IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE PROPULSION OF STEAM OR OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR "
Year: 1873

page_text: '
LETTERS PATENT to James Henderson, of Leith, in the County of
Edinburgh, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PROPULSION OF STEAM OR OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS
AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
THEREFOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henderson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st April 1873.
I, JAMES HENDERSON, of Leith, in the County of Edinburgh, North
5 Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROPULSION OF STEAM OR OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS,
AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode of and
O means or construction and arrangement of machinery for effecting the
propulsion of ships or other vessels in water, by the use or action of

page_text: several reciprocating pistons or rams worked intermittently to each
other, within cylinders open to the sea or water to be acted upon at 'the
propelling ends of these propelling pistons and cylinders (which are hercin
termed water pistons and cylinders). According to my Invention one or
more of these will always be in action at a time, so as to insure con-
tinuous action, which will give a more direct action "thrust" on the
water as compared with the screw propeller.
or
The engines and their steam boilers being so arranged as to be close
to the water cylinders provide for a compact arrangement the parts are
all within the sight, and the engineer may casily inspect them, thus
dispensing with long shafting and much loss of power.
The nature of this Invention, which is susceptible however of various
modifications to suit particular applications and constructions of ships
and the different practices of engineers, consists in the application of two
or more of the said propelling water cylinders, preferably four, laid
horizontally low down near the stern of the ship with their back ends
open to the sea or outer water to be acted upon. I provide cylinders with
sluices at their ends so arranged as to be open when in action and shut
when repairs have to be made; the forward close end of these cylinders
having large angled pipes which are carried forward a considerable
*distance, opening out through the sides of the ship, and are fitted also
with sluicc valves actuated simultaneously by steam or hydraulic
cylinders, directly or through equivalent connecting mechanism or
gearing so as to open them when the ship is to be propelled "astern"
or in the backward direction, and shut them when going "ahead." The
piston rods of these water cylinders work through ordinary water-tight
stuffing boxes in the forward close ends of the cylinders into the engine
room so as to be directly connected to and actuated by a single or double
pair of horizontal compound cylinder steam or other motive power
engines. The axes of the motive cylinders are placed as low as possible
in a line with their corresponding or two inner water cylinders so as to
act with the greatest possible effect upon the water, and allow the piston
<rods of the former to work out through steam-tight stuffing boxes in their
back ends or covers, and be directly connected to the piston rods or
plungers of the former; the piston rods are worked by cranks set on the
crank shaft at equal or different angles round the shaft in such
manner that while some of the water pistons are making their forward
(or non-propelling) stroke into the cylinder there will be an equal

page_text: number making the outward or back propelling stroke, thus utilizing
the strain on and during cach revolution of the crank shaft, and over-
coming in a great measure the shocks and weak or dead points in rcci-
procating engines and propellers of this construction.
The pistons or plungers of the water cylinder may be of an ordinary
construction and packed with the ordinary packing and joint rings used
in the air pumps of steam engines and other water pumps, and preferably
of brass and round, but they may also be made. rectangular or other
polygonal shape. The pistons are fitted with suitable valves so arranged
that they can when required be so locked as to work as plungers, or be
set free so as to work as pump buckets for either going "alcad” or
"astern" respectively. This is effected hy means of wheels turned on
the screws on the spindles of the valves; the brass lids on the back of
the valves answer as guards and lock covers for the wheels to act on; the
requisite motion is given by a pinion on a spindle reciprocating in a
hollow spindle working through a stuffing box in the close end cover of
cach water cylinder, being turned by chain wheels or other equivalents,
and hand gearing in the engine room. Other motive gearing may also
be used for opening and closing the backing sluice valves and pipes
instantaneously.
The action of the propelling cylinders is as follows:-When the
piston is propelled "ahead" or in the forward direction the water enters
or follows up the pistons during their forward or in-stroke by its own
gravitation without absorbing much power, and is driven, out of the water
cylinders during the back or out-stroke by the whole force of the engines
and pistons against the said gravitation and pressure of water outside;
but when the ship is to be propelled "astern" the water cylinders
are changed into powerful pumps by the arrangement of sluices and
valves before referred to in their pistons, so that the pistons instead of
driving out the water during the out-stroke allow it to pass right
through the pistons and valves, then during the in-stroke the valves
close and the water contained in the close inner end of the cylinders is
driven out through the forward angled discharge pipes before referred to,
so that the reaction of the expelled water forward forces the ship
"astern;
"the whole of this being done without stopping or interfering
in any way with the steam engines, which can work steadily on the whole.
time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HENDERSON, of Leith, in the County of Edinburgh, North Britain,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Henderson, Her special
licence that I, the said James Henderson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Henderson, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term 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 THE PROPULSION OF STEAM OR OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Henderson, 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 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 James Henderson, 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 in writing, reference being had to the several
Figures on the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for
the purpose of showing the best modes and means I am at present aware
of for performing or putting my Invention into practice, the same
reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in
all the Figures :—
My said Invention has reference to a now or improved mode of and

