IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING BOATS OR OTHER FLOATING BODIES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1828

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JOHNSTON ISAAC, late of Star Street, Edgeware Road, but now of Middle
Praed Street, Edgeware Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth, by His
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of July,
in the ninth year of His reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and twenty-eight, did give and grant unto me, the said John
Johnston Isaac, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as
I, the said John Johnston Isaac, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING BOATS
OR OTHER FLOATING BODIES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that I,
the said John Johnston Isaac, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW E, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the sai
John Johnston Isaac, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention
and improvements, and the manner in which the same are to be practised, used
and carried into effect, are herein-after fully and faithfully set forth and described
(that is to say):-
They consist in a certain new form and combination of machinery which
has for the most part been used before in a different manner; and likewise of
certain new machinery, or machinery producing new effects, to be used in com
bination with the above, and by means of which I am enabled to bring about
such new effects as are highly desirable in particular cases for propelling boats
or other floating bodies by steam or other power generated within the vessel to
be propelled, but which have never been before produced to the same beneficial
And upon this circumstance I ground my claim to the Invention
and improvements in my said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
referred to.
extent.
The new effects which I here allude to are, among others, first, that I
produce a boat or vessel in which there is so little disturbance of the water
that it may be used upon canals without injury to their banks or bottoms,
for the purpose of towing or giving motion to other boats or barges.
Secondly, a vessel fitted up according to my plan will be less affected than
other power vessels, by heeling, laying-too, or that lateral motion to which
all vessels are subject when at sea, and will work in comparitively still water
even in rough weather; this renders the application of my Invention parti-
cularly useful for towing vessels into ports or diflicult harbours in foul
weather; and by certain additions which I make to my vessels they become
valuable life boats for assisting wrecks or ships in distress. Thirdly, as
the whole of the machinery by which I produce the propelling or moving
effect is internal, and hidden within the vessel, it is much less liable to
accidents, and may even be so cased in as to be shot and bomb proof, by
which means it may be more advantageously applied to the purposes of marine
warfare than any other power vessel that has been before invented; and as
these are all new and desirable objects, which have never before been so
effectually obtained, I ground my right of Invention upon the production of
such a vessel, and the combination and disposition of the machinery which
enables me to produce it, notwithstanding that most of the machinery I make use
of is known to the public, and has been before used for propelling and bouying
up floating vessels, but used in forms and applications quite different and
distinct from those I adopt and use.
The means which I use and adopt for producing the above new and

page_text: desirable ends are as follows:-A vessel is to be built in any of the usual and
accustomed forms and manners, except that for a certain distance from its
stern, and which need not exceed from fourteen to twenty feet, the vessel must
not have the usual bottom, but her sides, deck, and stern are formed in the
ordinary manner, with the exception that her stern framing and planking must
not reach down to the water when she is laden and under way, but must leave
a sufficient opening for the free passage of water at all times. A bulkhead
or partition must likewise be constructed, in a sound and water-tight manner,
between the open part and the remainder of the vessel, so as to answer the
purpose of an additional or interval close stern; and it is in this open hinder
part of the vessel that I hang or place the wheel that is to produce the pro-
pelling action, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawing,
which is a plan or bird's-eye view of a vessel fitted up on my improved con-
struction, and Fig. 2, which is a longitudinal section of the same vessel. In
both these Figures the same letters of reference are used to denote the same
parts; and a, b, a, b, show the prolonged sides of the vessel, and c the ordinary
or common stern, which only proceeds downwards as far as the letter c in
Fig. 2, and consequently does not touch the water, the surface of which, when
the vessel is laden, is indicated by the line d, d. The additional or interval
bulkhead or close stern is shown at e, consequently the parts indicated by the
letters a, b, c, and e inclose that space or part of the vessel in which I have before
stated I hang or place the wheel f, f, which is produce the propelling action.
This wheel is of any of the common or ordinary constructions as to its paddles
or floats, which are fixed upon a hollow cylinder of wood or metal, with close
and water-tight ends, supported by proper framing within; and the cylinder,
with its paddles, extends to very nearly the cutire width of the wheel, as
shewn in Fig. 1; and whatever the diameter of this hollow cylinder may be, it
must be so hung or supported by its axis that its floats or paddles may dip a
proper distance below the water line d, d. I also recommend that the bear-
ings which support the gudgeons or axles of this wheel should be made to slide
up and down in strong grooves fixed to the sides of the vessel, each axle or
gudgeon being independant of the other in its motion, and that such bearings
be moved in such grooves, or be fixed in any part of the same, by strong
screws, wedges, or other means, to the intent that the shaft or axis of the said
hollow propelling wheel may be varied in its height with respect to the water,
in order to suit different water lines as the vessel may be more or less laden,
and likewise to the intent that the two end gudgeons of the wheel may be
placed at different heights to suit the heeling of the vessel, or its moving with
one of its sides more deeply immersed in the water than the other. The same

