CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING LAND
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
CALLAWAY, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Station Agent, and ROBERT
ALLEE PURKIS, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of November, in
the thirteenth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto us, the said George
Callaway and Robert Alleé Purkis, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said
George Callaway and Robert Alleé Purkis, our exors, aditiors, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said George Callaway and Robert Alleé Purkis, our
exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS, ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING LAND;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso requiring that we, the said George
Callaway and Robert Alleé Purkis, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under

page_text: the hand and seal of one of us, and cause the same to be inrolled in Her said
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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
George Callaway and Robert Alleé Purkis, do hereby declare that the nature
of our Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
particularly described and ascertained in and by this present Specification or
instrument in writing, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say-
.
Our improvements in. propelling ships and other vessels have for their
object the employment of one or more machines which are known by the
names of "fans, or blowing-machines," and which machines have been
variously constructed, and hitherto principally employed for supplying blast
furnaces with a current, of: air, and latterly for raising water; in which case
they are generally denominated centrifugal pumps. The manner in which we
propose to apply such machines for the purpose of propelling ships and other
vessels will be understood by the following description, reference being had to
the Sheet of Drawings marked with the letter A, on which Sheet similar
letters denote corresponding parts in all the Figures:-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents-a. side elevation of portion of a boat; Figure 2, an end
view; and Figure 3, a plan, shewing a portion of the deck as being removed.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent different views of two forms of fans or
blowers, which we shall hereafter denominate propellers. Each of these
propellers is contained in a cylindrical or circular case marked a, a, and which
cases we propose to turn true and smooth on the inside, so as to offer as little
resistance to the motion of the water as possible. The form and position of
the cases a, a, are clearly shewn in Figures: 1, 2, and 3. To the ends of each
cylinder there is bolted a plate b and c, which we shall call the end plates. Upon
the end plates b, b, are bolted two bent pipes e, e, which proceed in a direction
towards the bow of the ship, and are made to pass through its sides, thereby
forming openings f, f-for the induction of water to the centre of the cases
containing the propellers. The cases a, a, are supported by a sole plate firmly
bolted to the ship's timbers, near the stern of the vessel. Through the stern
of the vessel there are made two rectangular openings g, g, which communi-
cate by means of rectangular trunks h, h, with the lower part of the cases a, a.

page_text: We propose to make the trunks h, h, of, cast or wrought iron plates, bolted or
riveted together, and fixed in such manner as to have a fall towards the stern
of about 1 in 12, more or less. i, i, represent the two cranks and position
of the crank shaft of the engines. Upon the crank shaft, which is supported
by pillow blocks j, j, there is keyed the main driving wheel k, which gears
with and drives a wheel or pinion 1, keyed upon the propeller shaft, which is
supported by "pillow blocks" m, m, and upon the ends of this shaft are keyed
the propellers which work inside the cases a, a.
1
The form of propeller which we prefer is shewn at Figures 4, 5, and 6;
Figure 4 being an edge view; Figure 5, a sectional elevation of the propeller
and case; and Figure 6, a transverse section. This propeller, which is similar
in construction to the fan or blowing machine, for which Letters Patent were
granted on the Eighth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and forty-
eight, to George Lloyd, of Stepney, and which is also similar both in con-
struction and action to the centrifugal pumps made by a Mr. Appold, consists
of a boss n, and four (more or less) "curvilinear arms o, o, o,.o. Upon these
arms are riveted, or otherwise firmly fixed, four triangular shaped plates
p, p, p, p, the whole being enclosed by two plates q, q, made in the form of a
frustrum of a cone; the cone plates q, q, being fixed to the plates pp, so as
to form a double cone, with a narrow or contracted opening between them "at
the periphery of the propeller, as shewn at S, Figure 4. At the apex of each
cone plate there is fixed a ring r, one of which rings may be made to.work
against the end plate c, and the other to work in a recess formed by the
opening for the induction of water in the end plate b. The object of this
arrangement being to prevent as much as possible the escape of water from
that part of the case marked a to the induction passage when the propeller iš
required to eject' water at a greater pressure than that at which it flows into
the case, which latter is only equal to atmospheric pressure, plus the weight
of the column of water above the centre of the propeller, which ought to be
placed as low down in the quarter of the vessel as possible. Upon the inside
of the end plate c there is cast a boss, see Figure 6, in which there is inserted
a metallic or other suitable packing, to prevent the "éscape of water through
the opening of the end plate c'into the vessel. Figures'7 and 8 represent the
form of propeller which we adopted in our first experimental boat, and consists
simply of a boss with four projecting arms, each having a rectangular blade
attached to it in the same manner as the ordinary form of fan or blowing
machine.
The action of the propeller is simply as follows:-Rotary motion being con-
municated from the crank shaft by the driving wheel k and pinion / to the

