IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM VESSELS IN COMMUNICATING POWER TO PROPELLERS OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN SHIPPING AND UNSHIPPING PROPELLERS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WIMSHURST, of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Ship Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Second day of November, in the fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Wimshurst, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Henry Wimshurst, my exors, adiiors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Wimshurst, my exors, adñiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM VESSELS IN
COMMUNICATING POWER TO PROPELLERS OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN SHIPPING AND
UNSHIPPING PROPELLERS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said Henry Wimshurst, 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 Her said 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Wimshurst, do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):
My Invention relates, first, to constructing steam boats propelled by means
of a screw or portions of screws fixed on a revolving axis, when such descrip-
tion of propellers are placed and work in that part of a steam vessel which
is usually occupied by the dead wood; and such improvement consists in the
mode of applying a main body post in one or more pieces, and a lower buttock
to obtain strength and convenience of construction to that part of a steam
vessel. Secondly, my Invention relates to a mode of communicating power
to such propellers. And, thirdly, my Invention relates to a mode of shipping
and unshipping the propellers.
And in order to give the best information in my power, I will proceed to
explain the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a steam vessel having my
improvements applied thereto. A, A, representing the improved construction
of body post and lower buttock. B, B, are side plates, which combine. the
body post with the keel and stern post, as is clearly shown, and knees and
other fastenings may be applied in order to obtain still greater security in
applying the body post A. The propeller or propellers are affixed on the
axis D, which has its bearings in the two angular stems or bars E, E, the
bearings being formed on the ends of such stems. At the lower end of each
stem is formed a projection or stud, which enters a recess formed in the
metal braces at the point F, and the upper end of each bar or stem F
passes upwards through trunks G, where the bars or stems are secured from
movement so long as in use; but when it is desired to unship the propeller,
then the stems or bars E are raised by suitable tackle till the studs at their
lower ends are lifted out of the braces or recesses at F, other tackle having
been first applied to the axis D, by which the propeller can be drawn from
under the vessel as the bars or stems E are lowered down the trunks G.
And I would remark, that when desired a temporary rudder may be applied
in the space usually occupied by the propeller, as is indicated by the Drawing.
I is the shaft or axis by which the power of a steam engine or engines is
applied to the propeller on the axis D; and there is to be suitable parts of a
coupling box on the axis D and on the shaft or axis H, in order readily to
couple and uncouple these axes, as is well understood by engineers. Motion