Improvements in Machinery for the Hydraulic Propulsion and Steering of Vessels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Hydraulic Propulsion and
Steering of Vessels.
I JOHN THOMAS CARSTAIRS of Wellington, Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates to machinery for the hydraulic propulsion of vessels
comprising a (preferably compound) steam pumping engine having two pump
cylinders whose pistons are directly connected to two oppositely moving low
pressure steam pistons, the pump cylinders being connected at their rear ends
through gate boxes with sets of pipes in which work check pistons, one set of said
pipes opening at the stern of the vessel, one set at the bow, and one set at the
sides for propelling the vessel ahead or astern or for steering, the communication
of the pump cylinders with the several sets of pipes, and of the several sets of
pipes with the ambient water being under the control of suitable gates or valves
worked by handing mechanism.
The steam engine preferably comprises a central high pressure and two low
pressure cylinders, the crank of the high pressure piston quartering with those of
the low pressure pistons which are diametrically opposite each other. Each pump
cylinder is arranged tandem fashion with regard to its corresponding steam
cylinder and its gate chamber, connects through a gate with two parallel pipes
extending rearwardly and downwardly through the stern of the vessel, the set of
pipes corresponding to the one pump cylinder being at one side of the centre line,
and those corresponding to the other cylinder at the opposite side. Each of these
pipes is formed as a cylinder to receive a freely working check piston the space
between each check piston and the corresponding pump piston being filled with
oil (or other liquid) said spaces being in communication with a source of supply
for charging the gate boxes and other spaces and keeping the same filled to
compensate for leakage. The outer ends of the pipes which open through the
stern are provided with gates closing the same when desired. The sets of pipes
extending through the bows and sides of the vessel connect with the same gate
chambers and pump cylinders and are similarly fitted with check pistons for
separating the oil or other working medium from the outer water, the communi-
cation of the pump pistons with the check pistons being similarly controlled by
separate sets of gates, the gates controlling the operation of the side discharging
pipes being oppositely worked through the medium of bevel gearing from a
steering wheel on deck so that one is open when the other is closed, according to
the direction in which the vessel is to be steered.
The operation is as follows:-Assuming the gates to be arranged for forward
propulsion the pumping cylinders alternately draw in and force out water from
the corresponding sets of stern pipes, the water extending only so far as the check
pistons. When either pumping piston is at the rear end of its stroke, there is a
vacuum formed in front of the same, whilst at the rear face there is a pressure of
about one atmosphere in addition to that due to the head or column of water.
The back pressure is taken up by the cranks and assists to thrust that piston
rearward which is on its outermost stroke. This piston is forced against the
atmospheric pressure and that due to the head of water and extra resistance owing
to the line of thrust being at an angle of 20° downwards in the stern pipes.
The operation of propelling the vessel astern or of steering is similar to that

page_text: above described, the steering operation being performed concurrently with that of
propelling in either direction.
Dated this 29th day of December 1891.
J. T. CARSTAIRS,
By A. M.& Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent. Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIEICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Hydraulic Propulsion and
Steering of Vessels.
I, JOHN THOMAS "CARSTAIRS of Wellington, Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Upholsterer, 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.:—
This invention relates to machinery for the hydraulic propulsion of vessels,
which is simple durable and effective and utilizes the power to the greatest
advantage for the purposes of propulsion in the desired direction. The machinery
comprises a (preferably compound) steam pumping engine having two pump
cylinders whose pistons are directly connected to two oppositely moving low
pressure steam pistons, the pump cylinders being connected at their rear ends
through gate boxes with sets of pipes in which are freely working check pistons
one set of said pipes opening at the stern of the vessel, one set at the bow, and
one set at the sides for propelling the vessel ahead or astern, or for steering, the
communication of the pump cylinders with the several sets of pipes, and of the
several sets of pipes with the ambient water being under the control of suitable
gates or valves worked by handing mechanism.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement, on line 1-1
Figure 2;
t
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the same, on line 2-2 Figure il.; and
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism for operating the steering gates.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.in all the figures.