page_text: propeller, the water will be drawn in through the pipe e, and after passing
through the space and contracted opening formed by the conical plates of the
propeller, will be forcibly ejected through the trunk by the centrifugal
action of the curvilinear plates p, p, thereby causing the vessel to be propelled
forward.
The second part of our improvements in propelling ships and other vessels
relates to the mode of steering, or "putting the ship about," and is effected
by causing the water which issues from the trunks h to be ejected at any
angle with the sides of the ship. The manner in which we propose to
effect this object is as follows:-t, Figures 1 and 3, represents the steering
wheel keyed fast upon the shaft u, which shaft gives motion by means of
chains to the rudder in the ordinary manner. v, v, are two similar wheels,
made to work loosely upon the shaft u, and upon one side of these wheels
there is a boss v', which forms a pulley. w, w, are two shafts, supported by
suitable bearings, bolted to the deck beams. Upon the end of each of these
shafts there is keyed a pulley x, which receives motion from the pulley v' of
the steering wheel by means of a chain; upon the opposite end of the
shafts w, w, there is a worm which drives a quadrant wheel keyed fast upon
the end of a vertical shaft y; and upon the lower end of each of the shafts y
there is fixed a rectangular plate z. The trunks h, h; are formed with recesses
to receive the plates z, as shewn at Figure 3, in which a portion of the trunks
is supposed to be removed for the purpose of shewing the position of the
steering plates, which plates are made so as to nearly fit the opening in the
trunks. By this arrangement it will be observed, that if motion be given to one
of the steering wheels v, such motion will be communicated by means of the
chains and pulleys to the shaft w, and from thence to the shaft y, by means of
the worm and quadrant, or worm wheel, so that the steering plates z may
be moved in the position shewn by dotted lines, in which case the water will be
ejected in the direction indicated by the arrow, see Figure 3, which will have
the effect of turning the ship round. The arrangement above described also
admits of the eduction passages being entirely closed when required. We
would remark, that although we have described a particular form of propeller
and its position, we do not confine ourselves thereto, as the propeller may be
made with straight instead of curvilinear arms; and the cases containing such
propellers may be placed horizontal instead of vertical, or in any other part of
the ship than that above described.
Our improvements in machinery or apparatus for ploughing land, and the
manner in which the same may be carried into effect, will be understood by the
following description, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings marked

page_text: with the letter B, on which Sheet similar letters denote corresponding parts in
all the Figures, that is to say :-
Figure 1 represents an end view of our steam plough for turning up land;
Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3, a plan view.
The machine we are about to describe consists of two principal parts, which
we shall call the ploughing part and the locomotive part. a, a, Figures 1
and 3, represents a cast-iron frame for supporting the ploughing part, or that
part of the machine which carries the ploughshares; b', b, are side plates
of wrought iron, which plates carry at their outer end an axle upon which is
keyed three chain pulleys c, c, c, c', c', c'; e, e, is a framework for supporting an
axle upon which is keyed three similar pulleys d, d, d. In order to combine
as much strength as possible with lightness of structure, we propose to make
the framework principally of wrought-iron tubes e, e, the ends of which are
fixed into cast-iron sockets f,f, by means of keys; g, g, is an endless chain
carrying the ploughshares h, h, which are bolted to the flat links of which
the chain is composed; i is a table for supporting the cylinders of a pair of
oscillating engines; k, the crank shaft which gives motion to the shaft l, and by
means of a pair of bevel wheels m, to the axle upon which the chain pulleys
c, c, c, are keyed. From the above it will be seen that the endless chain g,
with the ploughshares attached, are caused to move over the three series of
chain pulleys c, c, and d, in the direction indicated by the arrows.
We have now to describe the locomotive part of the machine, first observing
that that part of the machine just described is attached to the locomotive part
about to be described, in such manner that the whole of the framework a and
e, together with the endless chain and ploughshares, are capable of being
raised or lowered by means of screws or other suitable contrivance, so as to cut
any required depth of furrow. h, h, represents the framework of the locomotive
part; i, the tender; j, the boiler; and k; the steam pipe leading to the engines.
This pipe is made with flexible or union joints so as to admit of the ploughing
part of the machine being raised or lowered, as above described. Motion is com-
municated to the locomotive part of the machine in the following manner :-
t, sce Figures 1 and 3, is a chain pulley which gives motion by means of an
endless chain to a chain wheel m keyed upon the shaft n. Upon the shaft n
is keyed a pinion o, which gives motion to a wheel p keyed upon the main
driving shaft of the locomotive part; q, q, are the driving wheels, which, when
the plough is at work, move in the direction indicated by the arrow; is also
a chain pulley keyed upon the crank shaft, which pulley gives motion by means
of an endless chain to a chain wheel s, which is capable of being connected
and disconnected with the main driving shaft by means of a clutch box, not

