IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Green, of 12, Sydney Street, Brompton,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 20th March 1855, and dated the 17th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Green at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1854.
I, RICHARD GREEN, of 12, Sydney Street, Brompton, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROPELLING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the employment of a submerged wheel, working
either horizontally or vertically, but by preference horizontally; on this wheel
are placed blades or arms, which, daring one half of the revolution of the
wheel are turned, so that they act flat against the water, so as to propel the
vessel; and during the other half of the revolution of the wheel, to come again
into position to propel the vessel, the blades turn, so as to pass edgeways
through the water, and to offer only a slight resistance to the motion of the
ship, and this motion of the blades I produce by the action of cam surfaces on
the stems of the blades.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Green in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1855.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
GREEN, of 12, Sydney Street, Brompton, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most-Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing. date the Seventeenth-day-of-October;-in-the-year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Green, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Green, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Green, 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 IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING
VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard
Green, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 T, the said Richard Green, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say) :-
My Invention for "Improvements in Propelling Vessels" consists in the
employment of paddle wheels, in which I arrange a series of rotating paddles
round a revolving axis or spindle, so that during a portion of the revolution
of the wheel, they may offer their broad surfaces to the water whilst propelling
the vessel, and, by what is technically termed feathering, offer their narrow
surfaces or edges to the water during that portion of the revolution when their
action upon the water ceases to be beneficial in propelling the vessel, and this
I effect as follows:-I take a drum or wheel, which I mount on an axis or
spindle, to be driven by a steam engine or other motor. In this I place as
many paddles as are suited to the intended object, each paddle being mounted
ou an axis or spindle, and turning freely in bushes let into the rims or frame-

page_text: work of the drum or wheel. These paddle wheels I cause to project beyond
the side of the vessel, when placed, as I prefer them to be, horizontally, and
submerged, with their spindles or axes vertical; though I do not confine myself
to this precise application, as they may be fitted and arranged vertically on the
vessel's side, either submerged or partially so, as an ordinary paddle wheel.
The paddles may be in form and shape most convenient and suitable for the
work they are intended to perform. To the inner part of the sides of the vessel
I attach hollow boxings, open toward the water, forming a water-tight casing
or enclosure to the paddles and wheels, and which, when applied horizontally,
terminates at the vessel's side, enclosing only that portion of the wheels which
is within the line of the vessel's side, leaving the paddles with the portion of
the wheels which protrude through the opening uncovered while acting in
propelling the vessels; by this expedient I get rid of the objectionable external
paddle case. I fix to the top and bottom of this casing concentric rings or
rails, on which I place at suitable distances apart, on one or both rings, studs,
pins, or rollers, so that they may be acted upon by, and may intercept, the
motion of the paddle axes or spindles, which overhang or pass over them; for
which purpose I attach to the said axes or spindles collars or cams of a
suitable form, having indents upon their peripheries, edges, or angles, the
diameter of which cams must correspond with the projection of the said studs,
pins, or rollers, so that the paddles, having performed a portion of a revolution
with their broad surfaces to the water, the indents on the said cams may, as
the wheels or drums revolve with their paddles, come into contact with, and
take into, the said studs, pins, or rollers, and cause the paddles to make
successively a quarter of a rotation, which motion will place the paddles in a
new position, in which they will pass edgewise through the water, offering
thereto the minimum resistance; and I retain the paddles in this new position
by causing the flat sides of square collars, fixed on the paddles' axes, to rub or
slide against, and be confined between, the concentric rings above and below
them, during such part of the rotation of the wheel or drum as is required to
bring the paddles again into action, retaining the paddles firmly in their position.
So soon as the paddles shall have arrived at the proper point for resuming
their original position, and to recommence their action upon the water for the
propulsion of the vessel, I cause the square retaining collars successively to
have the guides or concentric rings, which is effected by cutting away a
portion of the surfaces of the said rings, which allows the collars to turn as
the cams come into contact with, and take into, other studs, pins, or rollers,
and effect another quarter of a rotation of the paddles, which brings their
broad surfaces again into action against the water. This being a successive and
.

page_text: continuous action, the vessel is thereby propelled forward with uniformity, and
without any drag, counteraction, or impediment arising from back water or
the retrograde motion of the paddles. The paddle casing need only be of such
dimensions as will admit of the paddles passing edgewise through it, and is
made perfectly secure from leakage by passing the main axis or spindle of the
paddle wheel or drum through a stuffing box in the top or bottom of the
casing to the interior of the vessel, as may be most convenient for communi-
cating with the steam engine or motor. It will be obvious that the reverse
action or backing of the vessel may be effected by simply reversing the motion
of the paddle wheel or drum, as the studs, pins, or rollers may be so placed
that their action will be precisely the same in both directions.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, the following
description of and reference to the accompanying Drawing will more par-
ticularly show its application.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figures 1, 2, 3, shew the elevation, section, and plan of a horizontal paddle
wheel or propeller and its case, in which the same letters refer to similar parts.
A is the side of the vessel; B, the casing enclosing the paddle wheel or pro-
peller, with a stuffing box C, through which the spindle or axis D of the
wheel E passes and works water-tight, and is connected to the engine as
convenience may suggest; the paddle wheel or drum fitted with collars or
bushes for the paddle axes to turn in. F, F, the paddles, with their stems,
axes, or spindles G, G; II, H, cams, for the purpose of giving rotative motion
to the paddle axes, having hollow corners, angles, or indentations suited to
be acted upon by the studs, pins, or rollers I, I, against which they strike;
K, K, square collars, which, passing freely between the concentric rings L, L,
retain the paddles in their respective positions, and, having their corners
rounded off to prevent them from tripping against the rings, recesses, or
breaks in the rings L', L', are provided to allow the collars K, K, to turn
when the cams II, II, strike the studs I, I, see Figure 4. M, a shield, secured
to and travelling with the paddle wheel, which encloses the machinery, and
effectually protects it from obstructing matter fleating in the water. Figure 4
is an enlarged view of the cam H, the stud I, and collar K, shewing the
position at the commencement, the middle, and the end of the motion of the
cam, the two latter being shewn by dotted lines at K', K. Figure 5 shows
the application of an upright wheel to the side of a vessel. Figures 6 and 7
shew the application of a wheel of small diameter to the centre of a vessel
and submerged, well adapted for canals.

page_text: Having now described the construction of paddle wheels or propeliers
according to my said Invention, adapted either for sea-going, river, or canal
navigation, I do not strictly confine myself to the precise details delineated in
the Drawings, as the same may be variously applied and the parts diversified
without departing from the nature or principle of my said Invention; and I
therefore claim the application of paddles on moveable axes or spindles, the
motion of which is effected by cams or collars on the said axes or spindles,
combined with the concentric guide rings or rails, and the studs, pins, or rollers,
for periodically changing the position of the paddles with respect to the water
in which they act, whether such paddles be made to rotate continuously on
their axes in one direction, or to rotate to and fro by a combined forward and
reverse action of the studs, pins, or rollers, and whether such wheels or pro-
pellers be applied as ordinary paddle wheels, using the feathering action to
avoid back water or an abrupt entrance, or whether as a partially or entirely
submerged propeller, either applied vertically, horizontally, or at an angle with
the surface of the water, and whether applied to the sides or other convenient
part of the vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Green, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JOHN EDKINS.
RICHARD GREEN. (L.s.)