CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF NAVIGATING STEAM SHIPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charlton, of Blackfriars, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Calenderer and Finisher, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF NAVIGATING STEAM SHIPS OR
Sealed the 4th May 1860, and dated the 7th November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charlton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
November 1859.
I, HENRY CHARLTON, of Blackfriars, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Calenderer and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF NAVIGATING STEAM
SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as,
follows:-
The Invention relates principally to that description of steam vessels
wherein a pair of engines are employed to drive or turn each paddle wheel
(or screw, in the event of their being used,) and is designed for the purpose
of obtaining a greater control or command in the working of the vessel, which
may be exercised by the helmsman in necessity, or by the engineers of the
vessel.
The Invention consists of, first, in the novel employment and use of two

page_text: distinct paddle wheel shafts, one being for each paddle wheel and pair of
engines, so that one wheel may be worked whilst the other remains stationary,
or nearly so, in contradistinction to the use of one entire shaft having a paddle
wheel at each end.
Secondly, the Invention consists in providing each pair of engines with a
separate and distinct "throttle valve" in the pipe supplying them with steam
for the before-said purpose of using the engines disconnectedly.
And, thirdly, in placing the said valves in the power and under the control
of the helmsman, by connecting them with the steering wheel by means of
rods and levers, or chains, or other suitable mechanism, so that in case of
necessity he may have a more speedy and efficient control of the vessel,
operating by these combined means upon each paddle wheel (or screw)
seperately, as found desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Charlton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CHARLTON, of Blackfriars, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Calenderer
and Finisher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Charlton, Her special license that I, the said Henry Charlton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Charlton, 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 THE METHOD OF NAVIGATING. STEAM SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND IN
THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition, amongst others,
that I, the said Henry Charlton, 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'

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Charlton, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 (and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The Invention relates principally to that description of steam vessels
wherein a pair of engines are employed to drive or turn each paddle wheel
(or screw or screws, in the event of their being used,) and is designed for the
purpose of obtaining a greater control or command in the working of the
vessel, which may be exercised either by the helmsman in necessity, or by
the engineer of the vessel.
The Invention consists, first, in the novel employment and use of two
distinct paddle wheel shafts, one being for each paddle wheel and pair of
engines, so that one wheel may be worked whilst the other remains stationary,
or nearly so, in contradistinction to the use of one entire shaft having a paddle
wheel at each end.
Secondly, the Invention consists in providing each pair of engines with a
separate and distinct "throttle valve" in the pipe supplying them with steam,
for the before-said purpose of using the engines disconnectedly.
And, thirdly, in placing the said valves under the control and in the power
of the helmsman, by connecting them with the steering wheel by means of
rods and levers, or other suitable mechanism, or by placing the handles
governing the throttle valves" near the steering wheel, so that in case of
necessity he may have a more speedy and efficient control of the vessel,
operating by the combined means upon each paddle wheel (or screw)
separately, as found 'desirable.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings illustrative of the
same, having similar letters of reference marked upon corresponding parts of
the apparatus.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 respresents a cross section of a steam vessel, shewing the
engines and the mechanism for disconnecting them, and the arrangement for
giving the steersman control over the engines by means of the handles on the
bridge near the steering wheel; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus.
for connecting and disconnecting the engines; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the.
and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bridge and steering wheels, and
handles for connecting and disconnecting the engines, and for controlling the
throttle valves.
same;

page_text: In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is an enlarged Diagram, shewing a sectional view and
side elevation of the apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the engines;
Fig. 2 is an end view of the-same; Fig. 3, a plan view of the same, and
the indices; and Fig. 4 exhibits a cross section taken through the cylinder.
In Fig. 1, Sheet 1, a, a, is the hull of the vessel, and b, b, are the paddle
shafts, upon which the paddle wheels c, c, are placed, and d, d, are the
cylinders of the engines for giving motion thereto, the throttle valves being
represented at d¹, d. The connection and disconnection of the engines is
instantaneously effected by the following means:-E, E, is an intermediate
shaft between the two crank or paddle shafts, upon one end of which slides or
moves a disc or plate f, with an aperture, the rim corresponding with the
crank pin g opposite. This pin, when inserted in the plate, forms the con-
nection between the paddle shafts, but when it is required to disconnect the
engines, the plate f is withdrawn by the helmsman by moving the handle 1;
and allowing steam to enter the small or disconnecting cylinder h. The
piston i, being connected by means of a lever and rod j j, with the plate or
disc causes the withdrawal of the plate from the pin 9, as indicated by the
dotted lines in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, and disconnects the engines, and thereby
allowing them to be driven separately, and in contrary directions. For the
more speedy working of the vessel, in order to connect the engines again, the
pin g is brought opposite the aperture in the disc f, and the handle i is moved
in the opposite direction, so as to admit steam to the opposite end of
the piston i, and thus force the plate or disc on to the connecting pin. That
the helmsman may still further control the working of the engines in case of
need, the handles 2 and 3 immediately contiguous will enable him, by means
of the rods and links K, K, to open or close the throttle valves d'¹, d¹, in the
steam supply pipes 1, 1, so as to stop one engine, and drive the other at a
higher speed, or effect any other arrangement or combination of the engines
as he may require in urgent cases of necessity. It having been found by
'experience to be more practicable to place the engines under the control of
the helmsman by means of the handles 1, 2, and 3 close to the steering wheel
than by the use of rods and levers in direct communication with the said
wheel, or with. the rudder itself,. I have not deemed it requisite to shew
Drawings of such latter arrangement, and have also limited the illustration
to steering from "the bridge," instead of from the stern of the vessel.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with
the best method with which I am at present acquainted for carrying the
same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I
claim,―

page_text: First, connecting and disconnecting marine engines by means of the
mechanism herein shewn and described.
Secondly, I claim providing each engine or pair of engines with a distinct
throttle valve operating so as the more effectually to drive the engines dis-
connectedly, and at different speeds.
And, lastly, I claim placing the disconnecting mechanism or apparatus, and
the operation of the throttle valves, under the control of the helmsman, so
that, in the event of necessity, he may have a more speedy and efficient
control of the vessel by these combined means than with the rudder alone.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charlton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
HEN. CHARLTON. (L.S.)