AN IMPROVED MODE OF PROPELLING AND CONSTRUCTING A 99
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emmanuel Denis Farcot, of 95, Boulevart
Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, residing
7, Rue Soyer, at Neuilly (Seine), Empire of France, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PROPELLING AND CONSTRUCTING
A
99

page_text: vessels.
Ships, Boats, &c.
propulsion of ships, boats, or vessels. One form of propeller consists of
a kind of dished disc or blade fixed on the end of a rod or shaft, or to the
extremity of a strong coiled spring attached to the end of a vibrating
rod, which may be actuated by hand labour in the case of boats or small
vessels, or by any suitable prime mover or engine in the case of larger
An axial motion as well as a to-and-fro or propelling motion is
communicated to the propeller, so that its action will resemble the action
of the tail or fin of a fish. Two, three, or more of these propellers may
be adapted to a reciprocating rod or shaft on each side of the vessel, so
that all the propellers may act in unison. Another form of propeller
may be made on the principle of the duck's foot by making an elastic
framework of steel wire or rods, or of whalebone, and covering the same
over with a tissue or fabric of some elastic or flexible material, such as
waterproof cloth or india-rubber. If the propellers are actuated by hand.
as in rowing, they are adapted to the ends of arms like oars or paddles,
and the handles of these oars or paddles are provided with coverings of
solid india-rubber, so that in rowing the hands may not become chafed
The leathers for preventing the oars from chafing in the rowlocks are
fastened on by screw clips instead of by nails driven into the wood as is
usual.
The second part of the Invention relates to the construction of the
boats, ships, or vessels, to which the above-described propelling devices
may be adapted. This part of the Invention consists in forming the
framing, kelson, stem and stern ports of the vessel of tubular iron
instead of wood or T iron, as is now the case. By the employment of
tubular iron for the framing the latter is made much stiffer and stronger
for a given weight than if T iron were used. For some vessels I
propose
to attach to the outside and all round the vessel a hollow metallic tube,
which being air-tight will prevent the vessel from sinking.
Another improvement consists in adapting to the sides and bottom of
the vessel a series of inclined planes or wedge-formed pieces, which as
the vessel is driven forward will have the effect of lifting it in the water
and reducing the draught.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMMANUEL
5 DENIS FARCOT, of 95, Boulevart Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, residing 7, Rue Soyer, at Neuilly (Seine), Empire of
France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year
0 of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot, Her special
licence that I, the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exereise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF PROPELLING AND CONSTRUCTING SHIPS AND BOATS AND THEIR
ACCESSORIES, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Emmanuel Denis Farcot, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
The first part of my Invention relates to a novel form or forms of
propeller and the mode of actuating or working the same for the pro-

page_text: Surps, Boats, &c.
pansion of ships, boats, or vessels. One form of propeller consists of a
kind of dished disc or blade fixed on the end of a rod or shaft or to the
extremity of a strong coiled spring attached to the end of a vibrating rod,
which may be actuated by hand labor in the case of boats or small
vessels or by any suitable prime mover or engine in the case of larger
vessels. An axial motion as well as a to-and-fro or propelling motion
is communicated to the propeller so that its action will resemble the
action of the tail or fin of a fish. Two, three, or more of these propellers
may be adapted to a reciprocating rod or shaft on each side of the vessel,
so that all the propellers may act in unison. Another form of propeller 1
may be made on the principle of the duck's foot by making an elastic
framework of steel wire or rods, or of whalebone, and covering the same
over with a tissue or fabric of some elastic or flexible material such as water-
proof cloth or india-rubber. If the propellers are actuated by hand, as in
rowing, they are adapted to the ends of arms like oars or paddles, and la
the handles of these oars or paddles are provided with coverings of solid
india-rubber, so that in rowing the hands may not become chafed. The
leathers for preventing the oars from chafing in the rowlocks are fastened
on by screw clips instead of by nails driven into the wood as is usual.
The second part of the Invention relates to the construction of the 20
boats, ships, or vessels to which the above-described propelling devices
may be adapted. This part of the Invention consists in forming the
framing, kelson, stem and stern posts of the vessel of tubular iron,
instead of wood or T iron as is now the case. By the employment of
tubular iron for the framing the latter is made much stiffer and stronger 25
for a given weight than if T iron were used. For some vessels I propose
to attach to the outside and all round the vessel a hollow metallic tube,
which being air-tight will prevent the vessel from sinking.
Another improvement consists in adapting to the sides and bottom of
the vessel a series of inclined planes or wedged-formed pieces, which as 30
the vessel is driven forward will have the effect of lifting it in the water
and reducing the draught.
My improved mode of constructing ships and boats and other vessels
s shewn in the accompanying Drawing at Figures 1 to 9. The light
35
han heretofore, and of employing very thin sheet iron or steel for the
construction of the shell of the vessel. The kelson and stern and stem
osts are also made hollow, as shewn at Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9;
these

