IMPROVED MEANS OF MANOEUVRING SHIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Scott Russell, F.R.S., of Sydenham, in the County
of Kent, and Henry Lumley, of Saint James's Street, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Auctioneer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF MANOEUVRING
SHIDS"
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 16th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Scott Russell and Henry
Lumley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April
1877.
JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL, F.R.S., of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, and HENRY
"IM-
LUMLEY, of Saint James's Street, in the County of Middlesex, Auctioneer.
PROVED MEANS OF MANOEUVRING SHIPS."
This Invention relates to improved means of manoeuvring ships and other floating
structures, and consists in separating that portion of the ship known as the after
body, and which contains the screw propeller, from the fore body, and in causing it
to turn or revolve on a pivot like the turntable of a railway. A universal joint is
placed on the screw shaft at a line of the pivot or in a line with the pivot, and the
turning part of the ship is so shaped with circular lines as to fit the other part
with similar circular lines. The after or turning part is caused to turn or revolve
by any ordinary mechanisın, as for instance, like that used for revolving a turntable,
and so giving the desired direction to the screw propeller, and thus using its force
to turn the ship, as well as to propel it. The rudder is attached to the turning or
after part of the ship, and revolves with it, and adds to its turning power.
When the ship has a double or articulated rudder like the Lumley rudder the
screw is in the large rudder, and the after rudder is turned by ordinary steering
means placed in the revolving portion of the ship.
The improvement is especially applicable to vessels of war.
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Scott Russell and Henry Lumley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th October 1877.
"IM-
JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL, F.R.S., of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, and HENRY
LUMLEY, of Saint James's Street, in the County of Middlesex, Auctioncer.
PROVED MEANS OF MANOEUVRING SHIPS."

page_text: This Invention relates to improved means of manoeuvring ships and other floating
structures. It consists in separating that portion of a ship known as the after body
(and which contains the screw propeller) from the middle and fore body, and in
causing it to turn or revolve on a pivot like the turntable of a railway. A universal
joint placed on the screw shaft in a line with the pivot connects the sections of the
shaft. The turning part of the ship is so shaped with circular lines as to fit the
other part with similar circular lines. The after or turning part is caused to turn
or revolve by any ordinary mechanism, as for instance, like that used for revolving
a turntable, and so giving the desired direction to the screw propeller, and thus
using its force to turn the ship, as well as to propel it. The rudder is attached to
the turning or after part of the ship and revolves with it, and adds to its turning
power.
When the ship has a double or articulated rudder like the "Lumley" rudder the
screw is in the large rudder, and the after rudder is turned by ordinary steering
means placed in the revolving portion of the ship.
We now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the
means of carrying our Invention into practical effect.
Figure 1 is a side view of the stern or after part of a ship, showing our improve-
ment applied thereto; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; and Figure 3 is a transverse
section taken on the line x, y, of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the propeller compartment detached, in order that it
may be seen more clearly.
Figures 5 and 6 (Sheet 2) are horizontal sectional diagrams taken through the
axis of the propeller shaft, and showing the movements of the propeller compart-
ment and the rudder compartment.
According to our Invention we divide the after part of the ship into two separate
portions, which we call "rudder compartment" and "propeller compartment." A is
the rudder compartment and B the propeller compartiment. These portions are
separated from the ship in such manner, as herein-after described, that while they
form parts thereof they have independent motions from those of the middle body
and fore parts of the ship. C is the after part of the middle body of the ship,
which is shaped in a hollow circular or conical form. This part so shaped receives
within it the propeller compartment, which has a corresponding circular and conical
form made to project into it, and to revolve or turn within it through a convenient
range, such as 60° for instance.
The propeller compartment B, which carries within it the screw propeller, has its
forward portion so shaped as to fit into the circular conical form of the after part of
the middle body, and we join it on to the middle body by a pivot a at the bottom,
and by a cylindrical tube b at the top. This tube we make large enough so as to
form a convenient communication with the rest of the ship; it passes through the
main deck and is kept in place by a stuffing box bx bolted to the deck. The
propeller compartiment thus left free to revolve around the bottom pivot and top
cylinder for 30° on each side, making the 60°, chosen for example, as limit, and this
revolution may be effected by any ordinary mechanical arrangements, as for instance,
like that employed for revolving a railway turntable, or by gearing, or by hydraulic
power.
We place the rudder compartment into a hollow in the after part of the propeller
compartment and join it thereto by a pivot d and cylinder c, similar to that which
joins the propeller compartiment to the main body. These two compartments of the
after body we use either jointly or separately to steer the ship. When the rudder
compartment is used to steer the ship we make fast the propeller compartment by a
bolt c, fixing it in a line with the keel immoveably to the body of the ship; or we
fix the ordinary rudder in line with the propeller compartment, and turn the pro-
peller compartment round as a common rudder only containing the screw propeller,
which turns with it, and so forces the ship more quickly round.
The rudder compartment and propeller compartment may both be left free and
independent, so that each or both can be steered either way, as desired.

page_text: We prefer to carry the separation between the two after compartments forming
this double steering apparatus well up above the water and into the counter of the
ship, which remains part of the main body, but where this is found inconvenient the
counter may move round with the propeller compartment. D is a recess in the fore
side of the propeller compartment for admitting the shaft of the propeller through
a water-tight stuffing box E into the centre of the conc of revolution. At the
centre of revolution of the cone is placed a universal joint for connecting the last
section of the screw shaft with the next section, and for receiving its revolution
therefrom; by these means change of direction takes place without interruption of
revolution in the screw propeller.
The rudder compartment has a tiller and rudder head passing into the after end
of the propeller compartment, sufficiently high up to leave room for it to be
steered 40° either way.
The lines of the ship must be so formed as to comply with these requirements,
and so that the conic parts of the after compartment do not materially interrupt the
water lines of the after body. The cone must of course be so modified as to suit
the lines.
These arrangements are equally practicable in the case where it may be desired
that the screw propeller shaft be prolonged, so as to place the screw behind the
rudder.
The arrangements herein described and shewn as applied to the stern or after
part of a ship may also be applied, with obvious nodifications, to the bow or fore
part, and may be operated either at the same time as the after arrangement or
independently thereof.
The means herein described of bettor manoeuvring a ship are especially applicable
to vessels of war.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, we declare that we claim,—
First. Separating the stern or after body of the ship from the middle body, and
causing the after body to revolve or turn, so as to present an oblique surface to the
water, and also to place the screw propeller in an oblique direction to the line of the
keel, as herein described for the purposes set forth.
Second. Forming or shaping the after part of the middle body of the ship in a
hollow, circular, or conical form, so as to receive within it the correspondingly
formed forward portion of the after body, and connecting them together, as herein
described.
Third. The construction and employment of the rudder compartment and
propeller compartment for use, either separately or combined, for steering purposes,
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Scott Russell, for myself and on behalf of
the said Henry Lumley, have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fifteenth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
5 Witness,
ERNEST DE PASS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
J. SCOTT RUSSELL. (L.S.)