Improvements in Means for Propelling and Steering Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1898- Accepted, 4th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Propelling and Steering Vessels.
I, FRANK CHARLES POWELL, of 50, Newcomen Terrace, Coatham, Redcar,
Yorkshire, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, 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:-
:-
My said invention has reference to the steering, and the propulsion of ships,
or other craft, on or in water, by the use of steam, or gases, generated in a closed
vessel or boiler, or vessels and boilers, to be used for steering and propelling, ships,
boats, or other kind of craft, without the use whatsoever of any running machinery,
such as steam engine, or engines, hydraulic pump, or pumps, or any kind of motor
or motors. For steering. I propose to steer, or direct a ship, by propelling a
stream of water, so as to drive the ship forward, at the same time changing the
direction the ship travelling is required to go, and by directing streams of water in
a similar way from the bow, or sides, to move the aforesaid ship in any direction
required.
To do this I propose to use steam or gases at a high pressure, led through pipes
connected from boiler to a cone or nozzle, placed concentrically in front of another
cone or nozzle fitted concentrically inside a metal case, so as to draw and force a
current of water from the stern, or other part of the ship, and by changing the
course of this stream, or by placing similar nozzles, at the sides or bow of the ship,
to steer or shape the course of the vessel without the use of a rudder to retard
its onward progress.
For propulsion of vessels without the use of machinery in motion, as a driving
power, I propose to use the same power as herein before described, so as to act on
the paddles, placed at sides or- stern of vessel, or through the hollow shaft of a
screw propeller, in which are fixed blades set at a suitable angle, so as to make the
screw shaft rotate (on which is fixed the propeller) for propelling the vessel ahead,
and to still further increase the propelling power nozzles (Figs. 4 or 5) would be
placed to direct jets of water against the screw propeller blades to additionally force
the propeller round while the velocity of the stream would augment the speed
of vessel.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing, or carrying
the same into effect, or practice, may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 elevation of steamer; Figure 2 end view of steamer; and Figure 3 plan
of same; it being noted that these drawings show the various applications of this
invention, but they are not all meant to be used at once as shown, but separately
or in combination, as the case may be. Figure 4 shows details of invention; A is
steam-pipe; B suction, C steam-nozzle; D delivery pipe. Figure 5, same applied
to screw through hollow shaft E, but not shown as proposed on outside blades,
so as not to confuse. The application on ship is shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Here F is to push bow round, or go astern, G on paddles to go ahead, while H on

page_text: paddles is to go astern, J to go ahead on screw; K to steer, L being screw propeller
and M the paddles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The propulsion of ships or other craft, by jets or streams of water
impelled by steam without the use of any machinery in motion, driving screws, or
paddles as shown.
Second. The steering of ships by jets or streams of water impelled through
nozzles by steam or gases without the use of any machinery in motion, and so
improving the speed of vessels, and not retarding them as with rudders.
1
1000
FRANK C. POWELL.