IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS
Year: 1853

page_text: time prescribed by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Simons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th December 1858.
I, WILLIAM SIMONS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Ship Builder, do hereby declare ine nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates and is applicable to steam ships which are
propelled by a screw or instrument of a similar description placed at
the stern, and the object of it is to render the action of the propeller
freer, and to increase the efficient steering action of the rudder, to
increase the speed of the vessel, and to decrease vibration. According
to one modification of the Invention the propeller shaft emerges through
a stuffing box in the centre of the stern post, and the propeller is keyed

page_text: upon its overhanging end, the shaft, having no after bearing. The
rudder is made of dimensions considerably exceeding those of ordinary
rudders, but a large space is cut away to allow of the propeller working
within it, so that the actual acting part of the rudder is astern of the
propeller. This rudder is fitted to the stern post of the ship in any
well-known manner, its shaft or spindle passing down between the
propeller blades and the stern post, but being cut away sufficiently to
allow of the passage of the propeller shaft across its axial line or the
centre line of the stern post. The lower part of the rudder is formed
with a spindle picco corresponding to the upper one, and rising up
between the propeller blades and the stern post to within a short
distance from the propeller shaft. Thus the rudder resembles a com-
pleto rudder of large dimensions, with a large oblong space cut out for
the propeller, and with a small portion of its spindle cut away for the
passage of the propeller shaft. According to another modification the
spindle of the rudder may be continued down to the keel, an elliptical
eye being formed in it for the passage of the propeller shaft, so that the
whole forms a complete frame which may add to the strength of the
rudder. Or, instead of the elliptical eye, the spindle of the rudder may
be bent round the shaft on one side in the form of a crank. Again, the
rudder may be jointed to the stern post only, above and below the space
cut away for the propeller blades, the portions of the spindle mentioned
as being between these and the stern post of the ship. being dispensed
with, and the other portions of the rudder being made of increased
strength to compensate for this alteration; this plan will admit of
bringing the propeller closer up to the stern post, so as to be less over-
hung. A further modification is obtained by placing the rudder spindle
a little on one side, in which case it may be continued down to the
bottom of the rudder, thus forming a complete frame without inter-
fering with the propeller shaft. In this case the blade portion of the
rúdder may be so set on its spindle as when in its central position to lie
in a plane passing through the centre of the stern post and of the pro-
peller shift. By giving the rudder stock or spindle a slight bend at the
part crossing the propeller shaft the amount of one-sidedness or eccen-
tricity required will be considerably lessened. In addition to the providing

page_text: of a freer space for the action of the propeller, these arrangements will
greatly improve and quicken the steering action of the rudder in con-
sequence of the chief acting part of the latter being placed so much
further from the axis of motion.