Improvements in and relating to the Hydraulic Propulsion of Vessels, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Hydraulic Propulsion of
Vessels, and in Apparatus therefor.
We, JOHN CHARLES BOWRING of 48 Post Office Place, Melbourne and ALFRED
NEWCOMB, of 100 Park Street South Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 the propulsion of every description of floating vessel by
the instrumentality of a pump drawing in the water of flotation at one end and
expelling it at the other, thereby causing the vessel to progress through the water
partly on account of the impact of the discharged water against the water of flotation,
and partly on account of the suction set up at the other end.
or fires.
The object of our invention is to provide a simple yet efficient means for accom-
plishing this purpose as well as to make provision against such accidents as collisions
A further object is to facilitate the handling of large vessels by materially
improving their steering gear thus rendering it possible to turn them in a very much
smaller circle or space than hitherto.
By the addition of our apparatus we add not only to the stability but also to the
actual strength of the vessels, whilst the extreme simplicity of our contrivances will
enable them to be worked by much fewer hands than at present, thus effecting a
considerable saving in working expenses.
Our invention consists, partly in the improved method of hydraulic propulsion for
vessels hereinafter described, partly in the apparatus which we employ for carrying
said method into practice, and partly in the special arrangements or contrivances
whereby we accomplish the several additional objects above enumerated together with
others which are hereinafter described, all which will be understood by the following
description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation, and,
Figure 2 a plan of a vessel fitted with our improved apparatus for propelling it and
for other purposes. In both these views the pumping engines, as they may be called,
are drawn larger in proportion to the size of the vessel than would actually be the
case in practice, whilst the boilers on the other hand are drawn smaller in proportion.
This has been done, the better to illustrate the construction of these "pumping
engines" or apparatus.
Figure 3 is a front elevation ;
Figure 4, a side elevation, and,-
Figure 5 a plan of a vertical type of our apparatus, whilst,-
Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating similar apparatus arranged horizontally.
Figure 7 is a detail view of a certain valve operating gear hereinafter described.
Figure 8 is a plan of the end of the discharge conduit illustrating the steering
devices and the valves connected therewith.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side elevation and a sectional plan of a guard
which is provided over the end of the orifice of the inlet conduit for the purpose of
preventing the entrance of any floating bodies such as fish or logs of wood.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of a valve and raising gear therefor which we provide
in the main conduits to enable water to be pumped out of the hold in the event of the
ship springing a leak.
of nun nomoning

page_text: Our improved method of propelling ships consists in drawing in the water of
flotation at the lowest possible point forward, as at A in Figure 1, forcing such water
in one unbroken stream, in the form of a rope as it were, through the vessel and
eventually discharging it with augmented force through the tapering tube or conduit B
at the stern. By constructing this tube B with a gradually decreasing area in cross-
section, the pressure of the water therein will be increased and it will form what may
be described as a solid piston of water which will act against the water of flotation in
a very effective manner.
The conduit C leading from the bows to the pump, and the conduit B leading from
said pump to the stern, are bolted or rivetted to the ribs or framing of the vessel, and
by reason of their tubular form impart a strength and rigidity to the vessel which have
hitherto been unattainable.
The valves hereinbefore mentioned as being provided for the purpose of allowing
the vessel to be pumped free of water in the event of a leak being sprung or a collision
taking place, are illustrated in position at D in Figures 1 and 2. They may consist,
as shown in detail in Figure 11, of a simple disc-valve adapted to be raised or lowered
by a screw-threaded rod d passing up through a protecting tube or sleeve d¹ to the
dock E of the vessel, where said rod may be rotated by means of a suitable key fitted
over its squared end d² which is preferably let in flush with said deck as shown. The
water so pumped out of the vessel's hold would thus be employed for propelling her.
Over the orifice of the conduit O at the bows of the vessel, we arrange a rolled steel
grating F formed of bars f, Figures 9 and 10, of triangular section set with their
apexes in the direction of the vessel's travel so that they will offer but very little
resistance thereto. These bars are connected with a framing adapted to be moved
vertically in the guides f¹ secured on either side of the bows in order that tho grating
may be drawn up out of the way when not required, as for instance when the vessel
is going astern. The rod 2 is provided for such raising and lowering purposes and
is so arranged that by its means the grating F can readily be dropped into position
over the orifice of the conduit C in order to prevent large fish, floating logs or other
obstacles from being drawn thereinto.
