IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN Apparatus to BE USED THEREFOR.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Bourget, of Paris, France, but at present
residing in Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, AND IN Apparatus to
BE USED THEREFOR.
32
Sealed the 28th October 1873, and dated the 6th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Bourget at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th September 1873.
I, LOUIS BOURGET, of Paris, France, but at present residing in
Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of and apparatus for pro-
nalling vessele

page_text: The propellers which are of very simple construction are arranged in
the interior of the vessel below the water line, and are designed as a
simple and useful subsitution for engines, screws, paddles, and their
attendant mechanism hitherto in use for effecting the desired object,
this improved system of propulsion merely requiring a stoker or stokers
to attend to the requirement of the boiler or boilers.
The improved propelling apparatus consists of a suitable number
(say 4) of ejectors, placed in the interior of the vessel, and of a suitable
arrangement of pipes to draw water from the fore part of the vessel, and
expel it at the after part thereof for going ahead, and vice versâ for
going astern. Two of these ejectors are placed upon each side of the
vessel ahead and astern respectively, by which arrangement the vessel
can be turned in its own length, having similar advantages in this respect
to twin screw propellers. These ejectors or propellers consist of hollow
cones fitted one within the other in the interior of a cylinder, provision
being left in the centre of the cones for the passage of steam.
The method of operation is as follows:-Steam is suitably conveyed
to and passes through the centre of the concs, and thereby draws water
from the sea at say the fore part of the vessel, through the annular space
between the cones, and expels it again into the sea at the stern of the
vessel in one continuous stream.
Another advantage of this improved system of propulsion for vessels
going long voyages, and wishing to be propelled at all convenient times
by sails only, to economize coal, is that there is no obstruction in the
passage through the water, as experienced in other methods of pro-
pulsion.
Again the cost of this improved system of propulsion will be equivalent

page_text: The pumping arrangement consists only in a suitable arrangement of
pipes and valves, almost similar to that necessary for the use of an
auxiliary pump, and does the work of the same, and thereby further
reduces the cost.
The boilers will be constructed so as to enable them to be taken to
pieces and repaired when necessary, and so as to cause all the surface of
the boiler to be heating surface to cconomize all the heat derived from
the combustion of the coal or other fuel.
The construction will be such that the principle of combustion will be
similar to that experienced in the combustion of paraffiné in a common
paraffine lamp, which it will be observed is such that when the flame of
the lamp is without the chimney, to cause the draught imperfect com-
bustion ensues, whereas when the chimney is placed over or round the
flame perfect combustion takes place, and no smoke arises, shewing that
all smoke is consumed.
A special application of this improved system of propulsion will be to
vessels constructed of the form of a cigar, which allows of a very con-
venient application of the ejectors on a parallel with the keel, thereby
obtaining a direct action for the force climinated by the ejectors to act
upon the water.
The ejectors require no attention during their operation, as no
lubrication is required, and they are not liable to get out of order.
If they are made of brass they will not require any attention except
when necessary to be cleaned.
By a suitable arrangement of a rod and bevil wheels the regulators are
carried to the spar deck, and can be worked by the crew, to turn the ship
about whenever necessary.
Another advantage of this improved system is that the vessel will not
be so strained as experienced in other systems of propulsion, and will not
be required to be specially strengthened therefor, as the acting force is
direct in the direction of the vessel's way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis Bourget in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
BOURGET, of Paris, France, but at prosent residing in Leicester Square,
in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventhi year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Louis Bourget, Her special licence
the said Louis Bourget, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Louis Bourget, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term thercin
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS,
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Louis Bourget, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Louis Bourget, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved method or system of pro-
pelling ships or vessels upon all navigable waters, and to improved
apparatus or means to be employed in carrying the same into practice.

page_text: The Invention is designed mainly as a simple and useful substitution
for the engines, screws, paddles, or other internal or external mechanical
propelling apparatus or means, and their attendant and necessarily com.
plicated arrangements of actuating machinery or mechanism hitherto
used for effecting the object of the Invention.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in
Figures 1 to 9.
Figure 1 represents a cross central section; Figure 2, a longitudinal
side elevation; and Figure 3, a plan view of the general arrangement of
the improved apparatus. The other Figures are all detailed views, and
will each be referred to in due course.
The said improved method or system consists in indrawing water by
the condensation of steam (as in an ordinary injector) from the sea (or
other water in which the ship or vessel may be navigating) at a fore part
of the vessel (considering the direction of its motion), and in immediately
ejecting the same again into the sea at an after part at a considerable
velocity and in continuous streams, so as to cause a forward propulsion
of the ship or vessel in a direction contrary to that of the issue of the
cjected waters.
The said improved apparatus or means (by which the said method or
system is carried into practice) is constructed and arranged as will be
presently explained. It is very simply constructed, and is suitably
arranged so that no part of it projects beyond the exterior surface of the
vessel to which it is or may be applied, in order to avoid any additional
friction or resistance to that presented by the vessel itself in passing
through the water.
The steam employed for effecting the said indrawing and ejecting of
the water (by which as above and as hercafter described the desired
propulsion of the ship or vessel is effected) is or may be generated in any
ordinary boiler (or boilers) 1, constructed so as to be capable of being
readily taken to pieces and repaired when necessary, and so as to have as
large an amount of direct heating surface as possible, to efficiently
utilize the greatest possible per centage of the heat proceeding from the
combustion of the coal or other fuel.
I would here remark that in my Provisional Specification I mentioned
that the boiler (or boilers) I then intended to use would be of such a
construction that their principle of combustion would be similar to that

