IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cortland Herbert Simpson, of Bexhill, in the County
of Sussex, Commander, Royal Navy, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 21st November 1865, and dated the 20th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cortland Herbert Simpson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th July 1865.
I, CORTLAND HERBERT SIMPSON, of Bexhill, in the County of Sussex, Com-
mander, Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
mounted on
The hollow
My apparatus consists of a hollow cylinder or drum closely fitted in a
casing, but with sufficient room to revolve freely therein; it is
an axis, by which it is driven in the manner of a paddle wheel.
drum is furnished with a number of casings disposed radially and open at the
circumference only; in these casings, which each extend to the length of the
cylinder, are fitted pallets or float boards, by which, the propulsion is effected;
these pallets slide in a radial direction, and are capable of projection beyond
the periphery of the cylinder to an extent to offer the requisite amount of
surface to the water for propelling; they also slide within the limit of the

page_text: hollow cylinder or drum. The position of these pallets is controlled and regu-
lated by pins or studs, with truck rollers projected from each end of the floats
or pallets, and at a point furthest from the centre of the wheel, which pins
and trucks travel in cam grooves so arranged as to project and withdraw.the
pallets during the proper periods in the revolution of the pallet drum or
wheel. The case enclosing this pallet wheel has an arc or section removed at
the part where the pallets are projected from the wheel; this opening in the
case may either be united with a channel passing through the body of the
ship, or it may be with the sides or bottom of the ship, and so that the pallets
when so projected pass into and operate in the external water; in either case
I dispose this pallet wheel below the level of the external water. When
worked in connection with internal channels they may open to the bow at the
one end and to the stern or run of the ship at the other end, or they may
open otherwise to the external water, but by preference at the lowest con-
venient points. This wheel being below the water level-and-hollow will in all
cases be water-borne, and will so relieve the bearings of weight and friction.
The pallets-themselves may, if of metal even,-be-hollow and of less specific
gravity than water, which will conduce to great freedom of working and
moving in and out of their recesses during the revolution of the wheel, as
before described. The case containing this pallet wheel-or cylinder is. of course
water-tight, and the axis bearings fitted with stuffing boxes tó-prevent the
passage of water in the bearings. I employ one, two, or more of these pallet
wheels in propelling a vessel, and dispose them either on vertical or horizontal
axes, as most convenient. When the pallets or float boards are projected
through the ship's sides the axes would be vertical, when through the bottom
horizontal, and while working in combination with a through channel or
channels for the water the axis may be either vertical or horizontal, or in any
other position most convenient. At the point where the wheel case unites
'with the water chaunel, the latter in its cross section should be rectangular,
and of an area according to the area of the pallet presented to the water and
its projection from the wheel, together with the extent of projection 'of-the
segment of the wheel embraced thereby; the water channels at other points
be of other transverse section, but preferably in a direct line to the com-
munications with the external water. The pallets or floats, instead of being
controlled by stud pins and truck rollers moving in grooves, may be otherwise
controlled, as, for instance, by rods and working gear.
may
5
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cortland Herbert Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CORTLAND
HERBERT SIMPSON, of Bexhill, in the County of Sussex, Commander, Royal.
Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters,
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of.
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson, Her special licence that I, the said.
Cortland Herbert Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson; 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, au
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Cortland Herbert Simpson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same iş
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the five Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
.
My apparatus consists of a hollow cylinder or drum closely fitted in a casing,
but with sufficient room to revolve freely therein; it is mounted on an axis,,
by which it is driven in the manner of a paddle wheel. The hollow drum, is
furnished with a number of casings disposed radially and open at the circum-
ference only. In these casings, which each extend to nearly the length of the
cylinder, are fitted pallets or float boards, by which the propulsion is effected;

page_text: these pallets slide in a radial direction, and are capable of projection beyond
the periphery of the cylinder to an extent to offer the requisite amount of
surface to the water for propelling; they also slide within the limits of the
hollow cylinder or drum. The position of the pallets is controlled and
regulated by pins or studs with truck rollers projected from each end of the
floats or pallets. The pins or studs may be mounted at a point furthest from
the centre of wheel. The truck rollers travel in cam grooves so arranged as
to project and withdraw the pallets during the proper periods in the revolution
of pallet drum or wheel. The case enclosing the pallet wheel has an arc or
section, removed at the part where the pallets are projected from the wheel;
this opening in the case may either be united with a channel passing through
the body of the ship, or it may be united with the sides or bottom of the ship.