The conduit B is connected at the stern of the vessel with two other shorter
conduits G G, Figures 2 and 8, which pass out at said stern on either side of the main
conduit B and are each provided with a suitable valve such as g g, either of which may
be opened as a passage for the out-rushing water, at the same time that the main
conduit B is closed or partially so. These two valves g g are preferably connected
with some gearing or apparatus whereby they may be worked in unison, that is, they
may be so arranged that when one of them open, whether partially or entirely so,
the other will be completely shut, thus enabling the vessel to be rapidly turned in
either direction by simply regulating the flow of water therethrough.
In the vertical arrangement of our pumping apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5,
the steam cylinder H is supported above the pump cylinder I by standards hh, and
its slide valve h' is arranged to be operated by a small vertical donkey engine J, whose
slide-valve is preferably worked by a tappet-lever j', which is in its turn operated by
the forked lever engaging with a pin projecting from the cross-head i which serves
to connect the piston rod of the steam cylinder with the two piston-rods of the
pump cylinder.
By these means we obviate the employment of cranks and the
necessity for working engines in pairs or triplets. We employ two piston rods for
the pump cylinder in place of only one as is ordinarily the case in order to ensure a
steady movement of the pump piston, and in order to render such piston still Diore smooth
and regular in its operation, we prefer to groove the inner walls of the pump cylinder,
as indicated at Figure 3 and to work the said piston-rods up and down in such
grooves, the piston itself being of course constructed to correspond therewith.
In some convenient position, as for instance beneath the platform K supporting the
pumping engines we provide what will hereinafter be referred to as the hydraulic
chamber. It is indicated by the letter L, and is in communication with both
conduits B and C, as well as with both the upper and lower portions of the pump
cylinder I.

page_text: The opening * connecting this chamber L with the lower portion of the pump
cylinder, is provided with an outlet valve 1 of any suitable construction, and the lower
end of the pipe connecting said chamber with the upper end of said cylinder is
similarly furnished with a corresponding valve . The ends of the two conduits B
and C may, the one be opened, and the other closed, or both be, partially opened by
means of the double clack valve bc which is pivotted between a pair of lugs 61
projecting upwardly from the bottom of the chamber L in such a manner that said
valve may be partially rotated upon its pivot so as to throw it over from one side
to the other in order to close one conduit and open the other or (under some
circumstances) to partially open both of these valves. This latter provision is made
for the purpose of enabling the engines to be tested so as to ascertain whether they
are in proper working order before starting the vessel upon her voyage, that is,
whilst she is stationary, as for instance, when moored alongside a pier.
In any convenient position alongside the pump cylinder I, we arrange a con-
densing and receiving chamber M, which is in communication with both the upper
and lower ends of the pump cylinder I through the two tubes and ³, whose ends
are closed by inlet valves and within said pump cylinder. This condensing and
receiving chamber M is also in communication with the two conduits B and C
through the two branch tubes m and m', whose ends where they project into the said
condensing chamber are either closed or opened by means of a double clack-
valve m m³, which is similar in construction to the valve bc in the hydraulic
chamber L. This condensing and receiving chamber is capable of holding sufficient
water to fill the pump-cylinder at any time and at any part of the.stroke in order
that the engines inay start work immediately to propel the vessel either backwards
or forwards.
The exhaust pipe n passes from the exhaust port of the steam cylinder H down to
the upper portion N of the condensing and receiving chamber. This upper portion
is in communication with the lower portion of said chamber by a small snift-
valve n which prevents the incoming water from rising in the exhaust tube whilst
the steam is drawn off at each stroke into the receiving chamber M and will be
condensed in so effective a manner (owing to the immense volume of water passing
through) that we shall be enabled to work our cylinders with steam at a very high
pressure, in fact, at a pressure which will only be limited by considerations of
safety.
An arm o upon
a throttle-valve provided in the steam-pipe is connected
by rod
with a short arm o² of the tappet-lever so that said throttle-valve will
be caused to work as an expansion valve and will regulate the supply of steam to
the cylinder Has its piston approaches either end of its stroke.
The two double clack-valves be and m² m³ are connected together and operated
in unison by a rack m*, Figure 7, engaging with the teeth of two pinions m² and b
keyed each upon one of the spindles of said valves in such a manner that when the
inlet from the forward conduit C into the condensing and receiving chamber Mis
opened, the conduit B will be in open communication with the hydraulic chamber L
and vice-versú as will hereinafter be explained.
The horizontal arrangement of our pumping engine illustrated in Figure 6 is
similar as regards the construction and operation of the various parts, to the vertical
type herein before described, it will therefore with the aid of the drawings be readily
understood from the description of the said vertical arrangement.
