Steering Ships or Vessels.
Year: 1885

page_text: Steering Ships or Vessels.
I, JAMES BEVERIDGE of Soho Foundry, Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS OR
VESSELS, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of improved apparatus
whereby boats, ships, or other sea-going vessels can be propelled and steered,
which apparatus is operated by steam or other motive power engine.
Another object of my said Invention is to dispense with screw propellers (and
avoid the great loss of power entailed by the friction on thrust bearing) and
ordinary paddle wheels; utilizing the water by a simpler and more effective
means of propulsion; and as my propelling and steering apparatus can be made
to work a ship any direction, the use of reversing engines can be dispensed with.
I am aware that the water has before been tried as a re-action agent, but the
method before employed has not been practically successful on account of the
apparatus not being scientifically constructed, whereas in my invention I utilize
the water through the centrifugal pump or casing (hereinafter described) both as a
re-action agent and paddle combined.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a centrifugal pump or pumps, or, what
would be similar, a circular or polygonal casing or casings with an orifice in centre
on each side, which may be either circular or polygonal, for the admission of the
water. To each side of this said orifice is fixed a pipe connected to the centrifugal
pump or casing by flanges or any other well known method of water-tight con-
nection. The opposite ends of these pipes are each joined or connected to branches
which lead into the two main delivery pipes. One of the said delivery pipes
proceeds from the periphery of the centrifugal pump or casing in the direction
towards the stern of the ship, and is run out through the ship's side at the most
convenient and suitable part for ejecting the water forced through, either at the
stern or any part between astern and amidships. The other delivery pipe proceeds
from the opposite side at the periphery of the centrifugal pump or casing and is
carried towards the bow of the ship, the opening into the water being at the most
convenient part between amidships and the bow, in the case of more than one

page_text: centrifugal pump being used, the same number of admission pipes on each side
will be required as the number of centrifugal pumps used, and the water may be
discharged into the same two delivery pipes, or each pump may have a double
delivery pipe it is not necessary that these delivery pipes should be straight, as
they may be placed obliquely, so that when the water is forced out it will act
normally to the water outside the ship. The delivery pipe may be at one side, or
may branch out so as the water may be forced out both at the port and starboard
side of the ship, and the pipes may be of the same diameter throughout or tapered.
The casing hereinbefore referred to, is fitted in the centre with an armature or
shaft, on which is fixed a suitable number of blades, (as is also the centrifugal
pump) these blades may be either straight, curvilinear, or parabolical. The
armature or shaft above mentioned is actuated at a high velocity by means of any
suitable communication in connection with the engine or other motive power, such,
for instance, as by spur gearing, friction gearing, or rope pulleys, or it may be
connected direct to the crank shaft of the engine.
The centrifugal pump or casing is placed amidships as close to the keel as
practicable, inside the ship;-I reserve myself the right of placing them outside
the ship if anytime found necessary: in the case of more than one being used they
may be fixed one on each side of the ship, inside,-—that is, one on the port side, and
one on the starboard side. In the case of large ships or where a great speed is
required, more than two centrifugal pumps may be used, when several may be
placed side by side amidships, or they may be arranged longitudinally with the
ship, motion being transmitted to them either by spur gearing, cranks and rods,
belts, or other well known systems.
Of course it will be understood that in any of the previously mentioned
arrangements the centrifugal pump or pumps is or are preferably below the
water line.
:
The object in using a centrifugal pump or other similar arrangement to give the
same result, as a propelling and steering power, is to cause the blades to revolve at
a high velocity whereby the water is drawn in at the central orifice from the
opposite delivery pipe, through the branches, and by the action of the blades
causes the water to be expelled at such a velocity through the delivery pipe
against the surrounding water as to propel the ship in the opposite direction.
Each discharge or delivery pipe is fitted with a suitable door or valve, one of
them is open to allow the free passage of the water astera when propelling the
ship forward; when the ship is required to go astern, the above mentioned door or
valve is closed and the other one opened which causes the water to flow ahead
and consequently propels the ship astern. Suitable valves are also placed in the
receiving pipes that are affixed to the orifice of the centrifugal pumps for con-
trolling the water when going ahead or astern.
The "delivery pipes," hereinbefore described are also used as pipes for supplying
the water to the centrifugal pumps, the opposite pipe to the one discharging the
water being used as the supply pipe, and when the ship is reversed the pipes act
per contra.
My improved centrifugal propelling and steering apparatus may be fitted to
existing ships, or to ships specially constructed.
The words "centrifugal pump," and "circular or polygonal casing," hereinbefore
mentioned are used analogous.
It is obvious that the arrangement herein described may be slightly. varied
according to circumstances without departing from the principle of the Invention.
1-1..תנ...מ
1
1002

