IN PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Carter, of Mottingham Lodge, near Eltham,
"IMPROVEMENTS
in the County of Kent. Gentleman, for the Invention of
IN PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Sealed the 19th February 1867, and dated the 22nd August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Carter at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with 'his' Petition, on the 22nd
August 1866.
I, GEORGE CARTER, of Mottingham Lodge, near Eltham, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS," to be aš
follows:-
This Invention consists in propelling vessels by projecting a mixture of air
and water (being the propelling medium) upon and against the surface water
of flotation through which the vessels are to be propelled. To effect this I use
metal or other pipes' terminating in single or multiple jets of sufficient volume
for the tonnage of the vessels acted on. The outlet of the pipes conveying
the propelling medium may be placed at an angle of 45 degrees with the
horizon at each side of the vessel at a suitable height from the water surface
into which the air and, water (propelling medium) is forced downwards, the
air quickly rising under the inclined channels under the sides and bottom in
bubbles as rollers, lifting the stern of the vessel which runs away from the
lift. The said inclined channels placed along the sides and bottoms of the

page_text: vessel are described and shown by Diagrams in the Specification of a Patent
granted to me, the said George Carter, bearing date the 17 May 1856,
No. 1178. I do not confine myself to the position of the jet pipes, but the more
they are placed forward the propelling medium will act under a larger amount
of surface of the inclined channel, giving greater velocity to the vessel when
driving her ahead or when the pipes are reversed astern. The machinery to
force the mixture of air and water through the outlets may be manual or
horse power, gas or steam power, driving air and water pumps and other
apparatus in common use for producing currents of air and water well known
to engineers, by which the propelling medium is made to act as. herein described,
thus propelling the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
CARTER, of Mottingham Lodge, near Eltham, in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of Angust, in the year of our
Lörd One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Carter, Her special licence that I, the said George Carter,
'my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Carter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times there-
after 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 AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Carter, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Carter, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in propelling vessels by projecting a mixture of air
and water (being the propelling medium) upon and against the surface water
of flotation through which the vessels are to be propelled. To effect this I use
metal or other pipes terminating in single or multiple jets of sufficient volume
for the tonnage of the vessels acted on. The outlet of the pipes conveying the
propelling medium may be placed at an angle of 45 degrees with the horizon
at each side of the vessel at a suitable height from the water surface into
which the air and water (propelling medium) is, forced downwards, the air
quickly rising under the inclined channels under the sides and bottom in
bubbles as rollers, lifting the stern of the vessel which runs away from the
lift. The said inclined channels placed along the sides and bottom of the
vessel are described and shown by Digrams in the Specification of a Patent
granted to me the said George Carter, bearing date the 17th May 1856,
No. 1178. I do not confine myself to the position of the jet pipes, but the more
they are placed forward the propelling medium will act under a larger amount
of surface of the inclined channel, giving greater velocity to the vessel when
driving her ahead or when the pipes are reversed astern. The machinery to
force the mixture of air and water through the outlets may be manual or
horse power, gas or steam power, driving air and water pumps and other
apparatus in common use for producing currents of air and water well-known
to engineers, by which the propelling medium is made to act as herein described,
thus propelling the vessel.
And in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of Drawings.
accompanying these Presents, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figur 1 is a stern view of an air propelled impregnable gun boat; Figure 2
a longitudinal elevation of the same, showing the outlets A through which
the air and water is passed out at and acts as a jet against the water, and being
directed under the bottom or sides of the vessel, and being prevented from.
escaping at the sides by bilge pieces, forms a stratum or film propelling
medium in bubbles, which tends to separate the vessel from the water with a

page_text: force corresponding to the pressure of the propelling medium. An angle of
from about 5 to 15 degrees with the horizon answers extremely well for the
incline along which the action of the propelling medium takes place. The
more the outlet or orifice A is placed forward the more will the propelling
medium be directed and distributed under the bottom and stern of the vessel,
and the greater the effect produced. The pressure and velocity of the propelling
medium will depend on the position and area of the outlets, the angle of the
inclined channels, and other circumstances, well understood by every practical
engineer. The arrangements already described are all the outside apparatus
required for a flat bottom. boat. Figure 3 shews three cylinders combined in
one frame, the centre being the steam engine driving the pistons of the two
external cylinders, as air pump and water pump, by one cross head, with usual
valves, cocks, and cranks by which the mixed air and water (the propelling
medium) is conveyed to the jets of issue. a, the steam cylinder; b, b, the air and
water pumps; c, the cross head; d, d, the air and water pipes separate; f, air and
water pipe combined for the mixed jets. Figure 3* is a top plan view of
Figure 3. Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of a vessel with a moveable
stern or incline B, which is supported on an axis C, allowing the end of the
incline to be raised or depressed to suit the best angle for the propelling
medium to act against, also moveable sideways for steering. A, the jet of water
and air. The machinery to force or pass the air or the propelling medium
under the bottom and stern of the vessel consists of either a fan blower,
common or hydraulic bellows, pumps, or any apparatus in general use for
forcing or producing currents of air and water. These machines may be
used separately or in conjunction provided the propelling medium is made to
act as herein-before described. Figure 5 is a steam yacht propelled and
steered from the bow. 7 marks the usual rudder. Figure 6 is the plan of a
canal barge. Figure 8 represents the bow of a vessel; A, propelling jet for
propelling the vessel ahead; x³, pipe for steering to larboard; z, pipe for
steering to starboard. When the cock A is shut and the cocks of x¹, x, are
open the vessel will go astern.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "Improvements in Propelling Ships and other Navigable
Vessels," together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I do not claim
as my Invention the use of air and water separately as a propelling medium,
but what I do claim as my Invention intended to be secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination of air and
water conducted and projected through one or more pipes or jets downwards

page_text: upon and against the surface of the water of flotation through which vessels
are to be propelled, the sides, run, or bottom of the ship or other navigable
vessel being provided with inclined channels, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Carter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEO. CARTER. (L.S.)