IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BOATS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Buchanan, of Port Glasgow, in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
P
Sealed the 5th January 1859, and dated the 6th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th July 1858.
I, JOHN BUCHANAN, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BOATS," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates in part to an Invention for "Improvements in Pro-
pelling Vessels," for which Mr. John Buchanan obtained a grant of British
Letters Patent, bearing date on or about the 13th day of September 1856; and
it consists essentially in the use of propelling a wheel, drum, or disc, of large
diameter, and fitted with inclined or screw propelling blades, which wheel or
drum is so disposed that its lower portion shall protrude through the bottom
of the vessel or ship. This large wheel is placed right across the ship on a
horizontal propelling shaft running fore and aft, either in the line of the keel,
or, as is preferred, at a slight horizontal angle with the keel, this divergence
from the keel line being for the purpose of enabling the force of the propelling
blades to act right in the line of the keel. This large wheel may.be

page_text: connected to the engines in any convenient way, but it is preferred to
couple the engines direct to cranks on the main propeller shaft, as the
superior diameter of the wheel will give a great speed of the ship with-
out involving a rapid rate of the engines. The bottom of the ship is so
formed as to allow of the free entrance to and discharge from the propelling
blades protruding through, and this may be effected either by forming the
bottom with double or reverse inclines, somewhat similar to the system shown
in the Specification of the Patent of 1856 herein-before referred to, or other-
wise. It is preferred to use as large a propelling wheel as the beam of the
ship will allow of, and the sides of the ship may even be cut through, or
formed with projections, to allow of recesses for the two opposite sides of the
wheel.
The large wheel is covered in by a suitable transverse or athwart-ship case,
and provision is made for the escape therefrom of any water which may be
elevated by the blades. It is. preferred to place the propelling wheel at or
near the centre of the ship's length, but it may also be placed in: other
positions. The keel at the part of the ship where the wheel protrudes may be
depressed, to allow of the propelling blades working above it, and this keel
may either be sloped or brought upwards fore and aft, or it may be carried
along at the increased depth throughout the entire length of the vessel;
and instead of forming the bottoms of ships with troughs or submerged
chambers, for the reception of screw propellers of moderate diameter, as
described in the Specification of the Letters Patent of 1856, herein-before
referred to. A deep keel may be used with the propeller working in a recess
or depression in it, where the large wheels are used; provision may be made
for the removal of one or more of the blades, so that when the unoccupied
space upon the wheel is turned downwards, little or no resistance will be
offered to the sailing of the ship when going under canvas alone.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Buchanan, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
6th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BUCHANAN, of Port Glasgow, in the County.. of Renfrew,. North Britain;
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of our. Lord. One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second. year of Her
8

page_text: me,
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said John Buchanan, Her special license that I, the said John
Buchanan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Buchanan, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BOATS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Buchanan, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Buchanan, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
This Invention relates in part to an Invention of "Improvements in
Propelling Vessels," for which Mr. John Buchanan obtained a grant of
British Letters Patent, bearing date on or about the Thirteenth day of
September 1856; and it consists essentially in the use of a propelling wheel,
drum, or disc of large diameter, and fitted with inclined or screw propelling
blades, which wheel or drum is so disposed that its lower portion shall protrude
through the bottom of the vessel or ship. This large wheel is placed right
across the ship on a horizontal propelling shaft, running fore and aft, either in
the line of the keel, or, as is preferred, at a slight horizontal angle with the
keel; this divergence from the keel line being for the purpose of enabling the
force of the propelling blades to act right in the line of the keel.. This large
wheel may be connected to the engines in any convenient way, but it is
preferred to couple the engines direct to cranks on the main propeller shaft,
as the superior diameter of the wheel will give a great speed of the ship
without involving a rapid rate of the engines. The bottom of the ship is so
formed as to allow of the free entrance to and discharge from the propelling
blades protruding through, and this may be effected either by forming the
bottom with double or reverse inclines, somewhat similar to the system shown
in the Specification of the Patent of 1856, berein-before referred to, or other-
wise. It is preferred to use as large a propelling wheel as the beam of the

