IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Fernandez Yarrow, of the Firm of Yarrow and
Company, of the Isle of Dogs, Poplar, Shipbuilders, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 7th May 1878, and dated the 4th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Fernandez Yarrow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1878.
ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW, of the Firm of Yarrow and Company, of the Isle
of Dogs, Poplar, Shipbuilders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND
IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention relates more particularly to torpedo and other fast vessels, and
consists of improvements whereby increased safety to the engineers on duty is
secured, the resistance to the forward motion of the vessel and the weight are
reduced in those cases where the rudder is after the screw, and great strength com-
bined with durability is obtained.
One part of my Invention has for its object securing an immunity from danger to
the engineers in the event of a failure of some portion of the boiler or boilers taking
place. In order to effect this object, I interpose between the fan usually adopted
where a forced draught is employed, and the fire or fires, a valve or valves arranged
in such a manner as to admit the air to pass freely in one direction, that is to say,
from the fan to the fire or fires, but to close and prevent the egress of the flame,
gases, or steam in the opposite direction.
My Invention has for its object, secondly, dispensing with the heavy framework
hitherto employed to carry the rudder in those cases where the rudder is placed
after the screw, and consists in carrying the rudder in such a manner that the side
strain is received by the screw shaft in lieu of by the said framework. In carrying
out this part of my Invention I continue the shaft or boss of the propeller aft of

page_text: the screw, and form a suitable provision at its extremity for the reception of the
rudder spindle.
My Invention has for its object, thirdly, constructing a vessel which shall possess
great strength, and be free from the deleterious action of sea water, and it consists
in forming the submerged portion of the vessel of brass or other similar non-corrosive
material, and the upper portion of steel or iron, whereby I obtain the maximum of
strength and durability with a minimum of weight of material employed in its
construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Fernandez Yarrow in the Great Seal Patent Office 'on the 22nd
August 1878.
ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW, of the Firm of Yarrow and Company, of the Isle
of Dogs, Poplar, Shipbuilders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND
IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates more particularly to torpedo and other fast vessels,
and consists,
First. Of improvements having for their object securing an immunity from danger
to the engineers on duty in the event of a failure of some portion of the boiler or
boilers taking place.
Secondly. Of a mode of carrying the rudder in those cases where the rudder is
placed aft of the screw, whereby the heavy framework (termed the stern frame)
ordinarily employed for that purpose is dispensed with, and the resistance to the
forward motion of the vessel, and the weight are accordingly reduced.
In carrying out the first part of my said Invention, in order to effect the object
before mentioned, I interpose between the fan or blowing apparatus usually adopted
where a forced draft is employed, and the fire or fires, a valve or valves arranged in
such a manner as to admit the air to pass freely in one direction, that is to say, from
the fan or blowing apparatus to the fire or fires, but to close and prevent the egress
of the flame, gases, or steam in the opposite direction.
The second part of my said Invention consists in carrying the rudder in such a
manner that the side strain is received by the shaft of the screw propeller in lieu of
by the said stern frame. This part of my said Invention may be conveniently
carried out by continuing the shaft or boss of the screw propeller aft of the screw,
and forming a suitable provision at its extremity for the reception of the rudder
spindle.
And in order that my 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,
3

page_text: Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a longitudinal section (taken along the
line 1-2, in Figure 2) of so much of a ship or vessel as is sufficient to illustrate a
mode of carrying out the first part of my said Invention with the same applied
thereto; and Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-4, in Figure 1,
and corresponding to that Figure.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a ship or vessel illustrating a mode of
carrying out the second part of my said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the fan driven in any usual or suitable manner
so as to draw air from the external atmosphere through a pipe B, and direct the
same into the stoke hole C; D is the boiler, and E are the furnaces with their fire-
doors F, F, and ash pit at G; and H, H, are the chimneys or flues for the escape of
the products of combustion.
I provide bulk heads at I, I', the central one I' of which is thus interposed between
the fan A and the fires at E, and in this central bulkhead (I') I form openings which
are fitted with valves K arranged in such a manner as to be opened by the air to
allow it to pass freely in the direction indicated by the corresponding arrows from
the fan to the fires, but to be closed by a current in the opposite direction.
The fire-door or doors I arrange in any suitable manner to close, either by their
own gravity or by springs or otherwise, so that the door or doors may be always
closed, unless opened by force at the will of the stoker.
By means of the arrangement herein-before described, greater safety is secured to
the engineers on duty, as in the event of the failure of some portion of the boiler or
boilers taking place, inducing a current in the opposite direction to that indicated
by the arrows, the valves will close and prevent the egress of any steam or flame
gases.
The second part of my said Invention, which is illustrated by Figure 3 of my
Drawings, relates to the mode of carrying the rudder when the same is placed aft of
the screw.
Heretofore when the rudder is placed in this position, heavy framework has been
employed for the purpose of carrying it, which framework not only adds to the
weight of the vessel, but also contributes to the resistance to the forward motion of
the vessel.
According to my said Invention I dispense with the framework heretofore em-
ployed for this purpose and carry the rudder in such a manner that the side strain
is received by the shaft of the screw propeller in lieu of by the said framework. The
method of carrying out this part of my said Invention may be varied in its details,
but the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 will be found convenient in practice.
Referring to that Figure I continue the shaft a of the screw propeller 6 aft of the
screw, and fit on the said extended portion of the shaft a sleeve or collar c, in which
I form bearings for the reception of the pintles d, d, of the rudder e; the shaft a
being free to turn in the sleeve or collar c, whilst affording a firm support to the
rudder e and receiving the side strain transmitted by the same.
If preferred, in lieu of extending the shaft of the propeller the boss of the propeller
may be provided with a projection to receive the sleeve or collar carrying the rudder,
whereby a similar result will be obtained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, 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, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The employment in ships or vessels between the fan or blowing apparatus
for producing a forced draught, and the fire or fires of a valve or valves arranged in
such a manner as to admit the air to pass freely from the fan or blowing apparatus
to the fire or fires, but to prevent any current in the opposite direction, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Secondly. Carrying the rudder when the same is placed aft of the screw pro-

page_text: peller in such a manner that the side strain is received by the shaft of the screw
propeller, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Fernandez Yarrow, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. F. YARROW. (LS.)