CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF PROPELLING SHIPS, BOATS, OR OTHER FLOATING BODIES
Year: 1824

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BUSE, of Broad Street, in the City of London, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the fifth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Busk, His especial licence, that I, the said William Busk, my exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Busk, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time, and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of " CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OR METHOD OF PROPELLING SHIPS, BOATS, OR OTHER FLOATING BODIES;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
William Busk, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
(as in and by the same), reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Busk, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to consist
in a new application of double inclined planes or wedges and cones, and also of
a fall of water upon and a current of water over inclined planes, for the purpose
of propelling ships, boats or other floating bodies; and in further compliance
with the said proviso, I do hereby also describe the manner in which I perform
my said Improvements by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings annexed and Figures marked thereon. And, first, I do hereby
declare that my said Improvements do consist of four particulars (that is to
say): :-
First, in a new application of solid wedges and hollow wedges, which I call
trunks; 2ndly, in valves adapted to those wedges and trunks; 3rdly, in cones
adapted to a revolving or vibrating apparatus for the purpose aforesaid; and,
fourthly and lastly, in a new application of an bydraulic apparatus.
And, 1st, of the solid and hollow wedges which are shewn in the Drawing
marked No. 1. In Fig. 1 of this Drawing the dotted lines represent a decked
boat; A, A, being her water line or line of floatation. B is a board or plank
projecting in a horizontal plan from the boat's side, and fastened to it by the knees
C, C; and it will be observed that this board is thicker at the end a than at its
opposite extreme. D is another board precisely similar to the one above it; and
it will be seen that in consequence of these boards being thickened inwards at
the ends a, e, the space between them will be wedge-shaped, and will be what I call
a hollow wedge, with its apex towards the bow of the boat. E is a solid or four-
sided wedge, being a double inclined plane, with two flat sides; r is an axis on
which this wedge turns, and a framework must project from the side of the
boat to form a bearing for this axis at the end here shown; but I have not
thought it necessary to draw this framework, as it would confuse the other
parts of the Drawing. The other end of the axis r has a bearing in the side
of the boat. F is a perpendicular shaft, supposed to be connected with a
motion shaft of a steam engine or other power; and the lower end of this
shaft F is fixed to the upper plane of the wedge E, by a moveable joint. The
two boards B & D, I call the trunk, and E the wedge, and the whole of the
trunk and the wedge are supposed to be under water. There is a similar
trunk and wedge on the other side of the boat, and the shafts F and G arc
intended to give an up-and-down motion to the wedges. By this arrangement
it will be seen that when an up-and-down motion is given to the shaft F, two
inclined planes will be acted upon by the resistance of the water each time the
apex of the wedge is lifted or depressed, for when the wedge is raised by
the up stroke of the shaft F, the water which is expelled from between the

page_text: upper surface of the wedge and the under surface of the board B of the trunk
acts by its resistance against both the inclined plane of the wedge and the
inclined plane of the trunk, while the relative position of the two planes causes
the said action to induce a forward motion of the boat. The down stroke of
the shaft F of course produces a similar effect between the under surface of the
wedge and the board D of the trunk, and thus the repetition of these up-and-
down motions of the shaft F cause a continuous forward movement of the boat.
Fig. 2 is another application of the said wedge and trunk to the stern instead
of the side of a boat, in which case the wedge and boards forming the trunk
are placed edgeways. B, D, are the trunk; E, the wedge; and in this position
of course the wedge must be moved from side to side instead of up and down,
which alternate lateral motion may be given either by the hand applied to the
horizontal shaft H, or the said shaft may be connected with any simple
machinery for that purpose, as shewn in this Figure by J, which is a fly wheel,
K, which is a crank with a roller L, moving up and down in a slot as the crank
turns round.
"
Fig. 3 is another application of the said wedge, but used without a trunk.
In this application the wedge does not turn on any axis, but is moved bodily up
and down in the water by means of the shaft M, to which the wedge is fixed
firmly by the braces N, O. The shaft M is here represented as sliding up and
down in the cylinder P, which projects from the side of the boat for the purpose,
and is supported by the framework R. The cross bar S connects the two
shafts M and V, and T is the shaft which communicates motion from the steam
engine or other first power. There is supposed to be a similar wedge at the
other side of the boat, and when put in motion up and down by the shaft T, the
action caused by the resistance of the water against the inclined planes of these
wedges propells the boat forward. A, A, is the water line, and the whole of
the wedge when in action should always be kept under water. It is evident
that if the shafts M and V were placed in a horizontal position, and had a
motion out from the side of the boat and in again given to them, provided the
bases of the wedges were pointed towards the bow of the boat, the boat would
be propelled by them; but this last described motion I do not consider
either a good or a useful application of my said Invention.
And now, secondly, of the valves adapted for the said before-mentioned
wedges and trunks, and which valves are shown in the Drawings marked
No. 2 and No. 8; and first of No. 2, in which Drawing the Figure represents
a valved or open wedge, and the manner of applying it to a boat being shown in
the Drawing marked No. 1. I have here only drawn the wedge itself and its
frame or bearing, which frame or bearing is represented by the dotted lines.

