Compressed Air or Gases.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
Compressed Air or Gases.
I, PAUL HAENLEIN of Frauenfeld, Canton Thurgan, Switzerland, Engineer, 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 means for propelling vessels by means of compressed air
or gases whereby the said air or gases are caused to act by pressure upon the water
while passing through channels on each side of the vessel, as I will proceed to explain
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal
section of the vessel, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through one of the channels without
guide blades, Fig. 3.a longitudinal section through a channel with guide blades,
Fig. 4 a plan of one of these channels, Fig. 5 a plan of the vessel, Fig. 6 a cross
section of the vessel through the highest part of the channels, Fig. 7 a cross section
of the vessel at the lowest part of the channels, Fig. 8 a longitudinal section through
the refrigerating apparatus to an enlarged scale.
The vessel 1 has on each side a pressure channel 2 and 2ª that do not project
beyond the vessel, and in which the jets of compressed air act. 3 is the motor
engine which drives the fly wheel shaft 4 of the double acting air compressing
pump 5 6 and 6* are the suction valves and 7 and 7ª are the delivery valves of the
air pump from which the compressed air or gases are forced through pipes 8 and 8"
to the pressure channels 2 and 2ª, in which the air enters at bottom through an
opening into the water.
The compression of the air or gases may also be effected by a fan, or by the
combustion of explosive compounds.
On entering at c, the compressed air rises upward towards the escape nozzles 9, 9ª
Fig. 2 and in acting against the water in the channel forces the same backwards,
thereby driving the vessel forwards and eventually escaping through the nozzles into
the open air.
The sectional area of the nozzles is made so small that
a velocity corresponding to a head of water of about 2
from the water in a comparatively quiescent state.
the air has to issue with
inches, so that it issues
But in order to cause the air to issue in a perfectly quiet condition the pressure.

page_text: channels are provided with a box 10ª containing guide blados 11ª as shewn at
Figs. 3 and 4.
The box 10 is of the same width as the pressure channel and is opened at bottom
but closed on all sides and at top, where it is provided with a small nozzle 9".
The guide blades 11ª are mounted on lateral pivots so that they can be made to
assume either the position shewn on the drawing or the symmetrically opposite position.
In passing through these guide blades the air jet issues in a perfectly quiet manner
so as to avoid all disturbance of the water and consequently all loss of useful effect,
the water remaining perfectly smooth in the channel.
In order to propel the vessel astern, the slide or, valve of the opening c is closed and
that at the opening g is opened, so that the compressed air will now pass through
the pipes 12 12, shewn in dotted lines, and enter the water at g, escaping through the
guide blades 11 which are now in the reversed position.
'
If the compressed air is made to act in the forward direction on the one side and
in the backward direction on the other side, the vessel will be turned in a very
small radius.
Instead of using one and the same pressure channel and guide blade box for the
forward and the backward motion, one or more separate pressure channels with their
guide blades arranged symmetrically relatively to the centre line of the vessel may be
situated at the bows for the forward motion, and one or more others at the stern for
backward motion.
In order to avoid the loss of useful effect that would arise if the air were at a high
temperature owing to the refrigeration of the air as it enters the water, a refrigerating
apparatus is employed such as is shewn at 50, Fig. 8, for cooling the air in the
first instance.
This apparatus consists of thin copper pipes 14 fixed at top in the box 15 and at
bottom in the box 16 for the circulation of cold water, while the air drawn into the
upper air chest 18 passes through short tubes 17 into the spaces between the water
tubes 14 and thence through other tubes 17 into the lower air chest 19, the branch
pipe 20 of which communicates directly with the suction valves 6 6" of the air pump.
The water enters the tubes 14 through the branch pipe 21 at bottom and rising in
the tubes as it takes up heat from the air, issues at top through the branch pipe 22
again. Thus as the warm air entering through the pipe 23 at top is drawn downwards
through the apparatus by the pump, it becomes effectually cooled by contact with the
tubes 14 through which the water is passing in the contrary direction and then
enters the pump 5 through pipe 20 and valves 6 Cª.
As the apparatus acts on the principle of reversed currents, a comparatively small
extent of cooling surface is required for cooling the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The use for propelling vessels, of compressed air or gases caused to flow through
curved pressure channels closed at the sides and at top and open at bottom, into which
the air or gas enters. at bottom and from which it issues at top, being made in its
transit to act by pressure upon the water in the channel, substantially as herein
described.
2. In apparatus operating as set forth in the preceding claim, the use of guide
blades 11 enclosed in a casing 10 having an escape opening for the issue of the air
substantially as herein described.
1
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.