IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY APPLICABLE THERETO
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Carter, of Mottingham, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF
PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY
APPLICABLE THERETO."
Sealed the 11th November 1856, and dated the 17th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Carter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th May 1856.
I, GEORGE CARTER, of Mottingham, in the County of Kent, Gentleman,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND
MACHINERY APPLICABLE THERETO," to be as follows:-
I propose to propel vessels by forcing or conveying air, water, or air mixed
with water, through a certain outlet or outlets, in such position and of such a
form as to expose a great surface at the place where the air impinges against
the water; the air is then to be guided by a suitable channel or channels along
the bottom or sides of the vessels, whereby the power is effectually expended
against the water instead of passing rapidly through it. I find it advantageous
to force the air, water, or a mixture of air and water, from the bottom of the

page_text: vessel, and cause it to ascend in its passage over an incline or wedge-form
channel to the stern.
The more the bottom or sides of the vessel is. taken up by the air channels
the less resistance by the friction of the water,. for the vessel is caused, when
in motion, to float partially on air instead of water. The propelling outlets
are arranged to force the air backward to the stern to move the vessel ahead,
or forward to the bow to move the vessel astern.
In addition to the usual rudder for steering, the stern of the vessel (and the
bow likewise where desirable) is pierced with outlets, one on each side, nearly
equal in area to the propelling outlets. These outlets, which are covered by
slides or valves, are connected by suitable gearing to the steering apparatus.
On opening either outlet the air is forced against the water, and the vessel is
moved thereby in the contrary direction; in this manner the motion of the
vessel is placed under control.
The machinery to force the air, water, or a mixture of air and water, through
the outlets, consists of either a fan blower, common or hydraulic bellows, or air
pumps, which may be used together or separately, provided the air is directed.
to the propelling and steering outlets.
To actuate the fan blower, bellows, or pumps, manual or horse power may
be employed; also gas or steam power in the ordinary manner; but I propose
to employ a steam engine which has a cylinder with two pistons moving at
the same time in contrary directions, in order to balance the strain, and prevent
it from being exerted on the framing or foundation of the engine. The cylinder
vibrates on trunions, and the piston rods are each connected to a fan blower or
other machine. In some cases the cylinder is fixed; then one piston rod slides
through a stuffing box in the top or first piston, and also through the cylinder
cover, the rod of the top piston slides through the cylinder cover also..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George. Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1856...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, George
CARTER, of Mottingham, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Carter, Her special licence that I, the said George Carter, ny
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Carter, 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 THE MODE OF
PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY
APPLIED THERETO," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Carter, 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 saine
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 I, the said George Carter, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):-
My Invention consists in propelling vessels by forcing or conveying air,
water, or air mixed with water, through a certain outlet or outlets, in such
position and of such a form as to expose an extended surface at the place
where the air impinges against the water, the air being guided by a suitable
channel or channels along the bottom or sides of the vessel inclining towards
the ends, whereby the power is effectually expended against the water instead
of passing rapidly through it.
The more the bottom or sides of the vessel is taken up by the air channels
the less resistance by the friction of the water, for the vessel is caused, when in
motion, to float as it were partially on air instead of water. The propelling
outlets are arranged to force the air backward to the stern to move the vessel
ahead, or forward to the bow to move the vessel astern.
In addition to the usual rudder for steering, the stern and likewiso
the bow of the vessel may be pierced with outlets, one on each side,
similar to the propelling outlets, and covered by slides or valves, connected
by suitable gearing to the steering apparatus. On opening either outlet
the air is forced against the water, and the vessel is moved thereby in the

page_text: of the same, showing the outlets a, through which the air is passed in an
extended film or stratum, and presses or acts at b, b, between the vessel and
the water, and which does not act as a mere jet against the water, but being
directed over the bottom of the vessel, and prevented from escaping at the
sides, forms a stratum or film-propelling medium, which tends to separate the
vessel from the water with a force corresponding to the pressure of the pro-
pelling medium, or in the stratum at b, b.
An angle of from about 15 to 25 degrees with the horizon answers extremely
.well for the incline, along which the action of the propelling medium takes
place. The more the outlet or orifice a is placed forward the more will the
propelling medium be directed and distributed under the bottom and stern of
the vessel, and the greater the effect produced.
The pressure and velocity of the propelling medium will depend on the
position and area of the outlets, the angle of the inclined channels, and other
circumstances, well understood by every practical engineer.
The arrangements already described are all the outside apparatus required
for a flat bottom or stern; but for a curved bottom guides c, c, may be
advantageously used, to divide the propelling medium into seperate or various
channels, to keep the stratum b, b, in the most effective position, and prevent
the propelling medium escaping up the sides of the vessel. A corrugated,
recessed, or ribbed bottom or sides will answer this purpose.
If the guides c are made hollow, and pierced with the propelling outlets or
perforations, the propelling medium may be passed through them. When the
propelling medium is forced through the outlets a, in the direction shown by
the arrows, to the stern, the vessel is moved ahead; by closing the outlets a, a
and opening corresponding outlets in the bow, the vessel is backed astern.
Figure 3 shews a stern view of a vessel designed with a channel d, to con-
fine the propelling medium more effectually where the vessel is intended to
encounter a rough sea. This channel may be formed by simply joining two
vessels e, e, side by side (in which case I prefer to have them covered with a