page_text: A, A, are two inclined planes meeting at an apex B. These planes have
apertures made in them, as shown in the Drawing, which apertures have doors
or flaps marked D and E, and which are what I call valves. Both the lower
valves E, and the upper valves D, open outwards, but to an angle only of about
45 degrees, and there being no sides to this valved wedge the effect produced
by its being moved up and down on its axis e, by means of the shaft F, will be
to close the lower valves E when the wedge descends, thereby opposing an
inclined plane to the resistance of the water, in like manner as in the solid
wedge described in the Drawing marked No. 1, while the upper valves
marked D will open, and allow the water which in this open-sided wedge will
of course flow in between its upper and lower planes, to escape upwards. The
effect produced by the upstroke of the shaft F will of course be the converse
of this last-mentioned effect, for when the valved wedge is moved upwards the
lower valves E will open for the escape of the water, and the upper valves D
The
will be closed, and thus offer the required resistance to the water.
Drawing marked No. 8 represents an application of the said valves to what I
call a hollow wedge or trunk. The action of these valves will be exactly
similar to those in the open wedge described in the Drawing marked No. 2,
except that in the hollow wedge or trunk the valves must be placed to open
inwards, and in this application of valves to the trunk a plain or solid wedge W
should be used.
And now, thirdly, of cones adapted to a revolving or vibrating apparatus for
the purpose of propelling vessels or other floating bodies, which said cones and
apparatus are shown in the Drawing marked No. 5. Fig. 1 in this Drawing
represents a vessel's side, with the cones and apparatus applied thereto. A, A,
are supposed to be two perfect cones attached at their base to the circular frame
or wheel B, B. These cones may be made of wood or metal, and may be
hollow or solid, at pleasure. C, C, are bearings for the shaft or axis on which
this circular frame or wheel turns. D is a driving band passing over a flanged
drum or wheel. The dotted line represents the water line or line of floatation
of the vessel. Fig. 2 is a plan of the said circular frame or wheel and concs
attached to it. Fig. 3 is a plan of a vessel with the cones applied to each side
for the purpose of propelling her forwards. I have not shown any of the
internal arrangements of the vessel, because the manner of connecting the ma-
chinery which creates the first moving power (whether it be steam or any other
force) with the revolving or vibrating apparatus will be most obvious to any
werkman acquainted with machinery, and must be varied according as a rotary
or vibrating motion is required. In Fig. 3, now under description, the parts
marked A represent the cones; B, the circular frames or wheels with which

