AN IMPROVED PROPELLER
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick Gustavus
Germann, and Joseph Germann, all of Windsor, in the County of Berks,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER
aled the 14th May 1858, and dated the 18th November 1857
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Frederick
Germann, Frederick Gustavus Germann, and Joseph Germann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 18th
November 1857.
We, ANDREW FREDERICK GERMANN, FREDERICK GUSTAVUS GERMANN, and
JOSEPII GERMANN, all of Windsor, in the County of Berks, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER," to be as follows,
that is to say:
This Invention consists in certain mechanical arrangements by which a
submerged vertically or otherwise placed paddle plane or blade in a suitable
frame is made to revolve in such a way that one of its faces impinges or
bears against the water in a contrary direction to the vessel's progress, and
then feathers or changes its position so as to advance edgeways in its passage
round to repeat the propelling stroke. Thus, by the former movement, the
vessel is driven forward, and by the latter the smallest surface is presented
to the water in the passage of the said paddle plane or blade through it (the
water) to where the propelling stroke commences. This apparatus is
applicable to other submerged parts of a vessel than the after part, as the
sides, bows, or prow, and can be used in either of such places separately or
in conjunction with one placed at the stern part, and can be put in motion
by steam or other motive power communicated by suitable machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick Gustavus Germann,
and Joseph Germann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th May
1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ANDREW
FREDERICK GERMANN, FREDERICK GUSTAVUS GERMANN, and JOSEPH GERMANN,
all of Windsor, in the County of Berkshire, Gentlemen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick Gustavus Germann, &
Joseph Gerinann, Her special licence that we, the said Andrew Frederick
Germann, Frederick Gustavus Germanu, & Joseph Germann, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Andrew Frederick
Germann, Frederick Gustavus Germann, & Joseph Germann, our 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 "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick
Gustavus Germann, & Joseph Germann, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick
Gustavus Germann, & Joseph Germann, do hereby declare the nature of
our 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 Invention consists in certain mechanical arrangements by which a
submerged vertically or otherwise placed paddle plane or blade in a suitable
frame is made to revolve in such a way that one of its faces impinges or
bears against the water in a contrary direction to the vessel's progress, and
then feathers or changes its position so as to advance edgeways in its passage
round to repeat the propelling stroke. Thus, by the former movement, the

page_text: vessel is driven forward and by the latter the smallest surface is presented
to the water in the passage of the said paddle plane or blade through it (the
water) to where the propelling stroke commences; and the following is the
manner by which the aforesaid is accomplished. A plane, curved, or corru-
gated surface of any required length or breadth, but always rectangular in
form, is hinged on one of its sides to an upper and lower arm of equal length
and size, and which on account of their action I call restraining arms; they.
move freely on fixed axes and are placed hindermost; the other side of the
propelling paddle plane or blade revolves freely on two other arms (upper and
lower) of equal length, but necessarily shorter than the restraining arms, and
placed before them. The uppermost of these foremost arms is the driving
arm, and is fixed to the end of the driving shaft, connected with the steam-
engine or other motive power, and revolves around it; the lower arm being
entirely free on its own axis, and works on a centre in the frame. The length
of these arms is in proportion to the breadth of the propeller or to the area
in which it is to move. The two centres of motion, that is, of the driving.
shaft and of the axes of the restraining arms, are always measured by the
width of the propelling paddle plane or blade. Each revolution of the driving
arm and fellow causes one of the faces of the propeller, as before described,.
to impinge or strike on the water in ever varying lines, but always in a
direction contrary to the line of the vessel's progression. The restraining
arms describe only a portion of a circle in the time the driving arm and its
fellow complete one rotation.
The foregoing description has reference to a single propeller; but I do not
confine myself to a single one; and Plate 3 illustrates a modified application.
of the same principle of propulsion to two paddle planes or blades.
In order that the said Invention may be more readily understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts throughout the Figures.
same.
Figure 1 shews an elevation of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a plan of the
A, A, A, represents the frame of the apparatus; B, the paddle plane
or blade, connected to the ends of the supporting rods C, C', by means of a
top and bottom cross piece b, b; D is the driving arm secured to the driving
shaft E, and d is its fellow, working on a centre in the frame; G, G, are the
restraining arms, which work on the radius rod II. At the extremities of
these four arms are sockets to receive the ends of the supporting rods C, C¹,
so that by the rotation of the driving arm and the difference of lengths
between the fore and after sets of arms as shown in Figure 2, the motion and
feathering effect as before described is produced.

page_text: Figure 3 shows a modification of the same principle when two paddles
planes or blades, aro employed. A, A, A, represent the frame; B, 13, the
paddles planes or blades, binged on the supporting or centre rods C, C', with
their ends fitting into sockets at the extremities of the three arms, viz., tho
driving arm D, the middle arm D', and the lower arm d, as the Figure
shows; G, G, are the restraining arms connected by one of their ends to
the paddles planes or blades, and by their other to the radius rod II, on
which thoy work. The driving arm D, as in Figuro 1, is secured to the
driving shaft E, and by its rotation tho other arms are set in motion, and
alternate strokes of the paddles' planes or blades are produced together
with the same feathering action as before described.
This apparatus is applicable to other submerged parts of a vessel than the
after part, as the sides and bows or prow, and can be used in either of such
places separately or in conjunction with one placed at the stern part, and can
be put in motion by steam or other motive power communicated by suitable
machinery.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details or arrangements which we have herein-before described,
as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles of the said Invention; but what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as our Invention. secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the general construction and arrange-
incuts of the apparatus for propelling purposes, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Andrew Frederick Germann, Frederick
Gustavus Germann, and Joseph Germann, have hereunto set our
hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
ANDREW FREDERIC GEKMANN.
(1.8.)
FREDERICK GUSTAVUS GERMANN. (L.s.)
JOSEPH GERMANN.
(L..S.)
Witness,
FREDERICK STEVENS.