page_text: deck), or it may be only the stern part so constructed, the fore part and bow
being as usual, and with a keel the whole length of the vessel, or any part
thereof. The sides of the-channel d may be corrugated, or formed in a series
of steps, or have attached the guides c.
.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of a vessel with a moveable stern or
incline B, which is supported on an axis C, allowing the end of the incline to
be raised or depressed to suit the best angle for the propelling medium to act
against; also moveable side ways for steering.
Figure 5 represents a vessel with a portion of her sides removed, forming.
a recess f, f, on each side of the vessel, so that she may be propelled from the
middle or any convenient distance forward or astern, or from an increased
number of recesses f, f. I prefer to have that part of the keel g in the recess
like a plate-iron hollow girder, but it may be solid or entirely removed. The
recesses f, f, may be reduced in size, and a series of them made along the
sides of the vessel to obtain the required amount of propelling surface. Instead
of removing the sides, two or more vessels may be placed end to end, and may
be decked over, if required; such vessels can be propelled ahead or astern, at
pleasure, by using the outlets a, a, or A, A, as may be required.
In Figure 6, a is one of the outlets, with a valve h, which is moveable on
an axis i; a crank or arm j is joined to a chain or rod leading to a lever,
which is moveable on an axis ; the other end of this lever is connected to a
float 1, placed in a receptacle or channel m at the sides or stern of the vessel,
and having free communication with the sea, and large enough to let the wave
act on the float quickly. The operation is as follows:-When the wave ascends
it enters and rises in the receptacle or channel m, lifting the float and crank
arm j, which opens the valve k, and allows the propelling medium to escape
through the required outlets a. When the wave falls or recedes, the waters
leave the receptacle or channel m, and the action is reversed and shuts the
valve h, so that the propelling medium cannot escape at the top outlets a, but
is forced to escape at the next outlets lower down, and so on, varying con-
tinually with the rise and fall of the wave, or the tossing and rolling of the
vessel. In small boats, or where convenient, the float I may be placed outside
the vessel, and thus act on a valve covering the outlet a; but I prefer to have
all the apparatus removed from the chance of external injury. When the
vessel is by any means caused to lean or cant on one side, the outlet a should
be largely opened on the depressed or lower side, and partly or entirely closed
on the raised or upper side of the vessel. By this arrangement the great force
and buoyancy of the propelling medium will act with force on the lowest side;

page_text: to bring the vessel upright and steady. This operation I prefer to have self-
acting by means of the float 7, but the valve h may, if desired, be regulated
by hand, with gearing similar to a steering wheel. When the valves h are
shut and the motive power still in action, it may be accumulated in a reservoir,
or a series of them formed of metal, flexible bags, or any suitable material,
into which the propelling medium is forced, until the vessel takes a position
which gives to the stern and bottom the most effective angle for the propelling
medium to act against. The outlets a may have a pipe or a series of pipes to
form a connection with the motive power, either direct or through the reservoir,
and may be worked at the same or different and separate forces or pressures of
the propelling medium.
Figure 7 is a stern view, and Figure 8 is a longitudinal elevation of a
steering apparatus. p is a vane or rudder, worked by the shaft q and a steer-
ing wheel, in the usual manner. If the vane p is moved in the direction shown
by the arrow, the propelling medium is made to escape through an opening r
in the rib or guide piece c. The reaction of the propelling medium on the
vane or rudder p turns the vessel in the direction desired. The outlet r has a
covers, moveable on a hinge joint, which is usually kept shut by the velocity
of the vessel, but is instantly forced open when the vane or rudder changes
the motion. If the vane or rudder p is turned to the other side to act on
corresponding apparatus the vessel turns in the contrary direction. I prefer
to have the vane or rudder p hang on the shaft at the end, but it may be con-
nected car the centre, having a portion, shewn by the dotted line t, extending
across the stern, to direct all or nearly all the propelling medium to either
side desired. The vane or rudder may turn on a fixed axis and be actuated
from the other end, or between the two there may be extra rudders on the
same plans, capable of being worked separately or in conjunction. Various
modifications may be made of these arrangements, all tending to give a quick
and certain means of steering and manoeuvring vessels.
The machinery to force or pass the air or the propelling medium under the
bottom and stern of the vessel consists of either a fan blower, common or
hydraulic bellows, pumps, or any apparatus in general use for forcing or
creating currents of air or water. These machines may be be used separately
or in conjunction, provided the propelling medium is made to act as herein-
before described.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood I do not claim as of
my Invention the exclusive use of the application of compressed air under

page_text: pressure for the propulsion of vessels; but what I claim is, the propelling and
steering vessels by air acting on the under side of vessels in inclined channels,
as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Carter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six."
Witness,
P. G. GREVILLE, Sol',
28, St. Swithin's Lane."
GEO. CARTER. (L.S.)