Improvements connected with the Propelling, Steering, and Manoeuvring of Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Propelling, Steering, and
Manoeuvring of Vessels.
I, DAVID CURLE FULTON of 230 North Woodside Road, Glasgow, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the propulsion of ships and it has for its object to
increase their speed by forcing air or water, under pressure, along the sides of
the ship from the bow towards the stern..
In carrying out the invention air is compressed in suitable chambers situated
in any part of the ship and from thence is led by means of pipes to compartments
arranged at each side of the bow of the ship from whence the air escapes through
non-return valves placed under the water line. These valves deliver and direct
the compressed air in a thin sheet or jets towards the stern. The air acts as a
propelling power and also as a "lubricant" for the ships bottom and sides and
reduces the friction thereou and also lessens the impact against the water when
the ship is going at a high speed.
If necessary the compressed air may be emitted at the bottom of the ship
either at one or several places or it may be emitted at both the bow and the
bottom.
The air emitted at the sides is under separate control so that the steering and
turning of the ship may be facilitated without affecting the speed.
Also, if desired, valves may be fitted at the stern of the ship which open
forward and deliver compressed air to act as a brake either in stopping or quickly
turning the ship.
The system may also be applied from the outside of the ship by means of
pipes or channels for the compressed air properly situated and provided with
suitable valves or openings.
Instead of using compressed air water may be employed which may in the
same manner be forced from the bow towards the stern.
Dated this 19th day of November 1896.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Propelling, Steering, and
Manoeuvring of Vessels.
I, DAVID CURLE FULTON formerly of 230 North Woodside Road, Glasgow, now
esiding at 231 Cumbernauld Road Dennistoun, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare
[Price 81
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Propelling, Steering, and
Manoeuvring of Vessels.
I, DAVID CURLE FULTON formerly of 230 North Woodside Road, Glasgow, now
esiding at 231 Cumbernauld Road Dennistoun, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare
[Price 8d1

page_text: 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 stalement :-
This invention relates to an improvement connected with the propulsion of
ships and it has for its object to lessen resistance and at the same time increase
the speed by forcing air or water, under pressure, along the sides of the ship from
the bow towards the stern.
In carrying out the invention air is compressed in chambers of any suit-
able and well known construction situated in any available part of the ship
suitable for the purpose and from thence is led by means of pipes to compartments
or equivalent arranged at each side of the bow of the ship from whence the air
escapes preferably through non-return valves of any suitable and well known
construction placed under the water line. These valves deliver and direct the
compressed air in a thin sheet or in jets towards the stern. The air acts to a
certain extent as a propelling power but principally as a "lubricant" for the
ships bottom and sides and reduces the friction thereon and also lessens the impact
against the water when the ship is going at a high speed.
If necessary the compressed air may be emitted through valves or openings
arranged at intervals all along the sides of the ship and also at the bottom of
the ship either at one or several places.
The air emitted at the sides is or may be under separate control so that the
steering and turning of the ship may be facilitated without affecting the speed.
The system may also be applied from the outside of the ship by means of pipes
or channels for the compressed air properly situated and provided with valves
or openings of any suitable and well known construction.
Instead of using compressed air water may be employed which may in the same
manner be forced along the sides of the ship from the bow towards the stern.
The ship is as usual propelled by sails, screws, or other motive power.
The sheet of drawings annexed show, by way of illustration or example, a
convenient method of carrying the invention into effect or practice.
On the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a ship and Fig. 2 a half plan
is a pipe leading from the compressed air chamber or chambers in the ship
and is a pipe which extends along the side of the ship from the bow towards the
stern and is supplied with compressed air from the pipe a. Communicating with
the pipe are a number of vertical pipes or ducts c. The compressed air from
the pipes escapes through the oblique outlets in the side of the ship and im-
pinges against the water at an angle as indicated by the dotted lines at e.
The pipes b, c, and outlets are arranged at both sides of the ship.
The invention is specially applicable to torpedo boats, torpedo boat destroyers,
yachts, and other ships or vessels requiring to travel through the water at a
high speed.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is:-
The improvement connected with the propulsion of ships consisting in
forcing air or water, under pressure, along the sides or sides and bottom of
the ship from the bow towards the stern in order to lesseu frictional resistance
and increase the speed, substantially as herein before described.
11
121
100%
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.