IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN PUMPS FOR SUPPLYING THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN PUMPS FOR SUPPLYING THE
SAME, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by Louis
Coinmord of 33 Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 16th August 1864, and dated the 4th March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th March 1864.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN PUMPS FOR
SUPPLYING THE SAME. AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," communicated to me from
abroad by Louis Coignard, of 33, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for propelling by discharging streams of
The
water, and to pumps for supplying the same, and for other purposes.
improvements principally refer to propelling apparatus in which the stream is
projected against the sides of the ejection pipes before escaping, and to pumps
on the aquamotor principle, for which I obtained Letters Patent, respectively
numbered 316 and 1324, and dated 1 February 1862, and 26 May 1863.
According to these improvements four ejection pipes are employed proceeding
from opposite points of the channel, receiver, or force vessel into which the
water is driven from the drum; two of the pipes converge and meet at one

page_text: outlet at one side of the vessel, and the other two converge and meet at
another outlet at the opposite side of the vessel, so that there are two outlets
for the four pipes. There is one valve at each outlet. An improved valve
which I employ is a butterfly flap or plate valve on an axis, the flaps being of
oblong or other suitable shape, and working in recesses in the pipes, by means
of which one of the pipes may be opened and the other closed at the same or
opposite sides; this may be so contrived that the vessel may be propelled
forward, backward, or broadside on, or turned round. The outlets instead of
being circular may be slots of rectilineal or oblong shape, or one or both of
the sides of the slot may be curved to suit the shape of the vessel. Partitions
are fitted in the outlets to divide the issuing stream; the pipes may thence
widen to the force vessel. The pipes may be arranged that the streams
.instead of being forced therein may be lifted to a certain height, and then
allowed to fall freely into the water. The suction pipes are inclined or curved
from each side of the keel, their direction being the resultant of the vessel's
line of motion, and that of the water's travel in them. The top of the angle
formed by the pipe and the vessel's side is towards the front of the shaft.
An improved pump on the aquamotor principle is constructed of a semi-
spherical or semi-elliptical drum or shell closed at top by a plate, and revolving
in a fixed casing which has a flange or lip, and is secured to a cover or top
piece, which with the flange or lip forms a channel for receiving the water
from the drum through the annular outlet. The water passes over the drum,
from which it is kept apart by a plate connected to the cover by ribs or stays,
which act as guides, and deflect it from its rotary motion; the water moves
over the plate from the periphery to the centre, and passes through a flange
into a spout or otherwise into the ejection pipes. On the cover are transverse
supports in which the pump axis works, and also the axis for driving an
exhauster, afterwards described. A pipe may be provided to admit air between
the drum and the fixed plate. Improved vanes or discs are constructed of a
winding spiral, or winding helicoid surfaces; they may be in the form of curves
generated by a line following three curved directrices, or two curved directrices,
and which may be parallel to a directing cone; for example, these may be
hyperboloid, hyperbolic, paraboloid, conoid, sinuous, spiral, and others. The
curve may be a line starting tangential to the boss, then proceeding in the
direction of the axis, and afterwards turning in an opposite direction, or
winding into a direction at right angles, or normal to the former; the planes
of curvature and inclination may be in the direction of the resultants of the
velocity of the streams, and the rotary velocity of the various points of the
radius which they meet in entering or leaving the drum.

page_text: The annexed Diagrams shew examples of vanes. Half of the vanes may
be curved to the right, and the other half to the left, the spiral may extend to
half down the boss, the other portion being a curve, but not a spiral. The
suction and force pipes may be made of metal rings surrounded by a flexible
tube protected by a caoutchouc tube, round which cords twine or fillets are
wound; at the ends are joints fastened by jointed bolts taking into lugs, or
into a collar which turns on the joint. The bearings may be made in three
pieces, with wedge-shaped feathers sliding in grooves. The plummer block
may be in the stuffing box cover, or in the framework. In it are three
recesses corresponding to the slots between the three wedge-shaped pieces,
into which recesses the grease passes through a space at bottom into which
they open. The packing may be lead washers ground true, or flexible
washers held by a metal disc connected by stays to another metal disc, so as
to form a frame or cradle round the shaft or journal; the second disc may be
secured to the gland, and be packed by one or more flexible washers pressed
up at the edges to form a lip or joint; small pipes lead into the stuffing box
from the annular passage or other force vessel, whereby the shaft is kept cool,
and a hydraulic joint obtained.
To extract air from pumps and prevent them from stopping work if they
should suck up air, an exhauster is combined with the pump. This exhauster,
which may be applied to other pumps beside the aquamotor, may be, for
example, a reciprocating or rotary air pump. In one arrangement the force.
valve is fitted over the suction valve, the seat of which is a grid; the seat of
the force valve is screwed into a socket in the pipe; these valves may be
flexible discs or suckers fastened at the centre to their seat, so that the fluid
lifts them at their edges. The cover may be secured by jointed bolts similar
to those above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHCM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year

