Improvements in Means or Devices for Propelling and Manœuvring Ships, Boats and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Devices for Propelling and Manœuvring
Ships, Boats and the like.
I, CHARLES JAMES D'URDAN, of 2 Ritsen's Villas, Keizer Street, Johannesburg,
in the South African Republic, Surveyor, 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 an improved means, arrangement or device for pro-
pelling and manoeuvring ships, boats, yachts torpedoes, launches, barges, flats,
and other floating vessels or the like.
It is designed with the object of providing a comparatively simple and much
more efficient means of propulsion, one which will place the vessel more
completely under control, will effect a considerable saving in the power expended
or required in propelling the vessel, or with an equal expenditure of power will
very materially increase its speed or rate of travel, and at the same time one in
which the objectionable motion ordinarily transmitted to the vessel inherent to
the ordinary construction of screw propeller will be eliminated or to a large extent
obviated.
It consists essentially of a propelling device comprising a flat or approximately
flat blade or blades of suitable size and shape connected with a reciprocating rod
or rods to which motion may be imparted through the medium of a crank, eccen-
tric or other suitable arrangement.
The invention will be more particularly described by aid of the two sheets of
drawings hereunto annexed, in which, as examples, two arrangements embodying
my invention are illustrated, one arrangement shewing the propelling blade
disposed horizontally and the other shewing it disposed vertically.
In the drawings
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation transversely of the vessel shewing the propelling
blade or blades arranged horizontally, and
Fig. 2, is a part sectional elevation of same, longitudinally of the vessel.
Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation transversely of the vessel shewing the propelling
blades arranged vertically..
Fig. 4, a sectional plan of same, and
Fig. 5, a part sectional elevation of the gearing longitudinally of the vessel.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 A is a semi-cylindrical or approximately semi-cylin-
drical framing for supporting the several parts of the driving gear, bolted, riveted
cr otherwise securely fixed in a suitable and convenient position in the shell at
the stern of the vessel B.
The framing A has the form of two hollow standards or pedestals a a¹ in which
is journalled a shaft C. At either extremity of the shaft C is keyed or otherwise
attached bevel wheels c c geared in any suitable manner with the crank, first
motion or main driving shaft. On the shaft C and centrally between its bearings
is keyed or otherwise securely affixed a spur wheel D. In the standards a a', and
below and in line with the shaft C is journalled a further shaft E. e et are stuffing-

page_text: boxes or glands to prevent the entrance of water at these points. On the shaft E
is keyed or otherwise attached a spur wheel or pinion. Fin line with and gearing
the spur wheel D. It will be evident that by varying the gearing D F any desired
purchase or velocity ratio may be obtained."
On the extremities of the shaft E, which project into the open cavities or
recesses formed in the pedestals a a¹ on the under side, are suitably affixed
disc cranks G G on the crank pins g g of which are fitted the connecting rods H. H',
which project downwards and have rigidly secured to their lower extremities the
propelling blade or blades J. The disc cranks G and G are set so as to coincide
or so that they exactly correspond in their stroke. The blade J is shewn formed
in halves and joined by a narrow strip j riveted or otherwise suitably attached to
each half. One half of the blade is disposed at each side of the dead-wood K the
strip working up and down in a vertical slot j' provided in the dead-wood for
that purpose.
It will be readily seen that as the blade J is rigidly attached to the connecting
rods H H', and guided by the slot j¹ its forward or leading edge k will traverse an
undulating path or line on the movement of the connecting rods, the rear edge
or tip describing a similar path but somewhat later in its stroke than the for-
ward edge k, the blade J thereby alternately assuming an inclined position at
either side of a horizontal line drawn through its point of connection with the
connecting rod on the upward and downward stroke, as shewn at 7 Fig. 2.
The purpose and operation of the several parts of the driving gear will be
evident from the drawings. Motion is imparted to the shaft C from the main driv-
ing shaft through the bevel wheels ce' and from it transmitted to the shaft E, on
which the disc cranks G G are keyed, through the gear wheels D and from the
dise cranks G G₁ to the propeller blades through the connecting rods H H.
