IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PROPULSION OF STEAM VESSELS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Patterson Boyd, of Southampton, in the County of
Southampton, Iron Manufacturer, Thomas Train Pearson, of Gateshead, in the
County of Durham, Mechanic, and William Hooley, of Southampton, in the
County of Southampton, Shipping Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OF PROPULSION OF STEAM VESSELS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Patterson Boyd,
Thomas Train Pearson, and William Hooley at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 23rd June 1880.
HENRY PATTERSON BOYD, of Southampton, in the County of Southampton, Iron
Manufacturer, THOMAS TRAIN PEARSON, of Gateshead, in the County of Durham,
Mechanic, and WILLIAM HOOLEY, of Southampton, in the County of Southampton,
Shipping Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PROPULSION OF STEAM
VESSELS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
"
Our Invention relates to improvements in the means of propulsion of steam
vessels by an improved arrangement in place of the ordinary screw propeller or
paddle wheels, to give greater power and speed with a less expenditure of fuel,
besides increased strength of construction.
Our improved apparatus consists of a system of blades or floats, which are so
driven through the water by the ordinary steam power of the vessel as to propel it
with great ease and speed through the water.
The blades or floats are attached to connecting rods, which unite a pair of crank
shafts which rotate together. Each blade or float thus attached perpendicularly to
the connecting rods will describe a curvilinear figure in accordance with that of the
throw of the cranks, and the plane of the blade will always remain the same, and
perpendicular to the rod.
In order to apply these blades to tho propulsion of steam vessels, we may use the
connecting rods and cranks in sets of two, three, or more, on any suitable part of
the vessel, either at the sides, stern, or in a special water way, so that as the
blades traverse, the lower portion of their travel may be in the water, whilst the
upper or return stroke is effected above the water.

page_text: One or any number of blades may be fixed to each connecting rod, and the
respective throws of the cranks coupled together in one set may be conveniently
at equal angles from each other on the shaft, so as to cause the dipping and
withdrawal of the blades to take place at successive intervals.
The driving of the shafts may be effected from the ordinary marine or other
convenient engine, by means of direct connection of one or more of the shafts by
gearing, or by connecting rods.
As the blades all enter and leave the water perpendicularly, and may be
conveniently increased to any number and to any size, there is hardly any churning
of the water or waste of power as at present with the screw propeller and paddle 1
wheels.
The form of the apparatus is also exceptionally strong so as to give great
immunity from breakage of shaft or other damage in heavy seas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Patterson Boyd, Thomas Train Pearson, and William Hooley
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December 1880.
HENRY PATTERSON BOYD, of Southampton, in the County of Southampton, Iron
Manufacturer, and THOMAS TRAIN PEARSON, of Gateshead, in the County of Durham,
Mechanic, and WILLIAM HOOLEY, of Southamption, in the County of Southampton,
Shipping Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PROPULSION OF STEAM
VESSELS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Our Invention relates to improvements in the means of propulsion of steam
vessels by an improved arrangement in the place of the ordinary screw propeller
or paddle wheels, to give greater power and speed with a less expenditure of fuel,
besides increased strength of construction.
Our improved apparatus consists of a system of blades or floats, which are so
driven through the water by the ordinary steam power of the vessel, as to propel
it with great ease and speed through the water.
The blades or floats are attached to connecting rods, which unite a pair of crank
shafts which rotate together. Each blade or float thus attached perpendicularly
to the connecting rods will describe a curvilinear figure in accordance with that of
the throw of the cranks, and the plane of the blade will always remain the same
and perpendicular to the rod.
In order to apply these blades to the propulsion of steam vessels, we use the
connecting rods and cranks in sets of three or more on any suitable part of the
vessel, either at the sides, stern, or in a special water-way, so that as the blades
traverse, the lower portion of their travel may be in the water, whilst the upper or
return stroke is effected above the water.
One or any number of blades may be fixed to each connecting rod, and
respective throws of the cranks coupled together in one set may be conveniently
at equal angles from each other on the shaft, so as to cause the dipping and
withdrawal of the blades to take place at successive intervals.
The driving of these shafts may be effected from the ordinary marine or other
convenient engino, by means of direct connection of one or more of the shafts by
gearing or by connecting rods.
As the blades all enter and leave the water penpendicularly, and may bo
conveniently increased to any number and to any size, there is hardly any churning
of the water or wasto of power as at present with tho screw propeller and paddle
wheels.
The form of the apparatus is also exceptionally strong, so as to give great
immunity from breakage of shaft or other damage in heavy seas.
And in order that our Invention may be the better understood, we now proceed
to further describe our improved apparatus, reference being had to the Drawings
annexed hereto and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figures 1 and 2 shew a plan and elevation respectively of our improved paddles
in detail. The arrangement there shewn consists of two three throw crank-shafts
A, A, in which the cranks B, B, make equal angles of sixty degrees around the
axis, though more or fewer cranks at suitable angles may be used if desired. These
crank shafts B, B, are strongly constructed of suitable material, and are carried at
each end in suitable plummer blocks or bearings C, C.
They are attached together by connecting rods D, D, at each crank fitted with
the usual brasses, cotters, and straps E, E, to allow of adjustment in case of wear.
Upon each of these connecting rods D, D, is securely fixed perpendicularly to the
length of the rod one or more paddles or blades F, F, made slightly tapering away
in thickness towards the edges.

page_text: These paddles or blades F, F, are, by preference, each made rather wider than
the space between the connecting rods, so that they overlap each other at the
edges, and are yet so fixed on the connecting rods that they do not touch each
other in the course of their travel.
One of the crank shafts is most conveniently driven by the direct attachment to
a crank at one or both ends of an ordinary high or low pressure engine.
The connecting rods ensure the isochronous rotation of the second crank shaft of
the paddles or blades, which thus successively enter, pass through, and rise from
the water always vertically with the horizontal surface, one and a half of the blades
being always in the water simultaneously.
Figure 3 shows the application of our Invention to the sides of a vessel in the
position and in substitution of the ordinary paddle wheel.
Figure 4 shows tho adaption of our Invention to the stern of a vessel, a pocket
or water recess being made in the stern for the reception of the revolving paddles,
cranks, and connecting rods.
Figure 5 shows the method in which our Invention may be fitted to a central
water-way between two hulls or a divided bull.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of our
Invention, and the method in which it is to be performed, bo it known that what
we claim as our Invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is,—
1st. The combination of three or more throw cranks, connecting rods, and
paddles or blades for propelling purposes on water, substantially as described.
2nd. The application of our improved apparatus to side paddle, stern paddle, or
central way steam vessels, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hooley, on behalf of myself and of
the aforesaid Henry Patterson Boyd and Thomas Train Pearson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILL HOOLEY