page_text: of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said
Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Michael Henry, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND IN PUMPS FOR SUPPLYING THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,' communicated
to me from abroad by Louis Coignard, of 33, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris,
France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
This Invention relates to apparatus for propelling, in which propulsion is
effected by the reaction of streams of fluid projected against the sides of ejec-
tion pipes or propeller tubes before escaping therefrom. The Invention also
relates to pumps, and mainly to those on the aquamotor principle, for which
I obtained Letters Patent as communications from the said Louis Coignard,
respectively numbered 316 and 1324, and dated 6th February 1862 and 26th
May 1863. According to the present improvements, four ejection pipes are
employed proceeding from opposite points of the channel receiver or force
vessel into which the water is driven from the drum of the aquamotor pump.
Two of the pipes converge and meet at one outlet at one side of the vessel,
and the other two converge and meet at another outlet at the opposite side
of the vessel; hence there are two outlets for the four pipes. There is one
valve at each outlet, which valve turns on an axis, and works into recesses
in the pipes, so that one pipe may be opened and the other closed at the same
time at the same and at opposite sides of the vessel, which may thus be pro-

page_text: pelled forward or backward, and may also be turned. The outlets, instead
of being circular, are slots or longitudinal openings of oblong shape, or one or
both of the sides of such slot may be curved to suit the shape of the vessel.
Partitions are fitted in the outlets to divide the issuing stream.
An improved pump on the aquamotor principle constructed of a semi-spherical
or semi-elliptical drum or shell, having at one end a plate, and revolving in a
fixed casing, as herein-after described.
Improved vanes, called by me the winding helical vanes, are herein-after
described.
The suction and force pipes may sometimes be formed or partially formed
of metal rings surrounded by a flexible tube protected by a caoutchouc pipe
round which cords twine or fillets are wound; at their ends are junction pieces
fastened by jointed bolts taking into lugs on a collar which turns on the
junction piece. Improved bearings for the shafting may be formed in three
pieces with wedge-shaped feathers sliding in grooves fitted in boxes formed
with three recesses corresponding to the slots between the wedges; into these
recesses the grease flows through a space communicating with them. A packing
may be formed of lead washers ground true, or of flexible washers, such
washers being held in place by metal discs connected by stays so as to form
a frame or cradle round the shaft or journal to facilitate its being
cooled and lubricated. It may be further packed by a flexible washer pressed
up at the edges to form a lip.
Pipes may lead into the stuffing box from the
annular passage force vessel or delivery end or part of the pump, whereby,
as afterwards described, the shaft is kept cool, and a hydraulic
joint obtained.
To extract air from the aquamotor and other centrifugal pumps, and thereby
prevent them from stopping work, an exhauster or air pump may be combined
therewith; it may be of reciprocating or rotary action. In one arrangement
the seats of the valves are grids, and that of the upper valve is screwed into
a socket in the pipe, the valves being flexible discs fastened at the centre to
their seats so as to be lifted by the fluid at their edges.
I now proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings, which exemplify the
mode of performing the Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure is a section, and Figure 2 a plan of the improved propelling
apparatus applied to a ship or vessel. A, A', are inclined suction pipes which
draw in water from either side of the keel, and pass through the vessel's sides
in an inclined direction, which is the resultant of two components, namely,

