IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREW SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN PROPELLERS FOR THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PADDLE VESSELS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Grindrod, of Leighton House, near
Neston, in the County of Chester, Consulting Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREW SHIPS OR
VESSELS, AND IN PROPELLERS FOR THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PADDLE VESSELS."
Sealed the 19th March 1869, and dated the 1st December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Grindrod at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st December 1868.
I, JONATHAN GRINDROD, of Leighton House, near Neston, in the
County of Chester, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Iuvention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREW SHIPS
OR VESSELS, AND IN PROPELLERS FOR THE SAME. PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PADDLE VESSELS," to be as follows :-
constructed un ante lone shine or vessels

page_text: and imperfectly, and turn in the water very slowly, and the present
Invention is designed to remedy such defects.
My improvements consist in taking away or opening out as much of
the dead surface aft as will allow the water to escape instead of impinging
against it, thereby insuring a quick turning of the vessel, and a quick
helm, and I prefer that there shall be little or no "gripe" forward.
"
In adapting the body of a vessel to such improvements the framing,
rudder, and screw posts are all connected both to the main keel and to
what I term a "curved " or upper" keel, and all or any of such
arrangements may be varied according to the adaptation or employment
of either double or single-screws, or-the-form-or_shape_of_the_vessel. If
a single screw is used the rudder can be hung abaft the screw in the
usual way (for ordinary steering) and another rudder on the throttle
valve principle, forward of the screw, both of which may be used either
at the same time (for very quick turning) or separately. If a double
screw is used a TV rudder or one hung-in-the usual way, or two rudders
may be used as above described. Two screws may also be used fitted or
keyed on the same shaft, their united action being considerably-more
powerful than a single screw; the further apart they are placed the better,
and if by any accident, collision, or otherwise, one of them is lost there is
the advantage of having the other left in working order.
On this principle the result is a better sea-going vessel, saving weight,
material, and overbanging ends. The hull or body of the vessel is
simplified, rendered much stronger than hitherto, and cost less in con-
struction either for mercantile or naval purposes, affording a more sclid
body of water for the screw to work in, and having no dead surface to
divide it. Vessels constructed of iron or wood according to the old
methods may be altered to the present improvements, which are also
applicable to paddle wheel vessels. The long body and fine ends of a
screw vessel are sufficient for all weatherly hold, or lee-board to keep her
steady on her course without the dead wood and "gripe."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jonathan Grindrod in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JONATHAN
GRINDROD, of Leighton House, near Neston, in the County of Chester,
Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Jonathan Grindrod, Her special licence that I,
the said Jonathan Grindrod, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Jonathan Grindrod, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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, aud Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF SCREW SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN PROPELLERS FOR THE SAME, PARTS
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PADDLE VESSELS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jonathan Grindrod, my exe-
cutors or administrators, 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 Jonathan Grindrod, 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:-
This my said Invention consists in certain improvements in screw
ships or other navigable vessels, and has for its object the more perfect
and quicker steering of the same.

page_text: addition of a screw propeller; as a rule they steer dull and imperfectly,
and turn in the water very slowly. Now the present Invention is
therefore designed to remedy such defects.
My improvements consist in taking away or opening out as much of
the dead surface aft (commonly known as dead wood) as will allow the
water to escape or pass through or under instead of impinging against
it, thereby insuring a quick turning of the vessel and a quick helm,
and I prefer that there should be little or no gripe forward. or. in other
words, that the keel should run up forward.
In adapting the body of a vessel to such improvements the framing;
rudder, and screw posts are or may be all connected to the main keel,
and also may be connected to what I term a curved or upper keel, and
all or auy-of such arrangements may be modified or varied according
to the adaptation or employment of either double or single screws,
also according to the adaptation or employment of one, two, or more
rudders, or according to the-form -or-shape of the vessel. If. a. single
screw be-used the rudder can be hung abaft the screw in the usual way
(for ordinary steering) and another rudder on the throttle valve principle
may be fitted forward of the screw, both of which rudders may be
used either simultaneously (for very quick turning) or separately. If
a double screw be used a TV rudder, or one hung in the usual way, or
two rudders, may be used as above described. Two screws may also
be used fitted or keyed on the same shaft, their united action being
considerably more powerful than a single screw, and the further apart
they are placed the better, because if by any accident, collision, or
otherwise one of them happens to be lost there is the advantage of
having the other left in working order. There is another advantage in
keeping the screws some distance apart, as it is obvious that the after
screw will work in less disturbed water.
In constructing vessels on this principle the result is a better sea-
going vessel, saving weight and material at the ends of the hull, the
vessel is simplified, is also rendered much stronger thau hitherto, and
a more solid body of water (having no dead surface to divide it) is left
for the screw or screws to work in.
}
Vessels constructed according to the ordinary method may be altered
to the present improvements, which are also applicable to paddle wheel'

