IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Dean, of Derby, Weaver, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 31st December 1861, and dated the 6th July 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Dean at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
July 1861.
I, JOHN DEAN, of Derby, Weaver, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
Instead of constructing paddle wheels in any of the ordinary and well
known modes or methods, whether with fixed or reefing floats, I construct an
apparatus for propelling ships or other vessels in the following manner, my
present Invention being a substitute for paddle wheels, whether employed as
side wheels or otherwise disposed.
I construct my propelling apparatus in the following manner:-I mount
several cylindrical frames upon axles or shafts, each frame having several
floats, say, four, six, or any other convenient number. The revolving frames, of
which there may be three or any greater number, are mounted upon a main.
frame of square, polygonal, or circular form, having a central axis or shaft
supported in main bearings, and as an equivalent for the ordinary paddle shaft.

page_text: This shaft in a single propeller may be supported at each end within the
vessel, or where employed as side wheels or propellers, and overhanging the
side of the ship, the inner bearing may be taken by a block on the deck
or side of the ship, or in an opening cut for that purpose, whilst the outer or
overhanging end is carried by the "spring beams"; each of the revolving
frames has fixed upon its axis a toothed pinion or its equivalent; these take into
and receive motion from and by means of a circular rack or internal toothed
wheel affixed, to the ship's side, or within the propeller box or casing, and upon
motion being communicated to the main revolving frame or carriage in which
they are mounted, they are made to revolve, and each of the floats or float
boards in turn is made to dip, to perform its work, and withdraw. The floats
enter the water behind the line of the main shaft, instead of as in the ordinary
paddle wheel before the line of the main or paddle shaft.
This propeller is more particularly intended for river and other shallow
water navigation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said. John Dean in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DEAN, of Derby, Weaver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight bundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Dean, Her special licence that I, the said John Dean, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Dean, my executors, administrators, 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,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUB
POR PROPELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Dean, my executors 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:

page_text: 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 John Dean, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing:
:-
· Instead of constructing paddle wheels in any of the ordinary and well-
known modes or methods, whether with fixed or reeting floats, I construct an
apparatus for propelling ships or other vessels in the following manner, my
present Invention being a substitute for ordinary paddle wheels, whether
employed as side wheels or otherwise disposed..
I construct my propelling apparatus in the following manner :-I mount
several cylindrical frames upon axles or shafts, each frame having several
floats, say, four, six, or any other convenient number. The revolving frames,.
of which there may be three or any greater number, are mounted upon a
main frame of square, polygonal, or circular form, having a central axis or.
shaft supported in main bearings, and as an equivalent for the ordinary paddle
shaft. This shaft in a single propeller may be supported at each end within.
the vessel; or, where employed as side wheels or propellers, and overhanging
the side of the ship, the. inner bearing may be taken by a block on the deck
or side of the ship, or in an opening cut for that purpose, whilst the outer or
overhanging end is carried by the "spring beams." Each of the revolving
frames has fixed upon its axis a toothed pinion or its equivalent; these take
into and receive motion from, and by means of a circular rack or internal
toothed wheel affixed to the ship's side, or within the propeller box or casing;
and upon motion being communicated to the main revolving frame or carriag
in which they are mounted, they are made to revolve, and each of the floats or
float boards in turn is made to dip, to perform its work, and withdraw. The
floats enter the water behind the line of the main shaft, instead of, as in tho
ordinary paddle wheel, before the line of the main or paddle shaft. This
propeller is more particularly intended for river and other shallow water
navigation.
Instead of toothed pinions and an internal toothed wheel or eircular rack,
any other mechanical equivalent means may be employed for producing the
required direction of motion and proportionate speed to the revolving frames
containing or carrying the floats; thus, for example, instead of the tootheif"
wheel gearing, grooved or frictional gearing may be employed; or, instead

page_text: thereof, a long flat link chain may be employed, and made to surround the
main frame, and the suitably-shaped projecting teeth of the pinions mounted
on the axles or shafts of the respective small or revolving circular frames, take
into the spaces between the links of such chain, and are caused to revolve
thereby.
In illustrating my Invention in the accompanying Drawing, I have selected
an outside wheel propeller, although, of course, by suitably mounting and
driving such a wheel, it could be applied and worked as a stern propeller, or
as a central or midship propeller. I have likewise shown only two of the
arrangements for working or rotating the small or revolving circular frames
each time the main frame or drum is revolving. I have also confined myself
to shewing two side views, one having four, and the other six small or circular
revolving frames with their floats.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the propelling apparatus con-
structed according to my Invention, fitted and mounted as one of a pair of side
wheel propellers, motion being given to the several revolving frames by means
of toothed wheel gearing, as herein-before described. The outside face of the
paddle box is removed, for the purpose of enabling my propelling apparatus
to be seen; but I have in this view, as in Figure 3, preferred to show in sitû
the plummer block forming the bearing for carrying the outer or overbanging
end of the main shaft. Figure 2 is a transverse section of Figure 1, taken on
the line A, B; Figure 3 is a similar view to that illustrated by Figure 1, but
instead of giving motion to the revolving frames by means of toothed wheel
gearing, I have in this view shown grooved or frictional gearing as being
introduced for that purpose; Figure 4 is a transverse section of Figure 8,
taken on the line C, D. In each Figure the same letters are employed to
indicate like or corresponding parts.
a is intended to represent the ship's side; 6 is the paddle or propeller box,
or covering; c is the bearing or plummer block, in which the main shaft
revolves; d is the main frame or carriage in suitable bearings, provided in or
near the periphery of which is mounted the several revolving frames having
the floats mounted thereon; e, &c., &c., are the several small or circular
revolving frames; f is the circular internal toothed rack or wheel, or its
equivalent, fixed to the side of the paddle box or propeller box, or cover;
9, 9, &c., the several pinion wheels, or their equivalents, keyed fast or mounted
on the ends of the shafts of the small circular revolving frames; h, h, &c.,
the floats.
In every case, and irrespective of the kind or description of gearing or

page_text: means of revolving the floats, the small circular revolving frames or drums
having the floats mounted thereon, are caused to rotate or revolve in a
direction opposite to the main revolving frame by which they are carried, or
within which they are mounted, and, moreover, the floats are made to enter
the water from behind the line of the main shaft, instead of in advance of it,
as in the ordinary paddle wheel, and in doing so, obtain a better hold of the
water. The depth to which the small circular revolving frames carrying the
floats should be immersed, ought not in practice to exceed one-third of the
diameter, or two-thirds the length of the radial arms of such small circular
revolving frames.
Having now described my said Invention, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing some of the modes in which I prefer to put the same in practice, I
claim the machinery or apparatus herein described for propelling vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Dean, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.
Witness,
JAMES STEVENSON,
19, Salisbury Street,
Adelphi, W.C.
JOHN DEAN. (L.B.)