page_text: the vessel's line of motion and the travel of the water in the said pipes. The
top of the angle formed by the pipes with the vessel's side lies towards the
bow; these suction pipes feed an aquamotor pump H, B. The revolving
drum H of this pump drives water into the annular force chamber or
passage B, and thence into four curved pipes C, D, C, D', which are similar
to each other in shape, and lead from opposite parts of the force chamber to
the ship's sides, where they open, two of them leading to and converging at
one side of the ship, and the two others leading to and converging at the
opposite side thereof. These are the ejection pipes, or pipes against the inner
sides of which the stream is driven before escaping, whereby the vessel is
propelled in a similar manner to that described in the Specification of a Patent
obtained by me, as a communication from the said Louis Coignard, bearing
date the 3rd May, 1860, and numbered 1114; these pipes may also be called
propeller tubes, and are so called in the said Specification of my said Patent
No. 1114. The two pipes on each side converge to one outlet at that
side, that is to say, two open at one outlet E and the two others at one
outlet E. The mouths of these outlets, Figures 1 to 6, are slots of elongated
shape, being oblong or nearly so, but their sides a, b, instead of being straight,
may be curved to suit the configuration of the ship. At each such outlet is a
valve G, Figures 4 and 7, consisting of a plate working on a central
spindle b; one half of the valve, or the part on one side of the spindle, is
intended for opening and closing one pipe, and the other half of the valve or
part on the other side of the spindle is for opening and closing the other pipe,
so that by means of one valve one pipe may be opened while the other is
closed. c, c', Figure 4, are recesses in the pipes for receiving the half or part
of the valve which opens; for example, in Figure 4 the half d of the valve
closes the pipe D while the other half of the valve opens the pipe D¹, such
half lying back or inward in the recess c in such pipe. Hence, by means of
these valves the propelling currents may be discharged through two of the
four pipes to move the ship in the required direction, namely, they may be dis-
charged through the pipes 0¹, D¹, to move it forward or through C, D, to
back it, or through C, D', or C, D, to turn it. The valve spindle b is
carried through a stuffing box, and worked by any ordinary gearing. e, e,
Figures 5, 6, 7, are partitions fitted in the ends a of the pipes C, D, C, D¹, for
the purpose of dividing the streams. These partitions only extend a short dis-
tance down the pipes, say about twice or thrice the broader side of the open-
ings which they (the partitions) form. The pipes are straight at this part,
and thence curve as they rise, becoming gradually wider till they join the
Dump.

page_text: Figure 3 is a front elevation showing an outlet E; Figure 4, horizontal
section of pipe and valve through line g, h, of Figure 7; Figure 5, section of
the partitions at their inner end through line m, n, of Figure 4; Figure 6, sec-
tion of partitions at their outer end through line o, p, of Figure 4; Figure 7,
sectional elevation of valve through line e, f, of Figure 4. The velocity of the
propelling stream may be to that of the vessel as about 1-33 to 2-25; J, Figures
1 and 2, is the axis of the pump, and I its framework.
Instead of the pump, Figures 1 and 2, an improved aquamotor pump,
which I call the simplex aquamotor, may be used for feeding the pipes
C, D, C, D¹, or for other purposes. In this pump, instead of a reservoir
being provided to receive the water when forced from the drum, the water is
made to deviate freely on issuing from the drum, but is collected continuously
at the annular outlet. Figure 14 is a longitudinal section, Figure 15 plan,
and Figure 16 end view of this pump which is thus constructed. H is a semi-
spherical or semi-elliptical aquamotor drum revolving on an axis J in a fixed
casing E; it has at one end a suction opening F. There is only one suction
end to this pump, this part of the pump being formed like one half of the
aquamotor pump, Figure 1. At the opposite end the drum H is nearly
closed by a plate a, between which and the edge of the drum H an annular
opening c is left, through which the water is discharged into an annular
passage B comparatively narrower than the passage B of the pump, Figure 1,
and having its sides formed as shown, to deflect the streams, and force them
to converge to the force passage or delivery end of the pump towards the
axis J. This end, which is provided with an outlet G at its extremity, con-
sists of two concentric chambers, surfaces, or funnels, b*, e, whereof the inner
chamber b is at its inner end of equal surface to the adjacent surface of the
plate a which lies close to, but not in contact with it. The space between the
surfaces b, e, communicates with the passage B, and
discharged through the opening c it is deflected by the sides of the passage B
and driven between the surfaces e, b, to the outlet G, whence it is conducted
through short tubes C, D, to curved pipes similar to the pipes C, D, C¹, D',
Figures 1 and 2, or elsewhere as required; deflecting guide plates d may be
placed between the surfaces e, 63, to check the disturbance of the water, and
direct it straight to the outlet G. The pump may be vertical or inclined instead
of being horizontal, and when vertical may act as a suction pump having a spout
instead of the pipes C³, D³, and may be used for propelling boats, rafts, or
barges on canals, &c., by large quantities of water being raised by it to a
small height, and dropped on inclined planes or through internal or external
as fast as the water is