Mis
Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 L is a rectangular framing for carrying the driv
ing mechanism bolted, riveted or similarly fitted in the vessel at the stern.
a separate suitably arranged standard or support in which the main driving
shaft N is journalled. To the end of the shaft N is affixed the spur wheel n gear-
ing a pinion or spur wheel attached to the shaft or spindle m journalled in the
standard M at its upper extremity on the one side and a part m¹ fitted within the
framing L on the other. A bevel wheel securely affixed to the shaft m gears
or engages a corresponding bevel wheel P keyed or similarly attached to the
vertical spindle supported by the part m² of the rectangular framing.
P
To the
other extremity of the vertical spindle on the inside of the framing is pinned
the disc crank g the crank pin g of which forms the connection between it and the
branch or arm of the cross-head or connecting piece R. A pin or rod S fitted
in the cross-head R and provided with blocks or slippers s working in grooves or
recesses s¹ formed in the part m² of the frame is provided to steady and control the
movement of the cross-head. Tπ are the propeller rods or shafts and U U the
blades of the propeller, one disposed at either side of the vessel. ttare links
pivotally connected with the cross-head and with the propeller rods T T¹. The
rods T T and the blades U U¹ are also pivotally connected either by means of
links or direct to the blade to permit of a free movement about their points of
attachment. The framing L is at each side provided with holes u u' in which the
propeller rods work and with recesses in which a suitable packing is placed to
prevent the entrance of water over which is bolted or otherwise secured the plate V.
In this arrangement of mechanism as the disc crank is rotated through the
spur gearing nn and bevel wheels P, the cross-head R is drawn backwards
and forwards by the crank pin and a much greater angular movement is alter-
nately imparted to one of the links t t relative to the other, as shewn in dotted
lines at wo Fig. 4, and by it transmitted to the propeller rod to which it is pivot-
ally connected. The propeller blades U U₁ have by this means a rocking or
oscillating motion imparted to them causing the forward or leading vertical edges
of the blades to traverse an undulating path or line and the rear vertical edge or
tip to traverse a corresponding path but somewhat later in its stroke.

page_text: Although I have herein described and shewn in the accompanying drawings
certain specific arrangements or dispositions and shapes of parts and mechanism
embodying my invention I wish it to be distinctly understood that I have done so,
merely by way of example and without in any way limiting myself to said arrange-
ments or dispositions and shapes of said parts, nor to any particular means or
mechanism for driving the propeiler blade or blades as the several parts (or equiva
lent parts) may be otherwise conveniently arranged or located and any suitable
driving mechanism or gear for imparting the requisite motion or motions to the
propelling blade or blades may be employed without departing from the spirit of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:.
1. An arrangement or device for propelling ships, boats, and other floating
vesssels or the like comprising a flat or essentially flat blade or blades to which a
rocking or oscillating motion is imparted so as to cause the forward leading
edge or edges of the blade or blades to traverse an undulating line or path and to
impart a similar motion to the rear edge or tip but somewhat later in its stroke
than the forward or leading edge substantially as described.
2. An arrangement or device for propelling ships, boats and the like consisting
of a flat or substantially flat blade or blades of suitable shape and dimensions cou-
nected with a reciprocating rod or rods so operated as to cause the forward edge or
edges of the blade or blades to traverse an undulating line or path' and to give a
similar motion to the rear edge or edges but somewhat later in its stroke than the
forward edge said reciprocating rod or rods being operated through the medium of a
crank, occentric, or the like substantially as described and shown.
3. An arrangement or device for propelling ships, boats and the like constructed
and arranged substantially as described and shewn with reference either to Figs. 1
and 2 or to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.
PC
100~
C. J. D'URBAN,
Witness:
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
CHAS. OVENDALE,
International Patent & Trade Mark Agent,
90 lan's Buildin
PO 1 211G