page_text: Steering Ships or Vessels.
I, JAMES BEVERIDGE, of Soho foundry, Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS OR
VESSELS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of improved apparatus
whereby boats, ships, or other sea-going vessels can be propelled and steered,
which apparatus is operated by steam or other motive power engine.
Another object of my said Invention is to dispense with screw-propellers (and
avoid the great loss of power entailed by the friction on thrust bearing) and
ordinary paddle wheels; utilizing the water by a simpler and more effective means
of propulsion, and as my propelling and steering apparatus can be made to work a
ship any direction, the use of reversing engines can be dispensed with.
I am aware that the water has before been tried as a re-action agent, but the
methods before employed have not been practically successful on account of the
apparatus not being scientifically constructed, whereas in my invention I utilize
the water through the centrifugal pump or casing (hereinafter described) both as a
re-action agent and paddle combined.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a centrifugal pump or pumps, or, what
would be similar a circular or polygonal casing or casings with an orifice in centre
on each side, which may be either circular or polygonal, for the admission of the
water. To each side of this said orifice is affixed a pipe connected to the centri-
fugal pump or casing by flanges or any other well known method of water-tight
connection. The opposite ends of these pipes are each joined or connected to
branches which lead into the two main delivery pipes, or, the branch pipes may be
cast along with the centrifugal pump or casing. One of the said delivery pipes
proceeds from the periphery of the centrifugal pump or casing in the direction
towards the stern of the ship and is run out through the ship's side at the most
convenient and suitable part for ejecting the water forced through, either at the
stern or any part between astern and amidships. The other delivery pipe proceeds
from the opposite side at the periphery of the centrifugal pump or casing and is
carried towards the bow of the ship, the opening into the water being at the most
convenient part between amidships and the bow, in the case of more than one
centrifugal pump being used, the same number of admission pipes on each side will
be required as the number of centrifugal pumps used, and the water may be
discharged into the same two delivery pipes, or each pump may have a double
delivery pipe: it is not necessary that these delivery pipes should be straight, as
they may be placed obliquely, so that when the water is forced out it will act
normally to the water outside the ship. The delivery pipe or pipes may be at one
side, or may branch out so as the water may be forced out both at the port and
starboard side of the ship, and the pipes may be of the same diameter throughout
or tapered,

