Improvements in Apparatus for Reversing the Action of Hydraulic Propelling and Steering Apparatus for Ships.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Reversing the Action of Hydraulic
Propelling and Steering Apparatus for Ships.
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We, ANSELM HEEL, Lützel, near Coblentz, in the Rhine Province and German
Empire, Mechanical Engineer, and FRANZ DIECKMANN, Metternich, near Coblentz,
in the Khine Province and German Empire, Brewer, 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;
The present invention relates to improvements in hydraulic propellers for
the propulsion and steering of vessels by means of horizontal columns of water
at a considerable depth below the surface of the water. It has been found in
practice that with such propellers the reversal from a forward to backward
movement (and vice versa) of the vessel takes much time and always offers
difficulties.
Investigation has shown that the propelling column of water is driven out
four times as fast as it is sucked in; it is accordingly clear that the cross sec-
tional area of the outlet opening must be correspondingly diminished.
According to the present invention, when the valve is reversed for effecting
a contrary motion of the vessel, the sectional area of the inlet and outlet pas-
sages is altered simultaneously. For this purpose regulator slide valves are
provided at the mouths of the inlet and outlet pump pipes, one of which slides
closes the outlet passage for the time being to one quarter of its cross sectional
area, whilst the other fully opens the inlet opening. This is effected partly
by means of steam and partly by means of hydraulic pressure, in the shortest
possible time.
The new invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing on which
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in section;
Fig. 1 a horizontal section of the same, taken through the inlet and outlet
pipes.
Fig. 2 shows the steam distribution valve in section;
Fig. 3 an elevation of the same, at right angles to Fig. 2, the cover being
removed.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section through one of the regulator valve cylinders.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the cylinder illustrated in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 is an elevation and
Fig. 6 a plan view of the complete arrangement.
The rear part of the pump chamber A is seen in Fig. 1. B being the flap
valve turning at the centre. According as this valve takes up the position B
or B, the water column which propels the ship and is set in motion by the
pumps, enters by suction at C and is expelled at D, or vice versa.
For the purpose of more quickly reversing the motion, a steam cylinder J
is provided on the pump chamber. The valve box with steam inlet pipe Z
and outlet pipe 7 and steering lever U is seen in Fig. 5.
The rod of the steam piston J¹ is jointed to the flap valve B. On the top of

page_text: the steam cylinder is the hydraulic cylinder K, the piston K¹ of which is mounted
on the prolongation of the rod of the steam piston. This piston rod runs
right through the hydraulic cylinder and is provided above with plates 20, 21
or the like, indicating according to their higher or lower position whether the
valve B is in position for the forward or backward motion of the vessel.
At the mouths CD of the pump pipes are regulator slide valves E F, jointed
to the piston rods of the cylinders G H (see Fig. 4). These two cylinders are
connected by pipes L M N O to the hydraulic cylinder K. The latter and also
the pipes L M N O and the cylinders G H are fully filled with water, so that
the pistons in the said cylinders G H must follow the movement of the piston
in the cylinder K by reason of the hydraulic pressure.
The cylinders G Í are in all respects similar. Each contains a piston rod P
(see Fig. 4) and regulator slide valve E (or F); segmental plates S T on the
cylinder cover, projecting into the cylinder; similar segments R Q on the
piston, engaging with the former, so that when the piston rod is turned for
the purpose of regulating the valve, or fully closing the passage, the piston
screwed to it is prevented from turning with it.
Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of the flap B and Fig. 1ª that of the regulator
valves E, F.
In Fig. 5 the position of the steering lever U is shown turned for forward
motion of the ship. For the backward motion the lever is changed into the
dotted line position U¹, i.e. it is turned on its axis through an angle of 180°.
In this position the eccentric V (Figs. 2 and 3) comes into its reverse position
and presses the D-valve W into its lowest position. By this means the steam
passage and consequently the lower part of the steam cylinder J is brought
into communication with the exhaust and the steam has now entrance through
the passage X to the upper part of the cylinder J. The piston J¹ is therefore
depressed. The descending piston rod causes the valve B to change to the
dotted line position 13 and water is sucked in through D and expelled at C i.e.
the operation is reversed.
Simultaneously with the descent of the steam piston J¹ the hydraulic piston K¹
carried by the same rod descends and the water below it is pressed through the
pipe M into the cylinder G (see Fig. 6), and through the pipe O into the cylin-
der H. The piston in the latter cylinder, and with it the slide valve F, is
therefore pushed back and the passage ]) fully opened. The piston of the
cylinder G, on the other hand, and with it the slide valve E is pushed into the
pipe C to such extent that the cross sectional area of the passage is diminished
to about one quarter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1.) Apparatus for reversing the action of hydraulic propellers consisting of a
steam cylinder (J) provided with slide valve controlled by a steering lever, the
piston of said cylinder operating the reversing valve (B) in the pump chamber
controlling the inlet and outlet pump pipes (C D), and slide valves (EF)
regulating the said inlet and outlet pipes and operated simultaneously with the
reversal of the said valve in the pump chamber, in such manner that the inlet
pump pipe is fully opened, whilst the outlet pump pipe is partially closed, all
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2.) In apparatus for reversing the action of hydraulic propellers as claimed
in Claim 1, mechanism for operating the valves (E F) controlling the inlet and
outlet pump pipes, consisting of an hydraulic cylinder (K), the piston of which
is operated by the rod of the said steam piston J; other hydraulic cylinders (GH)
containing pistons controlling the said valves of the inlet and outlet pump
pipes and pipes (L M N O) connecting each side of the piston of the first
mentioned hydraulic cylinder (E) with each side of the piston of the other

page_text: hydraulic cylinders (E F), all substantially as and for the purposes herein before
set forth.
3.) In apparatus for reversing the action of hydraulic propellers as claimed
in Claim 1, the hydraulic cylinder (G) or (H) for operating the slide valves of
the pump pipes, consisting of a casing the cover of which is provided with seg-
ments engaging with similar segments on the face of the piston, and a piston rod
jointed to the slide valve with capability of turning and having a screw thread
on it taking into a similar thread in the piston, all substantially as and for the
purposes hercinbefore set forth.
1000
WALTER FOLKMAR,
Agent for Applicants.