Means and Apparatus for Propelling Boats and Rafts on Water Ways by Means of Electrical Energy.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means and Apparatus for Propelling Boats and Rafts on Water Ways
by Means of Electrical Energy.
I, OTTO BÜSSER, of Oderberg, in der Mark, Brandenburg, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows :-
This invention relates to the propulsion or traction of separate boats or rafts on
water ways, more particularly in cases where the formation of a train composed of
a number of boats is impossible or where the use of a powerful towing apparatus
cannot be resorted to.
For the above purpose there is installed upon each boat to be propelled firstly
a mechanism whereby it can be propelled automatically upon a fixed cable or chain
laid on the bottom of the waterway, in a similar manner to that now employed, and
secondly there is provided the necessary force externally of the boat for driving
such mechanism.
The motive power employed for this purpose is electrical energy produced at
central stations on the banks of the water way, from which it is passed into suitable
overhead conductors extending along the waterway.
By means of a contact-truck rolling upon the conductor and a branch conducting
wire passing from the truck, the electrical current is passed to an electric motor
situated upon the boat, and which is thereby made to rotate a shaft extending over
the side of the boat where it carries a pulley, wheel,. or drum round which passes
the traction cable or chain.
The mechanical devices employed for carrying out this method of propulsion are
as follows :-
1. The primary generators of electrical energy.
2. The electrical conductors.
3. The contact truck.
4. The apparatus for propelling the vessel along the cable or chain.
5. The cable.
6. The storehouses.
1. The primary generators.-The object of these generators is to produce the
requisite electrical energy. At certain distances, which have to be determined by
the particular local circumstances of each case, there are installed on the banks of
the waterway, along the line of travel, steam engines which drive dynamo electric
machines, called primary generators. No particular construction is claimed in
connection with these installations.
2. The electrical energy produced by the primary generators is passed into
insulated conducting wires which pass along both banks of the waterway from the
one end of the route to the other.
The conducting wire is carried by posts erected, according to the local
circumstances, along the banks or in the water. The insulators which support
the wire are so arranged as not to impede the transit of the contact truck
along it.
3. The contact truck.-This truck serves for taking up the clectrical energy
from the conductor.
It consists of a small metal frame, mounted on wheels having a grooved or flanged
periphery by means of which the truck runs upon the conductor.
The contact truck supports a branch conducting wire for leading off the current,
01

page_text: and also a traction cord. Both of these lead to the boat to be propelled, which, as
it moves along draws the truck along the conductor, without subjecting the branch
conductor to any traction effort.
4. Towing cable apparatus.-This apparatus forms the motor engine of the boat,
it is arranged as follows:-
Referring to the accompanying drawings; in which Fig1, shews aside
elevation and Fig. 2 a plan, the apparatus, is-mounted upon a bed plate or frame a.
It consists firstly of devices for tlie installation of the apparatus on the boat, and
secondly of the motor.
The base plate rests by means of bearers d of circular section upon collars e
fixed on cramps b which can be adjusted in position upon the gunwales of the boat,
on which they are fixed by setting screws.
For the installation of the apparatus regard must be had to the curvature of 'the
gunwale and to the distance apart of the two sides of the boat. The supporting
collars e can turn freely round a short pivot fixed vertically upon the middle of the
top plate of the cramp.
Also, the circular bearers d move freely within the collars e so that it is possible
to regulate the positions of the cramps according to the varying curvatures of the
gunwales. The bearer near the stem of the boat consists of two tubes fitted one
within the other, while of the two rear bearers the left hand one consists of a single
tube, and the right hand one is a solid bar fixed to the base plate a.
The tubular bearers are carried in tubular sockets formed on the base
plate.
The bearers can be slid longitudinally in their supports and consequently they
can be extended or shortened, according as the distance between the sides of the
boat may require.
The electric motor f is mounted on the base plate; its armature axis transmits
its motion by a worm to the worm wheel g which is fixed together with the 'pulley
or wheel of the cable, upon a shaft k.
The before mentioned traction cable or chain passes round the pulley h, and in
order to guide it securely on to the pulley at the entering side, there are provided
three rollers m; for guiding it at the leaving side, a single rollern is employed.
