Steering of Canal and River Boats and other Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application 2nd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
Steering of Canal and River Boats and other Vessels.
We, ALFRED HICKMAN, of Goldthorn Hill, near Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Ironmaster, and JOSEPH SHELTON, of Kingston House, Blakenhall, Wolver-
hampton, aforesaid, engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object, firstly, simple and convenient arrangement of
mechanism whereby an ordinary screw propeller may be employed also for steering the
boat or vessel to which it is applied, in lieu of the rudder commonly adopted for the
purpose, and, secondly, means whereby the screw propeller may be readily raised and
lowered as desired and be driven by the engine or other motive power in any position
into which the propeller may be raised or lowered, the latter object being more
especially desirable in the case of canal boats and other boats navigating in shallow
waters where it is desired to avoid as much as possible a wash or sudden rush of water
upon the bed of the canal or other channel arising from the action of the screw.
invention also comprises (chiefly as an incidental, though important, feature thereof,
but as capable of general application in the driving of screw propellers) means by
which any opening through the stern of the vessel for the passage of a propeller shaft
is avoided.
This
We will describe this invention as applied in the case of a canal boat, which is the
object we have more especially in view in our invention, and we will describe our
apparatus as combining the objects above specified, after which the application of the
invention to other boats and vessels and also the application of the parts of the invention
separately to separately effect the above described objects will be sufficiently under-
stood for the present purpose, without further description.
A vertical shaft is carried in suitable bearings exterior to the stern of the boat, and
to such shaft is pivoted a bracket or frame which carries a short shaft to which the
screw propellor is fixed. The vertical shaft is driven from the engine or other motor
through the medium of bevil or mitre gear at or near the top, and the screw shaft is

page_text: driven from the vertical shaft also by the aid of mitre or bevil gear, one of the mitre
or bevil wheels being fixed upon the inner end of the propellor shaft and the other
mounted on the vertical shaft. By this arrangement of driving the propellor, and
which is one that may he adopted, also, if the frame carrying the screw shaft is fixed
to the stern of the boat so that the propellor cannot be used for steering, no shaft has
to be carried through the stern of the vessel below water line as in the driving
mechanism usually adopted for the purpose; nor need the shaft which directly drives
the vertical shaft be carried through the stern at all, even above the water-line, as it
may pass over the top. The bracket or frame, and consequently the screw propeller
also, is held in its central position, when the boat is to be steered in a straight course,"
by means of a link pivoted at one end to such bracket or frame and at its other end to
a lever which is so connected with a vertical steering spindle that it will be moved an
angular distance around the axis of such spindle as the spindle is turned and thus
cause a corresponding movement of the axis of the propeller with the result of steering
the hoat by means of the propeller. The steering spindle is, of course, provided with
a tiller or other suitable steering mechanism.
It will thus be seen that while the propeller may be constantly driven from the
engine or other motor through the aid of very simple mechanism, the boat may be
steered by simply turning the screw sideways in eitlier direction as required, and the
advantage is thus obtained of steering by means of apparatus which by a positive action
forces the boat in the direction required, instead of effecting such purpose by dragging
against the body of the water and thus very materially retarding the speed of the
boat; and, further, by dispensing with a rudder a greater length may be given to
the hull or main structure of the boat, in the case of a boat, such as one for passing
through canal locks, the extreme length of which is necessarily limited nott o exceed a
fixed dimension, and thus a greater proportionate capacity for the storage of cargo is
obtained.
The screw propeller may be moved into any desired position vertically by raising
or lowering the bracket or frame which carries the propeller shaft, for which purpose,
of course, the mitre or bevil wheel mounted on the vertical shaft, and which drives
direct into the corresponding wheel of the propeller shaft, is mounted to be capable of
sliding vertically along the vertical shaft, and is fitted with a key which slides in a
vertical groove in such shaft, so that it may be raised and lowered together with the
bracket or frame and thus be constantly in gear with the corresponding wheel on the
propellor shaft and be constantly driven by the vertical shaft as such is caused to
revolve. For the purpose of conveniently raising and lowering the bracket and frame
a forked end of an arm may be pivoted to the vertical shaft with the bracket or frame
or a part thereof fitting within the fork, so that while free to turn within the fork the
bracket or frame will be raised and lowered with the arm, the arm itself being con-
veniently raised and lowered by means of a vertical screw passing downward there-
through. Part of the arm, aforesaid, may pass around the vertical steering spindle, and
be formed as a fork within which the lever connected with the link, aforesaid, may be
fitted so as to be raised and lowered with the arm, and such lever is fitted to the steer-
ing spindle so that it may slide up and down thereon but be turned thereby in any
position into which it may have been raised or lowered.
The part of this invention described in the last preceding paragraph enables the
screw propeller to be worked at any desired height from the bottom of the boat.
This is of peculiar advantage in the case of a canal boat, which when empty
has an extremely light draught, but when fully loaded is frequently within a few
inches of the bed of the canal, and thus when the boat is empty or lightly loaded -
the screw may be worked in its lowest position so as to be well under the water,
or as far under as may be practicable, but when the boat is laden the screw may
be raised so as to leave sufficient water below it allow of its satisfactory working
without causing a wash or sudden rush of water upon the bed of the canal.
It is preferred to cut away the stern post of the boat and to substitute therefor
a concave end, which may be conveniently formed of metal plate, within which the
vertical shaft aforesaid, and the steering spindle, and vertical screw and arm for