page_text: shewn in the Drawing. The object of this arrangement is merely to commu-
nicate a quicker motion to the driving axle when the machine is required to
be moved from one place to another. From the above description it will be
observed that the motion of the ploughshares and that of the locomotive
are at right angles to each other, as indicated by the two arrows A, B, "see
Figure 3. It will also be observed, on referring to Figure 1, that there are
three ploughshares in the ground, so that three furrows are cut at the same
time. The position of the ploughshares will be seen on referring to Figure 4;
which represents a plan of the chain to which they are attached; the respective
positions of the ploughshares are marked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
In describing the action of the machine we will suppose the distance between
centre and centre of the chain wheels c' and c to be. twenty feet, and the
breadth of each furrow to be nine inches. Now, in order that the ploughshares
may not interfere with each other, it will be necessary, when three furrows
are cut at the same time, that the velocity of the ploughshares and locomotive
be as 8.88 to 1; that is to say, during the time the ploughshares are moving
from c¹ to c, or twenty feet, the locomotive must advance in the direction of
the arrow B twenty-seven inches, which compound motion of the locomotive
and the ploughshares will have the effect of cutting the furrows in the direction
indicated by the three lines at Figure 5, by which Figure it will also be seen
that during the time the locomotive has moved the machine* twenty-seven
inches, the ploughshares will have cut sixty feet of furrow. It is also important
that the ploughshares, of which there are nine in number, be so arranged upon
the endless chain g, that when the first ploughshare has arrived at the point C
(see Figure 5), and is just leaving the ground, that the fourth ploughshare
should be just entering the ground at the point D, and so on until the machine
has moved over or across the field to be ploughed, when it is 'turned round and
performs the same kind of operation in coming back again, so that the field
when ploughed will have the appearance shewn at Figure 6, the spaces or
furrows E, E, being cut with a ploughshare fixed to the side frames 6 opposite
to the centre of the chain wheel ċ or c'. At intervals in the endless chain g,
and on each side of the ploughshares, there are anti-friction rollers t', t', which
bear against plates of angle iron u, u, see Figure 3; the chains are also sup-
ported by similar pieces of iron riveted to the frame a and side frames b, a
portion of which is shewn at w (see Figure 1), so that the anti-friction rollers
work betwixt two plates of iron fixed in such manner as to form a groove.
Note, as the width of the machine just described would be inconvenient to
move about, the side plate b, b', are attached to the frame a, by means of a
pin joint x, so that by removing the stay rods y, y, the side plates b, b', with

page_text: their wheels c, c', can be turned up, so that the frames stand in a vertical
direction; for this purpose the shaft is coupled to the crank shaft by means
of a clip or sliding coupling, as shewn at Figures 1 and 3. The apparatus
for steering the machine is represented by dotted lines (see Figure 3); in
which Figure, and also in Figure 2, the chains and ploughshares have been
left out in order to avoid confusing the Drawings. Note, we would observe
that if the ploughing part of the machine be placed at such an angle with
the locomotive part that one end of the frame be twenty-seven inches, .in
advance of the other, as shewn by the dotted line, Fig. 3, the furrows would
be cut so as to form one, continuous line across the field...
Another modification of the machine just described is represented at
Figures 7 and 8; Figure 7 being an end elevation, and Figure 8 a side
elevation. In this case, it will be seen that the endless chain
is only
made to pass over pulleys corresponding with the pulleys cand c, in Figure 1,
instead of three pulleys in the form of a triangle. In this case also, there are
only four ploughshares, so arranged that two are always cutting at the same
time. In Figure 8, a represents a side elevation of the locomotive carriage,
and c, c, an edge view of the chain wheels; d' is a series of rollers placed
upon a shaft, so as to form a continuous roller, which we propose in some
cases to attach behind the plough, so as to roll the land at the same time
that it is being ploughed; or, the same roller, if required, may be made to
answer the purpose of the driving wheel.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we desire it may be understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the details herein mentioned, so long as the peculiar
character of our said Invention be retained; for instance, the mode of driving
the locomotive, and other parts of our improved plough, may be greatly varied,
without departing from the principle of its action. And with regard to Figures
7 and 8 upon the same Sheet, we have not deemed it necessary to shew the
mechanism for driving the several parts, as the same may be greatly varied,
but which will, however, be readily suggested from the description given of
Figures 1, 2, and 3, by men practically acquainted with the subject; neither
do we confine ourselves to the details herein-before described with regard to
the Drawings on Sheet A, as the form of fan, blower, or propeller may be
varied without departing from our Invention; but what we do claim under the
herein-before recited Letters Patent is,
First, the general arrangement and combination of parts herein-before
described for propelling ships and other vessels.

page_text: Second, the use or application of a machine or apparatus known by the
names of fau, blower, or centrifugal pump, as herein-before described.
Third, we claim the general arrangement and combination of parts forming
the machines herein-before described for ploughing land.
Fourth, the mode of ploughing land by means of a machine or apparatus
in which the ploughshares move in a plane at an angle of ninety degrees,
more or less, with the locomotive part, as described by the arrows A and B,
Figure 3.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Callaway and Robert Alleé
Purkis, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of May, in
the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid George Callaway and Robert Alleé
Purkis came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and everything therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.