Improvements in Ships or Vessels and in Propellors for the same.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 12th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships or Vessels and in Propellors for the same.
I ROBERT WILCOX of 5 East India Avenue, Leadenhall Street in the City of
London and late of St. Kilda, in the Colony of Victoria, Marine Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The propellor to which this invention relates I desire to be known as the Victoria
Propellor; it is applicable to ships or vessels using steam or any other motive power.
I employ two propellors forming a pair, I place one on either side in the after run
of the vessel or at any other convenient point in the length of the ship or vessel
where the transverse section is suitably formed for their application as hereinafter
stated. The shafts are vertical and hollow and at the lower end there is a boss on
each holding blades of which there may be four to each shaft. Each blade has a
round shank entering the boss.
The shafts are in line across the ship or vessel and the returning blades travel
within recesses constructed in the vessel. There is a division between the recesses.
The half of the propellor that is doing the work of propulsion for the time being is
outside of the recess, the other returning to continue the work of propulsion travels
within the recess. The propellors and recesses are sufficiently above the level of the
keel as to give protection to the propellor blades. The shafts or trunks pass through
the bottom of the vessel within packed glands.
Inside of the hollow shaft and on the end of the round shank of each blade is a
crank attached to a vertical feathering rod. The upper end of this rod is attached
to an arm projecting outwards through a slot in the shaft; the arm is fixed to a
vertical slide block. The slide block has rollers or wheels that travel on a circular
guide path encircling the shaft. At a proper point this guide path inclines upwards
to a level plane parallel to the lower portion of the guide path and from this the path
again descends to the level of the lower plane of the guide path. When the shaft
is made to revolve the rollers or wheels of the slide blocks travel round the circular
guide path; when they are on the lower level or plane the propellor blades are held
rigidly in a horizontal position cutting edgeways through the water, but when each

page_text: roller or wheel comes to the rising ineline of the circular guide path it runs up the
incline which causes the slide block to rise and this in turn lifts the feathering rod and
crank within the shaft and causes the propelling blade to turn from the horizontal to
the vertical position. When the blade is in this position it presses against the water
doing the work of propulsion and it continues to do so whilst the roller or wheel is
travelling over the upper level of the guide path. When the wheel or roller descends
to the lower level of the guide path the blade is feathered to the horizontal position
and enters edgeways into the recess in the vessel. Likewise all the propelling blades
on the shaft act in succession during the rotation of the shaft. The propellor has a
like action in reverse propulsion. Through the action of the ship passing through
the water either way a natural circular eddy is caused within the recesses in the side
of the ship or vessel in the direction in which the blades are travelling when feathered
and this diminishes the resistance offered to the blades in returning.
I make that part of the circular guide path that rises to the higher level moveable,
so that when the ship is sailing all the blades can be feathered to the horizontal
position simultaneously.
To carry the weight of the propellor and shaft I mount rollers on the shaft near
the upper end and these as the shaft revolves run round on a stationary guide
course above this the shaft is cranked for connection to the engine or driving power.
Above the packing glands of the shaft I provide vertical rollers upon a solid
abutment in the ship; against these the side of the shaft bears and so imparts to
the ship the thrust of the propellor. Two or more pairs of propellors inay be
employed.
By the use of this propellor a direct thrust upon the water is obtained and this is
always exerted under the most advantageous circumstances as when not in position
for propelling the blade is always feathered. The water offers but little resistance
to the blade when feathered more especially as the run of the water past the ship
causes a flow through the recesses in the direction in which the blades traverse the
recesses.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships or Vessels and in Propellors for the same.
I ROBERT WILCOX of 5 East India Avenue, Leadenhall Street in the City of
London and late of St. Kilda in the Colony of Victoria Marine 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:-
The propellor to which this invention relates I desire to be known as the Victoria
Propellor, it is applicable to ships or vessels using steam or any other motive power.
I employ two or more propellors forming a pair or pairs--I place one or more on
either side in the after run of the Vessel or at any other convenient point in the
length of the ship or vessel where the transverse section is suitably formed for their
application as hereinafter stated. The shafts are vertical and hollow and at the lower
end there is a boss on each holding blades of which there may be four to each shaft.
Each blade has a round shank entering the boss.
The shafts are preferably in line across the ship or vessel and the returning blades
travel within recesses constructed in the vessel. There is a division between the
recesses.
The part of the propellor that is doing the work of propulsion for the time being
is outside of the recess, the other part returning to continue the work of propulsion
travels within the recess.
The propellors and recesses are sufficiently above the level of the keel as to give
protection to the propellor blades.
The shafts or trunks pass through the bottom of the vessel within packed glands.
Inside of the hollow shaft and on the end of the round shank of each blade is a
crank attached to a vertical feathering rod. The upper end of this rod is attached
to an arm projecting outwards through a slot in the shaft, the arm is fixed to a
vertical slide block. The slide block has rollers or wheels that travel on a circular
guide path encircling the shaft. At a proper point this guide path inclines upwards
to a level plane parallel to the lower portion of the guide path and from this the
path again descends to the level of the lower plane of the guide path.
When the shaft is made to revolve the rollers or wheels of the slide blocks travel
round the circular guide path, when they are on the lower level or plane the propellor
blades are held rigidly in a horizontal position cutting edgeways through the water,
but when each roller or wheel comes to the rising incline of the circular guide path
it runs up the incline which causes the slide block to rise and this in turn lifts the
feathering rod and crank within the shaft and causes the propelling blade to turn from
the horizontal to the vertical position.
When the blade is in this position it presses against the water doing the work of
propulsion and it continues to do so whilst the roller or wheel is travelling over the
upper level of the guide path.