page_text: pipes. 1, Figures 14, 15, 16, is the framework of the pump; A, A', are the
suction pipes.
It is obvious, without farther detail, how this pump may be adapted for
working on a vertical or inclined axis. The passage B which receives the
water driven through the outlet c being in vertical pumps, the space comprised
between the top of the casing E and an outer or top plate or surface through
the centre of which the water may be discharged by a spout or otherwise.
Another plate or surface to guide the water and keep it apart from the drum
may be placed under this top plate, and secured to it by stays which may
serve as deflecting or guide plates like d, Figure 14, and the upper part of the
axis J may work in a collar supported on the top plate. The vanes in the
drums of aquamotor pumps should generally be so constructed as to meet the
water at its inlet and part with it at its outlet at the smallest angles possible;
for this purpose the vanes about to be described may be used.
I proceed to describe improved vanes for the aquamotor pumps. They are
especially serviceable for reducing the resistance offered to the water as it
enters the drum, particularly when large section openings are used. These
vanes, which I call winding helical vanes, have spiral or helical surfaces, as
exemplified at b, c, Figures 8, 9. The vane forms a spiral of two or more
threads generated by a line b, which is by preference curved, and which starts
tangentially to the circumference a of the boss of the drum, Figure 8, whence
it proceeds in the direction of the axis, and at the same time in a direction at
right angles thereto. The generating curve b is usually a spiral like that of
an Archimedean screw. If the surface of the boss, whence stárts the line
which generates the screw c, Figure 9, or if some imaginary cylinder also
concentric to the axis and intersecting the vane at any desired point, were
developed or extended flat, the delineation described by the point of contact
of the generating curve b with such boss or cylindrical surface, that is to say,
the plane projection of the helix which this point describes will not be a
straight line like an ordinary screw, but a curve, generally formed by an arc
or half of a parabola, having its axis parallel to that of the drum and its vertex
at the point whence the vane starts or first comes in contact with the water;
the vane has thus the form of a winding helical surface, called in French
gauche helicoide, that is to say, a surface generated by a line following or
moving according to three curved directrices, or by a line following or moving
according to two curved directrices, but in the latter case always parallel to a
directing cone, the surface being such that any two positions of the line which
generates it, however near they may approach, are never in the same plane..

page_text: I do not restrict myself to the precise elements of inclination or curvature
of these improved winding helical vanes, which may be varied provided the
rinciple or method in which their surfaces are generated as herein set forth
be retained.
When the pump is double or draws in water at both ends, the helix of one
half of the drum should curve to the right and the other half to the left.
The sectional area of the force or suction passages may with advantage be
equal to half that of the drum; the smaller the sectional area of the outlet and
of the arcs comprised between the vanes the less will be the difference between
the theoretical power of lift due to the drum's circumferential velocity and the
actual height to which it will lift water practically.
I next proceed to describe improved arrangements for facilitating the cool-
ing and lubrication of the shaft J, Figures 1, 2, 14, 15, 16. The packing may
consist of lens-shaped lead washers ground true to fit the shaft, or of elastic
packing rings g, Figures 10, 14; such washers or rings are fitted in a stuffing
box and gland k, k. Round the journal or shaft is also a cradle or frame,
Figure 11, fitted in the stuffing box, and formed of two metal discs h, i, con-
nected together by stays or distance pieces j; this cradle or frame is so
placed as to separate some of the packing from the rest and press it against
the ends of the box and gland h, and it leaves part of the journal or shaft
bare or free from packing, so that it may be more readily lubricated and
cooled. For the latter purpose the interior of the stuffing box k, containing
the packing and cradle, is caused to communicate by means of pipes m, m,
Figures 1 and 14, with the force or delivery part of the pump (that is to
say, with a part of the pump into which water is forced or delivered), so
that water may thus be injected into the stuffing box to cool the shaft or
journal, and a hydraulic joint is obtained. o, Figure 10, is a dished elastic
ring fixed to the gland for packing the joint between gland and stuffing box,
or a metal washer tightened by screws or otherwise may be used for the purpose.
Notwithstanding this precaution, air is sometimes drawn in and prevents the
pump from working. To remedy this, an exhauster or air pump may be com-
bined with the aquamotor pump to extract air from the drum continuously or
otherwise, and allow of water being pumped into it from the outside. Such
an exhauster or air pump may also be combined with other centrifugal pumps
besides the aquamotor.
The arrangement of exhauster preferred is an ordinary suction and force
air pump n, Figures 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, provided with valves composed of
discs a, g, of flexible material bolted at the centre to grid-shaped seats, and
placed one over the other in a chamber or socket d, to which the seat c of
:

page_text: the valve g is screwed, so that when the valves require examination they can
be got at by removing the lid e of chamber d, and unscrewing the sent c.
The pump n communicates with the drum H through a suction pipe q,
whereof the mouth q¹ surrounds the end of the axis J, and leads nearly to the
edge of the vanes. A single suction pipe is sufficient for single pumps, and
also for double ones if the drum be not separated by a diaphragm, or if a
diaphragm when used be perforated near the centre. The lid e is fastened
by jointed bolts similar to those used for the flexible pipes.
worked by worm p on the axis J for driving the exhauster n.
o' is a pinion
I proceed to describe improved combined bearing guide and lubricating
arrangements for the shaft J, Figures 1, 2, 10, 11, 14, which arrangements may
also be applied to other shafts used in fitting up the propelling apparatus; b, b,
are the bearings which are fitted in boxes, sockets, or recesses in the plummer
blocks, pedestals, or framework I, or in the cavities on the outer side of the
stuffing boxes k. Each bearing b consists of three pieces 1, 2, 3, Figures 10,
11, formed with wedge-shaped shoulders or feathers sliding in grooves in
the boxes, recesses, sockets, or cavities which contain the bearings, in
which boxes, recesses, sockets, or cavities are formed three hollows 4, 5, 6,
Figures 10 and 11, corresponding with the longitudinal slots between the
pieces 1, 2, 3, so that lubricating material may be introduced through the
opening e, Figures 1, 2, 10, and 11, and pass through the recesses 4 to
the bottom or end of the box, and thence into the recesses 5, 6. These
arrangements are applied for either vertical or horizontal shafts to work in;
they will serve for guiding vertical shafts, and for guiding and supporting
horizontal ones, and allow of either being readily lubricated.
Elastic suction and force pipes or portions thereof may be made of a frame-
work of stamped copper or galvanized iron rings within a leather or
caoutchouc tube surrounded by another caoutchouc tube bound round by
cords, wire, or leather strips. These pipes are terminated by junction pieces,
having jointed bolts attached to one portion which fasten by engaging in lugs
on a ring, collar, or annular flange working upon the other portion of the
junction piece.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the employment of ejection pipes or propeller tubes leading from
opposite points and meeting in pairs, that is to say, two meeting at one outlet
at one side of the ship or vessel and the other two at one outlet at the other
side thereof, so that one valve will serve for two pipes, substantially as
described.

page_text: Second, the employment of a valve arranged, fitted, and working as described
for opening and closing the outlet of the ejection pipes or propeller tubes,
and thereby controlling and varying the direction of motion of the vessel, as
described.
Third, the employment of partitions in the ejection pipes or propeller tubes
near the ends thereof to divide the streams, as described.
Fourth, the employment of the improved winding helical vanes, herein-
before described.
Fifth, the arrangements, herein-before, described, for facilitating the
lubrication and cooling of the shaft or journal and obtaining a hydraulic
joint, that is to say, the employment of a cradle or frame so contrived as to
leave a part of the shaft or journal bare in the stuffing box or recess containing
the packing, and the employment of a pipe or pipes whereby the interior of
such stuffing box or recess communicates with the passage chamber delivery
end, or part of the pump into which water is delivered or forced.
Sixth, the combination with centrifugal pumps of exhausters or air pumps,
in the manner and for the purpose described.
Seventh, the employment of the improved combined bearing guide and
lubricating arrangements described.
Eighth, the improved flexible or partly flexible pipes, herein-before
described.
Ninth, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improved pump herein-before described, and called the simplex aqua-
motor.
Tenth, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
combined aquamotor and propelling apparatus, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
0
Witness,
E. DE PASS,
84, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)