IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING LIFE BOATS BY STEAM POWER
Year: 1884

page_text: We, FREDERICK JOHN PICKERING CHEESBROUGH and ERNEST RICHARD ROYSTON,
both of 15 Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING LIFE BOATS BY
STEAM POWER to be as follows:-
Our Invention has for its object certain improvements in apparatus and
arrangement of same for propelling life boats by steam power acting through the
agency of a hydraulic, or hydro-pneumatic propeller and is particularly applicable
to that class of life boat, known as tubular life boats.
Tubular life boats as at present in use are formed of two tubes, which are the
medium of floatation of the structure. The tubes are spaced apart and stayed
together and carry a super-structure forming the body of the boat in which the
boatmen are located.
According to our Invention we provide the tubular boat with a steam generator
contained in the super-structure and between the tubes, consisting of a tube filled
vessel, with a furnace constructed to work as a gas producer with a closed ashpit
and forced draught, the furnace being completely watertight and fed through a
closed hopper on the top thereof, so that all danger of extinguishing of the fire by
seas breaking upon and over the generator and furnace is avoided. Air for the
secondary combustion of the gases generated is supplied through downtakes, pro-
vided with bonnets, to the combustion chamber of the furnace. The generator is
provided with a steam dome, smoke uptake and chimney.
The propeller consists of a water ejector, or ejectors, which we locate in the
waterway between the tubes of the boat and about the centre fore and aft of the
boat, so that the propeller is always in a position where it will be submerged
when the boat is pitching, or rolling and away from danger of contact with
wreckage, or banks, or outside objects. These ejectors are operated as hereinafter
described by steam from the generator, and air, and have nozzles which are so
constructed and arranged that the water can be driven, or ejected fore, or aft
through the waterway between the boat tubes also that one side of the ejector can
drive, or eject the water aft and the other side of the ejector can drive, or eject the
water forward so as to help to turn the boat. For these purposes the ejector is

page_text: provided with passages, or pipes for the propelling agent from the generator on
each side of the boat, these passages, or pipes being provided with valves,
or cocks to direct the propelling agent into, or through the desired pipes, or
passages.
.
The steam from the generator is led through pipes to nozzles where it
draws in air and then such air and steam passes to the water ejectors before
spoken of.
In applying the apparatus according to our Invention to ordinary life-boats such
as the self righting life boats of The Royal National Life Boat Institution the
ejector is placed within the boat so as to discharge on either side of the boat or at,
or near the ends of the boat.
Our Invention provides the following essential advantages to a life-boat.
The propulsion of the boat by steam, thus conserving the endurance of the
boat men.
The propelling apparatus is protected from damage by floating wreckage and
contact, or collision with wrecks and when grounding on banks.
The propelling apparatus is of such a nature and so placed as to be always
operative and its action unaffected by the rolling and pitching, of the boat.
The steam generator is of such a nature and so constructed and protected that
its efficiency and operation is unaffected by the action of seas breaking into and
over the boat.
The construction of the steam generator furnace is such that the fuel is only
required to be supplied at long intervals and the objectionable feature of almost
constant stoking is avoided.
The combined apparatus, namely the generator and propeller is such that skilled
labour is not required to conduct it's operations.

page_text: We, FREDERICK JOHN PICKERING CHEESBROUGH and ERNEST RICHARD ROYSTON,
both of 15 Water Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineers do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING LIFE BOATS BY
STEAM POWER and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our Invention has for its object certain improvements in apparatus and arrange-
ment of same for propelling life-boats by steam power, acting through the agency
of a hydraulic, or hydro-pneumatic propeller, and is particularly applicable to that
class of life-boat, known as tubular life boats.
Tubular life boats as at present in use are formed of two tubes, which are the
medium of floatation of the structure The tubes are spaced apart and stayed
together and carry a superstructure forming the body of the boat in which the
boatmen are located.
In applying the apparatus according to our Invention to ordinary boats and
life-boats such as the self righting life boats of The Royal National Life-Boat Insti-
tution the ejector is placed within the boat so as to discharge on either side of the
boat, or at, or near the ends of the boat.
That our Invention may be clearly understood we have hereunto attached two
sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, making a part of this Specification and
which are marked with figures and letters of reference, corresponding with those
in the following explanation, like figures and letters being used to denote like, or
corresponding parts throughout the views. In the Drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the centre portion of a Tubular Life Boat
provided with apparatus according to our Invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section through X X Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a Tubular Life Boat with our improvements applied
thereto.
Figure 5 a cross section of a Life-Boat of The Royal National Life-Boat
Institutions type with our apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 6 is an elevation of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan of Figure 6.
Τ
With reference to the Drawings.-The Tubular Life-Boat is provided with a
steam generator contained in the super structure of the boat and between the
tubes A. The generator consists of a tube filled vessel B with a dry furnace C
Constructed to work as a gas producer with a closed ashpit D and a forced draught.
is supplied by a blower E which may be a "Korting Undergrate Blower." The
furnace C is constructed completely water tight and is lined with refractory material,
such as fire-brick and is supplied with fuel through the closed hopper Fon the top'
thereof. The furnace is provided with a bridge c to hold the fuel and to form a
passage for the gases to the combustion chamber G which is supplied with air for
"
+

