IMPROVEMENTS THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING, MANGUVRING, AND PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howden, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING, MANGUVRING, AND
PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS."
Sealed the 24th July 1866, and dated the 27th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
January 1866.
I, JAMES HOWDEN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING, MANŒUVRING, AND
PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates to several improved methods of arranging and
applying the motion or action of screws, pumps, or similar acting instruments,
also steam and air or other gases to the drawing in and ejecting of the water in
which the vessel floats through tubes or similar passages inside the vessel,
but having connection with the water, so that the vessel is turned or moved in-
any required direction more speedily than by any other methods at present in

page_text: use and with greater safety, and also independently of rudders or other
steering apparatus. The application of power under this Invention may be
used as an auxiliary power for the purpose of manoeuvring and turning the
vessel independently or in conjunction with the principal motive power.
One portion of the improvements under this Invention consists in placing a
tube of wrought iron or other durable and sufficient material across the vessel
near to the bow or stern or both ends of the vessel, the tube or tubes being
under the water level and in free communication with the water at both sides
of the vessel. In the tube is placed a screw propeller or similar acting
instrument with its axis horizontal; this propeller being worked by power
from the inside of the vessel through a proper stuffing box, draws in the
water from one side of the tube and ejects it at the other side; the side at
which the discharge or suction takes place being at either side as the screw is
turned to the right or left. The power for working these propellers when
they are only auxiliary, such as in ships of war, may be taken from the main
boiler or engines, but it is preferred to have separate engines and boilers for
the purpose.
The propellers are worked through the sides, top, or bottom of
the tubes, as may be found most convenient, by a shaft passing through a
packing box on the tube, and gearing with wheels on the propeller shaft. It
is preferred in this application of the power to use a screw consisting of
properly constructed blades on two conical centre pieces placed back to back
on the same shaft, the wheels for working the screw being placed in a fixed
covered circular case between the conical bases of each screw centre, and thus
securing the gear from receiving injury in working. The action of this
double conical propeller is to screw itself into the water on one side and out
of it on the other, thus obtaining a double propelling action at the same time.
Instead of driving the screw shaft by wheels or other gear through a packing
box, the engines may be connected direct to the screw shaft. This is effected
by placing a water-tight box part in the inside of the tube and open at one
side to the inside of the ship. Through this opening the engine may be
connected direct to the shaft or by means of intermediate gear. The screw
shaft passes through the ends of this internal box part, and the conical or other
propellers are placed one on each end of it outside on the tube. The box part
being considerably smaller in diameter than the containing tube in which the
screw propellers work, an annular space is left all round for the greater part
of the circle, through which the water passes from one side of the tube to the
other.
In applying pumps. according to this Invention it is preferred to make
them of the centrifugal kind, and if applied with their axes vertically the

page_text: water is drawn by the pumps from the one side, say the starboard side, of the
before-mentioned cross tubes by a suitable passage leading to the centre of
the pump, either on its upper or lower side, and discharged at tlie port side
of the cross tube from the periphery of the pump in the usual manner. When
the motion of the vessel is to be reversed the water is drawn in from the port
side of the cross tube to the centre of the pump and discharged at the star-
board side in the manner described; suitable valves or sluices and passages
being employed to effect this arrangement. The water may be supplied to
the pump from another passage or passages than the cross tubes, which may
be only used for discharging by, sluices or valves being employed to send the
water to either side as required. The axes of the pumps may be placed
horizontally, and the water drawn in and discharged by the pumps as already
described. When a cross tube is used both at stem and stern a rapid turning
motion will be imparted to the vessel by discharging water at opposite sides
of the vessel, and by discharging from both tubes at one side a sideward
motion will be imparted.
Another part of the improvements under this Invention consists in so.
arranging the tubes or passages that the same propelling instruments already.
described may be employed in propelling the vessel forward or astern, and also
in steering or turning round the vessel. This is carried out by placing a tube
lengthways of the vessel, the propelling instrument in connection therewith
being in the centre of the ship or towards one end if more convenient. The
water is drawn in from one end of the vessel and forced out at the other, or
it may be drawn in at any convenient part. It is preferred to divide the pipe;
into two branches at some distance from either end of the vessel, and discharge
the water at an angle to the line of the keel on either side. When the water
is discharged through both branches equally, the motion of the ship will be
in the line of the keel, and in the opposite direction to the discharge, but.
when the water is shut off from either of the branches, which is done by.
valves or sluices, the ship is turned round in the direction opposite to the dis-,
charge. The valve arrangement for steering may be in the very ends of the.
vessel, so as to make the branches of very small dimensions, but it is preferred
that the discharge orifices be somewhat in from the ends, so as not to break
or weaken the stem or stern of the vessel. In large vessels the tube may not:
run from end to end of the vessel, but may be only for a part at one or both.
ends, with one or two propelling instruments, the water being taken into the
tube by the propelling instrument at the most convenient part, and discharged
in the manner already described. Instead of employing screw propellers,
pumps or similar acting instruments to give motion to the water, so as to

