IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
A communication from abroad by Joseph Edouard Jacobé d'Arembécourt,
of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Joseph
Edouard Jacobé d'Arembécourt, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to an improved system of mechanical propulsion for ships
or other vessels propelled by steam, gas, or electricity, that is to say, by any motive
power capable of imparting motion to one or more pump pistons arranged as
hereinafter described.
In carrying out this Invention one or more pump barrels are arranged in a
horizontal position at the stern of the vessel, below the water line; that part of
the barrel or cylinder of the pump which is abaft the piston is open to or in
communication with the water, and that part which is on the opposite side or
situate forwards relatively to the piston, is in communication with the interior of
the vessel.
When it is desired to render the vessel capable of being propelled ahead or astern
at pleasure, pump barrels or cylinders are also provided at the fore part of the
vessel in the same manner as herein before described with reference to the stern,
that is to say, horizontally and below the water line.
It will be evident that when the piston rod is caused to move astern this
movement will have the effect of propelling the vessel in the opposite direction,
that is to say, ahead.
The rod of the pump piston may be directly connected with the piston of a
horizontal engine, being an analogous arrangement to that adopted in the case of
power hammers. The propelling mechanism of steam boats is thus simplified to a
very considerable extent.
In lieu of employing a single pump cylinder two of such cylinders may be
provided in a convenient position, being arranged one on the port and one on the
starboard side of the vessel's stern; or again four pump cylinders may be employed,
two being situate at the stern and two at the bows; these arrangements will
facilitate turning the vessel in any required direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th October 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Joseph
Edouard d'Arembécourt, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to an improved system of mechanical propulsion for
ships or other vessels propelled by steam, gas, or electricity, that is to say, by any
motive power capable of imparting motion to one or more pump pistons arranged
as hereinafter described.
In carrying out the said Invention one or more pump barrels are arranged in a
horizontal position at the stern of the vessel, below the water line; that part of the
barrel or cylinder of the pump which is abaft the piston is open to or in communi-
cation with the water, and that part which is on the opposite side or situate
forwards relatively to the piston, is in communication with the interior of the
vessel.
When it is desired to render the vessel capable of being propelled ahead or
astern at pleasure, pump barrels or cylinders are also provided at the fore part of
the vessel in the same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to the stern,
that is to say, horizontally and below the water line.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a diagram showing the arrangement
of a vessel provided with one propeller, and Figures 2 and 3 are similar illustrations
of vessels provided with 2 and 4 propellers respectively.
According to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 a ship or vessel A of any
suitable construction is provided at the stern with a pump barrel or cylinder B
communicating at one extremity C with the interior of the ship, whilst the other
extremity D is left open, as shewn in the Drawing. A piston E works in the
cylinder B, being connected with a steam engine or other suitable motor not shown
in the Drawing by means of a piston rod G.
Now when the piston E is caused to move along the cylinder from C to D, this
movement has the effect of propelling the vessel in the opposite direction, that is
to say, ahead, and thus enables the motive power to be utilised under very
favourable conditions.
The rod of the piston may be directly connected with the piston of a horizontal
engine, and the apparatus then operates in an analogous manner to a power hammer
or ram, The propelling mechanism of steam boats is thus simplified to a very
considerable extent.
In lieu of employing a single pump cylinder, two of such cylinders may be
provided in a convenient position, being arranged one on the port and the other on
the starboard side of the vessel's stern, as shown in Figure 2; or again four pump
cylinders may be employed, two being situate at the stern and two at the bows, as
shown in Figure 3, these arrangements will facilitate turning the vessel in any
required direction.
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, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The system or mode of utilizing motive power in the propulsion of ships or
vessels by the employment of a piston or pistons working in a cylinder or cylinders
to which the water has access, the apparatus being arranged and combined with
the ship or vessel, so as to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (LS.)