Improvements in Means for Propelling and Steering Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1896-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Propelling and Steering Vessels.
I FRIEDRICH KREFFT, Private Gentleman, of Oranienstrasse 106, Berlin in
the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention relates to a vessel propeller in which the water driven out by a
pressure pump gives the propelling force and which by its peculiar construction
facilitates the steering of the vessel.
In the annexed drawing;-
Fig. 1 is a plan view.
Fig. 2 a sectional side view of the whole apparatus.
Fig. 3 is half a cross section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows an exterior perspective view of the vessel and mechanism.
c, the
The steam engine A moves the shaft a in the known manner which shaft rests
with its free end in the bearing a² and carries the small toothed wheel b. This
toothed wheel gears with the two symmetrically lying larger toothed wheels
shafts c' of which rest in the bearings c. The shafts are bent to form one or
more cranks and carry in these parts driving rods d which move in the vertical
cylinders d', pistons d of which by the displacement of 180 degrees of the cranks
the one begins its stroke when the other has reached the end. The two cylinders d¹
receive their water admission through the cross lying tubes e which are in com-
munication with the water in which the vessel floats by the holes f¹ in the side f.
The valves prevent the escape of the water that has entered. The pressure
tubes g of the cylinders are united and carry at their place of connection a rocking
valve or gate which, swinging round the pin g', alternately closes the two pipes g
and prevents on the reciprocal movement of the pistons, the water being pressed
back into the other cylinder so that all the water is forced into the main pipe h
lying longitudinally in the vessel.. From this main pipe à branch on both sides the
bent tubes i which open into the free water through a number of mouthpieces ¿¹
corresponding to the size of the vessel. These mouthpieces have essentially to
serve for the propelling of the vessel and can be closed by the cocks during
backward movement. Two tubes k branching behind the tubes i from the main
pipe penetrate the wall of the vessel and are turned upwards and carry in their end
flanges k the vertical legs of the bent tubes k2 which each end above in a narrow
vertical slit serving as a mouth k³. As this kuee tube turns in the cylinder tube k',
these two outlets can be used by changing their position either for turning or
for complete backward movement of the vessel. The turning of these mouth-
pieces is effected from the deck of the vessel the necessary mechanism being
easily arranged according to necessity or desire in each case and therefore not
indicated. The main pipe passes over the stern-post and ends in an upwardly bent
cylindrical tube l in which rotates the vertical knee tube the horizontal leg of
which ends in a narrow vertically standing mouthpiece m. The rudder n (Figs. 2
and 4) is connected with the latter in such a manner that the movements of both
are effected simultaneously. This latter mouthpiece especially facilitates the
steering of the vessel so that it is possible to turn the vessel about its centre
without forward or backward movement.

page_text: Fig. 4 represents the exterior side view of the vessel provided with the new
propeller taken in cross-section just behind the steam engine. There can be seen
the crank-shaft a moved by the engine, the main driving wheel b and the larger
wheels c which lie symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vessel and the
shafts of which operate reciprocally, by means of their cranks, the pistons in the
cylinders d. In the interior of the vessel is further to be seen the pressure
main 9 as well as the suction pipes e, the openings f¹ of which are shown in the
exterior wall. The openings lying further to the back represent the outlets of
the tubes and serve as already mentioned only for propelling. The further lying
narrow upright standing mouth piece k³ forms the outlet of the port tube k and as
it can be turned around the centre axis of the flange k', it can also serve for back
and forward movement. The rudder n with the equally turnable mouthpiece m is
shown turned sidewards in order to illustrate its manner of working.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1.) A vessel propeller having pressure pumps d¹ which are operated by the
engine by means of toothed gearing c, band which force the water entering
laterally at fto a main h lying longitudinally in the vessel from which main it is
driven out through symmetrically branching pipes i and k.
2.) In a vessel propeller as described in Claim 1, a device for the back
'movement of the vessel consisting of the rotary mouthpieces k³ on the branch
pipes k.
3.) In a vessel propeller as described in Claim 1, the combination with the
rudder of a mouthpiece m whereby on turning, the outdriven water operates at an
angle to the keel as described and thus facilitates essentially the steering of the
vessel.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1896
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.