Improvements in Propellers for Boats, Aerial Vehicles, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propellers for Boats, Aerial Vehicles, and
the like.
I, THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of 10 Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the construction of propellers of that class in which the
vessel is propelled and steered, or its motion retarded by the action of a single
vibrating stern-paddle or rudder, to which is imparted a compound motion com-
prising, a primary oscillation about the axis of the rudder post, due to the motor
effort, and a secondary oscillation about an independent axis in the rudder frame,
due to the turning or tilting of the rudder blade, caused by the resistance of the
water, or other medium, when so oscillated about the rudder post axis, and for
which Letters Patent No. 5384-1883, No. 10416-1887 and No. 8353-1888,
were granted to me, and has for its object to ensure the return of the propeller
blade to its normal position in the oscillating rudder frame, after being displaced
by the aforesaid secondary oscillation, and to provide means for locking the rudder
or propeller blade securely to the rudder post or frame, when employed as a
rudder only.
The rudder or propeller blade is mounted in suitable bearings in the oscillating
rudder frame, and is provided with a crank, which may either oscillate with the
propeller blade, about its secondary axis, or be fixed to the rudder frame, and
which is so connected to a suitable part of the propeller blade or to the frame by
means of springs, that on the propeller blade being displaced relatively to the
rudder frame, it is immediately returned to its central or normal position.
'
When it is desired to employ the propeller blade, as a rudder only, it is locked in
its central or normal position relatively to the rudder frame, by means of a cam or
sliding block, which is caused to engage with a moving part of the propeller blade
or its counections.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propellers for Boats, Aerial Vehicles, and
the like.
I, THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of 10 Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 chiefly to the construction of propellers of that class in
which the vessel is propelled and steered or its motion retarded by the action of a
single vibrating stern paddle or rudder to which is imparted a compound motion
comprising a primary oscillation about the axis of the rudder post, due to the motor
effort, and a secondary oscillation about an independent axis in the rudder frame,
due to the turning or tilting of the rudder blade caused by the resistance of the
water or other medium when so oscillated about the rudder post axis and for which
Letters Patent No. 5384 of 1883, No. 10416 of 1887, and No. 8353 of 1888 were
Prin 77

page_text: granted to me, and has for its object to ensure the return of the propeller blade to
its normal position in the oscillating rudder frame, after being displaced by the.
aforesaid secondary oscillation and to provide means for locking the rudder or
propeller blade securely. to the rudder post or frame when employed as a rudder
only.
In the accompanying three sheets of illustrative drawings:
1
Figure represents a side elevation of a propeller for boats and the like con-
structed according to this invention and Figures 2, 3, and 4 represent side elevations
of modified arrangements, of the same.
Figure 5 represents a sectional elevation of a screw propeller provided with my
improvements.
с
Referring to Figure 1 the rudder propeller blade a is mounted in bearings b in
the oscillating rudder frame e secured to the stern port d by the pivots ef and
bearings and is provided with a crank oscillating with it and connected to a
bar by means of rings or bands of india rubber or other suitable elastic material
so that as the rudder a is displaced from its central position in either direction it is
caused by the said springs to return to its normal and central position as will be
readily understood. Rollers m on which the crank is pressed and rolls are
mounted on the rod and serve to reduce the frictional resistance to the motion of
the rudder blade.
T.
1
In order to lock the rudder blade a and the rudder frame c together and prevent
their independent. oscillation when it is desired to use the blade a as a rudder only
a locking crank n is found on the end of the rudder crank capable of engaging
with a block o sliding on a guide bar p and controlled from above by means of .a
connecting cord g.
A suitable casing r.is provided to enclose the working parts and preserve them
from injury.
Figure 2 represents a similar arrangement to Figure 1 the crank.h and bolt i
being inverted, as clearly shown.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 the crank is secured to the rudder
frame, the propeller blade a being mounted thereon by bearings .b. A cam s
pivotted at in the rudder frame and controlled from above by the cord
engages with the propeller blade when desired and locks it and the rudder frame
together.
Figure 4 represents a similar arrangement to Figure 3 the crank hand bolt i
being inverted.
In the arrangement of screw propeller shown in Figure 5 the blades u are formed
with cranks w and connected together by a pin a, and are returned to their normal
positions when displaced by elastic rings y which connect the cranks w and pins as
will be readily understood.
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 I
claim is
1. In propellers for boats and the like, the employment of an oscillating propeller
blade having a cranked end working in bearings in the rudder frame and connected
to the rudder frame by means of elastic spring rings or bands substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. In propellers for boats and the like the employment of an oscillating propeller
blade mounted on a cranked rod or shaft secured to the rudder frame and connected
thereto by elastic spring rings or. bands substantially as described, and for the
purpose set forth.
:
3. In propellers for boats and the like, locking the propeller blade to the rudder
frame by means of a sliding. block or a pivotted cam operated by a connecting cord
or the like substantially as described.
4. In propellers for .boats and: the like the combination of a rudder frame,ia
propeller blade oscillating about an axis in the said frame and retained-in its

page_text: normal position by elastic rings or bands, and a locking block or cam substantially
as described.
5. In a screw propeller the construction of the blades with cranks elastically
connected to the screw boss substantially as described with reference to Figure 5
of the drawings.
6. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improvements in
propellers for boats, aerial machines, and the. like, the whole constructed and
operating substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated in.
the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 24th day of April 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.