page_text: contrivance will likewise serve to raise the said wheel wholly out of the water,
whenever it may be desirable to use the vessel without a wheel, for sailing or
other purposes. Immediately beneath the wheel I introduce the thin and flat
platform or bottom g, h, which may be made wholly of iron, or of cross-beams
covered above and below with iron, or copper plates nailed to the beams
themselves, or to their planking previously put upon them. This bottom plnt-
form unites the two prolonged sides a, b, of the vessel together, and gives great
strength and stability to them, because it proceeds from underneath the
external stern framing b, c, to a line g, near to the internal bulkhead or stern
e, but sufficiently distant from it to allow a free and ample passage between e
and g for the water to enter the chamber a, b, e, c, when the wheel is at
work, and for that water to escape at the stern orifice between c and h, between
the two rudders m, m, which being united together by one or more connect-
ing rods n, will always move together; but for the sea or open rivers, onc
rudder in the centre, fixed to an ordinary stern post, will be better than two.
The floor or platform g, h, must present a sharp or rounded edge to the water
at g, must be made as smooth as possible, and as thin as is consistent with its
strength. It may, however, be strengthed at both its ends by arches or bent
bars of iron, placed at from six inches to a foot or more asunder, as shown
at i, i, i, and likewise by extending the keel of the vessel underneath it, and
blocking and bolting it thereto, if a keel is made of, as at g, b, Fig. 2; and in
fixing this platform or floor within the vessel, its height must be such that
when the vessel is without any cargo or burthen, except only the necessary
ballast and fittings that belong to her, there may always be at least six inches
of water above the said floor or platform for the wheel to work in, and this
depth of water will, of course, increase as the vessel sinks lower in the water
by receiving her cargo. The use and advantage of this false bottom is to keep
the wheel in comparatively still water even upon a rough sea, and to prevent
that agitation and disturbance that always takes place in canals or still water
when a boat propelled by a wheel or wheels is placed upon it. For this latter
purpose, however, I always introduce another apparatus, which I call a break-
water, immediately in rear of the propelling wheel, as shown in both the said
Figures at k, k. This breakwater consists of a central shaft of wood or metal,
with end pivots or gudgeons, upon which it revolves in proper bearings or
plummer blocks fixed against the two prolonged sides of the vessel. The
central shaft carries a number of slight rods of iron, which are three or
four inches asunder, and project from it in the manner shown in the
Figures. These rods need not be of greater strength than what is neces-
sary to enable them to withstand the power and motion of the water

page_text: without bending; and to enable them to do so more effectually, I recom-
mend their being formed of iron, about an inch wide, and a quarter of
an inch thick, so let into the central shaft that they may present their
thin edges to the water: I cause this breakwater to revolve on its
pivots in a direction contrary to that of the propelling wheel, and with a voli-
city rather greater than that of the said wheel; so that its arms may meet
and break the stream of water that is discharged from the said wheel; and I.
fix it at such a height that its said arms in revolving may nearly touch the
floor or platform g, h, in order, as far as possible, to prevent the escape of any
water from the stern of the vessel, unless it passes through the said arms. The
pivots of the breakwater arc, like those of the propelling wheel, adjustable in a
vertical direction, consequently the lower ends of the arms can be set at vari-
able distances from the bottom platform, or they can be wholly withdrawn out
of the water whenever the back current of the vessel is not found to be pro-
ductive of inconvenience, as in the scȧ or open rivers, where it will be of no
great importance; and if the vessel is intended to be used only in such situa-
tions, this apparatus may be wholly dispensed with, and the open part a, b, c, e,
may consequently be shortened. The propelling wheel and breakwater are to
be moved by steam, animal power, or any of the usual and accustomed means that
are resorted to' for such purposes; - but I prefer steam, and I propose that the
power made use of, if it is a steam engine or any machine of considerable
weight, shall be placed about midway between the bulkhead or additional
stern e, and the head of the vessel marked 1, or rather nearer to the head than
the said additional stern, and that the moving power shall be conveyed to the
said impelling wheel and breakwater by a proper revolving shaft and bevil cog
wheels fixed within and as close as possible to the sides or to one side of the
vessel; or the said moving power may be very effectively carried along one or
both sides of the vessel by a good and sufficient endless chain or chains work-
ing over pullies or riggers, which have cavities and projections made to fit unto
and suit the links of the kind of chain made use of, so as effectually to prevent
its sliding or shipping in a manner that is well known to every mechanic. I
likewise propose to appropriate a certain portion of the head or end of the
vessel next to 7, to the carrying of ballast or heavy goods, for the purpose of
trimming the vessel by bearing down the head, which would otherwise rise too
high out of the water on account of the want of' buoyancy in the open aft part
of the vessel, where the propelling wheel and breakwater have been before
described to be placed; but as the use of such ballast, and even the weight of
a steam engine, may in some cases be detrimental, as when the vessel is to-be
used as a life boat, or for towing or assisting wrecks, I occasionally use hollow

