IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLI- CATION OF THE RISE & FALL OF THE WAVES TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Needham, of Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Gunmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLI-
CATION OF THE RISE & FALL OF THE WAVES TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS."
Sealed the 13th July 1860, and dated the 19th January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Needham. at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,. on the
19th January 1860.
I, JOSEPH NEEDHAM, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Gunmaker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPLICATION OF THE RISE & FALL OF THE WAVES TO THE PROPULSION OF
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in propelling vessels by the motion of the
waves consists in taking advantage of the difference of level between the tops
of waves and the bottoms or troughs between the waves, whereby to obtain
and utilize a fall of water to effect the propulsion. For this purpose I form
in the sides of a vessel two ranges of apertures; it may be in part only, or
throughout her whole length. The length of one range of apertures is above
water line, and the other range below, with their openings incline towards
the stern, which will assist in propelling the vessel forward. The openings of
the upper range are free to admit the water, while the openings of the lower
rango are fitted with valves, which prevent the ingress of water, but permit
free egress where the water is lower outside than within the vessel. The
water admitted at the upper openings is retained by the incline or inward fall
of the openings, and is conducted to one or more turbines or other water-power
engines, passing through which it escapes by the lower openings. These
engines, are placed in connection with the paddle or propeller shaft, to which

page_text: they communicate motion, so as to propel the ship. The engine or machine
which I prefer for the purpose consists of a horizontal disc, rotating in a
circular chamber furnished with suitable abutments rising from the bottom
or lower stationary disc. The upper disc is furnished with slides, which rise
as they pass the abutments. The water enters by a central vertical channel,
and is admitted between the abutments and the slides of the rotating disc,
forcing them round by the pressure of the column of water which escapes from
the engine. Sufficient reservoirs are provided between the admission openings
and the water-power engine, as also between the escape of those engines and
the outlets to the sea, to insure a continuous supply to and free escape from
the engines. These engines are so connected with the propeller shaft, that
the motion may be reversed for backing, and disconnecting altogether for
stopping or modifying the speed.
The form of the vessel I prefer is much longer in proportion to the width
than vessels are usually built, and the stern the broadest part of the vessel,
to admit the water more freely, and well tapered under the stern to water
line, that is to say, running off fine under the water line.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Needham in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
19th July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPIL
NEEDHAM, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Gunmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Needham, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Needham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
tho said Joseph Needham, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE WAVES TO THE PRO-
PULSION OF VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Needham, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-

page_text: ticularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Needham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
My Invention of improvements in propelling vessels by the motion of the
waves consists in taking advantage of the difference of level between the tops
of waves and the bottoms or troughs between the waves, whereby to obtain
and utilize a fall of water to effect the propulsion. For this purpose, I form
in the sides of a vessel two ranges of apertures, it may be in part only. or
throughout her whole length. The level of one range of apertures is above
water line, and the other range below, with the lower openings inclining
towards the stern, which will assist in propelling the vessel forward. The
openings of the upper range are free to admit the water, while the openings
of the lower range are fitted with valves which prevent the ingress of water,
but permit free egress where the water is lower outside than within the chan-
nel in the vessel. The water admitted at the upper openings is retained by
the incline or inward fall of the openings, and is conducted to one or more.
turbines or other water power engines, passing through which it escapes by the
lower openings; these engines are placed in connection with the paddle or.
propeller shaft to which they coinmunicate motion and so propel the ship.
The engine or machine used for the purpose may consist of a horizontal disc
rotating in a circular chamber furnished with suitable abutments rising from
the bottom or lower stationary disc. The upper disc is furnished with slides
which rise as they pass the abutments. The water enters by a central vertical
channel and is admitted between the abutments and the slides of the rotating
disc, forcing them round by the pressure of the column which then escapes
from the engine; sufficient reservoirs are provided between the admission
openings and the water-power engines, as also between the escape of those
engines and the outlets to the sea, to ensure a continuous supply to and free
escape from the engines. These engines are so connected with the propeller
shaft that the motion may be reversed for backing and disconnecting alto-
gether for stopping or modifying the speed.
The form of the vessel I prefer is much longer in proportion to the width
than vessels are usually built, and the stern the broadest part of the vessel, to

