IM- PROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Jones at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th Sep-
tember 1873.
I, WALTER JONES, of Wandsworth Road, in the County of Surrey,
Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the propulsion of ships and other vessels
by the direct action of pistons working in cylinders so arranged that
the water is drawn from the bow of the vessel and expelled from the
stern of the same; it also relates to the steering of vessels by drawing
in and expelling the water through suitable apertures at the stem and
stern.
In practising my said Invention I use a tube or pipe extending
nearly the entire length of the vessel, and I connect with this tube
four cylinders, two of which are placed at opposite sides, and as near
the centre of the vessel as practicable. The said cylinders are fitted
with suitable pistons or plungers, and the two pistons on the same

page_text: side of the tube are connected to each other by a rod. Between the
two pairs of water cylinders I place steam cylinders whose pistons
are also attached to the aforesaid rods, so that by admitting steam
alternately to opposite ends of the said steam cylinders a reciprocating
or to-and-fro motion is imparted to the piston rods and the pistons of
the said water cylinders.
At each end of the vessel a tube or pipe communicates with the
water outside, and these end tubes are connected through branch tubes
with the aforesaid cylinders, therefore it will be seen that the external
water cannot enter or pass through the central tube, except as admitted
to the same through the said cylinders. Valves are fitted in the afore.
said branch pipes, and also between the said water cylinders and the
central tube. The said valves are preferably attached by suitable con-
necting rods to the piston rods, and are thereby opened and closed
as required to properly admit the water, and permit the exit of the
same. The aforesaid cylinders and valves are so arranged and operated
that the two pairs act alternately to admit and expel the water, and
thereby a continuous and uniform effect is maintained while the appa-
ratus is working.
On the sides of the aforesaid exit tubes or pipes at the ends of the
vessel I arrange two smaller tubes which extend from the said end
tubes through the starboard and port sides of the vessel near the bow
and stern. Valves fitted in these pipes are connected to the wheel,
and are thereby operated to direct a portion of the water expelled
from the cylinders through one or other of the said side pipes, thereby
changing the vessel's course and steering it with the greatest precision.
A large faucet is fitted in any convenient portion of the pipes
for the attachment of hose, whereby water may be supplied to any
part of the vessel.
It will be obvious that by this apparatus the full power of the
steam is exerted immediately upon the water, and is subjected to no
diminution by acting in a rotary direction, as when paddle wheels or
screw propellors are employed.
By drawing the water from the bows of the vessel the resistance
is diminished. The apparatus can be immediately reversed and the
vessel driven backward, the propelling power being the same in each
direction.

page_text: If a vessel should lose her rudder the steam power or a portion
of it may be immediately adjusted to effect the steering, and this
method of steering will be found very advantageous in a vessel pro-
ceeding along a narrow river or channel. Moreover, vessels of war
provided with my improved apparatus will be capable of more ready
maneuvering, and cannot be disabled by the enemy's shooting away part
of her propelling or steering mechanism.
If a vessel should lose her rudder the steam power or a portion
of it may be immediately adjusted to effect the steering, and this
method of steering will be found very advantageous in a vessel pro-
ceeding along a narrow river or channel. Moreover, vessels of war
provided with my improved apparatus will be capable of more ready
maneuvering, and cannot be disabled by the enemy's shooting away part
of her propelling or steering mechanism.
By connecting hose to the aforesaid faucet the hold of the vessel may
be quickly flooded in case of fire.
Should an accident happen to one part of the apparatus the other part
may continue working, and the vessel will not be disabled.'