IM- PROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Reynolds, of No. 11, Carthusian Street,
Charterhouse Square, London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 12th August 1859, and dated the 26th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Reynolds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th May 1859.
I, JOSEPH REYNOLDS, of No. 11, Carthusian Street, Charterhouse Square,
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My improvement in propelling vessels consists in the construction and
operation of the propelling apparatus, by having two upright or side pieces
either of wood, metal, or other substance framed, bolted, or riveted to cross
pieces of a suitable length to give the frame the proper width for strength and
support of the float. The other way of the frame, where, the greatest strain
occurs to it by the propelling action, will be supported by having rods of iron
or other substance on one or both sides secured at or near the tops of the
frames extending down to the bottom, where the float is made fast and secured
at the most convenient place, and braced out (at or near where the crank
pin is connected), to a proper distance, so as to give strength to the frame, and
secured in a substantial maner. An increased spead will be given to the
float whilst in the act of propelling the boat forward, by having the top of
each frame supported and guided by radius rods hung to a framework (con-

page_text: nected to the boat) abaft of the main shaft to which the frame is connected;
the radius rods to be of a suitable length to hold or guide the top of each
frame beyond or forward of the shaft to which it is connected; the propelling
cranks on the ends of the main shafts are constructed so as to be supported in
journal boxes by the guards of the boat, or it may be applied to small boats
without an outside bearing. The cranks are to be so arranged as to give a more
uniform and equal application of the power to the load or resistance of the
float when in the act of propelling the boat forward. The relative position of
the cranks will depend on the manner of applying the power. A concave or
any other float may be used. The float will be on an angle with the propeller
frame, or a line drawn from the centre of the crank pin to the centre of the
guiding point or hanging of the radius rods at the top of the said frames.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
REYNOLDS, of No. 11, Carthusian Street, Charterhouse Square, London,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Reynolds, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Reynolds, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Reynolds, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Reynolds, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months, next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Reynolds, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
These double
having discs in
My improvements in propelling vessels consist in constructing and operating
the propelling apparatus as follows:-One or more main shafts are placed
across the vessel, being connected together, and to which the power is com-
municated by connecting rods or gearing. At each end of the shafts on the
outside of the hull of the vessel is attached a crank arm; each of these arms
are connected by a crank pin to other arms of the same length attached to
short shafts or journals placed in a right line with the main shafts, and
supported in journal boxes by pedestals attached to the guards of the boat or
vessel, thus forming a double crank possessing an equal amount of strength as
the straight shaft of the paddle wheel. The width between the crank arms or
the length of the crank pin that connects the arms must be in the clear
sufficient for the length of float required to propel the vessel.
cranks, which are the propeller cranks, may be constructed
the place of the crank arms connected by a crank pin in the same manner as
the arms are connected. These discs may be constructed to act as a counter-
balance to the crank by having the greatest weight opposite to the crank pin.
On each crank pin is hung a propeller or propeller frame, at the lower end of
which the float or bucket is attached, the top being supported and guided by
radius rods or some other suitable mode. The propeller frames are constructed
as follows, by having two upright side pieces to each frame either of wood,
metal, or other suitable substance framed, bolted, or rivetted to cross pieces of
a proper length to give the frame a suitable width for strength and support of
the float. In case the width of the frame is so great as to require other
supports for the float, besides the two side pieces, and to give further strength
to the frame, one or more upright pieces or ribs may be connected to the
frame between the two side pieces, and secured to the cross pieces in a proper
manner.
The Drawing hereunto annexed represents a frame constructed with one
rib piece in the centre secured in with the cross pieces, the said cross pieces
being placed diagonally with the frame for the purpose of acting as braces, at
the same time supporting and keeping the frame to its proper width, other
cross pieces placed horizontally across the frame may be applied, if required.
That way of the frame to which the greatest strain occurs by the propelling
action is supported and made sufficiently strong by having stay rods on one or
both sides of the side pieces, and on the rib picces, if required, and secured at

