AN IMPROVED PROPELLER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Meylan, of Aubervilliers, near Paris, in the Depart-
ment of the Seine and Republic of France, Geometrician, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PROPELLER.”
ealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 1st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Meylan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1878.
ALBERT MEYLAN, of Aubervilliers, near Paris, in the Department of the Seine
and Republic of France, Geometrician. "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER."
The object of my improved propeller is to replace the paddle wheels and screws
now in use for driving vessels or boats. It is composed of one or more pistons, and
I estimate that the surface of each should be equal to about two-thirds that of the
paddles dipping in the water of a vessel of equal tonnage travelling under favor-
able conditions.
At Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing the pistons are two in
number, and their come-and-go movement is alternate. This Figure represents only
the theory of the system; the pistons may be of cast iron, of wood circled with steel
bands, or of any material or combination of materials which may be found most
suitable to the circumstances of each particular application, and enclosed in cylinders
of metal or other material of same dimension. They are here placed at the stern of
the vessel.
The piston A, which drives the piston B by means of racks and a toothed wheel
(a mode of communicating motion which may be replaced by any other which may
be found suitable), receives its reciprocating motion from its own rod, which is
simply that of the piston of the steam cylinder C which forms its other end, and the
stroke of which is the same, and I believe one meter fifty centimeters will suffice
for the largest vessels. It travels in the space A, D, pressing directly upon the
fluid, and pushing the vessel in the opposite direction the return motion is facilitated
by the pressure of the water itself, which assists in pushing the piston back in the

page_text: cylinder; the action of piston B is the same, but it is always travelling in the
opposite direction to that A.
A similar apparatus is placed forward for moving astern and instantaneous
stoppages.
The Drawing shows that the piston rod may be made to separate in two part
at E for effecting repairs or renewing pistons.
As to the cylinders, they are arranged as shown in the vertical section, Figure 2.
At the end A (Figure 2), towards the water and beyond the stroke B, K, of the
piston is fitted a sliding door or valve, which may be lowered or closed in case of
damage; the end C is closed by a door or plate secured by nuts and pierced
in the centre for the passage of the rod. At D is a small orifice for the escape of
the water coming from any leakages which may exist, and which will thus be
ascertained.
Finally, the part B, C; (Figure 2) constantly empty, is surmounted by a
chimney E for the escape and return of air. In ships of large tonnage this chinney
is sufficiently large to permit the descent of a man in case of slight repairs being
needed without the necessity of opening the door C; the piston may also be drawn
as far as this door, and the chimneys may further serve as shafts for ventilating the
hold.
In small vessels the long rod of the piston and its accessories might be dispensed
with; by uniting (as shown at Figure 3) the steam cylinder with that of propulsion
the generator and a steam conduit suffice; in this case the steam escapes if desired
into a cone X open at the base, where it condenses and increases the propelling
power. The speed is regulated by opening a cock placed within reach of the
engineer.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Albert Meylan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th June
1878.
ALBERT MEYLAN, of Aubervilliers, near Paris, in the Department of the Seine
and Republic of France, Geometrician. "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER."
The object of my improved propeller is to replace the paddle wheels and screws
now in use for driving vessels or boats. It is composed of one or more pistons, and
I estimate that the surface of each should be equal to about two-thirds that of the
paddles dipping in the water of a vessel of equal tonnage travelling under favor-
able conditions.
At Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing the pistons are two in
number, and their come-and-go movement is alternate; this Figure represents only
the theory of the system. The pistons may be of cast iron, of wood circled with
steel bands, or of any material or combination of materials which may be found
most suitable to the circumstances of each particular application, and enclosed in
cylinders of metal or other material of same dimension. They are here placed at
the stern of the vessel.
The piston A, which drives the piston B by means of racks and a toothed wheel,
(a mode of communicating motion which may be replaced by any other which may
be found suitable), receives its reciprocating motion from its own rod, which is
simply that of the piston of the steam cylinder C which forms its other end, and the
stroke of which is the same, and I believe one meter fifty centimetres will suffice
for the largest vessels. It travels in the space A, D, pressing directly upon the
fluid and pushing the vessel in the opposite direction; the return motion is
facilitated by the pressure of the water itself, which assists in pushing the piston
back in the cylinder; the action of piston B is the same, but it is always travelling
in the opposite direction to that A.
A similar apparatus is placed forward for moving astern and instantaneous
stoppages.
The Drawing shows that the piston rod may be made to separate in two parts
at E, for effecting repairs or renewing pistons.
As to the cylinders, they are arranged as shown in the vertical section, Figure 2.
At the end A (Figure 2), towards the water and beyond the stroke B, K, of the
piston is fitted a sliding door or valve, which may be lowered or closed in case of
damage; the end C is closed by a door or plate secured by nuts and pierced in the
centre for the passage of the rod. At D is a small orifice for the escape of
the water coming from any leakages which may exist, and which will thus be
ascertained.
Finally the part B, C, (Figure 2), constantly empty, is surmounted by a chimney
or conduit E for the escape and return of air. In ships of large tonnage this chimney
is sufficiently large to permit the descent of a man in case of slight repairs being
needed without the necessity of opening the door C; the piston may also be drawn
as far as this door, and the chimneys may further serve as shafts for ventilating the
hold.
In small vessels the long rod of the piston and its accessaries might be dispensed
with; by uniting (as shown at Figure 3) the steam cylinder with that of propulsion
the generator and a steam conduit suffice; in this case the steam escapes if desired
into a cone X open at the base, where it condenses and increases the propelling
power; the speed is regulated by opening a cock placed within reach of the
engineer.
ADVANTAGES OF MY IMPROVED PROPELLER.
This system, which is as simple as possible, namely, a piston in its cylinder, has
for main advantages, in addition to its great simplicity, rendering the machinery

page_text: any of the loss of power experienced with paddle wheels and screws, so that the
power, the weight, and the volume or bulk of the generators, fire-places, and engines
may be considerably diminished while producing the same speed of impulsion; con-
sequently there will be a decrease in the quantity of coal to be carried by the vessel,
which will be correspondingly lightened and have more free space, and there will be
a saving of fuel.
My improved propeller does not increase the breadth of the ship-like paddle
wheels; it is completely sheltered from blows and projectiles of war, and has not,
like the screw, the defect that it cannot be repaired at sea.
Further, a vessel provided with my improved propeller will not be subject to the
loss of power of paddle wheel steamers when rolling, with one of the wheels out of the
water, and the other so deeply immersed as to produce no useful effect, or to the
annoying and injurious trembling or vibration occasioned by the rotation of the
screw.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to any particular form or dimensions of my improved pro-
peller; that it may be driven by various kinds of engines, and be applied to vessels
of auy tonnage, from the smallest boat with manual power up to the largest steam-
ship, whether merchant ship or vessel of war, and that what I claim as secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the use of an improved
propeller constructed substantially as herein-before described, and shown on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Meylan, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.