IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOEST, of Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Joest, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Joest, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Joest, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS," communicated to me
by a certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso that I, the said William Joest, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chan-
cery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference, being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Joest, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
11.

page_text: the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
(that is to say):
:-
X, the double fishes tail, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20, 23, 24. It is
composed of a prismatical hollow solid E or F, or a sector of a cylinder, and
the flaps H or G, Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4, or of the hollow solids E and F,
and the flaps H and G, Figures 5 and 6. The flaps are fastened to the solids
E or F, by a joint 23, in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and by the chains 19 on
the upper part of them in the same Figures. These propellers are fixed under
the stern, Figures 20, 23, 24; by an axis N, O, which moves in strong bottom
and top pieces rivetted to the stern posts. The boxes-15 and 16, Figures 20
and 23, are destined to receive the axis N, O; and the box 16 is moreover
a stuffing box to keep the water out of the vessel. The propeller E, which
lies higher in the case than both the propellers are situated around the same
axis, turns to the left in, the position of the propeller F at the same time
when F turns to the right in the position at E, and flaps H, H, G, G, take
alternately the positions H, H, H, H', and G, G, G¹, G¹, in order to avoid
back water. The propellers are moved by the cranks N, Z; and N, P,
Figures 20, 23, 24, and the cranks are guided to and fro by the connecting
rods Q, Z, Q, P, and the sliding bar V; Q, which is driven to and fro by a
crank W, W, Figure 24; in a second gear.. This sliding bar may be brought
down to the bottom of the ship, as it is shewn in the position 10, 13, Figures
20 and 23. When this sliding bar is to be driven by the first gear imme-
diately of the steam engine, then the position of the cylinders of that engine
would be horizontal. In case of a second gear the arrangement might be as
follows;,, cylinders of the steam engine; BB, the axis of the first cranks
over the cylinders; y, y, the belts or guts to drive the second gear; x, x, the
axis of the second gear supported by the bearings W, W, W, W, Figure 24.
T, T, T, T, bearings or guides of the sliding bar V. Q; R, and S are joints
and levers to bring the sliding bar in and out of gear when the reversing
motion of the propellers shall take place. This may be done by the pilot or
helmsman by the levers 1, 2, 3, 3, 6, 7, in Figure 20, or else by any other
mechanism from the engine room. To reverse the propeller, in order to go
astern with the vessel, the distance g, o, betwixt the two stern posts, must be
great enough to allow the propeller F and E the turning round their axis
N, O, similar to a paddle wheel, Figures 20, 23.
The propellers E and F may also be placed on each side of the keelson,
under the stern, or any other place, even at the bow of the vessel; for as every
one of them has in this case its own sliding bar and connecting rods, the vessel
can be steered with them alone without a rudder, in putting one of them in

page_text: .
motion and stopping the other. There can also be a single propeller of this
description, or more than two of them, and in deep water they may be placed
on each side of the keelson, as there is a Drawing of them, Figure 19, so that
they act in a vertical position as common paddles, but with the difference that
they only vibrate, and not turn around like a paddle wheel. The flaps HH,
G G, may also be guided by the chains 19, 19, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and an
excentric around the axis N, O, in such a way as to bring them always in the
most advantageous position. The propellers may be constructed out of plate
iron, copper, brass, or wood. Figures 1, 2, show the framework of them; 20,
21, 22 are angle, irons to which are rivited the plates of iron to make them
water-tight. When both the propellers E and F are situated around the
same axis as Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 20, 23, 24, the uppermost E must always
turn around the axis O, N; and the other, F, beneath it, must turn with the
axis, N, O. Figures 2 and 4 show this very distinctly. In all, Figures the
same letters show the same parts of the propellers.
II. The syphon screw, Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, is composed of the spindle A, the arms D, D, fixed to it,
and directed with the broad side in the line of the screw threads. To these
arms is screwed the hollow iron or brass cylinder C, C, on which are rivitted
and fixed the blades or threads B, B, of a common screw by the screw.bolts d, e
There may also be fixed straight blades to this hollow cylinder under an angle
of 45°, 50°, 60°, or 70° to the axis or spindle A, Figure 13. The width of the
hollow cylinder C must be smaller or larger after the diameter if the syphon
screw is small or large. The length of this cylinder is always no more than
half the length of the syphon screw itself. The threads or blades B may be
placed perpendicular to the axis A, or inclined in the direction to the rudder.
The number of threads or blades is also determined by the diameter of the
syphon screw. In shallow water for rivers or canals there should be two syphon
screws on each side of the stern or the keelson, and they may also be at the
bow of the vessel. In this case no rudder is wanted, because each of them
may work alone, and steer the vessel. They will be as deep in the water as
the water draught will allow. They can be driven by bevil wheels 6, E,
Figure 24, or by bevel belts arranged in a convenient manner. In deep water
for rivers and the ocean there is but one syphon screw, as it is shown, Figures
20 and 23, which must be all one or two feet under the water-line with its top
part. The syphon screw should never exceed in length from two to four feet,
even for the largest vessels, so that the distance betwixt the two stern posts be
not too great. In all Figures the same letters shew the same parts of the
sorows

page_text: III. The paddle wheel with double indented or tooth floats or paddles. A and
B are the floats, Figures 8, 9, 10, 23; and 9 and E, Figures 23, 24, 25, 26
likewise, which are at a distance of from six to twelve inches. The teeth of
the float A must always cover the distance betwixt the teeth B, and the teeth
9, must always cover the interval of the teeth E, Figures 23, 24, 25, 26.
These indented floats may be deeper in the water than common paddles, and
yet have no backwater, because it falls off very quick. These paddle wheels
should always be set agoing by a second gear, in order to avoid the huge
paddle boxes; their diameter is to be but small, but their velocity great. As
there are no paddle boxes, the paddle wheels should be constructed so that
they can be taken from the vessel when a good sailing wind prevails. The
teeth of the floats or paddles may also be sharped, pointed, or rectangular, or
of any other shape answering the purpose, The room betwixt the floats of
the inner side of the wheel may also be a water-tight drum. The paddle
wheel with toothed or indented floats may also act horizontally, and then it
has the shape, Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26. O is a hollow drum of plate iron,
copper, or brass, to which are screwed the toothed floats and E. In the
middle of this hollow water-tight drum, Or, is fixed the spindle with the
crank, which is driven by the connecting rod & m. The floats are united
on their outward circumference by an iron hoop Sy, and the wheel itself is
fixed to the vessel in the stuffing boxes H and F, Figure 23, on each side of
the keelson, on the broadest part of the vessel. In all Figures the same letters
shew the same part of the propellers. The paddle wheels in this position are
put horizontally in the boxes R, R, which are open on the sides of the vessel,
Figure 24. As the motion of these small horizontal wheels (the diameter of which
is to be determined by the size of the vessel) will be very quick, the water
cannot enter the boxes R, R, so that backwater is avoided. They will not
project more than two feet on each side of the vessel. The vertical height of
these paddle wheels will be regulated by the water draught of the vessel.
They may be driven by a first gear with horizontal cylinders, or by a second
gear with vertical or horizontal cylinders. In the first case, they must have a
larger diameter, as in the second. The ship will lose none of her strength,
because she conserves her shape in the bottom, and has even a double bottom
where the paddles are inserted. When the vessel has a sharp keelson, the
wheel, Figure 23, must be placed higher in the hold, that the box R
may be no hindrance in sailing.
I claim, first, the employment of each of the above-described propellers alone;
that is, to propel a vessel by the double fishes tail alone, or the horizontal
indented paddle wheel alone, or by the syphon screw alone.

page_text: Secondly, the employment of the three above-described propellors at the
same time and at the same vessel; in order to propel it, the paddles may be
placed either vertically or horizontally.
Thirdly, the employment of the double fishes tail with the syphon screw
together, or to use the double fishes tail together with the vertical paddle
wheel above described, or with the horizontal paddle wheel, also above men-
tioned and described.
Fourthly, the use of the syphon screw together with the vertical or horizontal
paddle wheel, as above described.
Fifthly, the use of a single syphon screw in deep water, or two syphon screws
in shallow water, in the stern or bow of the ship.
Sixthly, the placing as many of the above-described new propellers as may
be advantageous, and in whatever part of the vessel it may be desired, either in
a horizontal or vertical position, over each other, or beside each other.
My principle claims in the syphon screw are,-
First, the hollow cylinder C, being very small in the longitudinal direction of the
shaft of the screw on the spindle, in order to avoid the great friction of the water
in its inner side. In most cases it should be only three, four, or six inches,
or only sufficiently broad to permit the blades to be well fastened to it.
Second, the position of the threads or blades compared to the spindle or
the angle of the spindle with the threads to be from 45° to 70°.
axis;
Third, the proportioning the diameter of the hollow cylinder to the diameter
of the whole screw.
Fourth, the proportioning of the number of threads to the diameter of the
screws.
Fifth, the shape of the blades or threads being always so arranged that
there be formed on each side of the hollow cylinder C two hollow truncated
cones, and other openings, which allow a free passage to the water in the oppo-
site direction in which the vessel is propelled.
Sixth, principally I claim the syphon screw with threads or blades unequally
distanced from the centre or axis of the screw, as it is shown in Figures 28,
29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. It is even very necessary to have threads or
blades of different sizes and different distances from the centre of the spindle,
if there are more than three of them; otherwise one will be in the way of the
other, and destroy the effect which it had. Another prejudice is, that the blades
or threads must be wound as the threads of a screw; and I principally claim
the straight blades as they are shewn in Figures 13 and 30. Of all the
different syphon screws there shewn, Figures 27, 28, 29, 30 12, 13, 34, 35
will be found the most efficacious.

page_text: In the indented paddle wheel 1 claim,-.
First, the double floats of equal size; and then the shape of these floats,
so as to permit the soft immersion of them in the water, and to avoid. all
backwater.
Second, to have the floats very broad in proportion to the vessel and its
horse-power, so that all paddle boxes be completely avoided when they are in a
vertical position, their diameter being only small, and their velocity great.
Third, when they are placed horizontally, as Figure 24 shews.
I claim also their indented floats, which will better allow the backwater to
slide along the stern without being driven in the boxes R, R, in the. hold
of the steam vessel; moreover, the great velocity with which they are turned
by a single or double gear (second motion).
In witness whereof, I, the said William Joest, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day. of October, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
WILLIAM (L.8.)- JOEST.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1841, the aforesaid William Joest came before, our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And; also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of. November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand night hundred and forty-one