page_text: larger
.
parts being of a gutter or rounded form allow the water to run away
freely. For small boats the keel c may be sufficient, but for vessels of
• dimensions it will be necessary to strengthen it by means of a
second tubular keel or kelson either of round or square form (see Fig. 8),
5 which may be secured to the shell by collars or in any other convenient
manner; or the same result may be obtained by means of an auxiliary
kelson in horse-shoe iron (see Figures 6 and 7), the ends of which are
bent back and fixed to the shell of the vessel. The shells of vessels may
thus be made either entirely in galvanized sheet iron or steel or of very
thin sheets of copper soldered or rivetted one to the other, by which
means a vessel of unheard of lightness may be produced. At Fig. 9 is
shewn a semicircular tube or hollow space d, which may be made of thin
metal, or in place thereof the part d may consist of a cushion formed of
flexible material filled or stuffed with cork, or an air cushion may
be formed of some waterproof and air-tight material and filled with air.
These cushions or pads are intended to render the vessel more stable on
the water and unsinkable; they have, moreover, the effect of imparting
great strength to the structure.
any
Figures 10 to 16 represent my improvements upon the oars or sculls
usually employed in rowing. It will be seen that I adapt to the handles
of the oars thick pieces or coverings of caoutchouc e, which are mounted
on an iron or steel rod of sufficient strength, and which is firmly
attached to the end of the oar or scull by means of metal dowels or
collars, as shewn at Figures 10 to 14, or in any other convenient manner.
The elasticity of these caoutchouc handles prevents the formation of
blisters or corns on the hands of the rower. Figures 15 and 16 represent
the manner in which I fix upon the oar the leather cover f and its pad g
To this end I fix upon the oar
without affecting the strength of the oar.
a piece of copper h, upon which is placed the leather cover f¹, the whole
being kept in place by means of wood screws, which will not weaken the
oar at the point where it has the most work. Towards the middle of the
collar fis placed the pad g, which is composed of superposed bands of
leather fixed by means of pins or rivets which pass through the sheet o
copper h.
My improvements in propelling vessels consist in the use of propeller
with a reciprocating motion.
My improvements may be divided into two classes, consisting, firs
of particular forms or modes of constructing the propeller according

