IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, -1 1ft FOR RAISING WATER, AND FOR EXHAUSTING AND COMPRESSING AIR AND GASES FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1875

page_text: --
LETTERS PATENT to Lucas Preiswerk, of Wilhelmshaven, in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROPELLING VESSELS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER,
-1
1ft
FOR RAISING WATER, AND FOR EXHAUSTING AND COMPRESSING AIR AND GASES
FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lucas Preiswerk at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th December 1875.
I, LUCAS PREISWERK, of Wilhelmshaven, in the Empire of Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OBTAINING
MOTIVE POWER, FOR RAISING WATER, AND FOR EXHAUSTING AND COMPRESSING AIR
AND GASES FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
For propelling vessels a steam boiler is employed with its usual
Strom from the bailar is caused to iseno in
int func
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page_text: small conical pipe placed in the smoke box or chimney; the steam jet
enters the smaller end of a long conical pipe also in the smoke box or
chimney. The steam jet draws in with it the hot gas from the fire in
the fire-box, and compresses it into a recipient, where it mixes with the
steam before it escapes. The mixed steam and gas are allowed to escape
by a horizontal oblong mouth into the lower part of a channel which is
formed along the bottom of the ship, and inclines upwards to one or
both of its ends, and terminating at the water line. The mixed gases and
steam being at high temperatures are practically incondensable, and as
they enter the lower part of the channel they push against the water
and rise in a slanting direction along the channel, and escape-at the
surface of the water. By this means great propelling power is obtained,
and the ship rests as it were upon a bed of gas interposed between it
and the water. If the gases in the smoke box are at too high a
temperature (which can be ascertained by using a pyrometer) cold air
may be admitted by a valve. Whilst the apparatus is at work the
chimney is closed, but may be opened if too much steam is produced, or
if there is too much fire in the fire-box, or when stopping.
To put the ship into movement it is only necessary to open a valve to
allow the gases to pass into the channel at the bottom of the ship, and
to open a tap or valve to allow steam to escape from the boiler by the
steam jet.
The ship may be propelled in either direction by allowing the gas
to pass either into the channel leading to the stern or to the bow of the
ship.
A similar arrangement may be employed for raising water, a jet of
superheated steam being caused to draw in air into a long conical tube,
and compress it into a recipient, from which it is allowed to escape
into an inclined channel supplied with water, the water being thereby
forced into a vessel, from which it is led off by a pipe; or the water
put into motion by the gas may be used to drive a turbine or other
engine.
The gas might also be allowed to escape from its recipient into the
lower part of an upright channel supplied with water, and by giving an
upward travel to the water work a turbine or other engine at the top of
the channel, the water returning by a side passage to the lower part
of the channel to be again raised, and the air and steam passing into a

page_text: condensing chamber, from which the air is again drawn by the steam.
jet; or the air or gas compressed by the apparatus might be used to
work an engine direct.
The apparatus might also be employed for supplying heated air
mixed with steam to furnaces, and for ventilating factories, and such
like.
Air compressed by the apparatus might also be passed through a
refrigerator and allowed to expand into a chamber, from which it may
be again withdrawn by a similar apparatus, "by which great cold may be
obtained in the chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lucas Preiswerk in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th June 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUCAS
PREISWERK, of Wilhelmshaven, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer,
send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Lucas Preiswerk, Her:
special license that I, the said Lucas Preiswerk my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Lucas Preiswerk, 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,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention. for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS, PARTLY APPLICABLE POR OBTAINING MOTIVE.
POWER FOR RAISING WATER AND FOR EXHAUSTING AND COMPRESSING AIR AND
GASES FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Lucas Preiswerk, my executors or administrators, by an instru->
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven

page_text: fitting, and with the parts mentioned above in the paragraphs Nos: 2,
3, 4; 5. The injector 6 is prolonged by tubes terminating in a cone tube,
with a narrow oblong orifice which is the exit for the gases into the
mouth-piece i; this mouth-piece is closed at the top and open under-
neath; it is moveable and serves as a rudder, or it may be fixed and
provided with wings, serving as rudders, as mentioned above in
paragraph 7.
豢
In place of having a single tube passing from the injector to the
bow and stern two may be employed in a manner analogous to the use
of two screws in twin screw vessels, but in all cases tubes passing
forward as aft must be employed. These tubes or conduits may be
placed beneath the bottom of the vessel, with their outlets as near the
level of the water as possible. The cone tube / is furnished with a flap
valve, which is closed or opened according as the vessel is required to
move ahead or astern.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 6 is a plan of an
arrangement similar to that last described, except that the tubes or
conduits b, b, lead the gases to the sides of the vessel. g is a box, with a
slide or valve to regulate the passage of the gases into the exit cones h
to move ahead, or into the cones h³ to move astern. By these cones the
gases escape into the channels i, i.
The mechanism operates as follows:-In each of the arrangements
atmospheric air is drawn by the injector a and forced into the ash-pit c
beneath the fire-bars. This cool air passes between the fire-bars and is
decomposed, giving up oxygen to the fuel and combining with the gases
produced in the furnace. These hot gases pass through the boiler and
give a part of their heat to the water to form steam, and afterwards
they pass into the smoke box. The low temperature air which entered
into the ash-pit is then found in the smoke box mixed with the gases
of the furnace in a state of high temperature. The volume of the gases
has considerably increased partly from the admixture of the gases formed
in the fire-box, and partly from the effect of heat. From the smoke box
these gases are drawn by the injector b, and they are superheated in the
arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 by the hot gases issuing from
the boiler. In Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 they are superheated whilst passing
through the boiler by the heat of the furnace. By this means the gases
are a second time expanded. The injectors 6 also serve another purpose,.

