Improvements in Apparatus applicable for Reducing or Partly Annulling the Resistance of Water to the Motion of Ships or other like Vessels, for Propelling or Aiding the Propulsion of such Vessels, and for Steering or Manoeuvring the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECT
Improvements in Apparatus applicable for Reducing or Partly
Annulling the Resistance of Water to the Motion of Ships or
other like Vessels, for Propelling or Aiding the Propulsion of
such Vessels, and for Steering or Manoeuvring the same.
1, GEORGE MARS11, of 40 Harrogate Street, Wigan in the County of Lancaster,
Builder and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
A ship or other like vessel in motion encounters a very considerable resistance
from the water and the waves through which it travels, and this resistance increases
as the speed of the vessel is raised. Various plans have been adopted or suggested
from time to time, having for their object to diminish this resistance, such as
tapering the ship very gradually at the stem and stern, providing a certain length
of parallel middle body, or making the width of the vessel greater below the surface
of the water, where it may create very little wave disturbance, than at the water
line, thereby giving to the ship a greater displacement or carrying power than it
would have had if constructed with vertical sides.
Now my invention has been designed to overcome, or partly overcome, the
resistance above referred to, by drawing away or removing the water immediately
in front of a vessel, and also to increase the speed, and the steering or manoeuvring
power of ships.
In carrying out my invention, the vessel may be provided with paddle wheels or
stern screw propellers as heretofore. In the front or at each side of the stem, I
mount one or more long screws or continuous spiral vanes or flanges, adapted to
rotate in suitable bearings. These vanes are submerged or partly submerged, and
may be mounted at an angle of 45° with the centre of the ship, though it must be
understood that they may take other positions if found desirable. One or both ends
of each of the shafts on which the spiral vanes or flanges are formed or mounted
pass through the stem into the interior, and are provided with stuffing boxes or other
Rotation is imparted to the spiral
suitable devices to prevent the entrance of water.
vanes by engines geared thereto in any suitable manner, or the engines may operate
the shafts directly without the intervention of any gearing. The spiral vanes or
flanges aforesaid may stand out beyond the skin of the vessel, or cavities or recesses
may be formed in the stem to receive them.
The vanes are rotated at a suitable speed, and their action is to draw or move
away the water immediately in front of or in proximity to the stem, and I believe
that the skin and wave resistance will thereby be removed or annihilated to such an
extent that the speed of the vessel will be increased. The peculiar motion of the
spiral vanes or flanges will probably themselves assist the stern propellers or the.
paddle wheels in the propulsion of the ship. The steering or maneuvring power
will be increased, as, by slowing, stopping or reversing the motion of the spiral
vanes on one side, the vessel can be rapidly turned, or the direction of its course
changed, in fact, the ordinary rudder may be dispensed with, if desired.
Dated this 1st day of November 1890.
WM: P. THOMPSON & CO.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus applicable for Reducing or Partly
Annulling the Resistance of Water to the Motion of Ships or
other like Vessels, for Propelling or Aiding the Propulsion of
such Vessels, and for Steering or Manoeuvring the same.
I GEORGE MARSH 40 Harrogate Street Wigan Lancaster Builder & Contractor
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 has been designed to overcome or partly overcome the resistance
of water to the motion of ships by drawing away or removing the water immediately
in front of a vessel and also to increase the speed and the maneuvring power
of ships.
In carrying out my invention the vessel may be provided with paddle wheels or
stem screw propellers. In the front or at each side of the stem I mount two or
more long screws or continuous spiral vanes at each side of the stem of the ship
adapted to rotate in suitable bearings. These screws are submerged or partly
submerged and may be mounted at an angle of 45° with the centre of the ship
though it must be understood that they may take other positions if found desirable.
One or both ends of each of the shafts on cach side of the ship on which the spiral
vanes or screws are formed or mounted, pass through the stem into the interior
and are provided with stuffing boxes to prevent the entrance of water. Rotation is
imparted to the spiral vanes by engines geared thereto in any suitable manner, or
the engines may operate the shafts directly without the intervention of any gearing.
The screws in the said bow of the ship are rotated at any desirable speed and their
action is to draw or move away the water immediately in front of the stem of the
ship. In addition the ship can be inclined to the right or left, according to the
propeller set in motion at the bow of the ship.
Referring to the annexed drawing
Figure 1 is a plan of the bow of a ship, fitted with two propellers, part of the
deck being removed to show the machinery.
Figure 2 enlarged view of thrust blocks, and propeller shaft.
a. a. are two spiral propellers supported at each side of bow of ship in the
bearings b b.
The propeller shaft c carry grooved pulleys d over which the straps e passes
thence to the driving wheel of the engine the end of propeller shaft working
in bush carried in block k. h set screw, and lock nut i, upon which the shaft c
bears, at the taper end thereof. 1 bed plate. block adjusted by means of screws j.
m bed plate screws. n grooves for thrust bearings.
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) In ships and vessels the employment of two or more propellers arranged in
the stem or bow of same and driven by hand and pulleys or other suitable gearing,
provided with thrust blocks, and bearings substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
Dad 1 912
T 1
1001