page_text: &
the use for which they are to be employed; second, the means o
actuating the propellers according to the draught of water of the vessel.
The fundamental principle of my Invention consists in constructing
resistance without producing shocks or useless eddies. Instead of causing
propellers in such a manner as to act on the water at the point o
the propelling surface to move laterally, as in the case of the blade of
screw, which would produce a shock or "slip" upon the water in con
sequence of the difference which exists between the effective speed o
the vessels and the theoretical speed of the propeller I construct my new
propeller in the manner shewn in Figures 17 and 18, so that it
may ente
and leave the water without any angle of incidence and according to the
angle of the speed corresponding to the speed of the vessel. There
is no shock, no blow, no slip, and the propeller acts under the same
conditions as the blades of a turbine. To this end I construct the
propeller (as shewn in Fig. 18) of metallic rods covered with some
elastic substance, and more or less flexible, so that under the pressure of
the water it will take the form shewn in Figures 17 and 18.
The propeller shown at Figures 29 and 30 is in the form of a shovel
or spade in copper, and presents a small surface near the axle of oscil-
lation, and becomes thinner towards the extremities so as to render them
flexible. It is fixed upon an axle 7 which turns in a socket, and a rapid
alternating oscillating motion is communicated thereto, the extent of which
is governed by the two helical springs m, which are coiled in contrary
directions and are fixed by one end to the axle l, and by their other ends
to the wheel n which surrounds and encloses the springs. The propeller
may be constructed advantageously in the manner shewn in red lines
in this Figure, and may be combined with the use of springs and flexible
whalebone ribs which will admit of obtaining a greater resisting concave
surface. In this arrangement as in the former half a revolution of the
propelling apparatus will change the position of the propeller and the
direction of the vessel.
The propeller o, Fig. 31, is principally intended to be applied to the
sides or to the stern of a vessel, and consists of a light framing made of
steel or whalebone thinned off towards the extremities and covered with
a fabric of silk, gutta percha, caoutchouc, or other flexible material.
These whalebone or metal ribs are slightly carved in the direction of
the plane of the ship's propeller, so that on yielding or
bonding under
pressure of the water they form a surface of a helicoidal form. They
the

page_text: are attached to the lower part of a shaft, which is capable of turning in a
socket and is bent back at right angles in order to carry backwards a
part of the surface of the propeller so as to diminish the space occupied
by the apparatus. It will be easily understood that a rod extending
5 along the vessel may be employed to actuate a series of propellers similar
to that just described, and in order to alter the course of the vessel it
will only be necessary to cause these propellers to make half a turn
on their axes.
Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 represent in plan the mode of adopting
this reciprocating propellor. In Figures 19, 20, and 21, the recipro-
cating movement is transmitted directly to the paddle or propeller by
a vertical shaft. In Figures 22 and 23 the inclination of the paddle is
obtained by means of a motion transmitted by a gearing chain enclosed in
a metal box, and limited in its action by a double helical spring placed in
the interior of the boat above the level of the water, as shewn in Figures
29 and 30. In this arrangement the motion is imparted to the paddle
by a hollow shaft connected to the box which carries the propelling
apparatus. In order to give a greater amount of elasticity to this im-
proved form of propeller it is proposed to attach the paddle or propeller
to the end of a spring, as shewn in the diagrams, Figures 24, 25, and 26.
At Figures 27 and 28 I have shewn a practical method of carrying out
this plan of construction. The spring i is attached by its stronger end
to the rod j, which receives its oscillating or reciprocating motion from
the driving power inside the vessel. It is provided at its more flexible
end with a paddle / composed of a series of flexible rods extending
radially from the centre. The intervals between these rods are filled up
with some flexible material or with thin sheet metal to prevent the
passage of the water, which will thus find itself enclosed in a sort of
pocket or concave recess. This will form a solid point of resistance,
which in its effect will resemble that obtained or produced by the tail of
a fish.
Figures 32, 33, 34, and 35 represent an arrangement or construction
of propeller more particularly applicable for vessels of light draught, and
is based upon the principle first above described, in which the paddle
will itself take the inclination corresponding to the speed and to the force
imparted to the propeller. In this arrangement the paddle is fixed to
the lower end of a rod q, which is provided at upper end with a ball and
socket point, and receives motion from a spring r formed either of plates