page_text: they turn; and C, the bearing for the axes of these said wheels; and J the shafts
to project the said bearings at a sufficient distance from the vessel's side to allow
of the rotation of the wheels marked B. These wheels are turned by menns
of the driving bands D, D, over flanged wheels or drums. It will be seen
that there is a similar apparatus at each side of the vessel, and if a steam
engine be supposed to be in the vessel turning these bands (whether in the
same or a contrary direction is immaterial) they will of course drive round
the wheels B, B, and with them the cones, which cones so moved when under
the water will cause a forward motion of the boat. If a vibrating motion is
required, the motion given by the steam engine must be such as to cause the
wheels B, B, to turn only half round and back again, and in this case only one
cone will be required. It is obvious that for large vessels the driving band
will not be sufficiently powerful, and cogged wheels, or racks and pinions, or
some other of the ordinary mechanical expedients for giving a quick rotary or
vibrating motion, must be resorted to; but for a small boat, and in canal or
still-water navigation, the driving band will be found sufficient to propel her
forwards.
And now, fourthly and lastly, of the new application of an hydraulic appara-
tus, which I call an hydropetic propellent, which said apparatus is shewn in the
Drawing marked No. 4, and in which Drawing A is a section of a boat to which
my said apparatus is supposed to be applied; B is a pipe placed along the
keelson inside the boat, protruding out of the boat at C, returned at D, where
is placed a valve opening outwards, and open to the water at E; at F is a forcing
pump with a valve; at G and H is a pipe leading to the vent or jet pipe J ;
the lever movement K is supposed to be conneeted with a steam engine, and
is what works the forcing pump. By this arrangement it will be seen that
when the forcing pump is worked water will be drawn from E through the
pipe B by the upward stroke of the piston, and forced into the pipe H by its
downward stroke, whence a continued stream will flow at J, and the fall of water
from Jupon the board L, and also upon M, which is a trough placed on an
inclination to form an inclined plane for a certain weight of water to rest or
press upon, induces a propelling power for giving motion to the boat. This
trough empties itself into the sea or the water in which the boat floats at N.
I encrease this propelling power so obtained by the said apparatus aforesaid
by means of the wheel P, which wheel is provided with buckets, as is
shewn in the Drawing here under description, round its outer circumference.
These buckets, being in the trough M, are filled by the water running down the
trough, which turns the wheel towards the bow of the boat, and the weight of
water in the buckets acts as it were with a kind of centrifugal force on the

page_text: forward lower quadrant of the wheel, which force being naturally in connexion
with the axis, of course adds to the propelling power aforesaid in a direction
from the axis to the centre of the quadrant aforesaid, thereby assisting to
propel the boat forwards.
Now, whereas the application of a wedge turning on an axis at its apex has
been used in some foreign countries, and may be known in that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England; and whereas
a rudder has been used in England aforesaid, in some manner wedge-shaped,
by being thicker at the edge nearer the stern post than at the after part
of it; and whereas such rudder has not been used as a propelling apparatus,
but only as an engine to steer the vessel by; now therefore I do hereby
claim exclusivo right and privilege to the following improvements only, as
herein-after more particularly specified (that is to say):—
First, to a wedge turning on an axis at its base applied to a vessel's side or
sides in manner shewn in the Drawing marked No. 1 and at Fig. 1, and this
wedge so turning on its axis and so applied as aforesaid I claim either by itself
or in conjunction with the trunk B, D, as shewn in the same Figure.
Secondly, to the application of the same wedgo in conjunction with a trunk
as aforesaid to the stern of a vessel, as shown in Fig. 2 of the said Drawing
marked No. 1.
Thirdly, to a plain wedge not turning on its axis at its base, but fixed to
a shaft having an entire reciprocating motion, such as shown in Fig. 3 of the
said Drawing marked No. 1, or such as hercin-before described in the reference
to this last-mentioned Figure.
Fourthly, to a double inclined plane or open wedge, with valves, as shewn
in the Drawing marked No. 2, to be applied in any way to the propelling of
vessels or other floating bodies.
Fifthly, to valves applied to the trunk, as shewn in the Drawing marked
No. 3. All of which said five improvements are applicable to that part of my
said Invention which I call an ichthyodic oar.
Sixthly, to cones attached to a revolving or vibrating apparatus, as described
in the Drawing marked No. 5, which part of my said Invention I call a
rotatory ichthyodic oar. And,
Seventhly and lastly, to the apparatus as a whole, and applied for the purpose
aforesaid, described as attached to a boat in the Drawing marked No. 4, and
which said last part of my said Invention I call an hydropetic propellent.
And whereas all the said herein-before last claimed improvements, which
I have divided into seven parts, are to the best of my knowledge and
belief entirely new, and have never before been used in that part of His

page_text: Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England,
His said Majesty's Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
nor in any of His said Majesty's Colonies or Plantations abroad; and I do
hereby declare this to be my Specification of my said improvements, and I
do verily believe this my said Specification of the same doth comply in all
respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso in my said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore I do hereby
claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Busk, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.