and so that the pallets when so projected pass into and operate in the external
water; in either case I dispose the pallet wheel by preference below the
level of the external water. When this propeller is worked in connection
with internal chambers, the latter may open to the bow. at the one end, and
to the stern or run of the ship at the other end; or they may open otherwise
-to-the-external-water,-but-by-preference_at_the_lowest convenient points..
This wheel being hollow, and wholly or almost wholly below: the-water level,
will by its buoyancy relieve the bearings of weight and friction. The
pallets themselves may, if of metal, be hollow and of less specific gravity
than water. which will conduce to great freedom of working and moving in
and out of their recesses during the revolution of the wheel, as before de-
scribed. The case containing this pallet wheel or cylinder is of course water-
tight, and the axis bearings fitted with stuffing boxes or otherwise furnished to
prevent the passage of water at the bearings. I employ one, two, or more of
these paddles or pallet wheels in propelling a vessel, and dispose them either on
vertical or horizontal axes, as most convenient. When the pallet or float boards
are to be projected through the ship's sides the axes would be vertical, when
through the bottom horizontal, and while working in combination with a
through channel or channels for the water the axis may be either, vertical or
horizontal, or in any other convenient position. At the point where the
wheel case unites with the water channel, the latter in its cross sections should
be rectangular, and of an area equal to or in proportion to the area of pallet
presented to the water and its projection from the wheel; the water channels
at other points may be of other transverse section, but preferably in, a direct
line with the openings to the external water. The pallets or floats, instead of
being controlled by stud pins and truck rollers moving in grooves, may be
otherwise controlled, as, for instance, by rods.and working gear.
.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a side view, and Fig. 2 an end view of a propeller and its.
case constructed according to my Invention; Fig. 3 represents a lateral
vertical section of the drum or wheel through the line 1, 2, Fig. 1, while
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show end view, side view, and transverse section of the
pallet wheel separate from the case with some of the pallets only in position
in the wheel. In Fig. 4, end view, and Fig. 5, side view, and float or pallet
is shown separately and as drawn out entirely from the cavity of the wheel.
Fig. 7 represents an interior view of the end of the casing, showing the cam
groove or course of the truck rollers; Fig. 8 represents a plan of the lower
half of the case, the top being removed; Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal and
Fig. 10 a transverse section of the ship fitted with propellers according to my
Invention, but on a scale of half the size of the other Figures. The case of
the wheel will require little or no description, being simply made in two parts
A and B, bolted together with flanges a, a, where the casing may be sepa-
rated in case it be desired to remove the wheel. It will be observed that the
ends E', E', of the casing are made to project below the body of the wheel,
and that such extensions are projected through the bottom of the vessel, and
level with the keel or nearly so, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10. In order to
protect these projecting parts I apply bilge pieces C, C, of equal depth, and
on which the vessel can be grounded without injury to the propeller. The
wheel, which should by buoyant, I make of a number of water-tight con-
partments D, D, of a wedge form, as seen separately in Fig. 11' (end view)
and Fig. 12 (side view). These compartments are arranged in a circle, and
held between the circular end plates of the wheel E, E, Fig. 4, to which they
are bolted; they also fit between raised ribs b cast on the inside of the said
end plates (E, E, Fig. 4). The compartments D, D, thus disposed leave a
number of radial cavities F, Fig. 6, in the wheel in which the floats or
pallets are disposed, such pallets resting and bearing on the ribs b, b,
Figs. 5 and 6, formed on the end plates, and if necessary in a mid bearing C,
Fig. 5, formed ou the parts D, Figs. 5 and 6. In this way the pallets H
will be firmly supported, while the water will have free ingress and egress in
the pallet cavities, and will not thereby impede the action of the pallets.