Lastly, there is provided on the right hand gunwale of the boat a small post?
which carries at its upper end an arrangement for fixing the cord from the contact
truck, and for supporting the branch conducting wire. The latter descends directlý,
from the top of the post to the electric motor. This is of any suitable known
construction; it is provided with a commutator by means of which the current
can be sent through the armature coils in any desired direction or be cut off
therefrom.
5. The traction cable or chain. On each side of the waterway a wire cable or
chain is laid on the bed. The right. hand cable, in the direction of motion, passes
over the guide pullies and the driving pulley or wheel.
6. The store houses.-The store houses, the installation of which' depends upon
the exigencies of the navigation, serve for storing the cable apparatus, contact
trucks, &c. required for the service.
In all cases a store house, designated by No. I is established at the mouth of the
waterway and a second one designated by No: II at the other end thereof.
Independently of the arrangements required for storing the apparatus, the store
houses are provided with suitable apparatus for mounting and dismounting the cable
apparatus on to and from the boats.
WORKING OF THE SYSTEM.
The above described system of traction is effected as follows.
1., Equipment of the boats.-The boats are:for this purpose taken to store house

page_text: rope are fixed on the boat, and the hauling cable or chain is placed on the driving
pulley.
II. The journey. The equipment being completed, the current is supplied from
the main conductor to the driving apparatus by means of the commutator and the
boat is set in motion.
III. Disequipment.-The journey being completed, the boat enters the magazine
No. 11 after cutting off the current, and the work of dismounting the apparatus is
effected in the inverse manner to the equipment. The several apparatus are stored
in the store house No. II until the occasion arises for using them for a journey in
the contrary direction.
Dated this Dond day of Januar 1901
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means and Apparatus for Propelling Boats and Rafts on Water Ways
by Means of Electrical Energy.
I, OTTO BÜSSER of Oderberg near Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,.Civil
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:―
This invention relates to the propulsion or traction of separate boats or rafts on
water-ways, more particularly in cases, where the formation of a train composed of
a number of boats is impossible or where the use of a powerful towing apparatus
cannot be resorted to.
For the above purpose there is installed upon cach boat to be propelled firstly a
mechanism whereby it can be propelled automatically upon a fixed cable or chain
laid on the bottom of the waterway, in a similar manner to that now employed, and
secondly there is provided the necessary force externally of the boat for driving
such mechanism.
The motive power employed for this purpose is electrical energy produced at
central stations on the banks of the waterway, from which it is passed into suitable
overhead conductors extending along the water-way. By means of a contact-truck
rolling upon the conductor and a branch conducting wire passing from the truck,
the electrical current is passed to an electric motor situated upon the boat, and
which is thereby made to rotate a shaft extending over the side of the boat,
where it carries a pulley, wheel or drum round which passes the traction cable
or chain.
The mechanical devices employed for carrying out this method of propulsion are
as follows:
1. The primary generators of electrical energy,
2. The electrical conductors,
3. The contact truck,
4. The apparatus for propelling the vessel along the cable or chain,
5. The cable,
6. The store-houses.
1. The primary generators.-The object of these generators is to produce the
requisite electrical energy. At certain distances, which have to be determined' by
the particular local circumstances of each case, there are installed on the banks of
the waterway, along the line of travel, steam-engines which drive dynamo-electric
machines, called primary generators. No particular construction is claimed in
connection with these installations.
2. The electrical energy, produced by the primary generators is passed into
insulated conducting wires, which pass along both banks of the waterway from the
one end of the route to the other.

page_text: The conducting wire is carried by posts erected, according to the local
circumstances, along the banks or in the water. The insulators which support
the wire are so arranged as not to impede the transit of the contact truck
along it.
3. The contact truck. This truck serves for taking up the electrical energy
from the conductor. It consists of a small metal frame, mounted on wheels
having a grooved or flanged periphery by means of which the truck runs upon the
conductor.
The contact truck supports a branch conducting wire for leading off the current,
and also a traction cord. Both of these lead to the boat to be propelled, which, as
it moves along, draws the truck along the conductor, without subjecting the branch
conductor to any traction effort.