page_text: When the wheel or roller descends to the lower level of the guide path the blade
is feathered to the horizontal position and enters edgeways into the recess in the
vessel. Likewise all the propelling blades on the shaft act similarly in succession
during the rotation of the shaft. The propellor has a like action in reverse propulsion.
Through the action of the ship passing through the water either way a natural circular 5
eddy is caused within the recesses in the side of the ship or vessel in the direction in
which the blades are travelling when feathered and this diminishes the resistance
offered to the blades in returning.
I make that part of the circular guide path that rises to the higher level moveable,
so that when the ship is sailing and the propellor not in action, all the blades can be 1
feathered to the horizontal position simultaneously.
To carry the weight of the propellor and shaft I mount rollers on the shaft near
the upper end and these as the shaft revolves run round on a stationary guide
course; above this the shaft is cranked for connection to the engine or driving power.
Above the packing glands of the shaft I provide vertical rollers upon a solid 1
abutment in the ship; against these the side of the shaft bears and so imparts to
the ship the thrust of the propellor. Two or more pairs of propellors may be
employed.
By the use of this propellor nearly a direct thrust upon the water is obtained and
this is always exerted under the most advantageous circumstances as when not in
position for propelling the blade is always feathered. The water offers but little
resistance to the blade when feathered more especially as the progress of the ship
through the water causes the water to be withdrawn outwards from the leading or
forward part of the recesses through its frictional contact with the still water, and
the supply of water to the recesses flows in at the after part of the recesses thereby
causing a flow through the recesses in the direction in which the blades traverse the
recesses.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the side propellors with its hollow shaft,
the guide path, the supporting rollers and other parts; the cavity or recess in the
ship in which the propellor works is also shown and above the cavity or recess the
ships side is removed to expose the parts within. The propellor on the other side of
the ship is in all respects similar.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same parts.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the boss of the propellor.
Figure 4 is a plan of the propellor shaft with parts in connection therewith but
with the crank head removed.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the crank head of the propellor shaft with parts in
connection therewith.
Figure 6 is a plan of the crank head but with the parts above the line a in
Figure 5 removed.
Figure 7 is an elevation to a smaller scale of part of a Vessel fitted with one of my
propellors.
Figure 8 is an underside view of the same.
Figure 9 is a section on the line y y Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 10 is a section on the line z z Figures 7 and 8.
A is the keel of the vessel. B. B is a portion of the transverse section of the vessel
a is the hollow shaft, it passes down through the ship's bottom-through a gland
at bc is the boss at the lower end of the shaft a and d d are the blades having
round shanks d¹ d¹ fitted into the boss. d² d² are crank arms on the shanks and e
are the feathering rods connected with the crank arms and serving to control th
blades. is the cavity or recess in the ship through which the blades pass whe

page_text: returning. Their position when in the cavity or recess is horizontal and the water
offers but little resistance to their passage edgwise through it.
When the blades leave the cavity or recess they assume at a proper point a vertical
position and presenting the flat of the blade to the water exert an efficient propelling
action. gg are rollers to receive the thrust of the propellors on the ship which abut
on the shaft immediately above the gland b, they are carried by a strong framing h
fixed within the strip and are adjustable by wedges and regulating screws / as the
drawing indicates-i i are slide blocks mounted in guides on the exterior flat face of
the shaft a which is square at these parts they are able to rise and fall against it and
are provided with small rollers to lessen friction. ¹¹are arms on the slide blocks to
which the feathering rods e e are attached; these arms pass through slots in the sides
of the shaft a-On the outer sides of the slide blocks are studs on which rollers or
wheels are carried and those rollers or wheels run upon the guide path k which
has two parts one above and the other below the rollers or wheels and the inclined
part k¹ which can be drawn back out of the way by means of the hand screw k² but
which when at work is stationary like the other portions of the guide path. When
the rollers or wheels meet the incline k¹ they run up it and the slide blocks are
raised and the feathering rods acting on the blades set them vertical or to the propelling
position. When the rollers or wheels get to the end of the inclined part
descend and the blades again become horizontal ready to enter the cavity or recess f
When the moveable part of the guide path is drawn back all the blades remain
horizontal and then the ship may sail without the aid of the propellor which will
oppose but little resistance to its progress.
they
a is the upper part or crank head of the shaft a it has studs upon it carrying
rollers or wheels which running on the fixed track m support the weight of the shaft
and propellor by suitable frame supports.
The head of the shaft carries cranks by which the shaft is driven-a* is one of these
cranks-n is one of the connecting rods.
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. The Victoria propellor consisting of two or more vertical hollow shafts suitably
driven in a revolving or rotary motion and carrying at their lower ends radial blades
controlled by feathering rods within the shaft and slide block wheels travelling over
circular guide paths; the said blades during part of the revolution assuming a
horizontal position and being contained within cavities or recesses in the ship and
during the other part of the revolution being out of the cavities or recesses and
vertical or in position to exert an efficient pressure against the water whereby to
propel the ship.
2. The Victoria propellor substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.
D
11
.
A