The improved machinery preferably comprises a compound engine whereof A:is
the high pressure cylinder and B, C, two low pressure .cylinders receiving the
exhaust of the high pressure cylinder A. The low pressure piston is coupled by
the usual connecting rod A' with a crank arm D and the pistons of the cylinders:B
and C respectively are coupled by rods B and C₁ with the cranks D' and D., all.
three cranks being on the main driving shaft D³. The crank D stands at right
angles to the cranks D1 and D³, the latter being arranged opposite each other, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 2. The piston rods E and E₁ of the low pressure
cylinders B and C extend through the rear heads of the said cylinders into pump
cylinders F and 'F' respectively and are connected to the pistons F thereof. The
rear ends of the cylinders F and F open into gate chambers Gand containing
gates or valves H, I, J, and H, I, Jrespectively. The gate Hcontrols the
communication of the gate chamber G with the two pipes K.and K extending
rearwardly and downwardly through the stern of the vessel and opening at the
outer end with the ambient water. In a like manner the gate H.controls the
communication of the gate chamber 'G' with the pipes Land. L' arranged in a
similar manner to the pipes K and K' and alongside the same, as shewn in Figure 2,
the set of pipes K K discharging into the water on the port side, while the
pipes Land L discharge on the starboard side, of the centre line of the vessel.
The 'gates I and 11 respectively control the connection of the gate chambers G
and G with pipes N and N¹ extending forwards and opening into the ambient.

page_text: water at opposite sides of the stem. The gates J and J respectively control the
connection of the gate chambers:G and G with pipes Oandi opening into the
water at opposite sides of the vessel in a direction at right angles to the keel.
The outer ends of the sets of pipes K K and: L.L are provided with gates: P.'P'
to close them whenever desired, e.g. when the vessel is stopped and the hydraulic
propelling machinery is not in use: In each of the pipes KK and L.L¹, NN!
andiO is a.freely working check:piston Q fitted to slide within the cylindrical
part of the pipe, its motion corresponding with that: of the pistons in the
cylinders F and. F. The space between the piston.Qand the corresponding pump
piston is filled witli. oil or other liquid; so that the movement: of the piston* F²
causes a corresponding movement of the check piston: Q. A filling pipe. R′ is
connected to each gate box G and G¹ and to an. oil: supply tank. for charging the
gate box and adjacent pipes and keeping the same filled to compensate for
leakage. The gates J J have screwed: spindles J and traverse a combined nut
and bevel spur wheel Jin gear with a bevel wheel Jonia cross-shaft.J; then two
shafts J for the two gates J and J. being geared.at: their inner ends: by Bevel
wheels Je with the same bevel wheel J on the lower end of the steering shaft: Js
extending to the deck of the vessel and under the control of: the steersman. By..
turning the shaft Js motion is imparted to the gates JJ, one opening and the
other closing according to the direction in which the vessel is to be steered:. The
other gates H: H', I I¹ are provided with suitable levers or other Handing
mechanism for raising or lowering the gates; as desired:.
The operation is as follows:-When the gates II and J J are closed and the
gates: H H are open and the engine is set in motion, the pistons F2 in the
cylinders F and F' respectively alternately draw water. into the sets of pipes K. K'
and L L up to the check piston. Q' and' force it out again, the two pistons. F
moving in opposite directions and. being therefore alternating and opposite in their
operation, the water forced out of the sets of pipes K K and LL' alternately
causing the forward propulsion of the vessel. When the pistons F2 stand in their
rearmost position, there is a vacuum formed in front of the same while at their rear
faces there is a pressure of about 144 pounds atmosphere in addition to the weight
for the depth of water per square inch.. The back pressure is taken up by the
cranks and main shaft. and assists to thrust. that piston. F2 rearward whieh is on
its outermost stroke.. This respective piston is forced against 14 pounds almo
sphere, weight for depth of water and extra resistance owing to the line of. thrust
which is at an angle of about 20° downward in the sets of pipes K Kandi LL'
respectively.. When it is desired: to propel the vessel astern; the gates H1 H} are
closed and the gates I: I are opened so that water is alternately drawn into and
forced out of the pipes N N by the action of the pistons F2 and the corresponding
check pistons Qin the said pipes as above described with regard to the sets of
pipes K. K and L L. To steer the vessel; the shaft.Jis turned so as to open
the gate J or J.. The liquid under pressure in the gate box G or Gacts on the
check piston Qin the pipe O or O' so that water drawn in and forced out through
one or other of the said pipes urges the vessel to port or starboard; as the-case
may.be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of. the said.inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that. what I
claim is―
1. In hydraulic propulsion machinery, two cylinders containing pistons operating
simultaneously and arranged to alternately draw in and discharge water from either
sternior bow of: the vessel; substantially as shewn and described:.
