Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 4th Feb., 1887.
I, LEWIS SANDERSON of 25 Cooks Road Kennington Park London S.F., Mechanica!
Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the propulsion of torpedoes and other
vessels such as torpedo boats and launches.
In carrying my invention into practice I arrange at any suitable point in the length
of the hull a chamber which I term the propeller-chamber and to which the water has
free access.
As near to the bottom of this chamber as is practicable I arrange the
propeller-shaft which is adapted to revolve in suitable bearings at each end fore and
aft of the said propeller-chamber. To this shaft I attach one or more propellers which
are so constructed that when the vessel is taken out of the water the propeller-blades
can be turned around into the said chamber so as to expose but little or no surface
beyond the periphery or body of the hull. This I effect by forming the propeller with
one or more blades which are located upon one side of the axis of the propeller only.
When I employ two propellers thus constructed I secure one of the propeller-hubs
directly to the shaft and fit the other propeller hub loosely thereon and I form on such
hubs clutches so that upon the fixed hub being revolved it will come in contact with the
hub of the loose propeller and in continuing its movement will carry such loose
propeller around with the fixed propeller. By this means I am enabled to obtain the
same result as that above referred to namely I am enabled to turn the propeller-blades
around so that they do not project beyond the periphery or exterior of the hull when
not in use. Instead of using only one loose propeller I can employ a series of the
same the clutches being arranged in any desired manner so that a propeller may be
formed having any desired number of blades which when revolving are at a pre-
determined distance apart but which when not in use can be turned up into the
chamber in the hull so as not to project beyond the exterior of the latter. Moreover
by such arrangement I am enabled to greatly increase the speed of such vessels as the
propeller or propellers revolve in practically dead water and the slip is consequently
greatly reduced. In addition wash from the propeller incidental to the pitching of the
boat does not occur as in the case where a propeller or propellers is or are located
immediately at the stern of a vessel.
C

page_text: Improvements in the Propulsion of Torpedoes and other
Vessels.
I, LEWIS SANDERSON, of 25 Cook's Road, Kennington Park, London, S.E.,
Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare 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 statement:
My invention relates to torpedoes or torpedo-boats and other vessels, and is
chiefly designed to increase the speed of propulsion of the same.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown various modifications of my improve-
ments as applied to a locomotive torpelo, that is to say, a vessel charged with explosives
and provided with means for propelling it through the water when directed against an
object to be attacked.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said forpedo with my improvements applied
thereto.
Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the line A, A, Figure 1, showing the
propellers in different positions.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line B, B, Figuro 1.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line C, C, Figure 1, representing, on an
enlarged scale, one form of a clutch hereinafter described.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described, and like letters indicate the same
parts throughout the drawing.
In carrying my invention into practice, 1 arrange in any suitable position in the
length of the hull a (preferably for ward of the midship section) an aperture or chamber b,
which I term the propeller-chamber, and to which the water has free access.
As near
to the bottom of this chamber as is practicable I arrange the propeller-shaft c, which
may be driven either directly or through the medium of gearing by an engine arranged
within the hull a. This shaft revolves in suitable bearings at each end (fore and aft)
of the propeller-chamber b. In the Figures above described, I have shown two
propellers d, d'arranged upon the shaft. Each of these propellers has two blades
such blades being located upon one side only of the axis of the propeller, so that they
may, when desired, be turned around within the chamber b so as to expose but little
or none of their surface beyond the periphery of the body or hull a, as shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 4. With this object in view, I secure the hub or boss of one propeller,
say d, directly to the shaft c and fit the hub of the other propeller loosely thereon, and
I form on the said hub projections or clutches as at 2, d, Figuro 5, so that, in the
revolution of the propeller d, its projection d will come in contact with the projection d
on the hub of the loose propeller d', and, on continuing its movement, will carry such
loose propeller around with it, the blades of such propellers then occupying the position
relatively to each other represented in Figure 3. By these means, I am enabled to
employ two propellers each having two blades which, when revolving, are at such
a distance apart as will ensure their most efficient action as in Figure 3, but which,
when desired, can be turned up into the chamber as in Figures 1, 2 and 4, so as not

