IMPROVEMEN ENTO IN PRODELLING Vaseng
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Blair, of Maryhill, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Calico Printer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMEN
ENTO IN PRODELLING Vaseng"
Sealed the 14th October 1853, and dated the 19th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Blair
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th April 1853.
I, ANDREW BLAIR, of Maryhill, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of what
are technically known as chain paddles or propellers, wherein a series
of floats or propelling surfaces is attached to an endless chain or belt
passed over suitable driving and supporting drums, several floats or
boards being in action in the water at one time. Now, according
to this improvement, the individual floats or paddles are made to

page_text: "feather," so as to give a supérior propelling effect by connecting each
float to the chain, by a species of stop joint, and working the float by
suitable fixed guides. Each float is hinged or jointed to its chain in
such a manner as to be capable of turning in one direction, laterally or
broadside, whilst it is held in the opposite direction, as if completely
be
fastened at right angles to the chain. Each float carries what may
called a tail-piece or projection, standing up beyond the line of the
joint on the chain, so that as the chains work round, these tails come
in contact with the surface of the drums, and cause the floats to be
turned as required. This action-is-such that as the floats pass round
their drums, they are made to adapt themselves laterally to the drums.
In this way each float enters the water at an effective angle, and with-
out objectionable loss from the water's opposition, and when in the
water each float acts-with-the-best-possible propelling effect, and on
leaving the water the floats all adapt themselves round the elevating
drum, and come out of the fluid without much backwater resistance.
As the floats return along the upper side of the chain, they all lay
flat upon the chain, and oppose the least possible resistance to the
atmosphere.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Blair, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 19th October 1853.
י.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ANDREW BLAIR of Maryhill, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Calico Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent,-bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Blair, Her special licence
that I the said Andrew Blair, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others, as I, the said Andrew Blair, my executors,

page_text: administrators, or assigns, should at any time agrée with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
herein 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Andrew Blair, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 Andrew Blair, do hereby' de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, 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 the construction and arrangement of
what are technically known as chain paddles or propellers, wherein a
series of floats or propelling surfaces is attached to an endless chain.or
belt passed over suitable driving and supporting drums, several floats
or boards being in action in the water at one time. Now, according
to this improvement, the individual floats or paddles are made to
"feather," so as to give a superior propelling effect, by connecting
each float to the chain by a species of stop. joint, and working the float
by suitable guides. Each float is hinged or jointed to its chain in such
a manner as to be capable of turning in one direction, laterally or
broadside, whilst it is held in the opposite direction as if completely
fastened at right angles to the chain. Each float carries what may
be called a tail-piece or projection, standing up beyond the line of the
joint on the chain, so that as the chains work round, these tails come
in contact with the surface of the drums, and cause the floats to be
turned as required. This action is such that as the floats pass round
their drums, they are made to adapt themselves laterally to the drunis.

page_text: In this way cach float enters the water at an effective angle, and with-
out objectionable loss from the water's opposition, and when in the
water each float acts with the best possible propelling effect; and on
leaving the water, the floats all adapt themselves round the elevating
drum, and come out of the fluid without much backwater resistance.
As the floats return along the upper side of the chain, they all lay flat
upon the chain, and oppose the least possible resistance to the atmosphere.
Figure 1, on my sheet of drawings is a side elevation of a steam
vessel, as fitted with my improved propelling apparatus. Figure 2, is
a side elevation on a larger scale of the chain paddles, and their carry-
ing drums or pulleys detached; and Figure 3, is a corresponding cross
section of the apparatus, and of a portion of the hull of the vessel to
which it is applied. According to the modification here shewn, the
paddle chains A, two in number, are carried upon the peripheries of
the pulleys B, C, a couple of which are keyed upon each of the
horizontal shafts D, E, projecting laterally from the interior of the
vessel, the propelling power obtained in any known manner being
applied to the forward shaft D, only, or to both shafts D, and E, as
may be deemed advantageous. The paddles or floats F, are in this
instance formed of thin iron plates, and are slightly curved to suit the
curvature of the periphery of the pulleys or drums, and aid their
effectual feathering action in working, as well as to give them a better
hold upon the water. They are attached to the chains by the joints G,
a paddle being fitted to each alternate link. When in full action in
the water, the paddles are kept from swivelling round by projec-
tions or stops H, standing out at right angles, or nearly so, from
the chain, and being formed in one piece with the portion of the
joint G, attached to the chain, or they may be formed separately if neces-
sary. These back stops H, it will be observed, do not prevent the
paddles from swivelling round in the contrary direction; so that when
a paddle reaches the pulley E, its upper edge I, coming in contact with
the lower edge of a guide disc J, the onward motion of the chain in
the direction of the arrow causes the paddle to swivel round, and apply
itself to the circumference of the guide disc. In this way it reaches
the upper part of the pulley C, and then travels in this feathered state

page_text: to the forward pulley B, round which it passes, and on reaching the
lower part of it re-assumes its propelling position by its own weight, as
at K, where it re-enters the water, and commences another stroke.
The guide disc J, is loosely suspended upon the after shaft E, and is
steadied and retained in position by the studs L, securing it to the side
of the vessel. It is cut away at the top as not being required there,
the paddles retaining their feathered position from their own weight.
The chains A, which carry the paddles are of the usual plate linked
kind, and are curved in form, fitting upon corresponding curves upon the
peripheries of the pulleys as at M, to give them more hold and prevent
their slipping.
Instead of this arrangement of a directing guide attached to the
side of the vessel, a circular disc or guide pulley may be set upon the
after pulley shaft E. This guide disc may either be fast or loose upon
the shaft; and the guide tails of the floats are thus directed in the
desired feathering course, by the mere passing round and over the
disc. To enable a propeller of this kind to back the ship, it is pro-
posed to place intermediate floats or paddles of a kind precisely similar
to those which I have herein-before represented, but so disposed with
their stops and working details as to act in the reverse direction. One
such float may be interposed between each of the other or forward
propelling floats, or such backing floats may be fewer in number and
smaller in area than those of forward action.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of chain or belt
paddles, with feathering floats for propelling vessels as herein-before
described.

page_text: Second, the application and use in chain or belt paddles of floats,
which are made to feather when rising out of the water, and return to
the forward part of the vessel in a feathered direction.
Third, the application and use in chain paddles of floats loosely
jointed to the chain, but caused to retain an efficient propelling position
by means of back stops attached to the chains, but which do not prevent
the floats from swivelling in the opposite direction, in order to assume
their feathered position.
Fourth, the system or mode of backing ships by the use of interme-
diate reversed floats or paddles as herein-before described;
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Blair, have hereunto
set my hand and seal; this Seventeenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
ANDREW BLAIR. (L.S.)