page_text: air vessels, or vessels of metal or other sufficiently strong material filled with
air, and which are made perfectly impervious to its passage outwards, in addi-
tion to the hollow propelling wheel before described, and which is so constructed
for the purpose of adding to the bouyancy of this part of the vessel. These air
vessels, by being lowered into the water, give the necessary bouyancy to such
parts of the vessel as may want their assistance, and I accordingly place them
not only in all the vacant space which will admit of their introduction within the
aft part of the vessel without impeding the motion of the propelling wheel,
breakwater, and passage of the water through the same, but I likewise dispose
them along the entire sides and under the gunnels on each side of the vessel.
These long external air vessels may be oblong squares, or formed like half
cylinders, having their flat sides towards the vessel; and they should not only
be in short lengths, but each length should be divided by partitions into several
air-tight cavities or chambers to guard against the possibility of their being burst
or broken and the air escaping; and with a further view to their protection a
false timber gunnel or fender should be fixed above them, and project rather
further from the side of the vessel than they do to secure them against
receiving blows in fowling, or striking against obstacles that might do
them injury, and they may likewise be covered with clastic and soft materials,
and be otherwise protected. This balf cylindrical or other formed line of
air chambers so mado in separate pieces as aforesaid, I also make adjust-
able by screws or proper tackle at each end of each separate piece, so that
any one piece or the whole of them may be lowered into the water or
withdrawn out of it at pleasure, by which the trim and buoyancy of any part
of the vessel may be adjusted. These air chambers, as above described, will,
when lowered, impede the progress of the vessel through the water, and I
therefore declare that I do not intend they should be constantly used in con-
junction with my aforesaid new combinations of machinery and improvements;
but they are only to be resorted to in such cases and times as when a vessel
could not float in safety or be used without them. Lastly, I declare that, with
the exception of my last above-described external air chambers, the whole of the
machinery which I use and have described for propelling or moving vessels is
so hidden and concealed within the vessel, particularly if the deck is made to pass
over the propelling wheel and other machinery, that any of the usual expedients
may be resorted to for rendering the vessel shot and bomb proof, and in this
way render it particularly serviceable for some of the purposes of naval warfare.
And I therefore claim as my Invention of improvements in propelling boats
or other bodies the new and altered combinations of machinery, and new form
and construction of that part of the vessel which contains the same; as above

page_text: described, by which I am enabled to introduce and avail myself of a propelling
wheel of more than ordinary width and power without increasing the neces-
sary width or length of the boat, whereby it is enabled to pass the ordinary
locks upon canals. Secondly, the introduction of the floor or platform under
the said wheel, with an entrance passage for the water through the bottom of
the boat, and an opening for its passage outwards through the stern, which,
with the addition of the revolving breakwater, so completely destroys the usual
commotion that would otherwise take place upon still water, that it may
navigate canals and be used to tow other boats or barges after it without
danger or detriment to the side banks or bottoms of such canals. Thirdly, the
general combination as aforesaid, and as herein-before described, by which
the wheel may move in comparatively still water, even upon a rough sea, and
the manner in which the whole machinery is protected and hidden by the
external vessel, so as to remove the danger of the propelling machinery being
carried away or damaged by foul weather, shot, or other accidents, unless the
vessel itself is destroyed. But the said air vessels or chambers I do not
claim, except only so far as they may be necessary to increase the buoyancy
of the aft part of the vessel, as herein-before described, or as being used for
keeping the vessel in an erect position when she would otherwise heel or lay
too, and thus prevent the entire width of the wheel from acting, but which is
partly guarded against by my contrivance of an adjustment in a vertical
direction of the gudgeons or pivots upon which the said wheel turns.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Johnston Isaac, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and twont nine