page_text: means or construction and arrangement of machinery for effecting the
propulsion of ships or other vessels in water by the use or action of
several reciprocating pistons or rams worked intermittently to each other
within cylinders open to the sea or water to be acted upon; at the pro-
pelling ends of these propelling pistons and cylinders (which are herein
termed water pistons or cylinders) according to my Invention, one or
more of these will always be in action at a time so as to insure con-
tinuous action, which will give a more direct action or thrust" on tho
water as compared with the screw propeller.
"
The engines and their steam boilers for actuating these propelling
pistons are so arranged as to be close to the water cylinders, and thus
provide for a compact arrangement. The parts are all within the sight,
and the engineer may easily inspect them, thus dispensing with long
shafting and much loss of power.
This new or improved construction and arrangement of propelling
mechanism and its motive engines have the advantages of great com-
pactness, being all contained and erected within the after part of the
ship usually unsuitable for containing cargo, from being mainly occupied
with the long screw propelling shafting, and the tunnel for getting at
and attending to it.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation (taken on the
irregular line 1- - -1 in Figure 2) and a sectional plan, both of the "after"
or "stern" part of a steam ship z, as fitted with one modification of my
Invention or construction and arrangement of the parts of my said new
or improved propelling mechanism applied thereto, and Figure 3 is a
half "stern" and half "bow" end elevation of the same steam ship z,
showing the position of the four water propelling cylinders A, A', and
A", A³, with their axes all in the same straight line or plane 2- - -2, far
down near the lower part of the "stern
"
2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the inner close end of one of the
water cylinders A and its propelling piston D, shown to a large scale, and
Figure 5 is an inner end view of the latter, D, both showing one con-
struction and arrangement of the valves d for propelling backwards, and
mechanism for either fixing or allowing them to work, while Figures 6
and 7 are a corresponding section and an end view of a slightly different
construction of the piston D and valves d, and the gearing for locking
or setting them free to work.

page_text: Figures 8 and 9 are a vertical, transverse, and a norizontal section of
one of the angled discharge water branch pipes B from the inner close
end of each water cylinder A and its sluice valve b, and one arrange-
ment of cylinder C for actuating it direct.
The nature and mode of performing my said Invention (which is
susceptible, however, of various modifications to suit particular applica-
tions and constructions of ships, and the different practices of engineers)
consists in the application of two or more of the said propelling water
cylinders A, preferably four, A, A, A", A, laid horizontally low down
near the stern of the ship, with their back ends open to the sea or outer
water to be acted upon, Figures 1, 2, and 3, so, that their pistons D will
act with the greatest possible effect thereon. I provide these cylinders
A with sluices a at their outer ends, so arranged as to be opened in their
slides and tight fitting faces a when in action, and be shut down to
prevent the admission of water to the ship when repairs have to be made
inside, as by withdrawing the pistons or otherwise. The forward close
ends of these cylinders A have a large angled branch pipe B fitted to
cach, which is carried forward a considerable distance and made to open
out to the water through the sides of the ship; each pipe is also fitted
with a sluice valve b, either in sliding seats 1, Figure 2, at the side of
the ship, or in a valve chest 6", Figures 2, 8, and 9. The two on cach
side are made capable of being actuated simultaneously by themselves
or with those on the other side, by the direct action of steam or
hydraulic cylinders C and rod c, fitted to cach, Figures 8 and 9, or it
may be through other equivalent actuating mechanism or gearing, so as
to open them when the ship is to be propelled "astern" or their
particular cylinders A are to act or propel in the backward direction,
and shut them when propelling or going "ahead" all without the
necessity of interfering with or stopping, or reversing the motivo
engines. The piston D of each water cylinder A has its actuating
piston rod c working through an ordinary water-tight stuffing box e¹ in
the forward close ends of the cylinders into the engine room L, so as to
be directly connected to and actuated by a single or double pair of
horizontal, compound cylinder, steam, or other motive-power engines.
In the example shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, it is a single high and
low pressure cylinder condensing steam engine which is employed,
having the axes of the motive cylinders E, E', placed as low as possible
in the same plane or line with the two corresponding or inner water.

