Improvements in Propelling and Steering or Manoeuvring Apparatus for Ships.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1888
Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling and Steering or Manoeuvring Apparatus
for Ships.
I, JAMES HODGE MILNE, of 121 Murraygate, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Tobacco and Smuff Manufacturer, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to combine parts in an improved manner to
form apparatus for propelling and steering or manoeuvring ships. My improved
apparatus may be fitted and used as a stern propeller or screw, or as a side propeller
acting to some extent like a paddle. When used as a screw propeller the apparatus is
made to act transversely for steering or manoeuvring; and when used like a paddle
for propelling it is made to act like a screw for steering or manoeuvring.
In carrying out my Invention in the case of a single stern or screw propeller I fit
two diametrically opposite blades to a boss upon a longitudinal shaft. The two
blades are made in one piece or are fixed together, being connected by a spindle or
shank which is fitted to turn in the boss about an axis at right angles to the shaft.
Internal gear hereinafter particularly described is applied to the shank of the blades,
and by means of it the blades can be turned when it is wished to use them for steering
so as to cause them to act transversely when passing the highest or lowest point of
their circular course and edgeways when passing the opposite point accordingly as
the ship is required to deviate to starboard or to larboard.
My improved apparatus may be used independently of, or in combination with an
ordinary rudder; and by means of it a ship can be turned or manoeuvred when having
little or no way or longitudinal motion.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing modifications of my apparatus adapted for
acting as a screw or stern propeller.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a sectional side elevation, and figure, 2,
is an end elevation of the propeller with the blades at right angles to the position in
which they are shown in figure, 1. Figures, 3, to 6, represent details and are herein-
after described. Figures, 7, and 8, on sheet, 2, are horizontal and vertical sections' of
the after part of the apparatus, figures, 9, 10, and 11, showing a second modification

page_text: of some parts, and figures, 12, and 13, a third modification. Figure, 14, on sheet, 3,
is a horizontal section of internal or inboard parts of the apparatus, figure, 15, being
a corresponding side elevation partly in section. Figure, 16, is a vertical section of
certain details and figures, 17, and 18, are vertical sections as at right angles to
cach other of a modification of parts shown in figures, 14, 15, and 16. In theso
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
9
The boss, A B, of the propeller is made in two pieces, an inner part, B, fixed on
the end of the shaft, C, and an outer part, A, which is bolted to the inner part, B,
when the blades, D, connected by their shank, E, have been placed in position.
Bearings for the blade shank, E, are formed half in each boss piece, A, B, and the
blades, D, and shank, E, are fitted so as to be capable of turning freely in the bearings.
A space is formed at the centre of the boss to receive collars, F, of the blade shank, E,
and also to make room for details by which the shank is made to turn. For the purpose
of turning the blades, D, the propeller shaft, C, has two grooves, G, formed in it and
in these grooves two rods, H, are fitted so as to be capable of moving along them. In
the modification shown in figures, 7, and S, toothed racks, J, are fixed to the after ends
of the rods, H, and gear with teeth, K, formed on the middle part of the blade shank, E.
In the modification shown in figures, 9, 10, and 11, a chain, L, consisting of flat links
connected by joint pins, is attached to the ends of the rods, HI, and some, M, of the
joint pins are made longer than the others and engage in notches formed for them in
the collars, F, of the blade shank, E. In the modification shown in figures, 12, and 13,
the rods, H, are formed with crossheads, N, at their after ends, and these crossheads
engage in notches or deep grooves formed in the collars, F, of the blade shanks, E.
In figure, 7, the sternpost, P, the outer bearing, Q, of the propeller shaft, C, and the
stern tube, R, are shown in section; my Invention has however nothing to do
with these parts which may be constructed according to any suitable usual or
approved plan.
In figures, 14, and 15, on sheet, 3, the inner end of the stern tube, R, is seen with
its stuffing box, S, these parts being in section in figure, 14. The inner ends of the
rods, H, are made with horns, T, between which are fitted brass blocks, U, having
passing through them rods, V, fixed in a manner that will be best understood from
figure, 16, in a ring, W, which is made in halves the rods, V, being utilised as screw
bolts for fixing the halves together. The outer bearing surfaces of the brass blocks, U,
are convex and the inner bearing surfaces of the horns, T, are concave to allow of
the slight inclination of the bolts, V, in certain positions. The ring, W, is fitted to
rotato easily in an internal groove in an outer ring, X, which is also made in halves
bolted together by means of lugs, Y. The outer ring, X, is at the parts between the
lugs, Y, formed with bearing surfaces to fix and turn on stationary studs, Z, fixed
one in a soleplate, 20, and the other in an arched frame, 21, bolted to the sole-
plate, 20, with the shaft, C, and other parts between them. A rod, 22, is jointed to
the outer ring, X, and a screwed part of it is screwed through an internally screwed
boss, 23, of a handwheel, 24, by turning which the rod, 22, can be moved backwards
or forwards so as to turn the ring, X, into various positions on the stationary pins, Z.
