insert racks in these spaces, which racks work in the pinions on the blades and
communicate the rotary motion to the blades by the fore and aft motion of
this cylinder. In the larger part of the propeller shaft I plane out four or
more slots communicating with the engine room, two. or more.for rods working
an improved locking gear, and, two or more for rods which are fixed to the
cylinder, and being allowed to slide fore and aft communicate the fore and aft
motion to the cylinder. In the collar on the spindle of the propeller blade I
make two or more holes or recesses, and opposite these collars on the fore part
of the boss I fit locks or bolts which slide fore and aft, and are worked by
levers communicating with rods which work in slots cut in the propeller shaft,
and pass into the engine room or screw alley through the stuffing box or gland
fixed on the stern pipe of the ship. By these means the blades can be locked
or unlocked at pleasure either at the feathered position or at any pitch for
which I have a corresponding hole in the collar on the blade spindle, and by
means of this locking or bolting the strain is taken off the machinery which is
used for feathering. On the part of the propeller shaft which is in the screw
alley or engine room, I place a collar or key, a hoop and collar on the shaft ;
in this collar is bored; four or more holes which are tapped to receive the ends
of the bolts connected to the rods that work the locks, and also to the rods
that communicate the motion to the cylinder inside the propeller boss. By
screwing in or out the bolts attached to the locking gear rods the blades are
locked or unlocked at pleasure, and after unlocking I can by means of the
bolts attached to the cylinder rods work the cylinder on the propeller shaft
fore and aft, and put the blades at any desired pitch indicated by a pointer
on the shaft, and then fasten the blades forcing the locks into the holes
in the spindle collar by means of the screws attached to the lock rods. I
surround the shaft and enclose the rods used for locking and feathering by a
hoop which revolves with the shaft inside. the stuffing box and gland, which
hoop prevents the rods from cutting the packing; and I make the rods water-
tight by means of stuffing boxes cut in two for the purpose of insertion, and

page_text: attached to the hoop just mentioned by means of screws or bolts, and as the
outer bearing is not absolutely necessary I can place the propeller outside the
rudder if required.
:
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. Fig. 1 represents one of
the propellers with the blades broken off and part of my improvements
attached; Figs. 2 and 3 are aft and forward views of the propeller; Fig. 4,
the stuffing box, which is placed in the after part of the vessel, and having a
portion of the propeller shaft with the feathering gear attached; Fig. 5, an
end view of the shaft with part of the locking, unlocking, and feathering appa-
ratus; Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views of detached parts of the same; Fig. 10,
a plan of part of the shaft with the cylinder and rods for communicating the
motion attached to it; Figs. 11, 12, 13; and 14, are detached views of the
rods; Fig. 15 is a view of the spindle and the edge of the blade; Fig. 16, a
similar view, with one half of the nut inserted; Fig. 17, a view of the spindle
and surface of the blade with one half of a bush instead of a nut; and Fig. 18,
a view of the lower part of a ship's stern, with the propeller and bearings.
In Figs: 1, 2, and 3, a is the shaft to which the propeller is keyed; b, b, are
parts of the blades secured in their places in the recesses of the boss or centrè
piece c, by the half nuts d, d, in such manner that the blades can revolve on their
axes, one of the half nuts being also shewn at d, Fig. 16; or, instead of half
nuts; I use two half bushes secured by keys, one of the half bushes being
shewn at d', Fig. 17. On the ends of the blade spindles are fixed the toothed
wheels e, e, which with the blades are made to revolve by the inward and out-
ward motion of the cylinder f, Figs. 1 and 10, fitted on the small part of the
shaft a, and having in it racks 9, gearing into the toothed wheels e, e, at the
ends of the blades. On each blade spindle I form a collar i, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 15,
16, and 17, and make in it two or more holes or recesses, for the purpose of
receiving bolts for locking the blades: The tube k, Fig. 4, through which the
propeller shaft passes is made water-tight by the ordinary stuffing box land.
gland m. Motion is imparted to the cylinder f by the rods ri, n, Figs. 1,
3, 4, 5, 10, 13, and 14, which rods pass through the stuffing box into the
engine department. The locks or bolts o, o, Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 9, enter the
holes or recesses in the collars, and take the strain off the feathering gear. The
said locks or bolts are worked by the levers p, p, Figs. 1, 6, and 8, acted upon
by the rods q, q, Figs. 1, 4, .11, and 12, which also pass through the stuffing
box into the engine room or screw alley. The spaces in which all the afore-
said rods work are made water-tight, and the packing prevented from being
cut or worn by the rods by means of a hoop or cylinder r, which enters the

page_text: stuffing box and gland, and revolves with the shaft, and the rods are kept in
their proper position by the hoop s, which is permanently attached to the rods
n, n, but allows the rods q, q, to slide under it. To the propeller shaft
is keyed the flange t, having in it four screwed holes, two for receiving the
screws u, connected to the rods n, n, which work the cylinder f for altering
the pitch of the blades, and two for receiving the screws v, v, for working the
rods 9,9, which give motion to the levers and bolts.
When it is desired to alter the pitch the engines are stopped, the locks or
bolts o, o, drawn out by means of the screws v, v, then by turning the screws
u, u, the blades are adjusted to the required pitch, which is marked on the
shaft and indicated by a pointer w, Fig. 4; the locks or bolts are then replaced,
and the operation is completed.
For feathering, the same plan is adopted, the propeller being brought into
an upright position by the turning gear of the engines or other ordinary
method.
These arrangements give complete command of the propeller without leaving
the engine department, and consequently do not in any way interfere with the
work on deck, and as the gear is permanently attached to and revolves with
the shaft, the necessity of shipping and unshipping is dispensed with and the
loss of time that sometimes occurs from the gear being out of place or mislaid
is prevented.
I make, when required, the propeller boss in two segments, divided at right
angles to the shaft, and also dispense with the split nuts. I key the fore
part of the boss on the shaft, place the blades in their proper position, and
then bring the after part of the boss into its place, and secure it by means of a
cotter through the shaft, and also bolt it to the fore part.
I also dispense with the lever in the locking gear, when required, by bolting
the lock permanently on the horizontal rod or bar, which passes through the
stuffing box into the engine room, and by this means leave the propeller boss
unencumbered by any projecting machinery.
Having now fully described my Invention and the method of working the
same, I wish it to be understood, that I claim as my Invention,―
First, the use of rods passing from the propeller through the stern pipe,
stuffing box, or gland, and revolving with the propeller shaft, for the purpose
of communicating motion from the engine department to the feathering and
locking gear.
Secondly, the use of the cylinder working fore and aft inside the boss of the
propeller and on the propeller shaft, and the rack and pinion which commu-
nicate the motion from the cylinder to the blades.

page_text: Thirdly, the improved locking gear for fastening the blades in their several
positions, and the use of the split nuts or bushes, for the purpose of securing
the blades in their places without weakening them by key ways or slots, and
also the collar on the blade spindle with the recesses or holes for the lock
to enter.
Fourthly, the use of the collar or flange on the propeller shaft when used to
insert screws for the working backwards and forwards of rods used for
feathering or locking the blades.
And, lastly, using the propeller boss cut in halves at right angles to the pro-
peller shaft, for the purpose of inserting the blades, as all such improvements
are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Alexander Owen, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Robert Alexander
Owen, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
ROBERT ALEX³. OWEN. (L.S.)