page_text: the combustion of the gases from the furnace C through the ducts g which are
provided with bonnets gl. The generator is provided with the dome a froin which
the steam is led by the pipe a¹, smoke uptake b, and chimney b', which is provided
with the bonnet b². The usual necessary valves, cocks and fittings are provided.
By providing the ashpit and furnace with close doors and by bonneting the air
ducts and chimney as'above set forth all danger of extinguishing the fire by seas
breaking upon and over the generator is avoided and water is prevented from
entering any heating spaces of the generator."
**
The propeller consists of the ejectors H which are located in the waterway
between the tubes A of the boat and about the centre fore and aft of the boat so
that the propeller H is always in a position where it will be submerged when the
boat is pitching, or rolling and away from danger of contact with wreckage, or
banks, or outside objects. These ejectors H consist of horizontal vessels in which
are formed the passages, or ports h h h¹ h¹ which convey the steam and air to and
through the propeller. The steam and air issues out by the nozzles ii¹¹. The
nozzles are used for driving the boat ahead and the nozzles for driving the
boat astern. The steam and air issuing from the nozzles ii ejects water aft The
body of water thus moved also drives other bodies of water aft which are induced
through the central opening k and openings . The whole body of water is finally.
ejected from the end of the propeller and so, propels the boat forward. The ejectors
are divided by a diaphragm n. Thus the water can be driven, or ejected fore or
aft, also one side of the forward ejector can drive, or eject the water aft and the
opposite side of the sternward ejector can drive, or eject the water forward and so
help to turn the boat.
The steam from the pipe a¹ is led to the three way cocks a which are provided
for either directing the steam to the forward, or sternward propeller. The pipes e e
supply the forward ejector and the pipes e' e¹ supply the stern ward ejector. JJJJ
are the air forcing apparatus which may be of any known high pressure type of
ejector, or injector blower such as the "Siemens" type in which nozzles are used
The blowers J J are for the forward propellers and the blowers J¹ J¹ are for the
sternward propellers.
The steam in passing through the blowers J J, or J1 J1 sets in motion a large
body of air, which together with the steam passes to the propellers H and operates
in moving water through the propeller as above set forth.
In applying the apparatus according to our Invention to ordinary Life Boats
such as the self righting Life Boats of The Royal National Life-Boat Institution,
such as the boat shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the propeller H is placed within the
boat being attached to the inside of the skin by the flanges m and discharges at
each side of the boat between the keel and side kelsons. It will be seen upon
reference to the Drawings that the construction and arrangement of the apparatus
is essentially the same as that set forth with reference to Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 of
the Drawings.
The propellers H in this case are provided with single apertures, or central
openings K for the passage of water to and from the nozzles for both the aft and
forward ejectors. The blowers J J J J force in the air to either the forward, or
the sternward ejectors by means of the ordinary three way cocks as and pipes, or
passages e e for the forward, and pipes, or passages ele for the sternward
ejectors. The blowers J are protected from the seas that may break over them by
the hoods 7.
Our Invention provides the following essential advantages to a life-boat.
The propulsion of the boat by steam thus conserving the endurance of the
boat men
The propelling apparatus is protected from damage by floating wreckage and
contact, or collision with wrecks and when grounding on banks.
The propelling apparatus is of such a nature and so placed as to be always

page_text: The steam generator is of such a nature and so constructed and protected that
its efficiency and operation is unaffected by the action of seas breaking into and
over the boat.
The construction of the steam generator furnace is such that the fuel is only
required to be supplied at long intervals and the objectionable feature of almost.
constant stoking is avoided.
The combined apparatus, namely the generator and propeller is such that skilled
labour is not required to conduct its operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First The application and construction of apparatus for propelling boats, or
vessels of the type herein set forth wherein and in such a manner that steam forces
a body of air and such body of steam and air is ejected through nozzles of
ejectors placed in the water whereby the boats, or vessels are propelled in the
opposite direction to the issuing propelling fluid as set forth with reference to
Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
Second The application and construction of apparatus for propelling boats, or
vessels of the type herein set forth wherein and in such a manner that steam forces
a body of air and such body of steam and air is ejected through nozzles of ejectors
in the boats, or vessels whereby the boats, or vessels are propelled in the opposite
direction to the issuing propelling fluid as set forth in reference to Figures 5. 6,
and 7.
Third The construction of apparatus for generating steam substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Fourth Constructing propellers of the type herein specified in such a manner.
that the propelling fluid is made to pass either in one direction, or in the opposite
direction and whereby the boat, or vessel is propelled in either a forward, or
sternward direction, as set forth.
Fifth Constructing propellers with longitudinal parallel nozzles as set forth and
operating as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth Arranging propellers constructed as herein specified in the water way
of Tubular Life Boats and between the tubes as set forth for the purposes
described.
Seventh Arranging propellers constructed as herein specified in Life-Boats of
the type set forth with reference to Figures 5. 6. and 7 of the Drawings, in the
bottom of the boat and between the keel and side kelsons as set forth for the
purposes described.