IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS, BOATS, AND OTHER VESSELS BY COMPRESSED AIR OR OTHER GAS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN ELLIS, of Cleckheaton, in the County of York, Cabinet Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of iny said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS, BOATS, AND OTHER VESSELS BY
COMPRESSED AIR OR OTHER GAS" to be as follows:-
This invention consists of the use of compressed air controlled and directed by
valves and discharge pipes so as to be available in conjunction with or independently
of the ordinary means of directing and steering or moving vessels, and boats, being
specially available in event of ordinary steering gear becoming disarranged or out
of order.
.
I employ compressed air produced on board by pumps or other means, or stored
in air vessels on board, the discharge of air is regulated by valves and let out
through holes or pipes at the stern of the vessel, preferably on each side of the
centre line, both forces being equal when both sets of valves or taps are fully open,
the valves being under the control of the Official at the bridge, or other Officer in
command, also for stopping the vessel the compressed air can be let out of holes.or
pipes in the fore part of the vessel, also for stopping or moving the vessel broadside
two sets may be placed on each side of the vessel in suitable positions.
Dated this 11th day of August 1885
WALTER BRIERLEY, ..
Agent for the Applicant.
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page_text: Improvements in the Means of and Apparatus for Propelling
and Steering Ships, Boats, and other Vessels by Compressed
Air or other Gas.
I JOHN ELLIS, of Cleckheaton, in the County of York, Cabinet Maker do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING SHIPS, BOATS, AND OTHER VESSELS, BY
COMPRESSED AIR OR OTHER GAS, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of the use of compressed air, gas, or other vapour,
controlled and directed by valves, discharge pipes and channels, so as to be
available in conjunction with or independently of the ordinary means of directing
and steering or moving vessels and boats, being specially available in event of
ordinary steering gear becoming disarranged or out of order.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a complete
description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part of this specification in which
Fig. 1. is an elevation of stern and fore part of a vessel (partly in section)
shewing my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2..is a plan view of stern end.
Fig. 3. is a section on line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. is a like section on line C D.
Fig. 5. is a section on line G H, of the fore part of the vessel.
Fig. 6. is a section on lines IJ.
Fig. 7. is a section on line E F of Fig. 2.
Fig. 8. is a sectional elevation of like apparatus designed for use on canal boats.
Fig. 9. is a plan view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10. is a cross section on line C H of Fig. 8.
The pipe or pipes 1. for main supply of air gas or other vapours (supplied from
any ordinary. construction of compressing engine or storage) has in connection
therewith two series of discharge pipes 3. 4.-5. 6., there being one such series of
pipes for the stern and another for the bow end of the vessel, the pipes 3
and 4. discharge at the expanded orafices 7. 8. the discharge being into the recessed
way 9. 10. formed on each side of the keel 11. and shewn in the several sectional
views, so that the air after discharge is not free to escape or ascend the sides of
the vessel but must pass along the recesses and by the curve shewn by dotted
line 12. such line being as shewn for a short distance from the orafice, flat, and
then by the waved line 12. so that the buoyancy of the air is utilized in this way
to further assist in propelling the vessel.
The steering may be effected by reducing the discharges at the ports 9. or 10 as
requisite.
So likewise at the bow the discharge is into like recesses formed at each side of
the keel that the effective force of the air discharged and during its ascention to
the part 13 is utilized for retarding and backing the vessel.
I

page_text: For moving the vessel broadside on the expanded orafices 14. 15. are employed,
these being only angled or cut out for a short distance from the actual discharge
orafice, because to continue air passages up the sides of the vessel would form
obstacles to its free forward or backward movement. All the air discharge pipes
are provided with ball valves 16. similar to ordinary hydrants so that whilst there
is free way for discharge of air the entrance of water past such valve is by the
action of the ball cut off and prevented. The fore outlets may be closed by doors.
The valves of the several pipes of each series are connected by rods brought to a
point convenient for manipulation by the person in charge thereof.
I employ like apparatus illustrated by Figs. 8. 9. 10. for propelling canal boats,
the air discharge ways 9. and 10. being arranged as near the opposite sides of the
boat as convenient (see Fig. 10.) for purpose of avoiding encroachment upon the
"cabin" space of such boats-the pipes, valves and parts for supply of air being of
same construction as those described in relation to Figs. 1. 2. there being a pair of
levers 14a 14ª for the opposite air discharge ports. The hand wheel 15ª being in
connection with the valve of the engine and convenient to the person in charge
of the propelling apparatus.-Side and bow discharge orafices are not illustrated or
referred to in connection with this class of boat as such are not indispensable.
The discharges of air by the several port ways are available for docking ships
and boats, and utility in acelerating, turning and moving so as to avoid collision,-
so likewise the position of the engine may be where most convenient (in relation to
cargo saloon cabin, or other contingency such as damage by shots in war ships) or
several small engines are available so that the working of the vessel is not
dependent upon one engine in case of mishap and the engine or engines are
available for discharging or ejecting water from the hold in event of a leak or
damage.
At the starboard and larboard sides of the vessel air discharge ways may be
utilized for prevention or reduction of the rolling motion of a vessel in heavy sea.
Having thus particalarly 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
1. The use in a vessel of the air discharge ways fore and aft as described and
illustrated by the annexed drawings.
2. The use in a vessel of the combined air discharge orafices 9.10.-9. 10. 14. 15.
and as illustrated by annexed drawings, and herein described.
3. The combination of compressed air discharge pipes, and air passage ways as
described and illustrated by annexed drawings.
4. The use of the aft discharge ways 9. 10. for use in canal or other boats
wherein retarding apparatus is not indispensable.
Dated this 13th day of May 1886.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.