page_text: of the combustion of paraffine in an ordinary paraffine lamp, but I now
have to state that as the result of extensive and carefully conducted
experiments I have since found that this part of my said Invention is
not of such practical utility as would lead me to recommend its
adoption, and I therefore do not wish to lay any special claim thereto {
as forming part of my present Invention.
The boiler 1 is fitted internally with two main steam pipes 2, cach of
which at its steam entrance 3 is made of an enlargened diameter, from
which part it gradually decreases in size downwards to or nearly to its
exit 4 from the boiler. At 4, 4, outside the boiler are suitably connected
two distance pipes 5, through which the pipes 2 have communication
with two main cocks 6, which are suitably connected to the other ends
of the pipes 5. In passing through the tapering pipes 2 the steam
attains a continually accelerating velocity and increasing force, and
passes through the pipes 5 to the main cocks 6 with the greatest velocity
and force. The boiler is or may be surrounded with a layer or layers of
felt 7, or any ordinary non-conducting material.
From opposite sides of each main cock 6 I lead two main brauch
pipes 8 (see also detailed view Figure 4), the outer extremity of cacli of
which I suitably connect to the upper cover 9 of an inclined cylinder or
casing 10.
Each casing 10 underneath is provided with a branch pipe 11 (the
junction of the two being made at an acute angle), to which is suitably
connected a suction pipe 13, see detailed view Figure 5.
Each cover 9 internally is formed or provided with a hollow conical
projection or inlet conc 14, through the centre of which I carry a pipe
or inclosed passage or nozzle 15, forming thereby a decreasing tapering
continuation of the steam passago of each pipe 8, and thus further
compress the steam and accelerate its velocity, and increase its force at
its exit from the passages 15.
Each cylinder 10 is provided internally with a scrics of hollow
cones 16 (see detailed view Figuro 5) fitting one within another,
intervening conical annular spaces being left between them. These
cones are provided at their outer edges with four or more lugs 17, which
keep them the proper distances apart, and through these lugs are formed
bolt holes 18, through the series of which elongated stay rods 19 arc
passed. One end of cach rod 19 passes through a stuffing box 20, and

page_text: at this end it is provided with a collar 22, which bears against the
outermost conc 16. When the cones have all been placed on the
rods 19, the latter at their inner ends are each secured by a nut 23, and
these are screwed up tight, which has the effect of tightening up all the
cones, and of holding them all firmly in position.
The apices of each series of cones are cut away in such a manner as to
form from the one nearest cach cover 9 an increasing tapering con-
tinuation from its passage 15; the continuation of the above-mentioned
steam passage, in order to obtain a greater condensation of the steam at
or a continually increasing condensation thereof towards the exit end of
each casing 10, so that the indrawn water may be ejected therefrom with
an accelerated velocity and increased force.
By the above arrangement of the cones within the casings a continuous
circular space is enclosed around each series thercof, between their edges
and the interior surface of the surrounding casing (sec the detailed
view Figure 6), and in this space which at all parts is in direct
communication with the said conical annular spaces the indrawn water
has a complete free course and circulation, and with which space the
suction pipe 13 above mentioned has direct communication.
The cover 24 at the exit end of each casing 10 externally is formed
or provided with a hollow conical projection or outlet conc 25, which is
provided with a tube prolongation 26 forming a continuation of the
central (or vacuum) passage of the cones, which at its outer end is
formed with a flange, to which is suitably connected a sluice valve 27
(of the construction shewn in the detailed views, Figures 7, and the use
of which will be subsequently explained), to the other side of which is
suitably connected an exit pipe 28, the exit opening 29 of which is placed
at a suitable distance below the water line-of the ship or vessel and made
flush with its sides, to avoid as above mentioned any additional friction
or resistance to that presented by the vessel itself in passing through the
water.
The condensation of the steam supplied from the boiler in passing
through the central passages of the cones (after having issued from tho
passages 15) creates a partial vacuum (of the greatest or an incresaing
intensity at or towards the exit ends) in cach, and also in each series of
annular spaces between the cones, which thus draws or causes the
iudrawing water to rush through the pipes 13 thereinto, and to be