Instead of water-tight compartments D, D, these wedge-formed pieces may be
solid pieces of wood or other light material. The wheel is keyed by its end
plates on to a suitable shaft (I, Fig. 5), by which it may be driven by any
suitable power. On each of the floats or pallets H, H, are projecting axes h, h,
Fig. 13, on which truck rollers K, K, are disposed. These rollers fit into and

page_text: are adapted to travel in the cam grooves L, L, Fig. 7, in the ends of the case.
These grooves being stationary, it will be evident that they control the position
of the pallets, and cause them to be projected beyond or withdrawn within the
periphery of the wheel'according to the position they occupy in the revolution
of the wheel. The cam grooves L, L, Fig. 7, recede from the centre at the
lower part (that projected through the bottom of the vessel), and consequently
project the pallets at that point. A powerful rotatory motion being given to
the wheel, the projected floats or pallets take hold of the water and propel the
ship. These propellers, as before mentioned, may be disposed so as to
project the pallets H through the sides of the ship; but I prefer them as
represented in Figs. 9 and 10, as the floats have there solid water at all times
opposed to their action, and are not-subjected to the agitation of the waves;
moreover, by making the diameter of the wheels such that the upper part is
about level with the external water, the floats or pallets can at all times be got
at through a trunk.or channel M, Fig. 3, which I carry up from the top A of the
case to a sufficient distance above the water level, and furnish the same with
a lid or cover N, which can be slid off or otherwise removed when required.
The case A, B, must of course be water-tight, and fitted in a water-tight.
manner to the bottom of the ship; the water thus enters only within the case,
which it does freely, and offers-buoyant support to the wheel; as before men-
tioned. If it is desired to strengthen the pallets or floats H, I furnish-them.
with ribs P,-P, on their faces; as represented in the separate views, Figs. 13
and 14, for which it is necessary. to provide reception, in the wedge-shaped
parts D. To accommodate the ribs P, I make the parts D, D, each in
three pieces, as seen in Figs. 15 and 16, Fig. 16 being a section. on the
line 3, 4, Fig. 15. This is further illustrated in Fig. 17, which shows the end
plate of the wheel removed, and shows a part also in section in the plane 8, 4,
Fig. 16. Figs. 15 and 16 show a groove J in each side of D, formed by the
interposition of a solid piece R, R, between each two of the parts D, D, and
.D, D⁹..
:.
The truck rollers on the floats or pallets, instead of being at the extreme
edges, as represented in the several Drawings annexed, may be otherwise dis-
posed, that is to say, more towards the centre of the wheel; but if so arranged,
..I prefer to transpose them only to a short distance nearer the centre of the
wheel, or to a distance equal to more than half the breadth of the float, so
that the radial slots in the end plate of the wheel through which the axis of
the trucks shall pass may not extend to the circumference of the said end
plates, and may leave a solid portion to maintain the strength of the drum at
that point.

page_text: . In the foregoing description and the Figures represented I have supposed
the floats or pallets HI, H, to be of iron, but it may be of advantage to make
them of wood or otherwise to render them of about the same specific gravity
as water, in order to conduce to greater freedom in their rising and falling
motion. If of wood, the floats H, H, should be shod at their bearings with
metal, so as to offer a suitable surface to withstand the friction in the recesses
of the drum, and they might be conveniently strengthened by ribs P, P, as
represented in Figs. 13 and 14.
My propeller is also equally well adapted with the screw for sailing vessels
or as an auxiliary power, as by simply disconnecting the propeller shaft the
propeller may be allowed to rotate as in the case of the ordinary paddle
wheel, or the whole of the floats may be withdrawn within the limits of the
drum; thus no obstacle whatever would in the latter case be presented to the
progress of the vessel through the water. The floats may also by a simple
process be reefed when auxiliary power only is required.
