A NEW AND IMPROVED STEAM VESSEL
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, of the City and
County of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America,
for the Invention of 6 A
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ross Winans and Thomas
Winans at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th June 1858.
We, Ross WINANS and THOMAS WINANS, of the City and County of
Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED STEAM
VESSEL," to be as follows:-
Our Invention, which relates more particularly to ocean steamers, and has
for its object the attainment of a more constant rate of progression under
different conditions of weather than is attainable in vessels of the ordinary
form, consists in the combination of a hull which may be represented by the
two ends of a spindle divided transversely near the middle of its length with a
transverse vertical propeller occupying a space between the two portions of the
spindle, which are secured together by a suitable framing or sleeve firmly
attached to their adjacent ends, and extending over the propeller, thus com-
bining the two ends and the connecting frame into a structure possessing the
requisite rigidity and strength. Our Invention also comprises the frame
which we call a "sleeve," and the series of plates which we call "ribs," for
connecting the ends of this frame respectively with the adjacent ends of the
two compartments of the vessel, steadying the vessel in the manner of a keel,
and' together with the sleeve directing the water to and from the blades of the
propeller. And it further consists in connecting the two end portions of the

page_text: spindle-shaped hull by means of towers and a bridge between them, which will
afford ingress to and egress from each end of the hull, and also afford facilities
for the ventilation of the two parts of the hull.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Ross
WINANS and THOMAS WINANS, of the City and County of Baltimore, in the
State of Maryland, United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1858, in the twenty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Ross Winans and
Thomas Winans, Her special license that we, the said Ross Winans and
Thomas. Winans, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others.
as we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans, our executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 of "A NEW AND IMPROVED STEAM VESSEL," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans,
by an instrument in writing under our 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 we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans.
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 following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved vessel; Fig. 2 repre-
sents a longitudinal horizontal section; and Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal
section through the axis of the vessel on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 represents

page_text: a transverse section through the line X, X, of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents a
transverse section through the line ✓ ✓ of Fig. 3%; Fig. 6 represents a top
view of the sleeve or cylinder which surrounds the adjacent ends of the two
portions of the hull, connects them, and encloses a propeller between them;
Fig. 7 represents a section similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but exhibiting a
modified arrangement of the ribs herein-after described; and Fig. 8 shows
one of the ribs enlarged and detached from the sleeve and hull.
Our Invention, which relates more particularly to ocean steamers, and has
for its object the attainment of a more constant rate of progression under
différent conditions of weather than is attainable in vessels of the ordinary
form, consists in the combination of a hull, which may be represented by the
two ends of a spindle divided transversely near the middle of its length, with
a transverse vertical propeller occupying a space between the two portions
of the spindle, which are secured together by a suitable framing or sleeve
firmly attached to their adjacent ends, and extending over the propeller, thus
combining the two ends and the connecting frame into a structure possessing
the requisite rigidity aud strength. Our Invention also comprises the frame
which we call a "sleeve," and the series of plates which we call "ribs," for
connecting the ends of this frame respectively with the adjacent ends of the
two compartments of the vessel, steadying the vessel in the manner of a keel,
and together with the sleeve directing the water to and from the blades of the
propeller; and it further consists of means for affording ingress to and egress
from each of the two compartments of the vessel, a communication between,
and a means of ventilating them.
'
. The vessel is to be constructed of any suitable materials and with any kind
of framing, bracing, and decks that may be deemed advisable. The general
figure of the hull is that of a spindle whose transverse section in any part is a
circle, and whose longitudinal section through the axis in any direction, is
formed of two arcs of circles or other curves or series of curves and lines that
by their rotation about the axis will generate a spindle.
The peculiarities and properties of such a form of hull, together with various
modifications of which it is susceptible, are more fully set forth in an appli
cation for another Patent made simultaneously with the application for this.
In the present case, however, the spindle-shaped hull may be described with
reference to three parts formed by two planes passed through it transversely,
not far from the middle of its length. The two end portions (A, A',) have
externally the form of the spindle, and where they are intersected by the
above-mentioned planes, suitable bulkheads or partitions (h; h,) are provided,
which make the ends respectively water-tight compartments of the vessel; the

page_text: space between these compartments is occupied by a propeller having its
shaft (a) in a line with the axis of the spindle. The propeller in this instance,
consists of a water-tight drum (B) properly braced on the inside, whose peri-
phery nearly coincides with the general surface of the spindle, and carries the
propelling blades (C) which may be of any suitable shape, and have any
required inclination to the axis of the drum.
The two parts of the hull are connected together, and the propeller enclosed
between them by the following contrivance:-Around their outer surface, next
to the space occupied by the propeller, ribs or standards are. fastened at
short intervals; these ribs are formed of flat metallic plates, and are arranged
in planes passing through the axis of the hull. The ribs project a little
beyond the blades of the propeller, and their inner and outer edges are-flanged
to facilitate fastening them by bolts or rivets to the hull at their inner edges
and to the sleeve at their outer edges. The sleeve (D) has a length equal to
that of the two sets of ribs and the space (between them) occnpied by the
propeller, and includes the whole. This sleeve which thus encloses the
propeller and connects the two portions of the vessel together, as well as
the ribs, must be of sufficient strength to unite the two ends firmly and
securely.
In order to give the vessel increased rigidity the ribs or plates may at and
near the top of the vessel be arranged obliquely to planes passing radially
through the axis of the spindle, but in such case their inclination on opposite
sides of the center should be in opposite directions, so as to present a sym-
metrical surface to the wind, as shown by the top view in Fig. 6. In order to
gain additional strength for resisting the force of torsion, diagonal braces may
be placed between the upper ribs, and these braces may,
if necessary,
be
flattened in the direction of the axis of the vessel, in order to diminish their
resistance to the motion of the vessel in air or water. The sleeve may also
be strengthened by arranging the ribs in planes parallel to the axis of the
spindle, but not passing through it, so that they may be inclined towards each
other in pairs, as represented in Fig. 7, or the ribs may be otherwise inclined
to each other and to the axis of the spindle for the purpose of stiffening or
strengthening the vessel.
.
The shaft of the propeller should pass through stuffing boxes in the par-
titions (H), and be connected by a crank with the engines placed below the
shaft. As a means of communication between the two portions (A, A¹) of
the hull, a suitable opening is made in the top of each portion; around these
openings are fitted water-tight pipes or towers (i), which rise above the sleeve
(D), and open into a common bridge or passage way (1) by which they are

page_text: connected. These pipes or towers promote the ventilation of the parts of the
vessel to which they are respectively attached, and also afford a space through
which the smoke from the furnaces of the boilers may be led in pipes of the
ordinary construction, the smoke pipes may, however, be passed through
openings in other parts of the hull. Vessels of this form of hull might be
steered more conveniently than by the use of the ordinary rudder. A suitable
plan for this purpose is described in the Patent before referred to for the
spindle form of hull.
The propeller being put in operation in the proper direction, its motion
within the sleeve (D) drives out the water in a sternwise current through the
spaces between the after series of ribs, and the water thus driven out is
replaced by an inflowing current betwen the forward ribs, by this means the
vessel is impelled forward. The ribs (F) cause the water to enter and leave
the enclosed space in a direction parallel to the sides of the vessel, they also
operate, as a keel does, to steady the vessel and prevent it from rolling, and
serve to counteract any tendency of the propeller to careen the vessel. This
form of hull possesses among other properties, more particularly set forth in
the Specification of another Patent before mentioned, that of always pre-
senting, even if the vessel should roll, a perfectly symmetrical form to the
winds or waves, for planes passed through the axis of the spindle in any
direction will always give the same longitudinal section, and all of the
transverse sections will be circular.
In the present improvement we have combined these peculiar properties of
the hull with similar advantages in the propeller. The blades of the propeller
projecting equally on all sides of the hull will always be in action, and no
matter how the vessel may roll a nearly equal area of propelling surface will
constantly be submerged, for as one side rises the other descends. By this
arrangement we avoid the difficulties attendant upon paddle-wheel steamers
in which, when the vessel rolls, the wheel on one side is lifted from the water,
and thus vastly diminishes the resistance to the motive power, so that the
engine "runs away," while when both wheels are again immersed, a sudden
check. is given, producing in both cases shocks highly detrimental to the
machinery, and constantly involving the risk of breaking it. In like manner
we also avoid the disadvantages of propellers placed at the stern or quarter of
the vessel, which are alternately immersed and exposed when the vessel
'pitches," which produces the same kind of shocks to the machinery as, those
first mentioned. In our vessel the wheel or propeller is situated at or near
the middle of the length of the vessel, where it can never be lifted out of the
water by either "pitching" or "rolling."
6

page_text: The diameter of our propeller being equal to that of the hull itself, we are
enabled to give to its blades a greater velocity with a given ratio of motion in
the engines than can be given to the blades in any other known screw pro-
peller, in which the crank of the engine is connected directly to the shaft of
the screw. Propellers at the stern being necessarily of far less diameter than
ours require a greater rate of speed in the engine, or gearing must be inter-
posed between the engine and screw shaft to multiply the motion before the
blades of such propellers can attain the speed practicable under our arrange-
ment. This mode of increasing the speed of the propeller is attended both
by increased friction and increased risk of derangement. Various devices
have been contrived for overcoming these serious difficulties which exist in all
stern propellers, but all such devices have been found to create new difficulties
nearly or quite as great as those they cure.
The engine used to drive the wheel may be placed in either of the divisions
of the vessel, or engines may be employed in each division simultaneously.
In neither case will a great length of shaft be required, as the best position
for the engines would bring them near the wheel; this arrangement of the
propeller and engines is more compact than any other heretofore devised, but
the advantages of this arrangement are more fully set forth in an application
for another Patent made simultaneously with the application for this. By
this arrangement of the propeller between the two ends of the vessel we are
also enabled to avoid the great resistance caused by dragging through the
water the large hub and other works by which the blades of a stern propeller
must be supported. In our Invention the vessel itself performs this function,
and no new resistances are created by the addition of means to support the
propeller. The diameter of the wheel being so large, the acting surface of
the propelling blades will also be very large. From the great area of the
propelling surface of so large a wheel it obtains a firm hold upon the water,
and its efficiency is thereby augmented. The acting surfaces of the propeller
being placed so far from their axis of rotation, have throughout their extent
a nearly uniform rate of motion through the water, an advantage not attain-
able in the ordinary stern propeller, in which different portions have very
different rates of motion, that part near the centre being not only useless for
propulsion because of its slow motion, but having the positive defect of acting
as a drag. A propelling wheel, arranged as we have described, combines
therefore the advantages of a paddlewheel with its large radius and of an
ordinary screw propeller with its unintermitting action upon the water. We
have described the wheel as placed not far from the middle of the length of
the vessel, because we consider this the most advantageous position. But

page_text: without losing the advantages at which we aim, the wheel may be placed
considerably forward or abaft of this position, if the constructor should deem
such a change advisable.
The sleeve (D) has been mentioned as a continuous surface, which would
in many respects be most desirable as a means of uniting the two portions of
the hull and of protecting the propeller, but instead thereof bars or other
framing or means of connection between the ribs of the two portions of the
hull may be used. In this case the external surface of the blades will be
exposed to the open water, and their action will more nearly resemble that
of an ordinary propeller. Another form of connection may be adopted, in
which the two parts are simply united by inclined beams extending over the
propeller and secured firmly to the two ends of the hull.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that
under the above recited Letters Patent we claim,―
First, the combination of a spindle-shaped hull formed of two separate
water-tight vessels united by a sleeve or framing with a propeller, arranged
and operating substantially as herein set forth.
Second, the sleeve in combination with the ribs or standards for connecting
the two end portions of the spindle-shaped hull, steadying the vessel as a keel
does, and directing the course of the water as it enters and leaves the space
occupied by the propeller.
Third, the combination of the two end portions of the spindle-shaped hull
with the towers and the bridge between them for the purpose of affording
ingress to and egress from each end of the hull, and a means of communi-
cation between them, and also supplying a suitable means for the ventilation
of the two parts of the hull, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Ross Winans and Thomas Winans,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Thirteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord 1858.
Witness,
GEO. BECKENBAUGH.
ROSS WINANS.
(L.S.)
THOS. WINANS. (L.S.)