IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Goodier, of Chester, in the County of Chester,
Miller, and John Foster Kilshaw, of New Brighton, in the County
aforesaid, Cordwainer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Goodier and John
Foster Kilshaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 15th November 1865.
We, JAMES GOODIER, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Miller, and
JOHN FOSTER KILSHAW, of New Brighton, in the County aforesaid, Cord-
wainer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FEATHERING THE PADDLES OF PROPELLERS FOR NAVIGABLE
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The class of propellers to which our improvements have reference is that in
which the lines of the axes of the paddles or floats extend radially from the
line of the main or driving shaft at or about right angles therefrom, that is to
say, the paddles or floats are of that character which are made to enter the
water edgewise, then to turn round or feather therein and offer their full

page_text: propelling surfaces, and immediately thereafter to move round or feather back,
so as to leave the water edgewise.
The apparatus or means which we employ for feathering the paddles or
floats of each propeller consists of a cam or block fastened to the ship's side
and encircling the main shaft, and levers or links, corresponding in number
to that of the paddles or floats, one end of each of which moves in a groove in
the said cam or block, and the other is connected, coupled, or jointed to one
of the paddles or floats. The said levers or links, which are carried by the
paddles or floats, are made to travel round in the groove, and their ends are
fitted with studs and bowls to reduce friction. As the office which the said
groove has to fulfil is so to guide or direct the levers or links that they will push
and draw the paddles or floats when in the water alternately and at intervals
outwards from and inwards towards itself, and by this means feather or move
them round on their axes, we prefer to form it (the groove) in the periphery
of the cam or block, the upper three-fourths being ring-like, and the lower
fourth having a lateral direction outwards gradually to its greatest divergence
from the ring or circular line, and a corresponding direction back again. It
will be obvious that according as the ends of the levers or links are made to
diverge from the true ring so will the paddles or floats be made to feather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Goodier and John Foster Kilshaw in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 15th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
GOODIER, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Miller, and JOHN FOSTER
KILSHAW, of New Brighton, in the County aforesaid, Cordwainer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Goodier and John Foster Kilshaw, Her special license that
we, the said James Goodier and John Foster Kilshaw, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Goodier and John
Foster Kilshaw, our executors, administrators, and 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,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FEATHERING THE PADDLES OF PROPELLERS FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Goodier and
John Foster Kilshaw, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Goodier and John Foster
Kilshaw, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
The class of propellers to which our improvements have reference is that
in which the lines of the axes of the paddles or floats extend radially from
the line of the main or driving shaft at or about right angles thereform, that
is to say, the paddles or floats are of that character which are made to enter
the water edgewise, then to turn round or feather therein and offer their
full propelling surfaces, and immediately thereafter to move round or feather
back, so as to leave the water edgewise.
The apparatus or means which we employ for feathering the paddles or
floats of each propeller consists of a cam or block fastened to the ship's side
and encircling the main shaft, and levers or links (corresponding in number
Ito that of the paddles or floats), one end of each of which moves in a groove
in the said cam or block, and the other is connected, coupled, or jointed to one
of the paddles or floats. The said levers or links, which are carried by the
paddles or floats, are made to travel round in the groove, and their ends are
fitted with studs and bowls to reduce friction. As the office which the said
groove has to fulfil is so to guide or direct the levers or links that they will
push and draw the paddles or floats when in the water alternately and at
intervals outwards from and inwards towards itself, and by this means feather
or move them round on their axes, I prefer to form it (the groove) in the peri-
phery of the cam or block, the upper three-fourths, more or less, being ring-
like, and the lower fourth having a lateral direction outwards gradually to
its greatest diverquence from the ring or circular line, and a corresponding
direction back again. It will be obvious that according as the ends of the
levers or links are made to diverge from the true ring so will the paddles or
floats be made to feather.
i

page_text: . The accompanying Sheet of Drawings shews our apparatus in working position
with a propeller of the kind mentioned. As propellers of this kind are not in.
general.use we will, that our Invention may be more readily understood;
describe it herein-after. Fig. 1 is an elevation as seen when looking towards.
the side of a ship; Fig. 2, an elevation as seen when looking along the side
of a ship; and Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section of Fig. 2. In all these
views like letters denote the same parts.
:
a represents part of a ship's side, to which a metal block or cam bis
secured by bolts and nuts or other means. The driving shaft c rests in and
passes through b, and on its outer end there is secured, by keys or otherwise,
the boss pieces d, d, from which the frame arms e, fastened by screw bolt f,
radiate. These arms e are fastened at their outer ends to the rim or
ring 9; they might be forged with it in one piece. Between d and d¹ are
recessed spaces for the inner ends of the paddles or floats h, and the outer
ends rest in bearings therefor formed in the rim or ring g. It will be observed
that the recessed spaces for or the inner bearings are between d and d³ for
convenience in shipping the paddles or floats h, but it will be obvious that
d and d¹ might be made in one piece if openings were made in the rim or
ring g, such as could be secured when the paddles or floats were placed in
position. The paddles or floats h can be made entirely of metal or of part
metal and part wood. In the Drawings the three highest are constructed each
with a solid axis passing from end to end and with thin plates on each side,
the parts being fastened together by through rivets; in the one on the left,
part of the plates are cut away, and in the remaining four wood is used, the
metal end pieces having palms shewn secured to the wood by through bolts or
rivets. We prefer the construction first described. As the water will be the
lubricator, if not for both outer and inner ends and bearings, at least for the
former, such bearings marked i may be made of hard wood, say lignum vitae or
yew. To the paddles or floats. at their sides, and laterally from their axes,
there are secured gabs j; nuts are shewn as the fastenings, but other means
may be employed. Connecting links k are shewn coupled by pins to jand
to elbow pieces 1, these latter where they pass through the openings in the
guiding and driving flange d are of a rectangular or other angular form in
transverse section, and the said openings are of like form, the object being to
make these parts act as guides and prevent oblique strain. The inner ends of
7 are provided with friction rollers m, to run in the groove n; the upper part
of that groove follows the course of a tree ring, whilst the lower portion
diverges laterally from that form, but it is obvious the shape might be
varied. Parts j, k, l, and m should be made of cast.steel.

page_text: The operation of the parts is as follows:-When the driving shaft c is made
to rotate, the boss pieces d and d and all the parts connected thereto are
carried round by and with it. The elbow pieces with their friction rollers m
are compelled to run in the groove n, and as they approach the lowest point
of the lateral diverging portion they are forced to move outwards, and by the
links k and gabs j push the paddles or floats to the angle at which they are
set to feather, so as to take a good hold of the water and thereby propel the
ship. So soon as the friction rollers pass the lowest portion of n they and
the elbow pieces 1, links k, and gabs are drawn back and the paddles or
floats h made to feather or move back and leave the water edgewise.
Having now given a full and exact description of our Invention, and
mentioned the materials of which we consider the parts should be made, we
would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the use of the
particular materials mentioned, nor to any particular angle to which the
paddles or floats may be feathered, nor to the proportions or disposition
of all the parts, as many modifications in detail might be made without
departing from the leading features of our Invention. What we claim as
improved means for feathering the paddles or floats of the kind herein
described is, the cam or piece b, with groove n, elbow pieces 1, links k, and
gabs j, arranged and operated substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Goodier and John Foster Kilsbaw,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
מחזמ.
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
Solicitor of Patents,
Liverpool.
.
JOHN FOSTER KILSHAW. (L.S.)