We provide against fire by connecting small pipes P, Figure 1, to the conduits B
and C, leading them into different parts of the vessel, and providing them with rose
or other jets p and with stop-cocks p' whereby water may be pumped into the hold
or wherever else the fire may have started.
The operation of our invention is as follows:
If it be desired to drive the vessel ahead, the valves c and m² are closed, and the
valves and m³ are opened to passage of the water, which will be drawn through the
conduit C into the condensing and receiving chamber M and will from thence pass
into either the upper or the lower part of the pump cylinder I according to whether

page_text: the pump-piston is travelling up or down, and will finally be forced into the hydraulic
chamber L and from thence out through the conical discharge-conduit B at the stern
of the vessel. This operation will he clearly understood by reference to Figures 12
and 13, wherein the path of the water is clearly indicated by arrows in both the up
and down stroke of the pump-piston respectively.
When it is required to reverse the motion of the vessel it is only necessary to alter
the positions of the two double clack valves bc and m² m³ so that the water will be
drawn in through the conduit B and expelled through conduit C, thus reversing the
travel of the vessel without stopping the engines for a single revolution. It will be
readily understood that these facilities for reversal will be of very great practical
utility in stopping the, vessel quickly in the case of a collision or when some other
similar danger appears to be imminent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First. The improved method of hydraulic propulsion for vessels herein described,
the said method consisting in drawing in the water of flotation at the bows at as low
a point as practicable, forcing such water through the vessel in one unbroken stream
and eventually discharging it through a tapering tube or conduit at the stern,
substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
"
Second. In vessels propelled by what is herein described as the hydraulic
method," the arrangement of conduits or tubes such as B and C secured to the ribs
or framing so as to impart strength and rigidity to the vessel, substantially as
specified.
"
Third. In a vessel propelled by what is herein described as the "hydraulic'
method, the combination of a conduit or conduits such as B and C extending between
them from one end of a vessel to the other (and being adapted to have water drawn
or forced through them in order to impart motion to the vessel), of a screw-down
valve or valves such as D whereby the vessel may be pumped free of water in the
event of a leak being sprung, substantially as and for the purpose specified and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
33
Fourth. In a vessel propelled by what is herein described as the "hydraulic
method, the combination of a conduit such as C with a grating such as Farranged
to be raised or lowered over the end of said conduit and consisting essentially of a
number of triangular bars arranged with their apexes set in the direction of travel
of the vessel, substantially as and for the purpose specified and as illustrated in
Figures 1, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawing.
:
Fifth. In a vessel propelled by what is herein described as the " hydraulic
method, the combination with a conduit such as B adapted to discharge water at the
stern of the vessel, of two shorter conduits such as G G connected with said main
conduit and passing out at the stern of the vessel at an angle thereto, the said shorter
conduits being provided each with a shut-off valve whereby the flow of water may be
regulated or diverted through either one of them in order to steer the vessel,
substantially as specified and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth. In a vessel propelled by what is herein described as the "hydraulic"
method, the combination with a pump-cylinder such as I of two chambers such as M
and L, connected with said cylinder through suitable tubes fitted with valves whereby
a continuous stream of water may be forced through the vessel, substantially as and
for the purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
"
Seventh. In a pumping "engine for propelling vessels by what is herein
described as the "hydraulic method, the employment of a pair of double clack valves
such as be and m³ m³ connected with each other by rack and pinion gearing so that
they will operate in unison, substantially as and for the purposes specified and as
illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Eighth. In a pumping "engine" for propelling vessels by what is herein described
as the "hydraulic" method, the combination with the steam cylinder slide-valve, of
a small donkey-engine such as J the slide-valve of said donkey-engine being operated
by a tappet motion from a cross-head connecting the piston-rod of said steam
cylinder with the piston rod or rods of the pump cylinder, substantially as and
for the purpose specified and as illustrated in Figures 1, 4, and 6 of the accom-
panying drawing.
Ninth. In a pumping "engine" for propelling vessels by what is herein described
as the "hydraulic" method, the combination with the piston of the pump-cylinder,
of two piston rods such as adapted to work in grooves in the sides of the said
cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes specified and as illustrated in Figure 3
of the accompanying drawings.
25
Tenth. The combination of parts constituting our improved pumping apparatus
or "engine" for propelling vessels by what is herein described as the "hydraulic
method, said parts being constructed arranged and operating substantially as and for
the purposes specified and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of June One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.