2. Hydraulic propulsion machinery provided with two cylinders containing pistons
operating simultaneously. but in opposite directions and pipes connected with the
said cylinders and each containing a check piston, the said pipes opening into the
water surrounding the vessel, substantially as shewn and described..
'
3. Hydraulic propulsion machinery provided with two cylinders containing

page_text: pistons operating simultaneously but in opposite directions, pipes connected with
the said cylinders and each containing a check piston, the said pipes opening into
the water surrounding the vessel, one set of pipes opening at the stern of the
vessel and the other at the bow, substantially as shewn and described.
4. Hydraulic propulsion machinery provided with two cylinders containing
pistons operating simultaneously but in opposite directions, pipes connected with
the said cylinders and each containing a check piston, the said pipes opening into
the water surrounding the vessel, the said pipes opening into the water at the sides
to steer the vessel, substantially as shewn and described.
5. In bydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with a set of down-
wardly inclined pipes opening into the water surrounding the vessel, of check
pistons fitted to slide in the said pipes, and cylinders connected with the said pipes
and containing pistons having an alternately forward and backward sliding motion,
substantially as shewn and described.
6. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with a set of downwardly
inclined pipes opening into the water surrounding the vessel, of check pistons
fitted to slide in the said pipes, cylinders connected with the said pipes and con-
taining pistons having an alternately forward and backward sliding motion, and a
compound engine for actuating the said pistons alternately in the said cylinders,
substantially as shewn and described.
7. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with a set of downwardly
inclined pipes opening into the water surrounding the vessel, of check pistons fitted
to slide in the said pipes, cylinders connected with the said pipes and containing
pistons having an alternately forward and backward sliding motion, and a fluid
filling the same between the check pistons and the pistons in the cylinders,
substantially as shewn and described.
8. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said cylinders
and containing gates, and pipes leading from the said gate boxes and containing
check pistons, substantially as shewn and described.
9. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven.
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said cylinders
and containing gates, pipes leading from the said gate boxes and containing check
pistons, and a fluid held in the said pipes, gate boxes and cylinders, substantially
as shewn and described.
10. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said cylinders
and containing gates, pipes leading from the said gate boxes and containing check
pistons, a fluid held in the said pipes, gate boxes and cylinders, one set of the said
pipes discharging at the bow of the vesse!, the other at the stern of the vessel,
substantially as shewn and described.
11. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said
cylinders and containing gates, pipes leading from the said gate boxes and con-
taining check pistons, a fluid held in the said pipes, gate boxes, and cylinders, and
a set of pipes leading from the said gate boxes to the sides of the vessel for
steering the latter, substantially as shewn and described.
12. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said cylinders
and containing gates, pipes leading from the said gate boxes and containing check 5
pistons, a fluid held in the said pipes, gate boxes, and cylinders, one set of the said
pipes discharging at the bow of the vessel, the other at the stern of the vessel,

page_text: und a set of pipes leading from the said gate boxes to the sides of the vessel for
steering the latter, substantially as shewn and described.
13. In hydraulic propelling machinery, the combination, with an engine, of two
cylinders containing pistons operated simultaneously by the said engine but driven
in opposite directions, gate boxes connected with the rear ends of the said cylinders
and containing gates, pipes leading from the said gate boxes and containing check
pistons, a fluid held in the said pipes, gate boxes, and cylinders, one set of the said
pipes discharging at the bow of the vessel, the other at the stern of the vessel, a
set of pipes leading from the said gate boxes to the sides of the vessel for steering
the latter, and means, substantially as described, for manipulating the gates in the
said gate boxes, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 30th day of June 1892,
J. T.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
ARSTAIRD,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.