IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING AND MARŒUVRING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alan Lawrie M'Gavin, of Barge Yard, Buck-
lersbury, E.C., Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLING AND MARŒUVRING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
FOR SUCH PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by Benjamin
Dickinson, of Hopetown, Darjeeling, India, Tea Planter.
Scaled the 5th November 1869, and dated the 19th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alan Lawrie McGavin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th May 1869.
I, ALAN LAWRIE MCGAVIN, of Barge Yard, Bucklersbury, E.C.,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING AND MANEUVRING VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," the same being a communication to me

page_text: from abroad by Benjamin Dickinson, of Hopetown, Darjeeling, India,
Tea Planter, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to the hydraulic propulsion of vessels
obtained by means of centrifugal or other pumps, or by means of
revolving incliued vanes or surfaces, or by any well-known method of
setting water in motion under pressure in connection with screw,
paddle, or any other well-known method of propulsion in such a manner
that the one shall assist the other, or that they shall mutually assist one
another; and, secondly, in the adaptation of either or both of these
methods of propulsion together or separately to the purposes of steering,
turning, or manoeuvring such vessels.
I prefer to employ a turbine, centrifugal pump, or similar apparatus
in such a manner that the water shall be taken in at or near the bows
or forward part of the ship, and forced out through one or more jets
formed in a pipe or distributing chamber running towards the stern,
and situated at or near the bottom of the vessel. The water thus forced
through the aforesaid jet or jets is caused to circulate or commingle
with the water in a channel or tunnel at the bottom of the vessel, in
which channel one or more screws (or a continuous screw, or a double
screw) work, and by these means the water in the channel is prevented
from revolving or gyrating, and also being prevented by means of
channel plates wholly or partially from escaping laterally or vertically,
the full effect due both to the water and screw propulsion is obtained.
Instead of a single pipe or distributing chamber situated along the
centre of the bottom of the vessel two may be used, one being placed
on each side of the keel of the vessel, and in combination a double set
of screws (or paddles) working respectively in two channels formed by
means of plates attached to the bottom of the vessel, or made by a
suitable conformation of the vessel itself in a manner similar to the
before-mentioned single channel.
The second part of my Invention consists in making in addition to
the before-mentioned suction and delivery pipes of the hydraulic pro-
peller curved or angular pipes having their openings more or less
towards the sides of the vessel, and at or near to the bow, or both at
the bow or stern in such a manner that the water may be drawn in or
forced out of these pipes, and thereby exert a a force in an angular

page_text: direction with the keel of the vessel. By means of suitable valves or
cocks the water may be drawn in or forced out of either of these curved
pipes as desired, and the angular force thus brought to bear upon the
vessel may be employed for steering, revolving, or manoeuvring such
vessel.