page_text: 08, &c.
placed one on the other or of a spiral or helical coil, and which must be
enclosed in some waterproof material, in order to prevent the entrance
between the coils of any foreign substance which would destroy the
elasticity of the spring.
may
Figures 36 and 37 represent a propelling apparatus for ships of great 5
draught. It will be found convenient to adapt two of these of similar
construction, one of which may be arranged on each side of the stern of
the vessel so that they may be used to steer the vessel. These propellers
be so arranged that either of them may be made to work alone in
case of need. The whole of the mechanism is enclosed in a fixed framing 1
or box s, in the middle of which is mounted on pivots another frame t,
which is moveable and carries the gearing and is very solidly and
strongly constructed. The driving shaft u receives motion directly from
the engine by means of a crank or of a fly wheel pulley and it imparts
motion by means of a crank and connecting rod to an intermediate 1
shaft v, which in its turn transmits an oscillating or reciprocating
motion to the shaft of the propeller by means of a system of cranks and
connecting rods. The mobility of the internal circular frame t in the
fixed frames admits of the pilot altering by any suitable gearing or
mechanism the position or direction of the face of the paddle or pro-
peller in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, and consequently
the direction of this latter without the necessity of interrupting or
stopping the motion of the engine. The propelling paddle may be com-
posed of a simple plate or sheet of metal, or of a series of metal sheets
placed one on the other. It will be supported by several strong coiled:
springs strengthened at their base and acting like a fish's tail, as de-
scribed in reference to Fig. 27. If considered desirable the number of
these propellers or paddles may be increased either by placing them one
behind the other along the sides of the vessel, or arranging them at the
stern of the vessel as indicated by red lines in the Drawing.
At Figures 38, 39, 40, and 41, I have shewn on an enlarged scale two
different modes of carrying out this construction of propeller for ships of
moderate draught. In these arrangements the centre of oscillation is
thrown behind the driving shaft in order to diminish the
for the apparatus.
space
required
Figures 42 and 43 represent my last improvement in propelling vessels.
It consists in arranging along the sides of the vessel a series of inclined
planes, the angles of which may be varied at pleasure. These planes
2

page_text: are first of all arranged or placed horizontally, so that at the moment of
starting the vessel may be carried forward with all the speed that the
propellers (with which it is provided) are capable of exerting. The
planes are then inclined more or less, and under the influence of the
5 speed thus required and the vessel will rise a certain distance in the
water, the resistance of which will be thus diminished. The speed of the
vessel will then be increased by the action of the propeller, so that a
permanent rise of the vessel in the water will be maintained and will
correspond to the speed which it is intended to keep up. The motive
power may therefore be reduced as the vessel will only skim along the
surface of the water like a stone which ricochets. My new system of
propelling is perfectly adapted to produce the effect above mentioned, to
which end it will only be necessary to arrange on each side of the vessel
a series of inclined propelling paddles acting by their ends, as shewn at
Figures 42 and 43, and the direction of which is regulated by means of
an endless screw and worm wheel, so as to facilitate the exit of the
propeller when it comes to the surface of the water.
Figures 44, 45, and 46, clearly represent the different initial positions
which it will be necessary to give to the propeller shewn at Fig. 32 in
order to obtain the proposed result.
It will be understood that as regards the apparatus based upon the
principles above set forth, I reserve to myself the right of making any
modifications or alterations in the form and arrangement of the parts
which experience may dictate, and I reserve to myself the right of
adapting these improvements to sailing, or steam vessels of all kinds and
dimensions. I also claim the right of giving to the propelling paddles
any direction that may be found useful or convenient.
Having now described my Invention of "An Improved Mode of Pro-
pelling and Constructing Ships and Boats and their Accessories," and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim
as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First. The novel construction of vessels herein set forth consisting in
the employment of tubular ribs and hollow kelsons and stem and stern
posts, as shewn and described.
Second. The use of thick india-rubber linings or covers for the
handles of oars as herein set forth, and also the mode of attaching
the leather furniture of oars for the purposes explained.

page_text: Third. The novel forms of propellers herein shewn and described
whereby the actions of the tail and fins of a fish are imitated.
Fourth. The different arrangements and constructions of propellers
herein shewn and described with oscillating pallets or paddles.
Fifth. The application to the sides and stern of ships or vessels of 5
planes of variable inclination for facilitating the rising of the vessel
out of the water when it has great speed imparted to it, and thereby
diminishing the resistance of the water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emmanuel Denis Farcot, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the 10
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.