4. Towing cable apparatus.-This apparatus forms the motor-engine of the boat,
it is arranged as follows.
Referring to the drawing sent in with Provisional Specifications, and in
which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1
shows a side elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan; the apparatus is mounted upon a bed
plate or frame a.
It consists firstly of devices for the installation of the apparatus' on the boat, and
secondly of the motor.
The base plate rests by means of bearers d of circular section upon collars e fixed
on cramps 6 which can be adjusted in position upon the gunwale of the boat, on
which they are fixed by setting screws.
.For the installation of the apparatus regard must be had to the curvature of the
gunwale and to the distance apart of the two sides of the boat. The supporting
collars e can turn freely round a short pivot fixed vertically upon the middle of the
top plate of the cramp.
Also, the circular bearers d move freely within the collars e so that it is
possible to regulate the positions of the cramps according the varying curvatures
of the gunwales. The bearer near the prow of the boat consists of two tubes
fitted one within the other, while of the two rear bearers the left hand one
consists of a single tube, and the right hand one is a solid bar fixed to the base
plate a.
?'
The tubular bearers are carried in tubular sockets r formed on the base plate.
The bearers can be slid longitudinally in their supports and consequently they
can be extended or shortened, according as the distance between the sides of the
boat may require.
.The electric motor f is mounted on the base plate, its armature axis transmits
its motion by a worm to the worm wheel g, which is fixed together with the pulley
or wheel of the cable upon a shaft k.
The before mentioned traction cable or chain passes round the pulley h,
and in order to guide it securely on to the pulley at the entering side, there
are provided three rollers m; for guiding it at the leaving side, a single roller n is
employed.
Lastly, there is provided on the right hand gunwale of the boat a small post
which carries at its upper end an arrangement for fixing the cord from the contact
truck, and for supporting the branch conducting wire. The latter descends directly,
from the top of the post to the clectric motor. This is of any suitable known
construction, it is provided with a commutator by means of which the current
can be sent through the armature coils in any desired direction or be cut off
therefrom.
5. The traction cable or chain.-On each side of the waterway a wire cable or
chain is led on the bed. The right hand cable, in the direction of motion, passes
over the guide pullies and the driving pulley or wheel.
6. The store houses.-The store houses, the installation of which depends upon
the exigencies of the navigation serve for storing the cable apparatus, contact
trucks &c. required for the service.

page_text: waterway and a second one designated by No. II at the other end thereof.
Independently of the arrangements required for storing the apparatus, the store
houses are provided with suitable apparatus for mounting and dismounting the cable
apparatus on to and from the boats."
WORKING OF THE SYSTEM.
The above described system of traction is effected as follows:
I. Equipment of the boats.-The boats are for this purpose taken to store house
No. I, where a cable apparatus is placed in position, and fixed thereto, and a
contact truck being placed upon the conductor, its branch conductor and hauling
rope are fixed on the boat, and the hauling cable or chain is placed on the driving
pulley.
II. The journey.-The equipment being completed, the current is supplied from
the main-conductor to the driving apparatus by means of the commutator and the
boat is set in motion.
III. Disequipment.-The journey being completed the boat stops near the
magazine No. II after cutting off the current, and the work of dismounting the
apparatus is effected in the inverse manner to the equipment. The several apparatus
are stored in the store house No. II until the occasion arises for using them for a
journey in the contrary direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a system for propelling boats: The combination of overhead electric
conductors and rolling contact-trucks with stationary dynamo-electric generators,
as for the purpose set forth.
2. In a system for propelling boats: A detachable clectric motor consisting of a
dynamo-machine (f) mounted on a base-plate (a), and adapted to drive a cable-
pulley (), the base-plate (a) being provided with adjustable bearings to suit to prow
of a ship, as for the purpose set forth.
3. In a system for propelling boats: The combination of stationary dynamo-
electric generators arranged at intervals alongside of a river or channel, with a
removable electric motor, placed on board of a ship or boat, an overhead electric
conductor and a rolling contact-truck adapted to roll on said conductor, and to
transmit the electric energy, generated by the stationary dynamos, to the motor, as
described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1901