PRADELLING VESSPLS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Hardwick, of Chatham Street, in the
Borough of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Inven-
Tenno IV PRADELLING VESSPLS"
Sealed the 28th November 1858, and dated the 1st June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Hardwick
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st June 1853.
I, ALFRED HARDWICK, of Chatham Street, in the Borough of Liver-
pool aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
Propelling vessels by means of water drawn in at the bows or fore
part of the vessel, and ejected from under the counter or hinder part of
the vessel. This is accomplished by means of a double action force
pump or pumps of large dimentions, worked by steam or other motive
power, the water being conducted to the pump or pumps, and ejected
therefrom, through suitable pipes extending through the outer skin of
the vessel. As it is requisite sometimes to back or reverse the action
of the propelling force, it is proposed to use valves that can be worked

page_text: either way at pleasure; this is accomplished by having the valve jointed
between two frames, placed at a right angle, or nearly so, to each other.
These are firmly fixed together at their upper sides, where they are
jointed to the upper side of the pipe or valve box in such a way that if
one of the frames be placed across the pipe the other will lay against
of parallel with the top of the pipe or valve box, thereby offering little
or no resistance to the current of water, or to the working of the valve
underneath it. The frame placed across the pipe acting as a seat for the
valve to work upon. It is proposed to have suitable leavers to change
the position of these frames or valve seats, and bolts or catches to hold
them in the required position. By this arrangement it will be seen
that the valves can be caused to act either way by mearly using one or
other of the frames or valve scats described.
Annexed are Drawings of so much of this part of the Invention
as are requisite to show the same. Like letters refer to simular parts.
Figure 1, is a section of the valve box, valve, and valve seats or
frames.
Figure 2, ditto, ditto, showing the valve working in the opposite
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Hardwick in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 30th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALFRED HARDWICK, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alfred Hardwick, Her special licence that I,
the said Alfred Hardwick, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Alfred Hardwick, my executors, administra-

page_text: tors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the terin therein
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 PRO-
PELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alfred Hardwick, by an instruinent in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the sanic was to be performed, 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 Alfred Hardwick, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):
Propelling vessels by water drawn in at the bows (or fore part) of
the vessel, and ejected from under the counter (or hinder part) of the
vessel, by means of a double-action force pump or pumps of large
dimensions, worked by steam or other motive power. The water being
conducted to and from the propelling pistons by suitable pipes or water-
ways extending through the outer skin of the vessel, below the water
line (at the bows and stern). The area of the cross section of the
ejection pipe or pipes at and near their termination being smaller than
one fourth of that of the pistons or plungers of the propelling instru-
ments; but the area of this opening or cross section must be of larger
dimensions in proportion to the size of the vessel than any hitherto
practically used for ejecting water for propelling vessels thereby. By
having the propelling pistons sufficiently large a slow motion of the
driving engine will cause the water to be ejected with great velocity
against the outer water, and thereby propel the vessel forward.
It being desirable sometimes to "back" or reverse the action of the
propelling force, this can be accomplished in various ways; amongst
others, by constructing the working valves so that they can be worked
either way at pleasure, or by having double sets of valves, one opening
towards the stern and the other towards the bows of the vessel, so that

page_text: when it is required to reverse the propelling force the set of valves
then in use are taken out of action, and the other (or reverse) set put
into play. These valves can be placed in any convenient part of the
pipes or waterways, as it is not requisite to place them close to the
cylinders of the
pumps.
The mode of constructing valves of this kind will be seen by re-
ference to the annexed Drawings, which show so much of them as to
enable their construction to be readily seen and understood.
Figure 1, represents a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of
one of the pipes or waterways, showing a valve having two movable
frames or seats, fixed together at a right angle, or nearly so, to each
other, and hinged to the top of the waterway, with the valve hanging
between them, and jointed thereto at their juncture.
A, is a portion of the pipe or waterway by which the water is
conducted to or from the propelling cylinder.
B, cover of valve box (which here constitutes a portion of the water-
way).
C, valve seats, which consists of two frames attached together by
their upper sides at right angles to each other, and hinged to the top
of the valve box. The valve being hinged between the two frames.
Upon one of the frames or seats being placed across the waterway the
other is held horizontally against the top, thereby offering little or no
impediment to the current of water. By this arrangement it will be
seen that the valve can be caused to work either way by merely alter-
ing the position of the frames or valve seats, which can be readily
accomplished by means of-
.
D, a lever for changing the position of the valve seats or frames.
E, catch or bolt to hold valve seats secure in their position.
Figure 2, shows the double seated valve working in the opposite
direction to that shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of the double seat or valve frame
shown in Figures 1, and 2.
Figure 4, is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the water-
way showing a double valve (which I prefer to that shown by Figures
1, 2, and 3).

page_text: F, a fixed valve seat, with a valve jointed on each side thereof.
G, a valve fixed to the left-hand side of the valve frame, and capable
of working to the left when put into action, but is now shown out of
play, being held horizontally against the top of the valve box by the
lever I.
H, a valve, jointed on to the right-hand side of the frame, shewn in
the act of rising.
I, a lever to hold up the valve not in use against the top of the valve
box.
Figure 5, lever used to change the valves, and holding up the one
not in use against the top of the waterway.
Having now described my Invention, and the mode in which it may
be performed, what I claim is,-
1st, the use of a double action force pump or pumps for propelling
vessels.
2nd, the adjustment of the size or area of the propeller piston or
pistons, and the ejection pipe or pipes or waterways at and near their
termination, that shall cause the water to be ejected therefrom with
a velocity of more than four times the speed or motion of such
propeller.
3rd, the use of valves for reversing the propelling action, and thereby
the motion of the vessel through the water.
4th, the combination of the various parts of the machinery for pro-
pelling vessels, substantially and in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Hardwick, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
throo
ALFRED (L.S.) HARDWICK.
0 Witness,
W WALKER.