The handwheel, 24, with its boss, 23, are by a pair of bevel wheels, 25, geared to a
vertical shaft, 26, which may extend up to the deck of the ship, so that the apparatus
can be controlled,and moved by a steersman or pilot on deck or in any desired position.
When the outer ring, X, is set at right angles to the shaft, C, the inner ring, W, will
be in the same position and it will hold the rods, H, with their ends in the same plane
at right angles to the shaft; and the rotation of the shaft will not alter their positions.
The propeller blades, D, will consequently be held in their mean position and will be
the same as an ordinary two-bladed screw, the rotation of the shaft, C, not altering
their relative position. But if the ring, X, is set in an inclined position as shown
in figures, 1, 14, and 15, the inner ring, W, will also be inclined and as it rotates
with the shaft, C, it will cause the rods, H, to reciprocate. The rods, H, will move in
opposite directions, and will cause the blades; D, with their shank to turn to a certain
extent in the boss, A B, alternately in opposite directions. When the blades, D, are

page_text: horizontal as shown in figure, 2, they will be in the normal positions of the blades
of an ordinary screw propeller; but as the blades pass through their highest and
lowest positions they will assume such positions as those in which they are shown in
figure, 1. As shown in figure, 1, the upper blade is moving edgeways through the
water whilst the lower blade has the main part of its surface at right angles or nearly
so to the direction in which it is moving. If the propeller is right handed and the
shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow in figure, 2, each blade, D, will be moving
from starboard to port when passing through its lowest position and its action will
make the ship's head turn to port. With the shaft still rotating in the same direction
if the ring, X, is set in the reverse inclined position then each blade, D, will move
edgeways when passing its lowest position and flatways when passing its highest
position and will cause the ship's head to turn to starboard.
In figures, 17, and 18, a modification of the rings, X, and W, and other details is
shown, in which the inner ring, W, acts on the rods, H, by means of pins, 27, jointed
to the rods and fitted into radial sockets in the ring, the pins moving inwards and
outwards and also turning to a small extent in their sockets to accommodate the parts
to the position of the ring when inclined. In figures, 17, and 18, the outer ring, X,
is shown as having formed on it pivots or journals, 28, to turn in bearings in the
frame, 20, 21, each pivot being made half on each half of the ring, instead of the
ring being made with bearings to fit and turn on fixed pins (Z) as shown in
figures, 15, and 16.
In arranging my improved apparatus for propelling like paddle wheels, I employ a
transverse horizontal shaft below the water level and by preference near the stern of
the ship and on each end of the shaft I place a pair of blades (which may be quite
flat and without twist). The shaft may be driven directly by the engines, in which
case the internal apparatus comprising the rings, W, X, and other parts will have to
be repeated for each end of the shaft. Or the shaft may be driven through toothed
gearing in which case a single set of the internal apparatus will suffico for acting
on the blades on both sides of the ship. For propelling, the ring or rings, X, must
be inclined, and for steering or manoeuvring the ring or rings, X, must be placed at
right angles to the shaft and the shaft must be made to rotate in one direction or the
other accordingly as it is wished to turn the ship to starboard or to port.
My improved apparatus, either when arranged for propelling like a screw, or when
arranged for propelling like paddle wheels, may be arranged at or near whatever part
of the ship may be considered desirable for any particular purpose; and if desired two
or more sets of the apparatus may be fitted to the same ship.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1.
claim is :-
The improved apparatus for propelling and steering or manoeuvring ships and
comprising two diametrically opposite blades formed or fixed together and fitted so
as to be turnable about their axis at right angles to the shaft, rods connected to the
shank of the blades and extending along grooves to the interior of the ship, an inner
ring connected to the rods, an outer ring in which the inner ring can rotate and
which can be set at right angles or inclined to the shaft, and mechanism to move the
outer ring, the several parts being combined arranged and operating substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.