page_text: raising and lowering the propeller, are carried; and it is preferred also to form
a framework or guard projecting at the stern of the vessel around the space
within which the screw propeller can be worked, in order to protect such propeller
and the exterior mechanism relating thereto from injury.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Employment in the Propulsion and
Steering of Canal and River Boats and other Vessels.
We, ALFRED HICKMAN, of Goldthorn Hill, near Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, Ironmaster, and JOSEPH SHELTON, of Kingston House, Blakenhall, Wolver-
hampton, aforesaid, 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:-
:-
This invention has for its object both a simple and convenient arrangement of
mechanism whereby an ordinary screw propeller inmay be employed also for steering the
boat or vessel to which it is applied, in lieu of the rudder commonly adopted for the
purpose, and means whereby the screw propeller may be readily raised and lowered as
desired and be driven by the engine or other motor in any position into which it may
be raised or lowered, the latter object being more especially desirable in the case of
canal boats and other boats navigating in shallow waters where it is desired to avoid
as much as possible a wash or sudden rush of water upon the bed of the canal or other
channel arising from the action of the screw. This invention also comprises (chiefly
as an incidental, though important feature thereof, but as capable of general application
in the driving of screw propellers) means by which an opening through the stern of
the vessel below water line, for the passage of a propeller shaft, is avoided.
We will describe this invention as applied in the case of a canal boat, which is the
object we have more especially in view in our invention, and we will describe our
apparatus as combining the objects above specified, after which the application of the
invention to other boats and vessels, and also the application of parts of the invention
separately, to separately effect the above described objects; will be sufficiently under-
stood for the present purpose without further description.

page_text: Referring to the drawings herewith, figure 1. is a plan of the stern end of a canal
boat, with our invention applied thereto; figure 2 is a back end view of figure 1; and
figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line xx of figure 1. The saine letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views.
A vertical shaft A is carried in suitable bearings a al exterior to the stern of the
boat, and to such shaft is pivotted a bracket or frame B which carries a short shaft b
on which the screw propeller C is fixed. The vertical shaft A is driven at its upper
end, from the engine or other motor, through the medium of a horizontal shaft A¹ and
bevel or mitre gear cc; and the screw shaft bis driven from the vertical shaft A by
the aid of bevel or mitre gear dd, of which the wheel d' is fixed upon the inner end
of the propeller shaft b and the wheel d is mounted on the vertical shaft A so as to
revolve therewith.
The bracket or frame B, and consequently the screw propeller also, is held in its
central position, when the boat is to be steered in a straight course, by means of a
link e pivotted at one end to such bracket or frame and at its other end to a lever e¹
through the inner end of which passes a vertical steering spindle carried in
bearings and the lever e¹ is so connected with the vertical steering spindle that
it will be moved an angular distance round the axis of such spindle, as the spindle is
turned, and thus cause a corresponding movement of the axis of the propeller, with
the result of steering the boat by means of the propeller. An arm g fixed upon the top
of the steering spindle, is connected, by means of a rod g', with a tiller h, which may
be conveniently arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the boat and in such
position as to be clear of the motor which drives the shaft A'. The tiller may be fixed
in its central position, if desired, by means of a loose pin i passing through a hole in
the tiller and into a corresponding hole in a quadrant or other fixed bracket.
The bracket or frame B, and also the wheel d, are carried upon the vertical shaft A
so as to be capable of sliding vertically thereon. For the purpose of raising and
lowering the bracket B into any desired position, a transverse frame D is employed
which has an opening j formed therein to receive the upper pivotted end of the
bracket B, and the vertical shaft A passes not only through the part of the bracket B
but also through the frame D, so that as the frame is raised or lowered it carries
with it the bracket B, and consequently the propeller. A vertical screw E, carried to
turn freely in bearings 7 l, is screwed through one end of the frame D, and thus by
turning the screw E in one direction or the other the frame D), and with it the
bracket B, is raised or lowered. The frame D is maintained in any desired position
vertically by means of the screw. The wheel d is provided with a sleeve which acts
as a distance-piece between itself and the part of the bracket B, and thus the wheel d
is raised and lowered and maintained in any desired position, vertically, together with
the bracket B.
The vertical shaft A is formed with a vertical groove m, and the wheeld and sleeve¹
are fitted with a key, which slides within the groove m, so that whatever position the
wheel d may be in it will be driven by the shaft A, as such shaft revolves.
The steering spindle f passes easily through the lever or arm el, so that the arm may
be slid up and down along the spindle as the bracket B is raised and lowered; and in
order to effect such movement of the lever e¹ the spindle f may pass through a jawed
or open end of the frame B between the sides of which the lever e¹ is held in place as
shewn. For the purpose of making the lever to be capable of sliding along the spindle f
and yet to be turned thereby in any position into which it may be moved therealong,
it is convenient to make a square hole through the lever and to form the part of the
spindle which passes therethrough square in section. The holes in the frame D
through which the spindle passes are, of course, sufficiently large to allow the square
spindle to turn therein.
It will be seen that by the employment of this invention, while the propeller may
be constantly driven by the engine or other motor through the aid of very simple
mechanism, the boat may be steered by simply turning the propeller sideways, by the
aid of the tiller; in either direction as required, and the advantage is thus obtained of