page_text: immediately forcibly ejected therefrom through the pipes 26 (the sluice
valves 27 at the time being open) in continuous streams, which acting
against the sea water causes the propulsion of the ship or vessel in a
contrary direction.
Two of these above-described water ejectors are placed upon each side
of the vessel, the four being disposed two ahead and two astern, so that
'when steam is admitted to either of the latter pairs the vessel is propelled
in the contrary direction, but when it is desired to turn the vessel about
in any direction the steam is admitted to the ejectors at opposite corners,
so that the vessel can be turned either in its own length or to take any
course desired. The adoption of this system thus gives similar advantages
in this respect to twin screw propellers.
The flow of the steam to the different water cjectors is controlled and
regulated by passages formed in the plugs 31 of the main cocks 6 (sec
the detailed view, Figure 4), so as to admit steam from the boiler to only
one of the pipes 8 at a time. The top of each plug is squared to enable
it to be turned to control and regulate the steam as necessary. On this
squared part fits a squared key or regulator 32, which at its upper end is
held in position by a bracket 33 secured to the boiler casing, and is
provided with a bevel wheel 34 in gear with a bevel wheel 35 on a
horizontal spindle 36 running to the stoke room, and actuated there as
required by a hand wheel 37; or the plugs 31 may be actuated by
similar regulators carried in a vertical direction up to and through and
actuated above the deck, which at the parts through which they pass are
provided with stuffing boxes 38, see detailed view, Figure 8. The bottom
of each plug 31 and main cock 6 is formed with a third steam hole or
passage 39, for the purpose herein-after mentioned.
The ejectors may be made of brass or any other suitable metal; they
do not require any attention during their operation, nor until they want
cleaning; neither do they require any lubrication, nor are they liable to
get out of order, damaged, or in any way injured.
In the event of any ono ejector possibly getting partially clogged with
weed or other extraneous substance, or being otherwise similarly impeded
from efficiently acting, its sluice valve 27 is closed (being actuated by a
hand wheel 40 from the stoke room), and the main cock 6 in com-
munication with it is turned to admit the steam from the boiler as above,

page_text: but as the said sluice valve being closed prevents the exit of the steam
through the pipe 28 it is compelled to obtain an outlet by passing
backwards through the conical annular spaces between the cones 16,
and into the circular space surrounding them, and thus remove and
carry away all the dirt or other obstruction therefrom through the
pipe 13.
I have thus described the essential features of my improved system of
propelling vessels, and the means by which I carry the same into
practice, I have therefore now only to describe the means by which I
cause the minor functions of feeding the boiler and emptying the bilge
of the vessel, to be performed or effected, and subsequently to enumerate
some of the numerous advantages which the adoption of my system
entails.
Immediately below the third steam hole or passage 39 (above referred
to) of each main cock 6 I apply a second cock 41, which I connect with
the main branch pipes 8 on its side of the boiler by means of other
smaller branch pipes 42, and from each tube prolongation 26 I lead a
pipe 43 (provided with a suitable cock 44 immediately outside the said
prolongation) to the boiler 1. On turning one or both of the plugs of
the cocks 41, when the boiler requires feeding, steam is thus admitted
therefrom through the pipe or pipes 42, to either one or both of cither
the fore or aft pair of pipes 8, and into its or their cjector or ejectors, as
above described (the sluice valve or valves 27 of which is or are previously
closed to prevent the exit of the steam), and on condensing therein the
steams draws or causes water from the sea to be indrawn through the
suction pipe or pipes 13, and (the cock or cocks 44 being previously
opened) forced through the pipe or pipes 43 and suitable clack valves 45
(with which they are provided, and which are more clearly shown in
the detailed view Figure 9) into the boiler, as in an ordinary injector,
till the proper level is obtained, when the cocks 41, 44, are again turned
off.
By a somewhat similar arrangement I empty the bilge, and in order
to effect this I lead a pipe 46 (provided with a suitable cock 47) from
cach suction pipe 13 to and through suitable sponge boxes 48 placed in
the bilge, and the condensation of the steam in causing the indrawing
and ejection of the propelling water together therewith similarly carries
away the bilge water and ejects it into the sea.

page_text: By these lastly described means I entirely dispense with the necessity
of supplying ships or vessels with auxiliary pumps for effecting the
described objects, as while one set of the ejectors is causing the pro-
pelling of the ship or vessel, it may if desired also empty the bilge, and
the other set of ejectors may also if desired at the same time feed the
boiler.

page_text: us my incon
ADDYC-USCrived improved method of system of
propelling ships or vessels upon navigable waters, and the apparatus or
means substantially as above described and illustrated on the accom-
panying Drawings for carrying the same into practice, or any equivalent
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Bourget, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
5, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
LOUIS BOURGET. (L.S.)