AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Rolle, of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR
STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 12th November 1867, and dated the 8th June 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Rolle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 8th June 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, HENRY ROLLE, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America, have invented "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS," and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and
description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings'
making part of this Specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2
a side elevation, and Figure 3 an end elevation of my Invention.
exact
The object of the Invention is to construct in a strong and simple manner
a propeller for navigable vessels by which all back pressure or weight of the
water is avoided, and thus gain the full amount of propelling power of which
a water motor is susceptible.
The Invention consists in one or more series of vertical paddles or blades
fixed to horizontal bars supported by cranks, so arranged as to cause recipro

page_text: cating rotary movements of the paddles in an elliptical or oblong path,
essentially as herein-after explained.
In the accompanying Drawings A, B, denote two horizontal shafts
properly supported, extending the side of a vessel, and having a crank F or F¹
formed upon their inner ends, the two cranks F, F¹, being connected by a
parallel rod G. The outer ends of the shafts A, B, are forined into double
throw cranks D or D', the wrists a, a, a, a, of these cranks being in the
same vertical plane and connected together by parallel horizontal rods b, b.
Each of these parallel rods b, b, Bás'a series of paddles or blades c, c, c, c, or
c, c, c, affixed to "and "pendent from them, as shown in Figure 2 of the
Drawings, the number of these floats being increased or diminished as may
determine to be best. The two shafts A, B, with their cranks, connecting
rods, and paddles arranged as described are to be applied to each side of the
vessel, as is the case with the ordinary paddle wheel. The cranks F or F¹
are disposed upon the shafts A, B, quartering as it is termed and well under-
stood by engineers, the object being to carry the cranks D, D, and D¹, D¹, by
their dead centres. The revolutions of the shafts A and B cause the series
of blades c, c, c, or c, c, d, to dip into the water in nearly a vertical line
until immersed therein, and then to describe ia nearly horizontal direction for
about one quarter of a revolution of such cranks, and subsequently to rise
out of the water in the same direction with which they entered it, and this
whether the vessel be advancing or "backing" water.
It will be seen by the above description that as before stated there is no
back pressure or weight of water upon the floats as they rise out of the
water, and further, owing to the line of movement described by the floats
while in the water and propelling the vessel, that is, in a nearly horizontal
movement for some distance, much more power is obtained than if the floats
described a circular movement.
The accompanying Drawings represent two series of cranks, rods, and
propelling blades on one side of 'the vessel; the number of these may be
increased if found necessary or desirable in practice, but one series to a side
will probably be found preferable. The inner cranks F, F¹, are to be suitably
connected to the main driving'shaft of the vessel.
The Invention is strong, durable, and effective in operation,' and 'cheap of
construction, and it is believed will be 'of.'great public utility. It 'will need
little or no water guard over it, and can be applied to 'small boats to good
advantage, as the water is not thrown or scattered about by it.
I claim the combination and arrangement of the bars 6, 6¹, blades c, c,
c,'c, etc., 'and 'cranks F, F, and D, D', the whole being so disposed as to

page_text: produce the movements of the blades or floats, substantially as berein-before
described.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day