page_text: move the vessel in any required direction, a jet of steam, or steam and air,
or other gas, may be employed for the same purpose in connection with the
before-mentioned cross and longitudinal tube arrangements, so as to draw the
water in at one side or end and discharge it at the other, as described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Howden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1866.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HOWDEN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Howden, Her special licence that I, the said James
Howden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Howden, 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 MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING, MANEUVRING, AND PROPELLING SHIPS
OR VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Howden, 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 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 James Howden, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to several improved methods of arranging and
applying the motion or action of screws, pumps, or similar acting instruments,

page_text: also steam and air or other gases to the drawing in and ejecting of the water.
in which the vessel floats, through tubes or similar passages inside the vessel,
but having connection with the water so that the vessel is. turned or moved in:
any required direction more speedily than by any other methods at present in
use, and with greater safety, and also independently of rudders or other
steering apparatus. The application of power under this Invention may also:
be used as an auxiliary power for the purpose of manoeuvring and turning
the vessel independently or in conjunction with the principal motive power.
One portion of these improvements consists in placing a tube of wrought iron
or other sufficient material across the vessel, near to the bow or stern, or both
ends of the vessel, the tube or tubes being under the water level and in free
communication with the water at both sides of the vessel. In each tube a
screw propeller or similar acting instrument is placed with its axis horizontal;
the propeller is worked from the inside of the vessel and draws in water from
one side of the tube and ejects it at the other side, the discharge or suction
being at either side according as the propeller is turned right or left. The
propellers are worked through the sides, top, or bottom of the tubes, as may
be found most convenient, by a shaft passing through a packing box on the
tube and gearing with wheels on the propeller shaft. It is preferred in this
application of the power to use a screw consisting of properly constructed
blades on two conical centre pieces placed back to back on the same shaft, the
wheels for working the screw being placed in a fixed covered circular case
between, the conical bases of each screw centre boss are thus secured from
receiving injury in working. The action of this double conical propeller is to
screw itself into the water on one side and out of it on the other side, thus
obtaining a double propelling action at the same time. Instead of driving
the screw shaft by wheels or other other gear through a packing box, the engines
may be connected direct to the screw shaft. This is effected by placing a
water-tight box part in the inside of the tube, open at one side to the inside
of the ship. Through this opening the engine may be connected direct to
the shaft or by means of intermediate gear. The screw shaft passes through
the ends of this box part, and the conical or other propellers are placed one
on each end of its outside in the tube. The box part being considerably
smaller in diameter than the containing tube in which the propellers work, an
annular space is left all around for the greater part of the circle, through
which the water passes from one side of the tube to the other side.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew the cross tubes and
propellers applied to a screw steamer, A, A¹, being the cross tubes in Figure 1,
a cross section on the line 1, 1, shewing the propeller in the forward tube in

page_text: Figure 2, and a similar section on the line 2, 2, shews the propeller and the
after cross tube in Figure 3. The after cross tube in Figure 1 is shewn above
the screw shafting B, but it may be placed below when found more convenient.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively a cross sectional elevation, a plan, and an
end elevation of the double conical propeller on an enlarged scale. The
shaft C driven direct by a pair of horizontal engines is shewn entering through
a packing box on the top side of the cross tube, the bevel wheels being
contained within the fixed circular case D, shewn in section in Figure 4.
This case is fixed to the cross tube and does not revolve with the propeller.
The bearings E, E, also fixed to the cross tube, carry the screw shaft and also
receive the thrust of the propeller. The shaft C, as, before mentioned, may
enter by either of the sides or by the bottom as may be found most convenient.
In Figures 7 and 8 the mode of connecting the engine direct to the propeller
shaft by means of the internal water-tight box part F, opened at one side to
the inside of the vessel, is shewn in sectional plan and elevation.
In applying pumps according to this Invention it is preferred to make them
of the centrifugal kind, and if applied with their axes vertically the water is
drawn by the pump from the one side, say the starboard side, of the before-
mentioned cross tube by a suitable passage to the centre of the pump, either
on its upper or lower side, and discharged at the port side of the cross tube
from the periphery of the pump in the usual manner. When the motion of
the vessel is to be reversed, the water is drawn in from the port side of the
cross tube to the centre of the pump, and discharged at the starboard side in
the manner described, suitable valves or sluices or passages being employed
to effect this arrangement. The water may be supplied to the pump from
another passage or passages than the cross tubes, which may be only used for
discharging by sluices or valves, being employed to send the water to either
side as required. The axes of the pumps may be placed horizontally, and the
water drawn in and discharged by the pumps as already described.
One arrangement of pumps similar to that described is shewn in Figures 9,
10, and 11 of the Drawings. Figure 9 is a sectional elevation taken across
the vessel (looking forward); Figure 10 is a plan of the same; and Figure 11
.is an end sectional elevation on the line 3, 3, of Figure 10. In Figure 9 the
water is shewn by the arrows as entering by the starboard side of the cross.
tube through the open sluice G to the centre of the pump by the passage H
placed on the under side of the pump, the corresponding sluice G¹ on the
Fort side being shut. The vertical discharge sluice G on the starboard side
is also shut; the port discharge sluice G³ is open. By simply closing the
sluices G and G and opening G1 and G2 the water will bo drawn in from:

