Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec.. 1889-Accepted. 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Vessels.
I WILLIAM BLAIR residing at Brediland Garden Paisley Renfrewshire N.B. and of
no occupation, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS to be as follows: and.
Consists in placing a circular frame with floats at the circumference, like a paddle
of a paddle steam boat, on an upright shaft, wholly immersed--in- the water, at the
stern of the vessel; and making them to revolve at a proper number of revolutions per
minute will give a greater propelling force than has yet been got by screw or paddle;
said upright shaft is connected by bevel wheels with a lying shaft, with another
circular frame on it, leading to the stern of the vessel where the propelling force takes
effect and this shaft coming from the engine may be moved by steam or any other
motor.
The foresaid upright shaft is made to run in a step and pluminer block fixed on a
continuation of the keel, and its top, and end of lying shaft, runs in bushes and
plummerblock fixed to a spring-beam.
This invention being applicable to small and large vessels one or more of the
circular frames with their shafts may be used as may be required by the propulsion
wanted, and when very great may have two lying shafts projecting from the stern
of the vessel, the connections of each being same as above described, and running
in steps and plummerblocks on projections from the stern and tied to projection
of keel.
1
1000
Dated this Thirtiet
day of March 1000.
WILLIAM BLAIR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Vessels.
I WILLIAM BLAIR residing at Brediland Garden, Paisley Renfrewshire N.B. and
of no occupation do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement as represented in accompanying drawing :-
My propeller is a circular frame A with floats B fixed at the circumference, like
the paddle of a steamboat, and this frame is fixed on an upright shaft C near the
bottom, which runs in a step and plummerblock secured on the keel at the stern of
the vessel, said shaft is connected at or near the top by a pair of bevel wheels D D
to a shaft E which runs into the stern of the vessel and on to the engine which
drives the propeller and the vessel in the usual way by the reaction of the impinging
force of the floats of the propeller and may be fixed near or at any distance from
said upright shaft as the builder may decide on.
The floats must impinge on the water with the flat side of the floats all of which
are wholly immersed in the water as deep as can be got, as the deeper they are
placed, the more power can be used.
The propeller may be put within a kind of compartment open at the sides of top
and bottom, and protected by strong rods, of iron or steel, traversing from the
keel outwards and up to the top or above the water line.
I must leave the fitting up of my invention entirely in the hands of the builder
and fitter as regards demensions and strength of the several parts, and if the same
be made to stand ordinary tear and wear I am convinced my propeller will far surpass
what has been attained by either paddle or screw up to the present time.

page_text: A propeller may be put on the shaft E projecting from the stern of the vessel,
indicated at figures 3 and 4, and one or more sets of propellers, shafts, and wheels,
may be put on at the stern of the vessel as may be requisite to give the speed
required.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is to be used,, I declare that what I claim. is,
The useing the paddle like circular frame wholly immersed in the water in connection
with the shafts wheels &c. all as described above..
Dated Twenty-eighth day of December 1889.
WILLIAM BLAIR.