Improvements in Apparatus for the Propulsion of Ships.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Propulsion of Ships.
We GUSTAV ZEUNER, Doctor of Philosophy and Professor at the Polytechnic
Academy in Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire and EWALD
BELLINGRATH, Director General of the Company "Kette, Deutsche Elbschiffahrts
Gesellschaft" of the same place do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
This invention relates to the propulsion of ships or vessels by means of a jet
or jets of water and its object is to provide more practical and available means
for effecting propulsion by such means and to provide improved means for
reversing the direction of motion of the ship or vessel.
.
Heretofore the jet of water has been produced by centrifugal and piston pumps
or by the direct action of steam pressure on water or by wheel and screw
propellers but all these means have given unsatisfactory results because they are
attended with sudden changes of volume or section speed and direction of motion
of the water currents, which lead to the formation of objectionable eddies, while
in the so called hydro motor the steam is not employed in an economical manner.
In order to obviate these defects we provide for the propulsion of the water a
wheel somewhat resembling an axial turbine or of the type known as the Jonval-
Henschel but so arranged that the water passes through it in the direction opposite
to that in which it would have to flow if it were to drive the wheel. The channel
through which the water has to pass after leaving the wheel is so constructed
that it presents gradually decreasing area of passage way towards its outlet end
which end is considerably smaller than the inlet area of the turbine wheel. Within
this channel and immediately behind the turbine, directing blades are fixed, by
which blades the water, after having left the turbine, is returned to the axial
direction.
The buckets of the turbine wheel aforesaid should be placed in such close
proximity as to cause all the particles of water passing between the buckets to
assume a determinate direction of motion and speed, dependent upon the form of
the buckets and the rotary and axial speed of the wheel.
As the turbine wheel may be made smaller in diameter than a screw propeller of
equal effect the said wheel can be advantageously employed in vessels of low
draught which would not be adapted for propulsion by screws, and this more
especially as both, the induction and the eduction orifices for the water may be placed
lower than the wheel.
There may also be arranged in front of the turbine wheel a system of fixed
directing blades which conduct the water to the turbine-buckets at an angle while
otherwise it meets the wheel in axial direction.
By the employment of an axial turbine there is produced behind the same and
within the said channel, an increase of pressure which causes an acceleration of
the water towards the point of issue. The area of the outlet must consequently
be smaller than the area for the entrance of the water into the wheel, measured
vertically to the axis of the latter. The channel is therefore made of gradually
decreasing area and hence we have termed it a contractor."
66
In order to reduce the diameter of the apparatus which is especially desirable
when it is applied to large vessels double turbines, having two series of buckets,
one within the other may be employed. The form of the buckets and of the
directing blades and the sectional area of the two parts of the contractor being so
arranged that the water issues from both portions of the contractor with equal
sneed

page_text: The turbine wheel and the contractor may be placed at the rear end of the
vessel or two or more wheels and contractors may be employed situated in recesses
at either side of the keel or hull of the vessel or the wheels and contractors may
be arranged inside of the vessel and the former be connected to influx channels
opening out near the bows or in front of the midship frame. If the wheels are
placed in recesses or within the vessel the contractors are so curved that the jets
of water issuing therefrom are directed parallel to the centre line of the vessel
while the driving shafts of the wheels may be parallel or inclined thereto and out
of line with the outflow orifice of the contractor. To avoid the disadvantages of
inclined driving shafts the turbine wheel with the driving shaft and the contractor
can be placed in torpedo shaped casings or chambers at the sides of the vessel so
that the turbine driving shafts can be parallel with the length of the vessel. The
turbine wheel may be driven by any suitable motor the connection of the motor
with the shaft of the wheel being effected as most convenient according to the
relative positions of the wheels and the motor.
This invention also comprises improved means for reversing the motion of the
vessel propelled as described which means consist of a device with a concave
surface at the side presented toward the issuing jet and adapted to be brought into
and out of the path of the jet of water issuing from the contractor so that when
the said device is brought into its path the jet is deflected and thrown back so that
it acts rearwardly on the vessel and reverses its direction of travel.
Dated the 1st day of November 1892.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Propulsion of Ships.
We, GUSTAV ZEUNER, Doctor of Philosophy and Professor at the Polytechnic
Academy in Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, and EWALD
BELLINGRATH, Director General of the Company "Kette Deutsche Elbschiffahrts
Gesellschaft" of the same place, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in-and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the propulsion of ships or vessels by means of a jet or
jets of water, and its object is to provide more practical and available means for
effecting propulsion by such means and to provide improved means for reversing the
direction of motion of the ship or vessel.
Heretofore the jet of water has been produced by centrifugal and piston pumps
or by the direct action of steam pressure on water, or by wheel and screw propellers
but all these means have given unsatisfactory results because they are attended
with sudden changes of volume or section, speed, and direction of motion of the
water currents, which lead to the formation of objectionable eddies while in the
so called hydro motor the steam is not employed in an economical manner.
In order to obviate these defects we provide for the propulsion of the water, a
wheel somewhat resembling an axial turbine or of the type known as the Jonval-
Henschel but so arranged that the water passes through it in the direction opposite
to that in which it would have to flow if it were to drive the wheel. The channel
through which the water has to pass after. leaving the wheel is so constructed that
it presents gradually decreasing area of passage way towards its outlet end which
end is considerably smaller than the inlet area of the turbine wheel. Within this
channel and immediately behind the turbine directing blades are fixed, by which
blades the water after having left the turbine is returned to the axial direction.
The buckets of the turbine-wheel aforesaid should be placed in such close
proximity as to cause all the particles of water passing between the buckets to

page_text: assume a determinate direction of motion and speed dependent upon the form of the
buckets and the rotary and axial speed of the wheel.
As the turbine wheel may be made smaller in diameter than a screw propeller of
equal effect the said wheel can be advantageously employed in vessels of low
draught which would not be adapted for propulsion by screws, and this more
especially as both the induction and the eduction orifices for the water may be
placed lower than the wheel.
There may also be arranged in front of the turbine wheel a system of fixed
directing blades which conduct the water to the turbine buckets at an angle while
otherwise it meets the wheel in axial direction.
By the employment of an axial turbine there is produced behind the same and
within the said channel an increase of pressure which causes an acceleration of the
water towards the point of issue. The area of the outlet must consequently be
smaller than the area for the entrance of the water into the wheel, measured
vertically to the axis of the latter. The channel is therefore made of gradually
decreasing area and hence we have termed it a contractor.
In order to reduce the diameter of the apparatus which is especially desirable
when it is applied to large vessels, double turbines, having two series of buckets
one within the other, may be employed. The form of the buckets, and of the
directing blades and the sectional area of the two parts of the contractor; being so
arranged that the water issues from both portions of the contractor with equal
speed.
The turbine wheel and the contractor may be placed at the rear end of the vessel
or two or more wheels and contractors may be employed, situated in recesses at
either side of the keel or hull of the vessel, or the wheels and contractors may be
arranged inside of the vessel and the former be connected to influx channels opening
out near the bows or in front of the midship frame. If the wheels are placed in
recesses or within the vessel, the contractors are so curved that the jets of water
issuing therefrom are directed parallel to the centre line of the vessel, while the
driving shafts of the wheels may be parallel or inclined thereto and out of line with
the outflow orifice of the contractor. To avoid the disadvantages of inclined
driving shafts, the turbine wheel with the driving shaft and the contractor can be
placed in torpedo shaped casings or chambers at the sides of the vessel so that the
turbine driving shafts can be parallel with the length of the vessel.
The turbine wheel may be driven by any suitable motor the connection of the
motor with the shaft of the wheel being effected as most convenient according to
the relative positions of the wheels and the motor.
This invention also comprises improved means for reversing the motion of the
vessel propelled as described which means consist of a device with a concave
surface at the side presented toward the issuing jet and adapted to be brought into
and out of the path of the jet of water issuing from the contractor so that when
the said device is brought into its path the jet is deflected and thrown back so that
it acts rearwardly on the vessel and reverses its direction of travel.
With regard to the construction the following conditions should be taken into
consideration. The area of the outlet orifice of the wheel should be reduced to
from 50 to 72 per cent. of that of the inlet orifice. The breadth of the blades
should be from 14 to 24 per cent. of the diameter of the turbine wheel. The blades
should be of inconsiderable length measured radially, and should be such in number
that in the small turbines they are separated by a space not exceeding ten
centimetres. At least twelve blades should be provided when the diameter of
the wheel is 0.5 metres and upwards and as many as forty blades and upwards
in wheels of large diameter; the smallest turbines having from six to eight
blades. The number of blades in the contractor is determined with a view to
the free sectional area required and the thickness and angle of the blades and
With
should be nearly equal to the number of blades in the turbine wheel.
regard to the shape of the blades it is to be observed that supposing the blade
to be cut through the medium width of the crown of the wheel in such a manner

page_text: that all the points in the section are equidistant from the axis of the turbine the
most advantageous effect will be obtained if the last element of the curve pro-
duced namely the element situated at the outlet is parallel to the axis of the
turbine, the entering angle of the section being determined by the circumferential
speed of the wheel in normal working.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagram illustrating in transverse
section a propeller constructed in accordance with our invention.
+
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the blades in the turbine
and "contracter.'
"
Figures 2, 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating modified arrangements of the
turbine and contractor as hereinafter explained.
Figures 4 and 4B represent in elevation and plan respectively a boat or vessel
provided at the stern with a propeller according to this invention.
Figures 5 and 5B illustrate in elevation and in plan (partly in horizontal section)
respectively an arrangement in which the propellers are placed at the sides of the
vessel combined with means for reversing the direction of the jet.
Figures 6 and 6B illustrate in elevation and plan respectively another arrange-
ment in which the propellers are placed at the sides of the vessel. Figures 6°
and 6 illustrate an arrangement in which the propellers are placed near the bottom
of the vessel.
'
Figure 7 illustrates in vertical section and Figure 7B in horizontal section an
arrangement for driving the propeller by means of a steam engine. Figure 7° is a
detail connected with this arrangement.
Figures 8ª and 8 illustrate in vertical ard horizontal section respectively an
arrangement for transmitting motion from one vertical engine to propellers at each
side of the vessel.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate in vertical sections modified arrangements of the
engine and transmitting gear.
Figures 11 and 11B illustrate in side elevation and horizontal section respectively
an arrangement in which the propeller is placed inside the vessel.
Figure 12 illustrates an arrangement in which the propeller is only partially
immersed in the water.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate in horizontal section examples of the devices
employed for reversing the direction of the propelling jet.
A Figure 1 represents the wheel of a Jouval-Henschel turbine fixed on a
shaft I and provided with blades A'. This wheel is enclosed in a stationary casing
(the aforesaid "contractor") B provided with guiding plates C arranged behind
the wheel A and contracting gradually towards the stern where it terminates in an
outlet orifice D which orifice may be of circular, rectangular or other suitable form
and may be either concentric or eccentric to the inlet orifice. The inlet and outlet
orifices a, and a, (Figure 1A) of the blades of the wheel A as well as the entering
angle ад of the guide plates C are so chosen that at normal speed the water passes
into the turbine A and leaves it to pass into the contractor B without producing
any shock. The angle at the delivery end of the guide plates C is such that the
water is directed in an axial direction towards the delivery orifice D. Central
guides E and F of cylindrical or conical form are provided in front of the turbine A
and in the interior of the contractor B. At the ends nearest to the turbine these
guides are of the same diameter as the interior of the turbine. The rear piece or
cone F is combined with the contractor and its guides and may be utilised as a
support for the rear end of the shaft I. The contractor may extend beyond the
cone F or the latter may project beyond the said casing or they may both terminate 5
in or about the same plane.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 24 a second series of guide

page_text: blades Care shewn arranged in front of the turbine blades A' the said blades C*
being fixed in the contractor in such a manner as to cause the water to be delivered
to the turbine at an angle a. In place of single acting turbines double acting
turbines may be employed as represented in Figure 3 they being composed of two
single acting turbines A' and A' arranged one within the other. These two
turbines are provided with separate contractors B₁ C¹ and B'C' they being so
arranged that the water enters both contractors at the same speed. Without
departing from the principles of this invention the parts may be so arranged as to
commence to gradually reduce the sectional area of the passage for the water either
in the turbine itself or partly in front of and partly behind it.
According to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 4 and 4B the propeller is
placed behind the stern post in the place usually occupied by a screw propeller.
The turbines A may be arranged entirely outside the projection of the hull as
represented in Figures 5 and 58 or they may be placed in a cavity or recess
provided for their reception in the sides of the vessel as represented in Figures 64
and 6B. In these examples the turbines are arranged obliquely to the axis of the
vessel and the turbine driving shafts I pass obliquely through the sides of the
latter. This renders it necessary to curve the contractor in order to deliver the jet
of water in a line parallel with the axis of the vessel. In Figures 6 and 6º the
two propelling turbines are represented as being placed near the bottom of the ship
in order that they may not be lifted out of the water by the rolling of the ship in
rough weather. Figures 7 and 7B illustrate another arrangement which is very
advantageous for sea going vessels. In this case the guide E is connected to the
side of the vessel by a passage O preferably of or approximating to the form
illustrated in transverse section in Figure 70 and the turbine axis or shaft I is
parallel to the axis of the vessel being supported by the two guides E and F.
Motion is transmitted from a steam engine N to the turbine shaft I by means of a
connecting rod P Figure 7 passing through the opening O. According to the
arrangement illustrated in Figure 7 each turbine is driven by a separate engine
but Figures 8A, 8B, 9 and 10 illustrate arrangements in which one engine (with two
or more cylinders (if desired) is employed to drive both turbines. In Figures 8^
and 8B a vertical engine N is employed driving a shaft provided with cranks for
transmitting motion to the turbines by means of connecting rods P1 P2. Figure 9
illustrates an arrangement in which a vertical engine N transmits motion to the
turbines through a combination of bent levers T₁ T and connecting rods P' P' and
Figure 10 represents a horizontal engine N driving the turbines by means of
connecting rods P1 P2 and levers TT. Figures 11 and 11B illustrate an
arrangement in which both propelling turbines are arranged inside the vessel. The
water enters in front of the turbine through passages K the delivery orifices D
being preferably arranged either at the middle of the length of the vessel or to
the rear of that point. The inlet orifices of the passage K may be of any
suitable form the section of the passage gradually merging into the circular form
near the turbine. With this arrangement the turbines may be placed either
completely or partially above the surface of the water provided that the inlet
orifices are so arranged as to be always immersed in the water. The delivery
orifices may be arranged either partially or wholly under the water. In order to
utilize the present invention for vessels of small draught such as are employed on
inland waters the propelling turbines A may be arranged outside the vessel in such
a manner as to be partly above the water line (Figure 12) air being prevented
from passing into the turbine by a hood L the edges of which are immersed in the
water. The said hood can be made of conical shape in front in order to reduce its
resistance in the water.
The reversing apparatus which can be employed in combination with the propelling
turbine is illustrated in different modifications in Figures 5 and 5B and 13 and 14.
Figure 13 illustrates in sectional plan an arrangement which is preferably
employed when the turbine is arranged at the stern of the vessel as in Figure 4.
It is composed of two wings G pivotted at c in a recess in a projection Z attached

page_text: to the extremity of the rear guide and dividing the orifice D into two parts facing
the said wings when the latter are in their open or expanded position as shewn.
Each wing is provided with a cavity a facing the orifices of the contractor B the
said cavities being of such a form as to deflect and throw forward the jets of water
which they receive at an angle exceeding 90 degrees up to 180 degrees. It will
be readily understood that this reversal of the jets has the effect of reversing the
direction of the movement of the vessel. By closing the wings together in the
position indicated by dotted lines the jets are again thrown in the direction
imparted to them by the contracter and the vessel immediately resumes its forward
movement. In order that the jets may not spread either upwards or downwards
the cavities a are closed above and below by horizontal surfaces. So long as the
reversing apparatus is not required the wings G are folded back so as to lie com-
pletely within the recess provided for their reception. The projection or extension Z
can terminate in a cone in order to reduce resistance to the movement of the vessel
in the water. The modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 14 is employed when
the turbines are arranged at the sides. The reverser consists of a wing G provided
with a cavity a and pivotted at its rear end C in a recess S formed in the side of
the vessel. When not in use the wing G lies in the said recess as represented in
full lines and when employed for reversing is placed in the position indicated by
dotted lines with its curved recess in rear of the jet. Any convenient mechanical
arrangements can be provided for operating the wing by moving it outwards and
inwards such as for.instance a rod connected to the wing and passing through a
packed hole in the side of the vessel. In the arrangement illustrated in
Figures 5 and 5B the reverser is raised above the water when out of action. The
said reverser is composed of a body G in the form of a sugar loaf provided with a
cavity a and connected by means of a lever / with a shaft R passing through the
side of the vessel. In order to use this reverser it is rotated by means of the
shaft R so as to move from the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5 to
the position indicated in full lines so as to present its cavity in front of the delivery
orifice B of the contracter in order to deflect the jet of water and direct it forwards
so as to reverse the movement of the vessel.
In all the arrangements employed any suitable provision may be made for
protecting the propelling turbines from projectiles or from injury arising from
articles floating on the water or suspended beneath its surface.
We are aware of the systems proposed by Alex Seydel (1853), John Cockerill
of Seraing (1859), Liliehöök, Thornycroft, and the "Vulcan" Company of Stettin,
as well as those employed on the boat "Nautilus" (navigated on the Thames) and
on the gunboat "Witchwater" in which systems it has been proposed to use
reaction propellors in which the flow of the water is produced by the aid of
centrifugal pumps or by Fourneyron turbines being apparatus the employment of
which is necessarily accompanied by very considerable resistance owing to the
admission and discharge of the water being productive of an eddying or whirling
motion. We are also aware that in 1875 Werner proposed to utilize the Jonval-
Henschel turbine by providing it with a front piece for directing the water but he
caused the water to pass through so many bends or circuitous passages that the
resulting hydraulic resistance became excessive.
In the hydro motor constructed by Fleischer at Kiel in 1881 he employed as a
pump a species of pulsometer which effected the projection of the water directly by
the pressure of steam but the flow of water took place under unfavourable conditions
and through an inconvenient arrangement of passages.
We wish it to be understood that we therefore lay no claim to these prior systems
or proposals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In propellers acting by the reaction of a jet of water the combination of an

page_text: axial turbine of the Jonval Henschal type with a casing which surrounds the wheel
of the turbine and contracts towards the rear so as to terminate in an outlet or
delivery orifice which is smaller than the orifice through which the water passes
from the turbine the said casing being provided with directing plates behind the
turbine wheel for guiding the water passing from the said wheel into an axial
direction substantially as hereinbefore explained.
2. The combination with a propeller such as is claimed by the preceding claim of
a piece or pieces with a concave recess therein and mounted so as to be capable of
being placed before the orifice of the casing or of being withdrawn therefrom the
Baid concave recess being of such form as to enable it to deflect the jet or jets of
water and throw it or them forwards at an angle such as to cause reversal of the vessel
substantially as herein before described and illustrated more particularly in
Figures 5A 5B 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of the propelling turbine as claimed by the first claim on the
exterior of a vessel and obliquely to the axis thereof so that the axis of the turbine
passes obliquely into the interior of the vessel in combination with a turbine casing
curved in such a manner as to direct the water parallel to the axis of the vessel
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The propelling turbine arranged as described on the exterior of the vessel in
such a manner that its axis is parallel with the axis of the vessel and that it receives
movement from a connecting rod passing through the side of the vessel as explained
with regard to Figures 7 and 7B.
5. The arrangement of the propelling turbine near the bottom of the vessel as
explained with regard to Figures 6A 6B and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of July 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.