AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Dixon, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Builder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR STEAM
SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Dixon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th March
1856.
I, ISAAC DIXON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for AN IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR
STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, to be as follows:-
I make the centre or boss on which the blades are fixed of an egg shape,
through which the driving shaft passes longitudinally, and the propelling blades,
instead of forming part of a screw or spiral, as usually is the case, are made
nearly flat on their. surface, and the feather edges have a circular outline,
forming about five-sixths of a circle; two or more blades may be used, and
they can be set to any required angle from the line of the driving shaft,
which I regulate according to the power of the engines and speed of the
vessel..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Dixon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
DIXON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Isaac Dixon, Her special licence that I, the said Isaac Dixon, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaac
Dixon, 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, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROPELLER
FOR STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Isaac Dixon, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 mouths next and
immediately after the date of the said Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Dixon, do hereby declare the,
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
⚫ I make the centre or boss on which the blades of the propeller are fixed of
an egg-shape, through which the driving shaft passes longitudinally, and
instead of the propelling blades forming part of a screw. or spiral, as now gene-
rally adopted, I make them nearly flat on their surfaces, the feather edges
Having a circular outline, forming about five-sixths of a circle. I use two or
more blades, which may be set to any required angle from the line of the
driving shaft, which I regulate according to the power of the engines and
speed of the vessel. .
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference thereon,
in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved propeller and its centre or
boss, in line with the driving shaft of the moving power; Fig. 2 is an end

page_text: elevation of the same as seen from the stern of the ship; and Fig. 3 is a vertical
plan, shewing the angles of the propeller. a represents the centre or boss,
which is made fast to the driving shaft in any desired manner; and 6, the blades,
having nearly a circular outline; two only are shewn, but any convenient
number may be employed; they may also be placed at any desired angle,
according to the degree of the motive power and required speed of the vessel.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be dis-
tinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set
forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim as my Invention, and which, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, has not been hitherto used within this realm, the propelling blades
made partially flat on their surfaces, instead of forming part of a screw or
spiral, as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Dixon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Isaac Dixon, in the presence of
GEORGE SMITH, Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
ISAAC DIXON. (L.S.)