CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON THE WATER DRIVEN BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER, AND FOR FACILITATING THE REVOLUTION OF THE SAME BY MEANS OF A NEW CONSTRUCTION OF COG OR TOOTH WHEELS.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elias Robison Handcock, of Albemarle Street,
Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON THE
WATER DRIVEN BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER, AND FOR FACILITATING
THE REVOLUTION OF THE SAME BY MEANS OF A NEW CONSTRUCTION OF COG OR
TOOTH WHEELS.'
"
Sealed the 24th November 1871, and dated the 20th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION left by the said Elias Robison
Handcock at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 20th June 1871.
I, ELIAS ROBISON HANDCOCK, of Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, in
the County of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS ON THE WATER DRIVEN BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER, AND FOR
FACILITATING THE REVOLUTION OF THE SAME BY MEANS OF A NEW CONSTRUCTION
OF COG OR TOOTH WHEELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in having the greater proportion of the fans
or blades of these propellers confined in a box or case open at one side

page_text: revolving within this case in a horisontal direction, and embracing two
seperate arrangements or modifications, but both occupying the same
position, and both partially confined in a case open at one side, and
similarly situated as regards the vessel, although the mechanical move-
ment is different in each case.
Fig. 1 shows the transverse section of a vessel with two seperate
arrangements of propellers, A being the casing or box of one description,
as seen also in Fig. 2, A forming three-quarters of a circle, open at the
other quarter of the circle, so as to enable the blade B, Fig. 1, to act
on the dense water outside the displacement of the vessel. Fig. 2 shows
these fans or blades placed inside the case A with a band of iron or other
metal, letter (N) at top and bottom to more effectually to strengthen
them. Fig. 3 shows the shaft to which these blades are attached and the
means of relieving friction by allowing it to rest on the ball H placed
in a socket. Fig. 4 shows the propeller without the casing.
Fig. 1, letter D, shows the casing of another modification of pro-
peller acting like the other horisontally and in a case, describing two-
thirds of a circle. The propellers attached to this case move in and out
through the drum K, Fig. 8, as they in successeon come in contact with
the side of the casing, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, letter E. Figs. 5, 6, and 7
show the mechanical arrangement of the blades or fans of these pro-
pellers. The bars J, Fig. 6, passing under the bars J, Fig. 5, and in
like manner the bar J, Fig. 7, passing under that of Fig. 6, thereby
allowing the blades a free movement through each other. Fig. 8 shows
the plan view of this propeller, D being the casing; K, the drum
through which these propellers pass each other, having an open space (L)
between cach bar to prevent their coming in contact during their revolu-
tion, while a small flange is placed at their extremity to prevent the
centrifugal force driving them beyond their proper position.
Fig. 10 & 11, letters C & F, are the new description of tooth or
cog wheels, as seen in application in Fig. 1, attached to the top of the
shaft, facilitating the revolution of these propellers or doubling their
revolution if necessary by employing the pinion. It will be observed
that it is attached to the top of the shaft, facilitating the revolution of
these propellers or doubling their revolution if necessary by employing
the pinion.
The peculiarity of these cog or tooth wheels consists in their accurate
and simple construction, a line being drawn vertically and another hori

page_text: sontally, the radii being at right angles to each other, as in Fig. 10
& 11, letter W, and each quarter or section being equally divided
into the necessary number of parts, according to the strength of the
tooth required, a circle being drawn at the extremity of each radiu,
through the centre of which circle when at the horisontal position the
pitch line X should cut will give the tooth of one wheel (while in
contact with the pitch line), a concave shape, and the other wheel acting
with it a convex one, enabling them to work smoothly into each other
without noise or back lash.
23
To arrive at the proper proportions of the different sized wheels the
radius of the larger wheel should be calculated from its centre to that
of the pitch line X, being ½ ½ª, ¼th, &. &., more than that of the
small wheel. Thus in Fig. 10 being double the diameter of Fig. 11 has
double the no. of teeth, the distance from or between the centre of each
tooth being the same and the strength equal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Elias Robison Handcock in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th December 1871.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELIAS
ROBISON HANDCOCK, of Albemarl Street, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting.
"
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give¨
and grant unto me, the said Elias Robison Handcock, Her special licence
that I, the said Elias Robison Handcock, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Elias Robison Handcock,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS ON THE WATER DRIVEN
BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER, AND FOR FACILITATING THE MOTION AND,