page_text: vessels: The long body and fine ends of a screw: vessel are sufficient
for all weatherly hold or lee board to keep her steady on her course.
without 'dead wood:
1. !
The foregoing being, the nature, and object of my Invention I will
now proceed to describe more in detail the manner in which the same
is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect; and in
order that the same may be more clearly, and readily understood I have
hereunto annexed three Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and
have marked them with figures and letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation, like letters and figures marked
thereon are used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1), is a 'side or shear elevation of the hull of a ship
with my improvements adapted thereto. This Figure is an extreme
view of my Invention, showing, the dead wood, nearly all opened out
and the vessel fitted with two screws and two rudders, the ordinary.
rudder being dispensed with.
Figure 2 (Sheet 1) is a body plan of Figure 1.
Vy
Figure 3 (Sheet 1) is a side or shear elevation of a twin or double
screw with the dead. wood opened out according to my Invention.
Figure 4(Sheet 1), is a body plan of Figure 3.
Figure 5 (Sheet 1), is a side elevation of the after part of the hull
of a ship with my improvements adapted thereto. In this case, as in
the previous.ones, the whole of the dead wood is opened out, but, the
vessel.in.this. Figure is shown with the ordinary rudder and, a single
screw.
.
Figure 6 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of the after, part of the. hull
of a ship with my improvements adapted thereto. In this case, as in the
former ones, the dead wood, is opened out, but the vessel in this Figure,
is shown with a fuller after end, thereby keeping the rudders and screws
entirely under water. and so protecting them from damage by shot, shell,
or otherwise.
Figure 7 (Sheet52) shows the. after end of a screw vessel, fitted with.
a modified: arrangement of this my Invention, and vessels so. .built.
would, I believe, prove very efficient for general use... In this case
the vessel is built: with: the ordinary keel ending, say, one-third, from
the-stern; it, then joins a-curved: plate. or. other keel which runs.upwards.

page_text: hung in the ordinary way and a single screw in its usual position can
be used, F and G, Figure 7, Sheet 2, or a rudder on the throttle valve
principle may be used together with rudder F, as shown in Figure 7,
Sheet 2.
In the case of war vessels, and where it is desired to have the rudder
or rudders as clear from the enemy's shot as possible, I prefer using
rudder F on the throttle valve principle together with rudder F², as
shown in Figures 1 and 6, Sheet 1. These rudders may be used either
jointly or separately. Two screws G and G¹ may also be used either
jointly or separately, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, Sheet 1. The shaft
tube His mounted in the framing B, and carries the shaft to the screw
or screws in the usual way. In order to stiffen the framework I prefer
to use stays I, as shown in the various views.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and
purposes of this my said Invention, together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be carried out into practical effect, I wish it
to be understood that I do not confine myself to the several proportious
and relative dimensions of the various parts of the construction, as it
will be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without
departing from my Invention; but what I claim as new aud ny
Invention is,-
First. Taking away or opening ont a portion or portions of the dead
surface aft of screw or other ships or vessels and framing therein the
apertures A, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The taking away or dispensing with part of the dead wood
or dead surface in the run of the vessel, as shown in Figure 7, Sheet 2,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described,
set forth, and illustrated.
Thirdly. The construction or adaptation of the curved or upper keel E,
and connecting the same to the ordinary or lower keel D by the
framing B, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated.
Fourthly, and lastly, connecting the framing B, rudder and screw
posts C, to the upper and lower keels E and D, substantially in the

page_text: manner and for the purposes herein-before. described, set forth, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Grindrod, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
of 43, Castle Street,
Lisanneal
JONATHAN (L-s.) GRINDROD: