Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Propulsion of Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Propulsion of Vessels.
1, HENRY LOBDELL of No. 13-Third Street Troy, New York, United States of
America, merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to Water-power mechanism for propelling vessels, and consists
of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vessel having the middle part broken away, and the
upper portion of the stern part cut away on the broken line x-x-in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1-with one side cut away on the broken
line of Fig. 1.
In the propulsion of steam vessels by means of a screw or paddle-wheel, it is well
known that a considerable body of water is displaced, and forced rearward.
By making use of a wheel which can be wholly submerged, the displacement of
water can be made to take place at a considerable distance below the surface of
the water.
If the propelling wheel is placed at or within the mouth of a case or water-trunk
leading from a level near the surface of the water to a lower level, the water-displace-
ment, utilized in propelling the vessel, causes a gravity flow of water in the trunk from
a higher level of supply, to the lower level of discharge.
The main object of my invention is to produce and utilize such gravity flow of
water as an assisting or auxiliary power in the propulsion of vessels.
The vessel-propelling wheel may be energized in any known manner, as by a steam
engine, and any known form of water motor placed in the water-way or trunk, to
convert the gravity flow therein into useful energy.
Such energy may be applied to any desired purpose. I have shown it applied to
energize a second vessel-propelling wheel, located in a second waterway or trunk.
A second water motor may also be located in the second trunk and its energy
utilized in any desired manner. The auxiliary power thus developed is proportioned
to the difference of level between the points of water-supply and the location of the
motor, and to the volume of water displaced.
I have shown two vessel-propelling wheels in the form of screws A-and A'-each
located just within the mouth A-of a horizontal trunk A³-one on each side of the
vessel. The wheel A-is fixed upon the shafts A-having the crank A-adapted to be
connected with a steam engine, or, when desired, to be turned by hand, as in small boats.
For a water-motor "I have shown a turbine wheel B-fixed upon the vertical
shaft Berected within the penstock B-and rotary in bearings B³.
The wheel-inclosing case B-rests upon the penstock floor or sill-deck B³-and is
partly broken away to show the wheel and the opening B-in the floor through which
the penstock exhausts into the horizontal water-trunk.
The broken line y-y-in Fig. 2-represents the surface of the water in which the
vessel floats.
The water reaches the penstock through a lateral opening B-leading from a
well B-located at a cross-centre of the vessel and extending from the level of the
top of the penstock down through the vessel to the water outside and beneath.
The upper end of the water-motor shaft is provided with a fixed pulley C―which
is connected by belt C-with a similar pulley C-fixed upon shaft
The latter shaft is also provided with the beveled gear-wheel (-adapted to mesh
with gear fixed upon horizontal shaft C-rotary in hangers (and having
the fixed pulley C³-connected by belt C-with pulley (-fixed upon the shaft
of screw A².

page_text: The water-motor B-is thus connected with the vessel-propelling wheel A¹-and
energizes such wheel not only to assist in propelling the vessel, but also to produce a
gravity flow of water from a higher to a lower level, when the wheel is located in a
waterway or trunk, having an upper inlet, and a lower discharge, opening.
I have shown the wheel Alocated in such a waterway or trunk, the exact
duplicate of that occupied by wheel A.
The penstock D-has a lateral opening seen at B'-in Fig. 2-leading from the
well Band exhausts through turbine motor D₁-fixed upon shaft
horizontal trunk containing the vessel-propelling wheel A¹.
into the
The vertical shaft C³ being connected, by belt and gearing, with the shaft of
wheel A-the latter wheel is energized by both the motors B and D)¹.
In Fig. 2 the vertical shaft B₁is broken away to show the similar shaft C-and
gear wheel C+
The direction of the water-displacement_flow, through, and from the mouth of, the
water-trunks is indicated by the arrows. I am able to steer and stop the vessel by
means of the rudders F-F-located at the rear of the respective vessel-propelling
wheels, and supported by a rudder post F.-The rudders can be turned as indicated
by the curved broken lines F³.
When the rudders are both in the position occupied by rudder F-the vessel takes
a straight course, from which it can be diverted by deflecting one or both of the
rudders in the usual manner.
By turning one or both of the rudders to the position occupied by rudder F-the
displaced water will be thrown slightly forward, as indicated by arrow F¹-and stop
or back the vessel.
I do not wish to be limited to any particular form or class of water-motors or vessel-
propelling wheels.
It is obvious that the inlets to the water-trunks may be through the sides of the
vessel as indicated by the dotted lines B and the central well B-dispensed with
though I prefer the well, when the vessel is to be employed in rough water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
First. In a vessel, the combination with a waterway or trunk, below the water line
of the vessel, having supply and discharge openings, leading from a higher to a lower
level of a water-displacing and vessel-propelling wheel or screw, located in or near
the discharge opening; and operative by suitable power, and a water-motor located
in said waterway or trunk.
Second. In a vessel, the combination with a waterway or trunk, below the water-line
of the vessel, having supply and discharge openings, leading from a higher to a lower
level of a water-displacing wheel or screw located in or near the discharge opening,
and operated by suitable power; a water-motor located in said waterway or trunk;
and an auxiliary vessel-propelling screw, or wheel, connected to, and actuated by,
such motor.
Dated th CI
1000
HENRY LOBDELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.