page_text: steering by means of apparatus which by a positive action forces the boat in the direction
required, instead of effecting such purpose by dragging against the boly of the water
and thus very materially retarding the speed of the boat; and further, by dispensing
with a rudder a greater length may be given to the hull or main structure of the boat,
in the case of a boat, such as one for passing through canal locks, the extreme length
of which is necessarily limited not to exceed a fixed dimension, and thus a greater
proportionate capacity for the storage of cargo is obtained.
The employment of this invention also enables the screw-propeller to be worked at
any desired height from the bottom of the boat. This is of peculiar advantage in the
case of a canal boat, which when empty has an extremely light draught, but when
fully loaded is frequently within a few inches of the bed of the canal, and thus when
the boat is empty or lightly loaded the screw may be worked in its lowest position so
as to be well under the water, or as far under as may be practicable, but when the boat is
laden the screw may be raised so as to leave sufficient water below it to allow of its
satisfactory working without causing a wash or sudden rush of water upon the bed of
the canal.
The method above described by which motion is transmitted from the motor to the
propeller may, of course, be adopted independently of the employment of the propeller
for the purpose also of a rudder, and independently, also, of means for raising and
lowering the propeller, and avoids the necessity for carrying a shaft through the stern
of the boat below water line as in the mechanism usually adopted for the purpose.
It is preferred to cut away the stern post of the boat, and to substitute therefor a
concave end, as shewn, which may be conveniently formed of metal plate n, within
which the vertical shaft A, steering spindle f, vertical screw E, and frame D for
raising and lowering the propeller, are arranged; and it is preferred, also, to form a
framework or guard p projecting at the stern of the boat around the space within
which the screw propeller can be worked, in order to protect such propeller and the
exterior mechanism relating thereto from injury.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :—-
1. In a canal or river boat or other vessel, a screw propeller carried by a bracket
or frame pivotted to turn on the axis of a vertical shaft exterior to the stern of the
vessel and by which motion is transmitted to the propeller, with means by which such
bracket or frame may be turned to either side, as desired, for the purpose of steering
the boat or other vessel, substantially as described.
2. In a canal or river boat or other vessel, a screw propeller which may be raised
and lowered to, and retained in, any desired position vertically, and which may be
operated to propel the boat or other vessel in any position into which it may have
been so moved, substantially as described.
3. In a canal or river boat or other vessel, a screw propeller carried by a bracket
or frame which is capable of sliding vertically along a suitable guide and which may
be raised and lowered to, and retained in, any desired position vertically, by means of
a vertical screw, and which may be operated to propel the boat or other vessel in any
position into which it may have been moved vertically (or even while it is being so
moved) by the aid of a vertical shaft exterior to the stern of the vessel and pair of
bevel or mitre wheels, one of which is mounted upon the axis of the propeller and
the other is mounted on the vertical shaft in such a manner as to slide vertically
thereon by the movement of the bracket or frame, aforesaid, but so as to revolve with
such shaft in any position in which it may be thereon, substantially as described.
4. In a canal or river boat or other vessel, a screw propeller driven by the aid of a
vertical shaft exterior to the stern of the vessel and a pair of bevel or mitre wheels
one of which is mounted upon the axis of the propeller and the other upon the shaft,
substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
5. In a canal or river boat, or other vessel, the combination of means by which the

page_text: propeller is driven and is utilised in steering, substantially as described and shewn
for the purpose set forth.
6. In a canal or river boat or other vessel, the combination of mechanism by
which the steering of the vessel may be effected by the propeller without the employ-
ment of a rudder, and the propeller be raised and lowered into any desired position
vertically and be operated to propel the vessel while in any such position, substantially
as described and shewn, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of October 1888.