page_text: The casing hereinbefore referred to, is fitted in the centre with an armature or
shaft on which is fixed a suitable number of blades, (as is also the centrifugal
pump) these blades may be either straight, curvilinear, or parabolical. The
armature or shaft above mentioned is actuated at a high velocity by means.
of any suitable communication in connection with the engine or other motive
power, such, for instance, as by spur gearing, friction gearing, or rope pulleys, or
it may be connected direct to the crank shaft of the engine.
The centrifugal pump or casing is placed preferably amidships as close to the
keel as practicable, inside the ship;-I reserve myself the right of placing them
outside the ship if anytime found necessary: in the case of more than one pump or
casing being used they may be fixed one on each side of the ship, inside,—that is,
one on the port side, and one on the starboard side. In the case of large ships or
where'a great speed is required; more than two centrifugal pumps may be used,
when several may be placed side by side, amidships, or they may be arranged longi-
tudionally with the ship, motion being transmitted to them either by spur gearing,
cranks and rods, belts, or other well known systems.
Of course it will be understood that in any of the previously mentioned arrange-
ments the centrifugal pump or pumps is or are preferably below the water line.
The object in using a centrifugal pump or other similar arrangement to give the
same result, as a propelling and steering power, is to cause the blades to revolve
at a high velocity whereby the water is drawn in at the central orifice from the
opposite delivery pipe, through the branches, and by the action of the blades causes
the water to be expelled at such a velocity through the delivery pipe against the
surrounding water as to propel the ship in the opposite direction.
"
"
This apparatus is only required to revolve in one direction whether the ship is
required to go ahead or *astern"-the method adopted when a ship requires
reversing being simply to close suitable valves and open others, as hereafter
described.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying sheets of drawings the same letters of reference representing
corresponding parts in all the drawings.
In Fig 1 and 2 are shown elevation and plan, respectively, showing general
connections of a pair of the centrifugal pump apparatus and the most suitable
position to fix same in the ship. Figs 3 and 5 give section of pump in detail,
showing two of the methods of connecting with branch receiving and delivery
pipes, while Fig. 4, gives end view of Fig. 8 in section to show arrangement
of valves for changing water to branch receiving pipes when a ship requires
reversing.
In Figs 3, 4, and 5, A. is the casing with lateral orifices proceeding from the
centres, and are marked B. The large pipes C. and D., terminate at one end
the periphery of the casing at opposite sides at which place special flaps or valves
are fixed to allow of the egress of the water from the casing. These pipes are
used as delivery and receiving pipes up to the junction of the smaller pipes E. F.
at which points the water is retarded in the pipes C. or D. by any ordinary stop
valve G. H as part shown on Figs 1 and 2-and is directed up the branch receiving
pipes E. E. or F. F., through the orifices B at each side, where special valves are
placed (see Fig. 4), to turn it into the casing A. it then comes in contact with the
blades which are actuated at a high velocity and is driven out at the opposite
delivery pipe where it meets with the water from the surrounding body outside
causing the ship to be propelled. The valves I are so arranged that by the act of
turning them half round the water can be directed from either pair of branch
receiving pipes into the casing, whichever direction the ship is required to go-
they can be worked by worm and wheel-levers or any other ordinary system now
in use for like purposes. As will be seen by Fig. 4 each valve is similar to a
hollow plug with slot in one side only, and is fixed into the orifice of the casing in
the usual way of securing valve plugs. If the ship is required to go "ahead"

page_text: the valves H. H., are closed, and G. G. opened, causing the water to travel along the
branch receiving pipes F. F. the valves I. I. are turned with the slot sides at F. F.
allowing the water to pass through into the casing A., it is then impelled by the
action of the blades along the delivery pipe C where it meets with its repellant
force from the outside water. To cause the ship to go "astern" all the valves are
subject to reverse action, i.e., G. G. are closed and H. H. opened and the guide
valves I. I. are turned to admit the slotted portion to face the receiving pipes E. E.-
the water is then drawn from the pipe C. through E. E. into the casing and forced
out through D. when the propelling action takes place against the surrounding
water in the opposite direction.
The flaps on the casing are closed whenever either of the large pipes are used
as main receiving pipe.
The branch receiving pipes E. F. before mentioned may be fitted from the
junction with the main receiving pipe, directly to the centre of the orifice in
casing as at Fig. 3 or they may be carried above and below, and then form a bend
into the centre of the orifice as at Fig. 5-in the latter case the guide valves I. I.
can be placed in the bends instead of in orifice of casing.
The position of the stop valves G. H. hereinbefore mentioned are only shown
by dotted lines at Fig. 3 and 5, as they are simply of the kind that is now in
common use.
The "delivery pipes" hereinbefore described are also used as pipes for supplying
the water to the centrifugal pumps, the opposite pipe to the one discharging the
water being used as the supply pipe, and when the ship is reversed the pipes act
per contra.
My improved centrifugal propelling and steering apparatus may be fitted to
existing ships or to ships specially constructed. The words "centrifugal pump"
and "circular or polygonal casing" hereinbefore mentioned are used. analogous.
For Steering the ship the Valves in the discharge pipes are so regulated as to
cause the flow of water to be in greater and lesser volume on either side-which-
ever direction the ship is required to be steered.
The ship may be turned completely round by discharging the water through the
pipes on the port side "forward" and the starboard side "aft," or vice-versa, for
the opposite direction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and the manner in which the same, is or may be used, operated on, or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not lay any claim on a
particular kind of pump in carrying out my Invention, but what I consider to be
novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention hereinbefore described and
illustrated is :-
The combination of parts and special arrangement of centrifugal pump for use
in propelling and steering ships or vessels.
The application and method of affixing discharge, supply and branch receiver
pipes to centrifugal pumps, together with the arrangement of guide valves and
flaps for propelling purposes all substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.