page_text: cylinders A, A¹, respectively, so that their common or joint piston
rods e, e, work out through steam-tight stuffing boxes e" in the back
end covers of the cylinders E, E¹, so that the steam pistons of these
are directly connected to the pistons or plungers D of the water
cylinders A, A". The front end of these piston rods e of the steam
cylinders E, E¹, also work out through stuffing boxes e in their front
ends or covers, and by a cross head or slide block e³, connecting rod e',
and guides e to cach, they actuate the cranks F of the crank shaft F¹
of the engine, which is carried in suitable bearings in the front end of
the four strong frames G, and end pillow blocks G¹ secured to tho
seat G¹ on the bottom frames G₁ of the ship, and to the ends of the
cylinders. The cranks F so actuated by the steam cylinders are set at
right angles to each other, while other two cranks F", F, on the outer
part of the crank shaft F¹ in a line with the water cylinders A", A³, are
set at the opposite right angles, or it might be at other equivalent
angles round the axis of the crank shaft, so as by the return connecting
rods f, f, to actuate the rods and pistons e and D of these water
cylinders, all so that while either of the water pistons D on one side of
the centre and ship is making its forward (or non-propelling). stroke into
the cylinder A, the other will be making the outward or back propelling
stroke alternately and respectively on opposite sides, thus equalizing the
strain on and transmitted through the crank shaft F¹ during cach
revolution, and overcoming in a great measure the shocks and weak or
dead points in reciprocating engines and propellers of this construction.
The pistons or plungers D of the water cylinders A may be of any
ordinary construction and packed with the ordinary packing and joint
rings D' used in the air pumps of steam engines and other water pumps,
and preferably of brass, and round, as shown in the enlarged views,
Figures 4 to 7, but these and their cylinders may also be made
rectangular or other polygonal shape, although I prefer the cylindrical
shape shown. Each piston D is fitted with valves d on its inner face,
preferably of the india-rubber disc class (or other equivalent) working
on fixed or movable spindles d', Figures 4 and 6, ranged in a set or ring
round the piston rod, so as to have a spur wheel d¹¹ screwed back and
forward on the back of cach spindle d', all gearing into each other,
Figures 4 and 5, or one large wheel d" on the piston rod e, Figures 6
and 7, actuated by a spur pinion d¹ on the inner end of a revolving
spindle d fixed to and reciprocated with the piston D within a hollow

page_text: g
shaft or sleeve d³ working out through a water-tight stuffing box e* in
the inner close end of the water cylinders D. The inner spindles d² are
fitted by a feather and groove to the outer hollow spindles d³, which
have a chain wheel 9 keyed on cach, actuated through the endless pitch
chains and chain wheels g" from one common first motion shaft H,
actuated inside the engine room by a hand wheel h, or it might be other
equivalent means or motive power from the steam engine set into gear
by hand; all so as to screw back the wheel or wheels d" on the inside
of all the valves d at once to allow them to work when the pistons are
to act in the forward direction to propel the ship "astern," and be
screwed down again to fix the valves d by plates d¹ behind them, when
the water pistons and pumps are to propel the ship forward. These
backing wheels du thus forming a locking mechanism acting on the
back of the brass plates or lids d between them and the valves d as
guards to regulate the distance or height the valves D lift off their
working face D. The back close end of the water cylinders A is fitted
with air tubes A* either made high or fitted with valves or taps to be
opened when they are propelling the ship forward and shut when going
"astern." I is the coal bunkers in front of the stock hole J, with the
two circular tubular steam boilers K placed close to the engine room L.
The steam is led from the upper part of the steam domes % by the
pipe to the inlet steam branch of the casing of the high-pressure
cylinder E, and the exhaust steam from the large low-pressure
cylinder E¹ is led from the branch m¹ by the pipe m to the surface
condenser M. The circulating pump N, for which is worked horizontally
at one side of the engine by a crank N¹ and connecting rod N¹ on one
end of the engine shaft F", and the air pump O is worked similarly by a
crank and connecting rod O¹, O", at the other end of the crank shaft,
while the bilge and feed pumps P and Q are worked by the eccentrics
and their rods P and Q¹ respectively, which pump cranks and eccentrics
are set at opposite or proportionate angles on the crank shaft as well
as the main cranks, to equalize the strain and motion through its
revolutions.

page_text: cylinders during the back or out-stroke of their pistons by the whole
force of the engines on them against the said gravitation or weight and
increased resistance or pressure of the water outside during the said
displacement, the air alternately entering and being discharged from the
inner close end of the cylinders A through the pipe A* for the purpose
during this forward propulsion.
When the ship is to be propelled "astern" the water cylinders A are
changed into powerful pumps by the arrangement of sluices 6 and
valves d in their pistons D, before described in reference to Figures 4
to 7, so that the pistons D, instead of driving out the water during their
out-stroke, force or allow it to pass right through the pistons or the
valves and their seats in them, when during the in-stroke the valves
close on their seats, and the water then contained in the close inner end
of the cylinders is driven out through the forward angled discharge
pipes B and their sluices, previously opened, as before referred to, so
that the reaction and displacement of the expelled water forward forces
the ship "astern," the whole of this being done without stopping or
interfering in any way with the steam engines, which can work steadily
on the whole time.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
.occasion to describe and delineate, as many variations may be made
therefrom without departing from the main or essential features thereof;
neither, on the other hand, do-I claim the first use of water cylinders
and pistons for propelling ships separately or by themselves (as this may
have been tried in some manner heretofore), except in combination with
my said Invention, as herein specified; but what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of water
cylinders and pistons and their connecting and actuating mechanism
and engines for the propulsion of ships or other vessels, substantially in
the new or improved manner herein described and shown in the accom-

page_text: Second. The construction and arrangement of one or more propelling
water cylinders on each side of a ship, having their pistons connected to
cranks set at such nearly equal acting or balanced angles round a crank
shaft as to equalize the motion and strain on the shaft during each
revolution, and give less concussion of the reciprocating pistons, all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction and arrangement of pistons for water
cylinders with valves and locking and unlocking mechanism to make
these act as pumps for the propelling or reversing of ships or vessels,
all substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henderson, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of
11