Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 13th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887
I JOSEPH FULTON MEADE, of Eastwood, N. T. Mt. Kennedy County of Wicklow
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to obtain the reaction of the atmosphere when
repelled by intermittent impacts and use for the purpose of propulsion.
Though primarily intended for the use of ships, the method is also applicable to
other modes of locomotion. It is carried out by the rapidly recurrent action on
the air of vanes which may either be mounted at right angles to the line of progression
or arranged spirally for revolution round a fixed centre. The resistance of the
atmosphere to an impelled body is as the square of its velocity but velocity is relative
to the time in which it is imparted and so also is the resistance to be overcome. On
this principle the invention is founded and the general mode of embodying it may be
readily understood, whether the vanes act rectilineally or by rotation,-intermittent
action being in both cases an essential feature of the system. An explanation of the
former or direct action method will suffice for the understanding of both. In the
case then of direct action the propelling vanes, which may be two or more are
mounted transversely on parallel longitudinal bars on which they are capable of an
easy reciprocating motion. Being connected they move simultaneously as impelled
by a lever actuated intermittently by a fly or driving wheel fitted with a projecting
striker for this purpose. In addition to the propelling there are brake vanes to
arrest the impetus of the former when their impulse has been delivered and to aid
in replacing them in position for another stroke. This object is also served by the
positive and negative pressure of the air upon the vanes at the termination of each
impact and is secured by the action of an eccentric on the axis of the driving wheel,
which working on a vertical rod, mechanically and correctly readjusts the position of
the vanes. Thus while the repulsion of the vanes is rapid their retraction is slow and
mainly effected by external agency.
In order to reverse the action of the lever, and therefore the motion of the propeller
a sliding bar or plate is closely fitted to its face on which it is capable of a limited
motion round a stud inserted in it. This bar or plate has two arms one in connection

page_text: with the upper and the other with the lower limb of the lever to be respectively put
in gear as forward or backward motion is required. These arms are placed at such
an angle to each other, that only one at a time can be in action or both may be put
out of gear at will. Their position is regulated by a hand lever working horizontally
on a fixed upright. The reversal of the propeller's motion may also be effected by
other adaptations not necessary to specify here.
This description is intended to explain the fundamental and essential character of
the invention and its mode of working, omitting minor and obvious details; but it
may be stated that as the vanes, which are double concave, will be subject to a
high degree of pressure they must be proportionately strong in construction. A
steel framework, braced by cross and radial bars and sheeted with canvas,
wood or
corrugated metal would be suitable, as combining lightness with strength.
Dated this 13th day of December 1886.
I, JOSEPH FULTON MEADE, of Eastwood, N. T. Mt. Kennedy, county of Wicklow,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to obtain the reaction of the atmosphere when
repelled by intermittent impacts and use for the purpose of propulsion.
Though primarily intended for the use of ships, the method is also applicable to
other modes of locomotion. It is carried out by the rapidly recurrent action on the
air of vanes which may either be mounted at right angles to the line of progression
or arranged spirally for revolution round a fixed centre. The resistance of the
atmosphere to an impelled body is as the square of its velocity, but velocity is
relative to the time in which it is imparted, and so also is the resistance to be
overcome. On this principle the invention is founded and the general mode of
embodying it may be readily understood whether the vanes act rectilineally or by
rotation, intermittent action being in both cases an essential feature of the system.
An explanation of the former or direct action method will suffice for the understanding
of both. In the case then of direct action the propelling vanes, which may be two or