page_text: of water according to the height of the column established between the open-
ings a, and the troughs between the waves. The exit openings beyond the
valves fare fitted with plates or louvers inclined to the length of the vessel as
seen in the partial section of plan Fig. 2, which has a propelling effect simply
by the impinging and emission of the water thereat. This engine or appar-
atus consists simply of a centre piece; mounted on a shaft k, and revolving
within a fixed cylinder l on centre piece i, are jointed several curved leaves or
buckets m, m, which fold down and pass under an abutment n this abutment
controls the course of the water as indicated by the arrow. Immediately the
leaves m emerge from under the abutment, their gravity, which may be
assisted by a spring, extends and throws them open to receive the pressure of
the descending water, which they do, and transmit it to shaft . on the same
principle as the water wheel. Thus a continuous and never-failing power is
rendered available for the propulsion of the vessel so long as the crests of the
waves on which she is floating rise as high as the upper openings, the height
of which above the water lino should be according to the size of the waves by
which it is wished to propel the vessel. It will be observed by the plan
Fig. 2, that I have disposed the engines A, at intervals throughout the ship in
order that it may not be necessary to conduct the water to great distances
within the longitudinal channels c & g, while the shaft k is continued through-
out the wholo number of engines A, A, A; on shaft k I fit bevil wheels
9, r, which are free to slide thereon by means of clutch levers, but are carried
round by feathers in the shaft k; these wheels can be slid into or out of gear,
with the wheels, on the upright shaft p, the one, q, propelling it in one direc-
tion and the other r, in the opposite direction, as may be required for going
ahead or astern, & whereas if both are out of gear with q it remains stationary;
shaft P is connected by bevil gear with the propeller shaft t, which is fitted
and applied as usual. To prevent injury to the teeth of the gearing the power
from wheels may communicate the power to shaft p through the intervention
of a friction clutch, which may be eased as may be required. Fig. 4 repro-
sents a side view of a vessel fitted according to my Invention in which no
engine or apparatus is required to effect the propulsion as before described, but
which is produced simply by the emission of the water acting on surfaces
which direct it in the opposite direction to that in which it is desired to move;
Fig. 5, is a cross section of the same; b, b, are openings in the side of the
vessel throughout its length as before, but in this there is only one row or tier
of them; they open into channels c, extending more or less throughout the
vessel's length; each of these openings are fitted with a kind of shoot x, which
occupies the entire area of the aperture 6; the form of these shoots will be

page_text: best scen in the horizontal sectional plan Fig. 6; they are hinged at one end
and have lips at the upper and lower edges, which prevent them passing out-
wards beyond the extent shown dotted in the sections, while stops limit
their approach inwards, when these shoots are. inwards of the channel c, in
the position shown at æ, the water is free to enter through b, to the chan-
nel c, whereas when in the dotted position shown at a, a, and projected out-
side the vessel, the water runs from channel c, and escapes in the direction
shown by the arrows, the vise viva of which propels the vessel. The action of
the waves upon a vessel so fitted effects the propulsion of the vessel. The
upper parts of the waves exert a force on the part x, causing them to move
inwards and exert a pressure of water in channel c, at that part, while at the
same time the troughs or hollows of the waves permit the parts to open
outwards, and the water to be ejected as described, which being maintained
constantly exerts a continuous propulsive power on the vessel, and consequently
propels her at a more or less rapid rate according to the height of the waves or
undulation of the water. Instead of only one row of openings there may be two
rows of openings arranged for propelling by emission of the water, the one row
being on a level near the crests of the waves, while the other may be somewhat
lower than those shown at Figs. 4 & 5, the lower ones having the shoots x, as
described, while the upper ones are simply openings as described with reference
to Figs. 1 & 2. It will be observed in Fig. 6 that the apertures barc
fitted with the shoots a, alternately hinged at opposite ends, and so as to
discharge, the water in opposite directions, those opening and discharging the
water in the one direction being used for going ahead, and those in the
opposite direction for going astern. In order to produce motion of the vessel
in oue direction it is necessary to fix the one set of shoots a, so that they
shall not project beyond the side of the ship, while the others are free to
open both outwards and inwards; to back and reverse the motion of the vessel
this securing of the shoots must be changed. For this purpose I mount a
longitudinal rod w outside the ship, as seen in Figs. 5, 7 & 8, which is free
to traverse its bearings in the direction of its length a certain distance ;
this rod bas numerous prongs or fingers y, projecting from it one between each
two shoots, & moving in a plane level with the outside of the ship. When
it is desired to prevent one series of discharge shoots x. acting, the rod w
is removed till fingers y are brought opposite the shoots x, it is desired to
confine within the limits of the ship; this same motion removes the fingers
or projections y, from the position opposite to the set of shoots it is desired to
throw into action (and which are relieved thereby) and brings them opposite
to the other set and prevents them discharging any more water, consequently

page_text: the vessel will be propelled in the opposite direction. Instead of employing
one rod w, two rods may be used one for each set of shoots x, so that the
action of one or both sets may be suspended as may be desired. This con-
trolling apparatus may be otherwise arranged & in the interior of the ship
if preferred. Instead of the alternate shoots being arranged to act in
different directions there may be two rows as represented in Figs. 7 & 8,
the one to act to propel ahead, and the other to propel astern. Fig. 7
is a side view, and Fig. 8 a transverse section of a ship so fitted; in this
arrangement I place the row of propelling shoots a to effect the motion of
the vessel ahead at the most desirable level, while the row for effecting the
propulsion astern I dispose above the former; w. is the longitudinal rod,
and y the stops or fingers as before explained for securing the one or
other or both (separately by means of two rods w,) sets of the shoots a, in
order to control the exit of the water, and consequently the motion of the
vessel, as before explained. The rods w may be actuated by hand, suitable
levers being combined to afford the necessary force that may be required to
act on such bar or bars for that purpose; a screw or screws may be also
adopted for a like purpose, all of which will be readily understood without any
detailed description. Instead of water engines, such as represented in the
Drawings being employed, any other engine suitable to be moved by water
power may be adopted if preferred, or it may be such as first herein-before
described without reference to Drawings.
.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be pro-
tected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the propulsion of
vessels by water admitted to suitable receivers and utilized by its action on
apparatus, or simply by its emission as herein-before described, such admission
and escape being consequent on the difference of levels of the water in which
the vessel is floating, produced by the undulation of its surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Needham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London.
JOSEPH NEEDHAM. (L.S.)