page_text: the port side to the centre of the pump and discharged on the starboard side:
In Figures 10 and 11 is shewn a stop valve I, by which water may be drawn
from the hold or other parts of the vessel, the inlet valves or sluices and G¹
being then both shut. The cross tubes may have sluices near to or against
the sides of the ship to shut out the water, so that access may be had to the
propeller and other internal parts when required. Discharge pipes may also
be used in conjunction with these, so as to eject the water above the water
level when pumping the ship. These arrangements can be used also with the
screw propeller modifications herein-before and afterwards to be described.
When a cross tube is used at both ends of the vessel it is obvious that a rapid
turning motion will be imparted to the vessel by discharging the water at the
opposite sides; and that by discharging from both tubes at one side a sideward
motion will be imparted to the vessel in the direction opposite to the discharge.
Figures 12 and 18 shew an arrangement where the propeller inside the cross
tube is worked direct from the engine shaft B by spur gear. When such an
arrangement is used it, is necessary to have a moveable coupling on the main
engine shaft B abaft the cross tube for disconnecting the propeller from the
main shaft when required. A disconnecting arrangement is also required for
the cross tube propeller when the main propeller is being worked.
Another portion of the improvements under this Invention consists in so
arranging the tubes or passages that the same propelling instruments already
described may be, employed in propelling the vessel forward or astern, and
also in steering or turning the vessel round. This is carried out by placing
a tube lengthways of the ship, the propelling instrument in connection there-
with being in the centre or towards one end of the ship if more convenient.
The water is drawn in from one end of the ship and forced out at the other
end, or it may be drawn in at any convenient part. It is preferred to divide
the pipe into two branches at some distance from either end of the vessel, and
discharge the water at an angle to the line of the keel on either side. When
the water is discharged through both branches equally, the motion of the
Ship will be in the line of the keel and in the opposite direction to the
discharge, but when the water is shut off from either of the branches, which
is done by valves or sluices, the ship is turned round in the direction opposite
to the discharge. The valve arrangement for steering may be in the very..
ends of the vessel, so as to make the branches of very small dimensions, but it
is preferred that the discharge orifices be somewhat in from the ends, so as
not to break or weaken the stem or stern of the vessel. In large vessels the
tube may not run from end to end of the vessel, but may be only for a part
at one or both ends, with one or two propelling instruments, the water being

page_text: taken into the tube by the propelling instrument at the most convenient part,
and discharged in the manner already described.
In Figures 14 and 15 of the Drawings the longitudinal tube with two
arrangements of valves is shewn. The propeller is shewn placed nearly in
the middle. At the bow the valve K is placed so as to allow the water to
pass in or out equally on both of the branches L, L. At the after end of
the vessel the balanced valve M is shewn similarly placed. The branches
are partly formed in this modification by the valve itself, and when put to
either side, as shewn by the dotted lines, a very powerful steering action is
obtained. This arrangement is very suitable for small steamers or ferry
boats where both ends of the vessel are alike. The steering arrangement at
both ends may be either of those shewn in Figures 14 and 15. Instead of
employing screw propellers, pumps, or similar acting instruments to give
motion to the water so as to move the vessel in any required direction, a
jet of steam, or steam and air or other gas, as in Giffard's injector, or other
well-known methods, may be employed for the same purpose in connection
with the before-mentioned cross and longitudinal tube arrangements, so as
to draw in the water at one side or end and discharge it at the other as
described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I may
observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details or
arrangements which I have described or shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, as these may be varied without deviating from the characteristic
features of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JAMES HOWDEN. (LS.)