page_text: more are mounted transversely on parallel longitudinal bars on which they are
capable of an easy reciprocating motion. Being connected they move simultaneously
as impelled by a lever actuated intermittently by a fly or driving wheel fitted with a
projecting striker for this purpose.
In addition to the propelling there are brake vanes to arrest the impetus of the
former when their impulse has been delivered and to aid in replacing them in position
for another stroke. This object is also served by the positive and negative pressure
of the air upon the vanes at the termination of each impact, and is secured by the
action of an eccentric on the axis of the driving wheel which working on a vertical
rod mechanically and correctly readjusts the position of the vanes. Thus while the
repulsion of the vanes is rapid their retraction is slow and mainly effected by external
agency.
In order to reverse the action of the lever and therefore the motion of the propeller
a sliding bar or plate is closely fitted to its face on which it is capable of a limited
motion round a stud inserted in it. This bar or plate has two arms one in connection
with the upper and the other with the lower link of the lever, to be respectively put
in gear as forward or backward motion is required. These arms are placed at such
an angle to each other that only one at a time can be in action or both may be put
out of gear at will. Their position is regulated by a hand lever working horizontally
on a fixed upright. The reversal of the propellers motion may also be effected by
other adaptations not necessary to specify here.
This description is intended to explain the fundamental and essential character of
the invention and its mode of working, omitting minor and obvious details; but it
may be stated that as the vanes which are double concave will be subject to a high
degree of pressure they must be proportionately strong in construction.
A steel framework braced by cross and radial bars and sheeted with canvas, wood,
or corrugated metal would be suitable as combining lightness with strength.
In Figure 1 of the annexed drawings, A is the driving wheel with striker and
eccentric, B lever working the vane shaft, C adjustable lever front for forward or
reverse action, D, D, concave vanes, E, E, brake vanes and F vertical rod worked by
an eccentric securing the right position of vanes for impulse.
Though the vanes may be arranged like the blades of a screw propeller and act on
the air by intermittent rotation, yet direct repulsion is preferred. In the latter case
the vanes are mounted so as to be capable of easy alternating motion and when at
work are actuated by cams or arms projecting from the shaft of the engine. They
are carried as shown in the drawing Figure 2 by radial arms movable on separate
centres so as always to maintain a vertical position.
Fly wheels regulate the motion, of the main shaft and as in their rotation the
momentum of one half of each wheel, say the upper, acts in a contrary direction to
that of the lower and so far counteracts it, it is arranged to neutralise this adverse
action in whole or in part by connecting the upper half with a separate set of vanes
mounted in a similar manner and worked simultaneously either directly, as in the
drawing, or through a lever of the third order which would, however, entail a loss of
power.
The vanes may consist of a steel frame covered with canvas etc. or of-thin
corrugated metal and are enclosed in both sides by a rim adding to their strength and
efficiency. They are movable backwards or forwards with equal facility as the engine
may be applied. Their superficial area will be determined by the propelling force
required and the velocity with which they are worked, but very moderate dimensions
will, it is believed, under the proposed conditions, be found to suffice. Extra vanes
may if needed, be fixed on the same shaft and a certain interval being allowed their
action will but slightly interfere with that of the others.
As it is desirable that the resistance of the air to the upper set of vanes should be
equivalent to that encountered by the lower and as it would require and inconveniently
long driving arm to impart equal velocity a compensating larger vane surface is
attached to them. A padded head or short expanding spring at the point of impact
will be useful as diminishing vibration and tending to silent action.

page_text: As the repulse of the vanes will be brief and rapid the displacement of the
atmosphere will not be great but on account of its inertia it will act on the vanes
chiefly by accumulation in front and rarefaction behind, while a large portion of what
is set in motion will be laterally diffused, hence this propeller can work effectively in
any fairly open space within the ship.
Its recovery or replacement in normal position in the interval between each impulse
is effected conjointly by the positive pressure of the air in front and its negative
pressure at the back of the vanes on the termination of each stroke:-by the action
of gravity, by the recoil of a spring placed to receive the impetus of the vane shaft
after the moving force is withdrawn and is assured by the action of a rod which with
a roller attached rests on the vane shaft and is movable vertically within fixed
guides.
This rod rises with each deviation of the vanes from their normal position and
as supplemental to the other agencies, is, if needed gradually depressed by an
eccentric on the main shaft so that the apparatus is in position for each recurrent
impulse.
In Figure 2 of the drawings, A is cross vertical section of main shaft.
B, B, cams or arms in parallel planes acting simultaneously on the upper and lower
vane shafts.
C, C, vane shafts.
D, D, D, D, vanes fixed on their respective shafts and kept in vertical position by
E, E, E, E radial arms moving on centres F, F, F, F.
G is working lever the short upper arm of which is actuated by the main shaft.
H main fixed pillars.
I, I, springs for receiving the surplus motion of vane shafts at the end of stroke.
K vertical adjusting rod with roller resting on vane shaft and rising with it
through fixed guide rings and depressible when required by an eccentric on the main
shaft so as to secure the correct position of the propeller before each impact. A
similar arrangement acts on the upper shaft.
The description with the accompanying drawings will suffice to explain the
essential character of the invention and its general mode of working, but in practice
it is susceptible of adaptation to special purposes and suitable supplement of
appliances; thus for the use of small boats in narrow channels etc. or elsewhere a
sinal propeller in lieu of oars may be readily worked by hand using either an
accelerating lever or a simple arrangement of major and minor pulleys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. The application or employment of intermittent, as distinguished from continuous,
action to make the resistance of the atmosphere economically effective for the purpose
of propulsion substantially as described.
2. The general method, mechanism and combination of parts as described, or others
substantially the same, for applying the principle or method on which the Invention
essentially rests.
Dated this 13th day of September 1887.