page_text: REVOLUTION OF THE SAME BY MEANS OF A NEW CONSTRUCTION OF COG OR TOOTH
WHEELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Elias
Robison Handcock, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elias Robison Handcock, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
•
The principle of this Invention is very simple and comprehensible,
but it is not so easy to convince theorists of it. The difficulty I have
experienced in this particular in almost every instance has been very
great, and the principle is so little understood that scarce occular
demonstration has been able to force conviction, and although the effect
was fully admitted the impression left on the minds of some of those
who witnessed the trials was that of its being, an incompréhensible
puzzle.
The practical effect of this Invention, as particularly shown in
Figures 24, 25, and 26, has been fairly and severely tested before naval
men of high rank, and scientific men of well known ability, both against
the screw and the paddle wheel on the same vessel and with the same
power, the speed of the horizontal submerged propeller nearly doubling
the speed of the others, and has removed all doubt as to its vast
superiority in every respect over every other mode of propulsion hitherto
invented.
It is scarcely necessary to mention to scientific men the well known
fact that action and reaction are equal, this is sufficiently exemplified
by Hero of Alexandria, with his Edepede, also in what is denominated.
Barker's mill, and more recently in Ruthven's propeller in. his trials
in the Water Witch and Nautilies steamers, without mentioning other
instances, such as the action of a racket or the recoil of a gun; on
this principle this Invention is based. But to elucidate this more fully,
let us suppose there is permanently attached at right angles to the side
of the vessel and close to the case in which the fans revolve a piece.
of wood or metal, not less in length or width, projecting in like manner.

page_text: as the fan (90 degrees from the side of the vessel), being of not less
area, and being a fixture and part of the vessel; the water by the direct
acting of the fan been impelled against it must tend to drive the
vessel astern, while the reaction against the fan must have the effect
of forcing the vessel forward; the result must unquestionably be that
the vessel could not move at all, in consequence of the effect produced
by the action and reaction being equal, and hath with equal power
acting in contrary ways, and opposing and neutralising each other,
but take away this projection against which the water is dashed by
the fan in its revolution, and the water having a free unobstructed
course can offer no counteracting resistance, the direct action against
the vessel's course ceases, and the vessel under the influence of reaction
must move forward. But the case is widely different as regards the
fans inside the case, the water by direct action being dashed against the
concave surface of the case, not having a free exit, and this case being
part of the vessel tends to drive the vessel one way, while the reaction
against the fans serves to impel the vessel in a contrary one, thus
neutralising their effect and leaving them powerless for benefit or injury.
I wish it to be born in mind that my assertions are not theoretical,
> but practical.
Fig. 12 shows the outlines and scales of an Atlantic steam vessel,
which made the quickest passage of any vessel up to 1860 together
with the proportion of the different parts.
Fig. 13 shows the position occupied by the propeller in the side of the
› vessel, also the protecting bar (Z) for warding off any blow which
the vessel might be subject to in coming in contact with any external"
object, which protection may be increased to any number of bars.
Fig. 24 shows an enlarged view of the horizontal submerged pro-
peller (A. being the casing or box embracing about three parts of the
O circle; B, the fans of the propeller.
j
Fig. 25 shows a cross section of the boat (Fig. 12), and the position
occupied by the propeller. These fans or floats are attached permanently
to the shaft G, Fig. 26, which shaft passes through the casing A, top
and bottom, as seen in the dotted lines Fig. 24, letters G, and revolve
5 with the shaft, and which shaft is connected with the crank of the
connecting rod.