For the purpose of withdrawing the floats within the vessel, I fit and furnish
the cam grooves L as represented in Figs. 18, 19, and 20, which show the
interior ends of the propeller case, while Fig. 21 shows a transverse section
on line 5, 6, Fig. 20. These Figures also represent the method of reefing the
floats when desired. In the course of the cam groove L I recess into
the body of the metal casing discs S, S', T, T², having their centres eccentrio
to the cam groove; the discs are furnished with duplicate grooves or courses,
either of which may be disposed (by turning the discs on their axes) in the
line of the cam groove, but so as to change the direction of its course, as may
be seen by reference to the several Figures 18, 19, and 20. The axes of the
discs S, S', T, T, are carried through the case B, and have fixed on them
screw wheels V, V, Fig. 21, into each of which an endless screw W, Fig. 20,
takes; these endless screws are mounted on vertical shafts X, Fig. 21, passing
through stuffing boxes in the bottom of the vessel, and furnished with handles
U or other means of rotation in order to impart motion to the discs. With
the discs disposed as at Fig. 18 the floats or pallets will work as at Fig. 3. At
Fig. 20 the course of the cam will be converted into a circle, in which case the
floats will not be projected at all, while in Fig. 19 the floats would be reefed
for working at a reduced power. It will be necessary to provide an index to
the handles U on the shafts X in order that they may indicate the exact
position of the discs with which each is in communication. The discs
S, S, T, T', although classed in pairs are all independent of each other and
move at different times, as it is necessary after moving the near one that all

page_text: the truck rollers then present in the course to be abandoned should leave
that course before the second disc of the pair is moved. For most practicable
purposes it will be sufficient if an outer and an inner guide race be provided
for the truck rollers to run in, that is to say, the outer one where the floats
or pallets are extended as for propelling, and the inner one where they would
run in a circle.
Fig. 22 shows an inner end view of the propeller case, modified from the
foregoing, of.simpler construction.
In this arrangement I dispose movable points to change the course of the
truck rollers, somewhat in the manner of railway points. 1, 2, are the points
mounted on axes 3, 3, and occupying a position at the junction of the two
grooves; the axes 3, 3, may be moved and with them the points by means of
levers 4. 4, and connecting rods 5, 5, shown dottod, passing through stuffing
boxes to hand levers interior of the ship, and by which the points may be
manoeuvred; the points 1, 2, occupy the depth of the truck roller groove only.
It will be understood that by changing the position of the points to the
positions shown dotted the course of the groove and-truck-rollers will be
altered.
Fig. 23 represents an arrangement-of-the-floats. or pallets furnished with
large truck rollers K'. In this arrangement the rollers do not run in a groove
as before, but simply on-the-exterior side of the course, the inner one for the
rollers being dispensed with; as a consequence-the rollers only operate on the
floats or pallets to-force-and keep them towards the centre of the drum wheel
when required, they being brought out again by the roller axes which project
through the rollers K', and take on to the inner guide surface 6, provided for
that-purpose.
I have represented the "points" last herein described applied
to this arrangement of the large truck rollers for the purpose of withdrawing
the pallets from propulsion. These "points" I apply so as to act on the roller
axes, and simply to keep the pallets within the drum by diverting the course
and. causing the roller axis to traverse within the groove 7. The friction of
the roller axes on the guide surface will be greater than if the rollers traversed
such surface, but which will only be slight by reason of the pallets themselves
tending to fall outward by gravitation at the proper time; the guide surface,
however, serves to ensure their complete extension. Throughout the upper
part of the circumference the axes need not touch the guide nor at the lowest
part of the propelling course, but they must rest in the groove 7 when rotating
out of propelling action. By this arrangement reduced friction will result from
.the.large truck or friction rollers operating the floats or pallets at those points

page_text: where the greatest force is required to control and guide them. The connecting
rods and levers on the "points" axes being at a longitudinal elevation will all
be within the vessel, and therefore no stuffing box will be required.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the arrangement, con-
struction and adaptation of propelling apparatus herein-before described, and
illustrated in the Drawings annexed, applied to the propulsion of. vessels, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cortland Herbert Simpson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the
CORTLAND HERBERT SIMPSON. (L.S.)