page_text: ship will allow of, and the sides of the ship may even be cut through or formed
with projections to allow of recesses for the two opposite sides of the wheel.
The large wheel is covered in by a suitable transverse or athwart-ship case,
and provision is made for the escape therefrom of any water which may be
elevated by the blades. It is preferred to place the propelling wheel at or
near the centre of the ship's length, but it may also be placed in other
positions. The keel at the part of the ship where the wheel protrudes, may
be depressed to allow of the propelling blades working above it, and this keel
may either be sloped or brought upwards fore and aft, or it may be carried
along at the increased depth throughout the entire length of the vessel. And
instead of forming the bottoms of ships with troughs or submerged chambers
for the reception of screw propellers of moderate diameter, as described in the
Specification of the Letters Patent of 1856, herein-before referred to, a deep
keel may be used with the propeller working in a recess or depression in it.
Where the large wheels are used, provision may be made for the removal of
one or more of the blades, so that when the unoccupied space upon the wheel
is turned downwards, little or no resistance will be offered to the sailing of the
ship when going under canvass alone.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheet of
Drawings which I have hereunto annexed for the purpose of showing certain
modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in
practice..
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a transverse sectional elevation of one
modification of my improved mode of propelling vessels, ships, and boats;
Figure 2 is a plan of the arrangement, partially in section. According to my
present Invention, the propeller is arranged in a well or cavity made for the
purpose across the ship, which cavity is, by preference, not at right angles to
the ship's length, but is inclined thereto, as shown in the plan, Figure 2, on
my Drawing. The hull A of the vessel is constructed in the ordinary manner,
excepting that at or near the central part there is constructed a rectangular
opening B, which extends from side to side of the vessel. This opening in the
hull is arranged at such an angle to the direction of the vessel's length, that
the lowest or submerged inclined blade or propelling surface of the wheel
Lerein-after described is at right angles to the keel of the vessel. The
ordinary keel C extends from end to end of the lower part of the hull in the
usual manner. In some cases, where the propelling wheel is made of such a
diameter that it is deeply submerged, it is necessary to curve the keel down-
wards at the part where it crosses. the opening B. In my illustrative Drawing

page_text: the hull A is shown as constructed with a secondary or lateral keel D, arranged.
on each side of and parallel with the central keel C. These secondary keels.
D are shown merely as an example of one mode of construction, and are.not
intended to be applied to all vessels having my improved propeller. From the
margin of the opening B an iron casing E is carried up within the vessel; this.
completely, encloses the opening in the hull, and as arranged in the accom--
panying Drawing, it is of a curved or segmental figure, extending slightly
above the deck F of the ship. Midway between the ends of the casing E two.
lateral recesses G are made, in which are fitted the standards that support
the pedestal bearings of the crank shaft H. The shaft H is arranged across
the casing E, and at right angles to its longitudinal direction, and it carries
and gives motion to the drum or disc I, to which the propelling blades J. are
secured. The drum I is, by preference, a large hollow cylinder enclosed at
each end, and having fastened to its periphery four or other number of. pro-:
pelling blades or surfaces J, which are arranged in an angular. direction:
across the breadth of the drum I. The free edges or margins of these.
propelling blades are curved, as shown in the elevation, Figure 1, on.
my Drawing, and their arrangement or disposition in the angular direction:
across the drum is delineated in the plan Figure 2. In this Figure the.
full lines extending across the central part of the plan show the position
of the blade corresponding to the upper one in Figure 1, whilst the dotted
lines show the position of the submerged propeller, which is at right angles to
the vessel's keel when at the deepest part of its immersion. The drum I is
driven by a steam engine which is connected with the shaft H, by means of
the crank K, or in other convenient manner. The casing E is provided with.
laterally diverging channels or openings L, which are carried through the side
of the vessel. These openings are for the purpose of allowing the body of
water which is carried up by the blades J to escape from the interior of the
casing E. In lieu of four outlet channels as shown in my Drawing, two may:
be used, one at either end of the casing E. To prevent the submerged pro-
peller blade from impeding the progress of the vessel through the water when
the ship is under sail and the propeller not in use, the blades J are fastened to
the drum I by bolts and nuts, or other convenient fastenings, so that the
lowermost bladė may be readily removed from the drum when required.
As arranged in the accompanying Drawing, the drum I does not protrude
beyond the lower part of the hull A, so that the keel C is straight from end to:
end, but if the vessel be fitted with a drum of larger diameter, then it becomes
necessary to elevate the centre of the wheel, so that the submerged blade may

page_text: 1
clear the keel; the casing E-being built up on the deck to enclose the upper
part of the wheel.
Another modification of my Invention consists in constructing the drum or
disc I of a diameter equal to or exceeding the beam or width of the vessel.
According to this modification, the hull of the ship is built with projecting
parts. at the sides, which form recesses to admit of the rotatory motion of the
propeller blades, or to admit, a' portion of the periphery of the drum as well, if
its. diameter. exceeds the breadth of the vessel. The large diameter of these
propelling drums admits of their being worked at a much slower speed than
the ordinary screw propeller, so that the driving engines do not require to be
driven at so high a velocity as is usual in propelling with the screw.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from.the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I con-
sider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First, the general, arrangement and construction of-apparatus for propelling
vessels, ships, and boats, as herein-before described and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of propelling vessels, ships, and boats by means
of a drum, disc, wheel, or arms, provided with suitable propelling blades or
surfaces, and arranged either athwart-ship, or at an angle thereto, as herein-
before described.
Third, the system or mode of constructing the hulls of ships or vessels with
a transverse or angular opening therein, which is enclosed or covered with a
casing, so as to form a well or receptacle, in which the propelling disc.or drum
wheel or set of arms is fitted, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Buchanan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-nine.
JOHN BUCHANAN. (L.S.)