page_text: Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 21 shows another but more complicated modifi-
cation of a submerged horizontal propeller; letter E shows the fans
or blades of this propeller. .
Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, letter K, shows the drum of the propeller
through which the floats or fans pass.
Fig. 21 shows the construction of these fans or floats.
Figs. 22 and 23, another section of the same.
Fig. 15 shows a cross section of the interior of the vessel (Fig. 12),
with the proportionate size of the case with the propeller.
Fig. 16 shows an enlarged view of the propeller (E) and the
casing D.
Fig. 17, letter K, shows the drum through which these floats travel.
Fig. 18 shows the means by which the drum is fastened to the shaft,
top and bottom, and how the caps, shaft, and drum are united.
Figs. 19 and 20 shows the method by which the shaft, top and
bottom, are attached to the caps P.
•
Fig. 27 shows one portion of the engine, and although both are
working independently, yet both are assisting each other over the dead
or neutral point by means of the crank M attached to the top of each
shaft, and moving with them so that the crank of one engine may be
at right angles to the other, while the cranks at the top of the shaft
(not the working cranks) move at the same angle and produce the same
effect as if they were at right angles to each other as in the ordinary
reciprocating engine. This Figure also shows the method of employing
tooth wheels, as seen in letter R, and also of merely employing a crank,
as seen at letter S in the same Figure.
•
Fig. 24 shows another position of the engines by which they may
be further lowered in the boats, the engine crank attached to the shaft
of the propeller being placed at an angle of about 10 degrees, and the
connecting rod fixed to the crank pins (V) by the assistance of a ball and
socket, as seen in Figures 31, 32, and 34. These crank pins pass through
gun metal collars (0) placed between the pin and the arms of the crank;
these pins being screwed into the cap T revolve and retain them in their
position, thus both pins and caps revolve together.
Fig. 33 shows the construction of the socket in which the ball

page_text: Fig. 35 shows how the connecting bar is placed, which enables. the
engines by means of the cranks to which the piston rod is attached
to assist each other over the dead or neutral point, and how it may be
disconnected in reversing the engines, the stop (X) being raised by
moving the handle (Y) let loose the one-half of the bar, and enables
it to move up and down in the slot, but this is only made use of when
the engines are acting reversely.
Figs. 27, 28, 29, 30, and 36 also show how each engine may assist
each other over the dead or neuteral point, although they are acting
independently and different from each other, one with a forward, and
the other with a backward movement, which in vessels wearing is most
essential. This handle (L) being (as in Figure 29) reversed by tightening
the endless band (Fig. 28) on the pullies attached to the top of the shaft
of the propeller assists each engine to help the other alternately over
the dead or neuteral point, although both are acting in a reverse direction,
while the conversing gear, by altering the position as seen in Fig. 30,
lets the band slacken, and thus becoming loose on the pullics ceases
to have any effect on the shaft; but in order to a uniform action of the
propellers in the same direction this band must cross in the centre as
usual in ordinary machinery.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner it is to be
performed, accompanied by the several Drawings and Diagrams in
explanation of the same, I claim as new,-
1
First. The general combination of parts, as detailed and shown in the
saine.
Secondly. The means of the relieving friction in the revolution of the
shaft of the propeller by throwing the weight of the propeller and its
appendages on a point or ball or antifriction collar placed at the
extremity of the vertical shaft, as seen in Figs. 15, 18, 20, and 24.
Thirdly. Also the particular manner of the propeller acting horizontally
while confined in a submerged case and at right angles to the side or
course of the vessel, as seen in Figures 12, 24, 25, and 26, the fans being
attached to a vertical shaft (G) passing right through the case or box,
also through that of a stuffing box, and confining the non-propelling
floats for the time being within the case, leaving the propelling floats
outside the case free to discharge the water, and giving no impediment

page_text: to the effect of the reaction, by which the vessel is driven on its
course.
Fourthly. I claim another modification of a propeller, as shown in
Figures 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, and 23, and the peculiar method of preventing
these fans from interfering with each other in traversing through
the dam.
:
Fifthly. I claim the method and arrangement for reversing the engines,
and enabling each engine to act independently and in a contrary
direction, as seen in Figures 27, 28, 29, and 30.
Sixthly. I claim the method of enabling one engine to assist the other
over the dead or neuteral point, whether the engines are acting in the
same direction or otherwise, as seen in Fig. 27, letter M.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elias Robison Handcock, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
soventy-one.