IMPROVE- MENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, SHIPS, AND BOATS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Buchanan, of Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, SHIPS, AND BOATS."
Sealed the 25th February 1859, and-dated the 11th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
November 1858.
I, JOHN BUCHANAN, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, SHIPS, AND BOATS," to be as follows, that is
to say:-
This Invention relates, to a certain extent and under certain circumstances,
to an Invention of "Improvements in Propelling Vessels," for which Mr. John
Buchanan obtained a Grant of British Letters Patent, bearing date on or
about the 13th day of September 1856. In the Specification of that Patent
there is described a central enclosed paddle-wheel or propeller contained in a
channel or recess in the vessel's bottom, but no provision is made for securing
a feathering action for the floats or actual propelling surfaces. This is pro-
vided for according to the present Invention by an extremely simple automatic

page_text: action, which causes each float to turn upon its vertical centre or joint, and
thus accommodate itself to the water without losing its propelling power.
In this modification each float is hung to the lower end of a radial rotatory
arm, which is itself carried in bearings in the paddle-wheel; in other words,
the actual arms of the paddle-wheel each carry a set of bearings for the
reception of the rotatory arm of the float; the latter is hung or attached by its
upper edge to the lower end of the arm, the point of attachment being nearer
to one corner than the other, dividing the float unequally. Near the upper
end of each float arm there is attached to it a lateral stud, which in its
revolution with the paddle-wheel bears at the proper time against a board,
fixed block, or projection on the side of the channel in which the paddle-
wheel works. In this way, as each float comes round, the overhang or
eccentric attachment of the float to its arm causes the float to enter the water
edgeways, or in the plane of revolution of the wheel; then at the part where
the propelling action is required to begin, the stud upon the float arm comes
in contact with the fixed block carried by the vessel, and this block is of such
a length as to keep the stud pressed on one side for the time necessary for
the propelling action, the float being kept all this time at a right angle with
the plane of the wheel. After this the termination of the block causes the
release of the stud, and the water in which the float is still working then
brings the float into its original edgeway position by reason of its overhang,
and the float remains in this position until it again enters the water on the
other side, and is again operated upon by the stud-and-block action.
This Invention relates further to a certain extent to an Invention of
•Improvements in Propelling Vessels, Ships, and Boats," for which Mr. John
Buchanan applied for British Letters Patent on or about the 6th day of
July now last past, the feathering action herein-before described being fitted
up for feathering the inclined or screw-propelling blades of the transverse
wheel, disc, or drum referred to in the Provisional Specification of the said
previous Invention of "Improvements in Propelling Vessels, Ships, and Boats."
With this feathering arrangement each inclined or screw-propelling blade is
duly and completely feathered, so as to secure a most efficient propelling
action, and prevent the lifting of the water in the case or chamber covering
the wheel or propeller. The herein-before described arrangement of feathering
action is also intended for use in common or side paddle-wheels or paddle-
wheels in use in other situations. In side paddle-wheels the fixed blocks are
of course attached to the exterior surfaces of the vessel. In order to enable
the vessels fitted with propellers of this class to back or go astern properly,
the lateral stud or other rotatory spindle of the float is prolonged through the

page_text: spindle, and rests upon an elastic cushion or spring block, which is attached
to the standing arm of the wheel, and provents the float from turning the
reverse way, or to the wrong side, whilst it gives the float the lead for
assuming the proper inclination, angle, or position in going astern; in this
way the float assumes the same angle or position in which it stands in going
ahead.