page_text: to project beyond the exterior of the hull while inactive. I thus facilitate the launching
of the torpedo, as I am enabled to discharge it from a tube or chamber but slightly
exceeding the diameter of its hull, although it is provided with propellers which, after
it is discharged and its propelling mechanism started, rotate in a circle approximating
to double the diameter of the hull. And I am thus enabled to obtain a speed of
propulsion greatly beyond that heretofore obtainable in torpedoes of a like diameter.
Moreover the speed is further augmented for the reason that the propellers d, drevolve
in different planes and in practically dead water, and furthermore I greatly reduce the
slip that occurs when a propeller or propellers is or are arranged immediately at the
stern of the vessel to be propelled. And as the propellers are arranged to pull instead of
push the vessel through the water the wash from the propellers incidental to the pitching-
of the torpedo, and also the racing of such propellers and the mechanism connected
therewith will not occur or will be greatly diminished. By reason of the relative
position of the rudder and the propellers, the vessel will respond very readily to the
action of the rudder.
The bridge or part 63, which connects the parts 1, 2 fore and aft of the propeller-
chamber, may be either solid or hollow. In Figures 1 and 4 the end 6' is shown flat
and the end tapering or inclined from the centre of the hull a rearwardly on each
side so as to permit the water forced back by the propellers to flow away freely without
impeding the forward motion of the torpedo.
Figure 6 is a central horizontal section of a portion of a torpedo wherein both the
ends, ² of the chamber bare inclined so as to ensure the free ingress and egress of
water to and from the propellers in such chamber.
Figure 7 is an exterior view of the how or forward end of a torpedo driven by one
propeller with two blades and provided with an aperture or chamber in which the
said propeller is arranged.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line D, D, Figure 7, showing such propeller
turned up and lying within the circumference of the hull.
Figure 9 is an exterior view of a portion of a torpedo wherein four propellers are
arranged within the propeller-chamber.
Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line E, E, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a similar section, showing the relative position assumed by these
propellers when in operation.
It will be understood by reference to these Figures that the four propellers revolve
in different planes and consequently in practically dead water, so that a much greater
speed of the torpedo is obtainable than would be practicable with a single propeller
having four blades that all revolve in the same plane. And, in addition to their
greater efficiency for propulsion, my propellers have the advantage of adjustability
so that they can be turned up within the hull a when desired, as shown in
Figures 9 and 10. In this arrangement, one propeller only is fixed to the propeller-
shaft as in Figure 1, and the clutches or projections on the hubs are so arranged that,
when the fixed propeller has made one quarter turn, it carries with it one of the three
loose or adjustable propellers, and, on making another quarter turn, carries with it a
second loose propeller, and so on, until, when in operation, the four propellers occupy
the relative positions shown in Figure 11.
Although, in the above description, I have more particularly referred to my improve-
ments as applied to a torpedo, it will be readily understood that they are equally
applicable to torpedo-boats such as are used for spar torpedoes, or to steam launches or
to other vessels. When the said improvements are applied to ocean steam-ships, in the
event of the propeller-shaft breaking and the necessity for proceeding under canvas,
the propellers can be turned up within the hull so as to offer but little or no resistance
to the passage of the vessel through the water.
Moreover I do not confine myself to any particular number of propellers or of blades
on each propeller, but may vary the number of either according to the circumstances
under which my invention is used.
In some instances, I employ, in the said chamber or cavity, screw-propellers
revolving in opposite directions.

page_text: 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 claim is ;-
First. A propeller or propellers arranged within an aperture, chamber or cavity
substantially such as above described formed in the body or hull of a vessel, for the
purpose specified.
Second. A propeller or propellers so arranged within an aperture, chamber or cavity
in the hull of a vessel that the blade or blades of such propeller or propellers can be
turned up so as to expose but little or no surface beyond the exterior of the said hull,
for the purposes spécified.
Third. A series or group of propellers arranged substantially as set forth upon a
shaft so that their blades when in motion revolve in different planes, for the purposes
specified.
:
Fourth. The combination substantially as set forth, with a propeller, fast upon its
shaft, of one,or more propellers fitted loosely upon such shaft and adapted to be brought
into action by the fixed propeller when the latter revolves, for the purposes specified.
Fifth. In a torpedo or torpedo-boat or other vessel, the combination of the rudder
at the stern and the screw-propeller or screw-propellers in an aperture, cavity or
chamber at or forward of the mid-ship section of the vessel, for the purpose specified.
LEWIS
SANDERSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.