page_text: they facilitate the heating, the maintenance of the fire, and the cleaning
of the fire-bars and ash-pit.
In working with an injector a only a very complicated apparatus
would be necessary to maintain and clean the fire. There are however
cases in which the injector a may be used alone, for example, when
burning petroleum, and also in machines of small size. At the mouth
- of the injector 6 the gases are quite ten times larger in volume than the
atmospheric air which was forced beneath the fire-grate by the injector a.
If it is considered that twice as much air is required for combustion as
the boiler produces steam, one can understand the volume and quantity
of gas which is obtained by this process. The cone tube & has a narrow
oblong mouth by which the gases issue, and the width of this mouth can
be adjusted; or the tube h may be provided with a number of circular
orifices arranged in a horizontal line in place of having an oblong mouth
as above described; or the mouth may be otherwise formed. The
channel i serves to prevent the gases passing directly into the air. By
this means they are forced to do their work before escaping. ·
To maintain the heat and its effect I open more or less the steam
cocks of the injectors a or b; or I open or close the damper 1, as also to
clean or charge the fire.
The Preiswerk propeller is distinguished from others by the following
qualities,―
1. It has neither wheels, or float boards, or screws, or pumps.
2. There is no gearing or rotating axis which has to do directly with
the propulsion.
3. Derangements, breakages, frictions, and consequently repairs are
reduced to the smallest possible point.
4. There is no necessity for lubrication and similar things necessary to
the maintenance of machines.
5. The working of the apparatus is easier, and does not require the
same amount of supervision.
6. The heat (or the fuel which produces it) is employed at the highest
temperature, and great economy results.
7. A vessel furnished with this propeller can employ sails without
being hindered by a screw or by wheels; it takes much less space also,
and weighs less than other propelling mechanism.

page_text: 8. Such an apparatus is much less expensive than a steam engine
with a screw or wheels.
9. As the derangement of this apparatus is a case of very rare
occurrence the service is less interrupted, and here there is a great saving
in interest of capital and labour.
10. The principle of this propeller can also be employed in motors for
other technical purposes.
11. Every sort of compressed gas may be employed for this purpose,
the gas being heated after it has passed the injector.
The following is a detail description of the application of the
Invention for other technical purposes :—
Figure 7 is a rotative machine composed of a wheel with float boards,
of an inclined channel i, of a tube b with its discharge cone h, and a
tank p. The compressed gas from a high temperature furnace issues
at h, and throws the water forcibly against the float boards of the wheel.
The water thrown against the wheel after having done its work returns
on either side of the apparatus to the tank ready to operate again. The
Ip is covered, and the gases escape by the small chimney ».
tank
In place of employing hot gases atmospheric air drawn and forced by
an injector in the manner shown at Figure 8 may be used.
Figure 8 is a sort of hydraulic ram actuated by gas or compressed air;
the water put into motion in the inclined channel by the atmospheric
air or by the furnace gases strikes against the valves n, n, n, and enters
into the receiver q with a portion of the air or gas, and compels the
water to rise in the stand pipe r. A part of the air or gas escapes by an
orifice ¹. Air should be used when it is wished to have clean and pure
water. In other cases the use of furnace gases is more advantageous. :
Figures 9 is a rotative motor consisting of an atmospheric air injector b,
of a discharge cone 7, of a wheel with float boards, of a tank p, of a
condenser c, and draw-off cock e. The compressed air escaping from the
cone enters between the floats of the wheel which is immersed in the
water of the tank p, and drives it in the direction of the arrow. At the
level of the water the air and the steam after having acted enter a
condenser c and pass back into the injector, and so the same air is
caused to operate again and again. A part of the steam which is mixed
with the air condenses in passing through the water in the tank, and the
remainder is condensed in the condenser c. Consequently, the quantity
.

page_text: of water in the tank p increases. This hot water is drawn out at the
level of the cock e by an injector or by a feed pump, and is forced back
into the boiler, whence it issues again as steam. In this manner a
regular circulation takes place. .
Figure 10 is a similar machine, with the difference that it works by 1
means of a turbine. The movement of the water takes place in the
direction of the arrows. h is the exit for the air, which issues from small
holes and ascends through the column of water, driving the water against
the turbine.
Figure 11 is a motor with an hydraulic wheel which is in com-
munication with a boiler arranged as in Figure 1, which supplies hot
gases under pressure. Here there is neither condenser nor injector in
connection with the boiler; the gases escape by the small chimney r.
The movement of the wheel is in the direction of the arrow.
Figures 12 is a similar motor, but with an independent boiler similar
to those in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. This motor is without condensation,
and the injectors are in connection with the boiler. The escape of the
gases after work is by the small chimney r.
Figure 13 is a motor with a hot gas turbine and boiler on the system
of those shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Figure 14 is a motor with an alternating movement and with a
cylinder. The hot compressed gases from the furnace enter by the
pipe b into the bell p¹. They traverse the water and thus become
cleansed, and ascend by the vertical tubes into the tank which forms
the reservoir of the motor.
P
In place of a cylinder machine a direct rotative engine may be
employed.
Figure 15 is a single direct-acting pump without piston. The hot
compressed gases enter by the pipe into the valve box u, from whence
under the control of the valve they pass into the cylinder 8, and force
the water past the valve w' into the pipe v¹. The float t descends with
the water, and by the lever x acts upon the valve to raise it. The
water by its own weight raises the valve w, and passes from the tube v
in the cylinder 8, raising the float t. The gases which were in the
cylinder pass the valve, and escape by the opening into the air, and
presently the operation recommences. The lever x is weighted to
facilitate the action.

page_text: What I claim is, my improvements in propelling vessels, substantially
as described.
I also claim the application of my improvements for obtaining motive
power and for other purposes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lucas Preiswerk, have hereunto set
"
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
LUCAS PREISWERK. (L.S.)