Improvements in Propelling Devices.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling Devices.
I, WALTER THOMPSON, of Newark, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, U.S.A.,
Electrical Engineer, my Post Office address being 764 Broad Street, Newark, New
Jersey, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS. IN
PROPELLING DEVICES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to increase the efficiency and power of a propeller,
accelerate the speed of the vessel and also to cause the volume of water as it passes
from the blades of the propeller to be contracted and thrown directly upon the rudder
so as to cause the rudder to promptly guide and control the vessel when in motion.
The invention consists in the improved propelling device and the combination and
arrangement of the various parts thereof substantially as will be hereinafter described
and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in each of the several figures:
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved propelling device, a portion of the encasing
tube being broken away to show the arrangement of the propeller blades;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view through x Fig. 1, showing the shape of the propelling
blades;
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the blades of the propeller split into
segments, and
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an encasing tube showing the form of propeller
as in Fig. 3.
In said drawings A represents the stern of a ship in which is arranged a propeller
shaft B, on which are secured the blades C, C, of the propeller the outer end of said
shaft revolving in bearings on the hanger or support e firmly secured at its upper end
to the hull of the ship and at its lower end secured to the rudder support c as shown
in Fig. 1, by bolts k, k; parallel with the hanger or support e and depending from
the overhanging portion of the hull and above the propeller shaft is another hanger or
support b. To these hangers or supports band e is firmly and rigidly secured a tube
or cylinder D. This cylinder is secured to the hanger b by means of a ring a and to
the hanger e by a ring a' and flanges f, f. This tube D encases and surrounds the
shaft B and propeller blades C, C, and has its inner end slightly flaring as shown at E,
Fig. 1. Outside of the hanger or support e and upon the outer end of the propeller
shaft B is rigidly secured by flange support and bearing 9, a funnel shaped tube F,
having an opening to the rear or smaller portion of the tube. This tube revolves with
the propeller shaft and concentrates and compresses the water in the tube D, causing
it to impinge with greater force on the propeller blades C, C³, than in the
ordinary manner. This tube can be made of one piece or divided into sections as
may be preferred.
The outer end of the bearing or support c is enlarged and socketed as at d Fig. 1,
in which is stepped the rudder shaft h, the upper end of said rudder shaft turning
in bearings in the hull of the vessel. A rudder G is firmly and rigidly secured to
rudder shaft h, through means of studs or collar i and i¹.
In Fig. 1, the blades of the propeller are shown as double and each blade made of
one piece and surrounding the shaft B, while in Figs. 3 and 4 the blades are
composed of small segments, each segment bent on its free or outer end toward the
shaft. The propeller blades C, C", are firmly secured to the shaft by the collars of
flanges m, m².
The size or diameter of the tube D should in all cases be only a little larger than

page_text: the diameter of the screw propeller so as to give free circulation to the blades of the
screw.
By arranging on the outer end of the propeller shaft the funnel shaped tube F
the water, after being concentrated by means of the tube D on the blades of the
propeller is compressed against the sides of the tube F, and ejected with great
force to the rear, thus increasing the power of the propeller without increasing the
operating power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim, is:
1. In a propelling apparatus a tube or cylinder surrounding the propelling body,
adapted and arranged to govern the movement of the fluid and increase the propelling
pressure as set forth.
2. In a propelling apparatus a funnel shaped tube secured to the outer end
of a propelling shaft and revolving therewith, in combination with a cylinder or
tube surrounding the propelling bedy, as described and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a propelling apparatus two or more propelling blades each secured to and
surrounding the shaft as described and set forth.
4. In a propelling apparatus one or more propelling blades divided into segments
or sections and having their outer ends bent as described and for the purposes set
forth.
5. In a propelling apparatus the combination with the propelling means of a tube
or cylinder surrounding the propelling body and a funnel shaped tube secured to the
outer end of the propelling shaft and revolving therewith, said parts being adapted
and arranged to govern the movement of the fluid substantially as set forth.
6. In a propelling apparatus the combination with the propelling shaft of two or
more propelling blades secured to and surrounding said shaft as set forth.
7. In a propelling apparatus the combination with the propelling shaft of
propelling blades secured to said shaft and divided into segments or sections as set
forth.
8. In a propelling apparatus attached to a vessel, the combination with the
propelling means, of a tube or cylinder surrounding the propelling body, a funnel
shaped tube secured to the outer end of the propelling shaft and revolving therewith
and a rudder or guiding device attached to said vessel and in the rear of said funnel
shaped tube, all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate as described and s
forth.
Dated 22nd September 1890.
C. R. BONNE & Co.,
Authorized Patent Agents, 41, Eastcheap, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.