Improvements in or relating to the Shafts of Steam Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Shafts of Steam Vessels.
I, WILLIAM WATKIN WILLIAMS, Labourer of 136 Broadway, Cardiff 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:-
The corrosive
This invention relates to an improvement in connection with the shafts of steam
vessels, and has for its object to provide a means by which the life of the shaft may
be greatly prolonged, a protector being provided which prevents the corrosive
action which commonly destroys the shaft in a short time.
action of the water on the tail shaft is greatest on the part of the shaft close to the
extremity of the brass sleeve commonly used. The shaft as a rule gives way at
this point and my invention provides a means by which this part of the shaft is
rendered as durable as the remainder.
In carrying out my invention I provide in addition to the ordinary brass sleeve,
a band or sleeve of iron placed around or within the brass sleeve and projecting a
little at one end. This iron band is shrunk on the shaft in the well known manner.
This band serves to protect the shaft at the required part, and the corrosive action
attacks it instead of the shaft. When the band has been partly eaten away at the
extremity, the injured part can be cut off, the brass sleeve being also pared if
necessary, so as to leave the required length of iron projecting. The band and
sleeve are cut away at regular intervals until a fresh band is required, as the greater
part of the corrosive action is thus prevented from injuring the shaft. The life of
the latter is greatly prolonged, the band being renewed whenever required.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 and 2 are side elevations of two forms
of shafts with my invention applied and Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate in detail views four
modifications of the said invention, the parts being shown in longitudinal sections.
A is the shaft of the usual form having the two brass sleeves B fitted to it at the
required parts. According to Fig. 1 the shaft is plain for the greater part of its
length, the sleeves being of the same diameter. As shown in Fig. 2 the tail end of
the shaft is reduced in diameter and a sleeve of similar size is employed. Referring
to Fig. 3 the band C is placed under the brass sleeve which is recessed or rebated
at b to admit of the band. The band is formed with a thickened end c and the
extremity of the sleeve fitted in the rebate so formed. As the band is corroded the
extremity of the sleeve is cut away for about half an inch at each operation,
exposing a fresh surface of the iron band to the action of the water. In the
arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the brass sleeve is rebated at 6', the end being of
reduced diameter, and the band C is fitted on the outside of the sleeve.
end of this band is also made of increased thickness. Instead of cutting away
the brass sleeve as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the iron band is cut,
the corrosion commencing at the end. The band C shown in Fig. 5 is of
plain cylindrical form, projecting at the end of the sleeve. In this case both
sleeve and shaft are pared as the corrosion proceeds. In Fig. 6 the band C³ is
placed ouside of the sleeve, the latter being shrunk around the shaft which is
rebated to receive it, so that the sleeve and shaft are flush with each other. In
this case the band only is cut away.
The
The last arrangement described is only applicable to the shaft illustrated in
In annlving the bands they are not on hot and caulked at the ends where
Kio. 2.
.

page_text: they join the shaft but in some cases the band is shrunk first on the sleeve, and the
sleeve and band are then shrunk on the shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1) In a tail shaft for steam vessels, the employment of an iron band encircling
the shaft, at the extremities of the brass sleeves commonly fitted, placed around or
within the said brass sleeve and projecting at the end, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
(2) In a shaft for steam vessels the combination with the brass sleeve commonly
employed, of an iron band, encircling the shaft at the extremity of the brass sleeve,
partly extending within the latter and projecting at the end, substantially as
described and shown in Fig. 3 and for the purposes specified.
(3) In a shaft for steam vessels, the combination with the brass sleeve commonly.
employed, of an iron band encircling the shaft and the extremity of the brass sleeve
and projecting at the end of the latter, substantially as described and shown in
Fig. 4 of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
(4) In a shaft for steam vessels, the combination with the brass sleeve commonly
employed, of an iron band, encircling the shaft and partially covered by the end of
the said sleeve, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings
and for the purposes set forth.
(5) In a shaft for steam vessels, the combination with the brass sleeve commonly
employed, of an iron band encircling the shaft and the end of the sleeve, substan-
tially as described and shown in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.