A NEW OR IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR BOATS SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JAMES HOWORTH of Farnworth in the County of Lancaster Ventilating
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED
PROPELLER FOR BOATS SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved propeller for boats ships and other
navigable vessels and has for its object the construction of an efficient propeller of
comparative small dimensions and light weight.
And in order that this Invention may be more readily understood and carried
iuto effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of Drawings having marked thereon
letters of reference, similar letters denoting similar parts in the various figures.
Fig 1 represents a side view and Fig 2, a front view of a propeller_constructed
according to this Invention. Figs 3 and 5 represent side views and Figs 4 and 6
front views of some modifications in construction.
In carrying out my Invention I construct a metallic chamber which is preferably
watertight and which consists of two flat conical or convex discs or plates a a¹
joined together at their peripheries; having their peripheries joined to a hoop or
short cylinder b.as shown in Figs 1, 2, 5 and 6 or having their peripheries joined
to a longer cylinder b Fig 4. When the longer cylinder is employed I prefer to
make it of smaller diameter than the diameters of the discs or plates a a¹ and
to join it thereto by the annular plates c c. Upon the external surfaces of the
discs a a¹ are secured curved vanes or blades d d¹ which may be strengthened by
stays e e or be otherwise further fixed in position. Additional blades or vanesƒƒ
are attached to the longer cylinder and annular plates Fig 4, when these are
employed. These vanes or blades may be straight, V shaped or curved in plan with
their external angles or convexities in the same direction as the convexities of the
blades or vanes d d¹. In some cases I may dispense with the annular plates c c
Fig 4 and attach the cylinder directly to the inner surfaces of the discs or
plates a a¹. The pitch curvature and angle of the blades or vanes may be varied
as desired to suit the requirements of the vessel with which the propeller may be
employed.

page_text: The metallic chamber is attached to the driving shaft g by means of bosses and
flanges h or by other suitable method and the discs and cylinders may be internally
strengthened by angle plates, gussets, tie rods, struts and other supports as is well
understood. For the purpose of facilitating the removal and renewal of the blades
and vanes they may be attached to the discs or cylinder by bolts or set screws and
angle plates.
A propeller constructed according to this Invention may be placed in front of the
rudder or in any of the positions usually occupied by ordinary paddle wheel
propellers. When employed as substitutes for paddle wheels they require smaller
paddle boxes or coverings and may be immersed more deeply in the water. The
blades may also have such an angle or curvature that less back pressure or
resistance is encountered when they leave the water than is the case with paddles.
It is not essential that the metallic chamber should be watertight as it may be
perforated so that water has free access to the interior without greatly impairing
the propelling power but this access of water destroys the buoyancy of the
propeller.
+
In Figs 3 and 4 conical discs or plates are shown, in Figs 1, 2, 5 and 6 convex
discs or plates are shown. These differently shaped discs or plates may be used
in similar or dissimilar pairs, that is to say for example, both the discs or
plates a a¹ may be convex or one may be convex and the other conical.
Having now particularly 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 combination or arrangement of two flat conical convex or equivalent
discs joined to a hoop or at their peripheries, and having vanes or blades attached
to their external surfaces; the whole being mounted upon and secured to a central
driving shaft substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described and as illustrated
in Figs 1, 2, 4 and 5 on the accompanying sheet of Drawings.
(2) The combination or arrangement of two flat; conical, convex or equivalent
discs with a cylinder, the discs having curved vanes or blades attached to their
surfaces and the cylinder having curved or angular vanes or blades secured to its
circumference, the whole being mounted upon and secured to a central driving
shaft substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described and as illustrated in
Figs 3 and 4 on the accompanying sheet of Drawings.
(3) A buoyant propeller for boats ships and other navigable vessels consisting of
an airtight metallic chamber having blades or vanes formed upon or secured to its
external surfaces the chamber being mounted upon and attached to an axial driving
shaft substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described and as illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of Drawings.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.