page_text: or near both top and bottom of the frame. The top ends of the stay rods are.
fitted with screws for the purpose of tightening the same when required:
These stay rods are braced out at or near that part of the frame where the
crank pin is connected to a proper distance to give strength to the frame, by
having projecting rests or bearings over which the stay rods are drawn, and
by which they are kept braced out. These projecting rests or bearings will
be placed and secured to the side pieces and ribs, at or near. that part of the
frame before named where the crank pin connects, and such other places in
the length of the frame as may be found necessary or best, and will be secured
by cross pieces or braces, required, to keep them in a proper position. The
propeller frames may be of equal width at both top and bottom, or they may
be somewhat contracted at the top, but should be a suitable width to be
supported and guided by two radius rods or two sets of fixed guides. I think
radius rods preferable to fixed guides for supporting and guiding the tops of
the propeller frames, and that two to each frame will be better than one for
the purpose of keeping the frame steady and making it more secure, unless for
small vessels or boats where a narrow frame is sufficient. If guided and
supported by fixed guides, adjustable cross heads. may be placed across the
tops of the frames, projecting over the side pieces, and fitted in a proper
manner to be guided by the fixed guides at each side of the frame, or adjustable
boxes or pieces to fit in or on the fixed guides may be attached.to the tops of
the frames in such a manner as that they will adjust themselves in the guides
as the frame changes its position. The fixed guides may be formed either
with a curve or straight, and placed in such a position and at such an angle
with a vertical line as will give to the float an increase in its speed whilst in
the act of propelling the boat or vessel forward, similar to what will be
produced when supported and guided by radius rods, as will be hereafter
described. The float or bucket which is attached to the lower end of the
propeller frame may be either flat, concave, or any other suitable form, and
will be set at such an angle with the propeller frame, or a line from the
centre of the crank pin to the centre of the guiding point or hanging of the
radius rods at the top of the frame, as will give it a proper position to enter
and leave the water in the best manner. The float may either be bolted fast
to the frame or hung with journals or hinges, in such a manner as that with a
simple arrangement of machinery it will be locked and made fast to the
frame whilst in the act of propelling the vessel either way, and will be
unlocked and free to yield if it comes in contact with the water when
returning to take a new hold to propel the vessel forward. The propelling
cranks may be so arranged on the shaft as partially to equalize the application

page_text: of the power to the load or resistance of the float in the water when in the act
of propelling the boat forward.
An important point in the operation is a uniform action and increase in the
speed of the floats whilst in the act of propelling the vessel forward, caused by
having the top of each frame supported and guided. by radius rods hung to the
vessel, or suitable frames attached to the vessel abaft the main shaft to which
the propeller frame is connected. The radius rods to be of a suitable length
and hung in a proper position to hold or guide the top of the frame forward or
beyond the shaft to which it is attached, as will be more fully shewn by
reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed. To give a similar action or
increase in the speed of the float when guided by fixed guides to that produced
by being guided by radius rods as before described; the fixed guides will be
formed with a curve or straight, and set at a proper angle with a vertical line,
so as to cause the top of the frame to incline or move towards the stern of the
vessel whilst in the first part of its action to propel the vessel forward, and to
incline or move the other way or towards the forward. part of the vessel in the
latter part of its forward propelling action. If the fixed guides are placed in
front of a vertical line with the shaft to which the frame is connected, the
curve or angle will require to be less than if placed directly over or abaft of it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 is a side view representing four propellers, two at
each side of the vessel, no portion of the vessel being shewn; Fig. 3 is an end
view as from the stern of the vessel, shewing one of the main shafts with a
propeller hung to each crank pin; Fig. 4 represents the backside of the lower
portion of one of the propellers between the crank arm, shewing the side
pieces and rib piece as connected to the float, the stay rods being removed,
also shewing the cross pieces or braces which probably will not be required
when the float is permanently secured to the frame. The term backside, in
reference to Fig. 4, means that side towards the forward part of the vessel.
a, a, are the main shafts supported in journal boxes and pedestals in the usual
way; b, b, are the crank arms secured to the main shafts; c, c, are the crank
arms secured to the short shafts or journals d, d, the two arms being connected
together by the crank pin e; f. f, are the pedestals connected to the guards of
the vessel; g, g, are the side pieces of the propeller frame; h, the rib piece;
k, k, the cross pieces; 1, 1, are the stay rods braced out and supported by the
projecting rests or bearings m, m; n is the float or bucket; o is the cross
shaft at the top of the frame, to which one end of the radius rods p, p, are
connected, the other ends being connected to the shaft q attached to the vessel.

page_text: Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is formed, constructed, and acts, I wish to be understood as
not claiming the parts disconnected from each other, or aside from combination
or application to the particular mode of propulsion herein-before described;
neither do I claim a propeller apparently similar in its operation to the one
herein-before described, having only a single stem at the top and guided by a
single radius rod, or a single set of guides in or about the stern, unless
embracing or in combination with some of the essential points herein-before
described and hereafter claimed; but what I do claim, is,
First, the application of double cranks to this mode of propelling, formed,
constructed, and arranged to act substantially as described.
Second, outside bearings supported by and fixed upon the guards of the
boat or vessel, for the support of and in combination with the before-
mentioned double cranks when applied to the mode of propelling, herein-
before described.
Third, constructing the propeller frames of the form and with the various
appliances of parts or their equivalents, substantially as described in the
Specification and generally illustrated in the Drawings appended hereto.
.
Fourth, supporting and guiding the tops of the frames by having two radius
rods or two sets of fixed guides to each frame, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
.
Fifth, the application of a concave float to this mode of propelling.
Sixth, the method and means for actuating the propellers so as to cause a
unity of action and an increase of speed in the floats during their action, to
propel the vessel forward, substantially as described in the Specification.
Seventh, the general and relative form, construction, and arrangement of
the various parts when applied to the purposes before mentioned as combining
strength, durability, and proper action, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Reynolds, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 22nd day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOSEPH REYNOLDS. (L.S.)