Improvements in Means for Propelling Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Propelling Vessels.
I, THEODOR HUGO AUGUST LUKATIS, of 5, Luneburger-strasse, Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to an improved driving gear or mechanism for propelling
vessels, which said gear effects by a simple yet highly ingenious arrangement,
that the paddles will always retain the same vertical position in all their phases
of movement. It is thus evident, that, for instance, in the case of river-vessels,
propelled with a comparatively small amount of power, a comparatively high
useful or working effect of the driving mechanism and consequently a rapid and
suitable propelling movement of the ship is attained.
A driving gear of this kind is represented in the accompanying drawing, in
which:-
:-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section.
Figure 2 is an end view in section, and
Figure 3 is a plan view of a vessel, fitted with such driving mechanism.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Mounted on or in one with the bearing of the driving shaft a adapted to be
actuated by hand, pedal or motor is a bevel wheel b¹ and mounted on the shaft a
is a sleeve c. Parallel as well as vertically to the bevel wheel b¹, equal bevel
wheels 2, 63, 64, are mounted loosely upon the shaft a and upon a pivot of the
sleeve c, respectively, in such a manner, that when the shaft a is rotated, the
wheel 62 will be revolved in the same direction by 61, 63, 64. The sleeve c is, in a
plane lying vertically to the shaft a, firmly connected with a disc d, and with
said disc d several axles e, passing parallel to the shaft a, are firmly connected,
upon which cog-wheels f are loosely mounted. These cog-wheels are, on their
part, acted upon by a cog-wheel, connected with said bevel-wheel 62, so that all
the above wheels are rotated, and the paddle stems g, rigidly connected with the
hubs of the cog-wheels f, will admit of a vertical immersion and emersion of
the paddles h during all phases of rotation of the shaft a, so that the said paddles
will develope their full working effect in the most advantageous manner.
It may be especially pointed out, that this driving gear permits of the depth
or amount of immersion of the paddles h being kept constant in spite of the
draught of the vessel, which varies according to load, consumption of coal and
so forth, this being easily obtained by making the paddle stems g adjustable in
height, for instance by set screws i. It is, moreover, of the highest advantage
for the actuation and utilization of the vessel, that, in using this driving gear,
the numbers of paddles h may be small and that the number of revolutions of
the working shaft a may be as high as possible, which admits of a compact and
economical motor being used.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
(1) An improved driving gear or mechanism for propelling vessels, constructed,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
(2) A driving mechanism for propelling vessels, presenting the characteristic
feature, that the paddles are carried by wheels which, turning on a common disc d
cause the paddles h to constantly immerse and emerse in a vertical direction,
I owing to the said wheels being caused to turn about their own axes.
(3) A constructional form of the driving mechanism for propelling vessels,
of the kind specified in the second claim, presenting the characteristic feature,
that upon the driving shaft a a bevel wheel 6-fast upon the bearing of the said
driving shaft further, opposite the said bevel-wheel and equal but loose bevel
wheel 2 and a sleeve c are mounted, the said sleeve being fast upon the said driving
shaft and carrying two equal and loose bevel wheels b³, b, engaging with the bevel
wheels 61 62 the said sleeve being further rigidly connected with a disc d, mounted
vertically on the shaft a; the said disc d carrying cog-wheels f with paddle stems g
and paddles h through the intermediary of axles e, arranged parallel to the shaft a;
the said cog wheels f being loose and actuated by the bevel or cog wheel b².
(4) A constructional form of the driving mechanisms for propelling vessels, of
the kind specified in the 2nd. and 3rd claims, presenting the characteristic feature,
that the paddle stems are adapted to be adjusted in height by means of set
screws i, so that in spite of the varying draught of the vessel, the paddles h
admit of being immersed to a suitable depth.
Dated this 4th day of July 1898
OBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.