IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McLennan, Horologist, of 84, Finsbury Park Road,
and Richard Owen, Wine Merchant, of England Lane, Haverstock Hill, both
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McLennan and Richard
Owen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March
1880.
JOHN MCLENNAN, Horologist, of 84, Finsbury Park Road, and RICHARD OWEN,
Wine Merchant, of England Lane, Haverstock Hill, both in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS."
Our Invention consists in the use of a propeller composed of a hollow drum with
deep flanges between which is fitted a series of screw blades forming in combination
a continuous or endless screw confined between two circular walls or enclosures,
whereby on the revolution of the said drum, the several screw blades or portions of
the endless screw will be caused to act in succession on the water contained in the
space between the flanges.
The drum is intended to be fitted on each side of the vessel at such a level that
its lower surface will rest on the water and thereby increase the vessel's power of
flotation, the two drums being caused to roll over the surface of the water as the
vessel is propelled through it.
The said endless screw is arranged in a circle of larger diameter than that of the
drum, and each successive portion of the screw is caused by the revolution of the
drum to act on the water enclosed within such portion and the flange or wall on
each side of it, as well as by the under surface of the drum, the only outlet for the
water being in the rear of the screw. By the screw acting on the_water_enclosed-
as stated it will be caused to take a firm hold of the water, and the ordinary
tendency of a paddle wheel to produce a swell in the water. will be obviated,
thereby rendering our improved propeller the better adapted for use on canals and
rivers where it is important to avoid injury to the banks thereof.
It is also adapted to increase the speed of vessels, and for this purpose more than
one pair of the drums or propelling wheels may be applied thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John McLennan and Richard Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th September 1880.
JOHN MCLENNAN, Horologist, of 84, Finsbury Park Road, and RICHARD OWEN,
Wine Merchant, of England Lane, Haverstock Hill, both in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS."
Our Invention of "Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Propelling
Vessels" consists in the use of a propeller composed of a hollow drum with deep
flanges, between which is fitted a series of screw blades, forming in combination a
continuous or endless screw confined between two circular walls or enclosures,
whereby on the revolution of the said drum or wheel the several screw blades or
portions of the endless screw will be caused to act in succession on the water
contained in the space between the said flanges.
The drum or wheel is intended to be fitted on each side of the vessel at such a
level that the lower surface of the drum will rest on the water, and thereby
increase the vessel's power of flotation, the two drums being caused to roll over the
surface of the water as the vessel is propelled through it.
The said endless screw is arranged in a circle of larger diameter than that of the
drum, and each successive portion of the screw is caused by the revolution of the
drum to act on the water enclosed within such portion and the flange or wall on
each side of it, as well as by the under surface of the drum, the only outlet for the
water being in the rear of the screw.
By the screw acting on the water enclosed as stated, it will be caused to take a
firm hold of the water, and the ordinary tendency of a paddle wheel to produce a
swell in the water will be obviated, thereby rendering our improved propeller the
better adapted for use on canals and rivers where it is important to avoid injury to
the banks thereof.
It is also adapted to increase the speed of vessels, and for this purpose more than
one pair of drums or propelling wheels may be applied thereto.
In some cases the propelling wheel may be constructed without a drum, the
essential feature of the Invention consisting of an endless screw propeller with two
confining walls or enclosures, whereby such propeller will be caused to act con-
tinuously on the volume of water contained between the said walls or enclosures,
and with the increased effect due to its lateral confinement.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid
of the accompanying Drawing, in which is represented a propelling wheel as applied
to the side of a vessel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
This Drawing is a perspective view of a propelling wheel constructed according
to our Invention and applied to the side of a vessel, some of the ordinary parts of a

page_text: diameter than that of the drum A (with or without a space between the periphery
of the drum and the endless screw) and each successive blade or portion of the
endless screw C, C, is caused by the revolution of the propelling wheel to act on
the water enclosed within such screw blade or portion of the endless screw, and
the flange or wall B at each side thereof as well as by the under surface of the
drum A, the only outlet for the water being in the rear of the screw.
By the arrangement above described each blade or portion of the continuous or
endless screw in succession is caused to take a firm hold of the volume of water
confined in the manner described, and the ordinary tendency of a paddle wheel to
raise a swell in the water will be obviated, thereby rendering our improved
propeller the better adapted for use on canals and rivers. Our improved propeller
is also adapted to increase the speed of vessels, and in order to acquire a still
greater speed more than one pair of drums or propelling wheels may be applied
thereto.
In the foregoing description reference has been made to a propelling wheel with
a drum, but our Invention is not confined to such construction. When the drum is
dispensed with the walls or enclosures between which the continuous or endless
screw is fitted will be strengthened as required by suitable ribs or stays.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we hereby declare that we do not claim as of our
Invention any of the separate parts of apparatus or mechanism hereinbefore
described, but what we do claim as of our Invention is,-
First. The combination of a continuous or endless propelling screw with a drum
the flanges of which form walls or enclosures to confine the water laterally,
thereby rendering the action of the wheel partially hydraulic, as hereinbefore
described.
And, Secondly. The combination of a continuous or endless propelling screw with
side walls or enclosures for laterally confining the water acted upon by the screw,
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John McLennan and Richard Owen, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Eighth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness to both signatures,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
JOHN MCLENNAN. (L.S.)
RICHARD OWEN.
(L.S.)