CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
JOSEPH BRUNET. of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Esqre, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixth day of July, in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said James
Joseph Brunet, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Joseph Brunet, my exors, aduiors, and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said James Joseph Brunet, my exors, adñiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to times and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of Her Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING," partly of my own Invention, and partly com-
municated to me by a certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso, that I, the said James Joseph Brunet,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I declare
that the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, are fully set forth and ascertained in and by the following Specifi-
cation thereof, reference being had to the four Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, marked A, B, C, and D, that is to say :-
The said Invention consists, firstly, of an improved paddle wheel, the boards
or floats of which can be protruded or drawn in, or, in other words, reefed and
unreefed at pleasure.
Figure 1 of Sheet A is a sectional side elevation, and Figure II. is a trans-
verse sectional elevation of this wheel, Figure 1 being taken on the line S, T,
of Figure 2, and Figure 2 on the line X, Y, of Figure 1, and parts in both
Figures which are unnecessary to the proper understanding of the nature of
this part of the Invention being omitted; L is the paddle shaft; M, M,
the bosses or centre pieces; N, N, N, the arms, and R, R, the outer rim or
periphery. To each arm there are two floats, A and B, one placed on the
front, and the other on the back of the arm, but in different planes, so that the
inner edge of A shall nearly coincide with the outer edge of B. Instead of
being bolted to the arms as usual, these floats are kept in their respective
positions, and locked or unlocked in these positions in manner following:-
Each pair of floats is connected together by a diagonal or cross piece C,
separate views of which are given in Figure 3, and to each pair of floats so
connected together by the cross piece is attached a lever D, by the raising or
depressing of which (by the means to be afterwards explained) the floats A
and B are disengaged from the arms or locked fast upon them in the manner
particularly shewn in Figure 4. The lever D is free to move as far inwards
as the shaft of the wheel, and to the extent to which it is drawn in or pro-
truded, the float at its outer end (being disengaged as aforesaid) will of course
be also drawn in or protruded. To regulate these two modes of action of the
lever D, I make use of two wheels, E and G. The former wheel I call the
compressing wheel, and the latter the recfing wheel.
freely on the paddle shaft, and are about the same size.
is separately shewn in Figure V, (a side elevation) and Figure 6 (a section),
has two rims, which are connected together by pairs of studs or pins s, t, s, t.
The inner or free end of each of the levers D passes through the open space
between the opposite or corresponding studs s, t, on the wheel E, so that
while it is left free to move inwards or outwards, should the wheel be turned
round, either in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, or the contrary way,
the studs s, t, are caused to press upon the lever, and so to raise or depress it,
and thereby to disengage the floats A and B from the arm N, or lock them
Both wheels turn
The wheel E, which

page_text: fast upon it. The distance from the periphery at which the floats are from
time to time affixed is determined, and the keeping of them at that distance
effected, by the reefing wheel G and its appendages. F, F, F, are a number
of diagonal connecting rods, which are attached at one end by the joint j to
the wheel, and at the other end by the joint f to each pair of connected floats
A, B, so that supposing the floats to be disengaged from the arins, in manner
before explained, when this wheel (G) is turned round in either direction, it
draws in or pushes out the floats to the extent desired, and requires only to be
made fast to keep the floats in the positions so assigned to them. For the
more convenient turning round of the wheels E and G, I make use of the
following additional gearing: In the case of the wheel E, there is a circular
rack Q fixed near to its periphery (see Figures II. and V.), into which works
a pinion p, keyed upon a spindle q, that is supported by bearings from the
paddle wheel arms, and projects beyond the side of the wheel. r is a winch
handle, which fits on to the spindle q, and by which the pinion p, and con-
sequently the wheel, is turned round. In the case of the reefing wheel G, the
additional gearing employed is of precisely the same description as the pre-
ceding, h being the circular rack, k, the pinion, l, the spindle, and m, the winch
handle. The power over the wheels may, if found expedient, be still further
increased by adding to the outer ends of the spindles (q, l,) toothed wheels V,
n, with second pinions and o working into them, as shewn in Figure 2.
transferring of course the winch handles r and m from the ends of the main
spindles q, l, to the ends of the spindles of the second pinions and o; and as
one or both of the spindles q, l, may have to intersect the planes through
which the two wheels E and G move, circular spaces a, b, a, b, are made in the
body of these wheels, which allow of their turning perfectly free of the spindles.
From the description which has been so far given of the parts of this wheel,
the mode of proceeding when it is desired to reef or unreef the floats, will be
readily understood. The first thing to be done is to turn the compressing
wheel in the direction contrary to the arrow in Figure I., by applying the
winch handler to the projecting end of the spindle q, (or spindle of the pinion
z, as the case may be,) whereby the levers D, D, D, are raised, and the several
pairs of floats A, B, are disengaged or unlocked from their respective arms.
The reefing wheel G is then, by applying the winch handle m to the end of
the spindle 1, (or of the spindle of the pinion o, as the case may be,) turned
either to the one hand or the other, according as it is desired to draw in or
push out the floats; and after the floats have been so brought to the parti-
cular distance from the periphery at which it is desired to work them, the com-
pressing wheel is then turned back in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1,

page_text: which, depressing the levers D, D, D, causes the floats to be locked fast at
the positions assigned to them upon their respective arms. The compressing
wheel must be held fast by a catch or other suitable means. The wheel is
then in a state of complete fitness for use. Instead of pairs of floats being em-
ployed, single floats may be substituted by modifying the arrangements before
described in the manner represented in Figure VII. All that will be neces-
sary in that case will be to form the connecting diagonal cross piece C into a
sort of hook, by means of which the single float may either clasp the paddle
arms closely or be disengaged from it when acted on by the lever D.
And having now fully described the first head of the Invention, I declare
that what I claim is, the improved paddle wheel represented in Sheet A of the
Drawings hereunto annexed and before described, in so far as regards all those
parts thereof which are essential to the drawing in and protruding or reefing
and unreefing of the floats, whether the same are collectively employed in the
way I have arranged and combined them, or arranged and combined in any
other way not materially different from mine; and that I also claim separately
and individually the use of moveable paddle wheel floats of the description
aforesaid, whether acted upon by levers, rods, and wheels such as I have de-
scribed, or by any other suitable means.
And that I further claim, separately and individually, the use for the
purposes aforesaid of the compressing and reefing wheels E and G, with their
respective appendages or either of them, whether employed to act on paddle
wheel floats such as I have described, or any other description of floats.
Secondly, the Invention consists of another mode of recfing or unreefing the
floats of paddle wheels, which is represented in Sheet B of the Drawings here-
unto annexed.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a wheel on this plan, and Figure 2,
a transverse sectional elevation, Figure 1 being taken on the line X, W, of
Figure 2, and Figure 2 on the line Y, Z, of Figure 1, and those parts only
being represented in each Figure which are necessary to the understanding of
this head of the Invention. The shaft, bosses, arms, and rim, are all similar
to those of the paddle wheel first before described, with the exception that
there is an additional ring R introduced, which gives support to a series of
short arms N, N, introduced into the spaces between the long arms N, N.
A reefing wheel G, and rods F, F, F. connecting this wheel diagonally with
one of each pair of floats, and a toothed wheel and pinion apparatus, which
turns the wheel G, (of either of the varieties h, k, l, m, or h, k, l, n, p, m,) are
also made use of in this wheel, all exactly similar to those employed in the
wheel first before described. The floats are in pairs, A and B, as before, but

page_text: of these only one (A is moveable and the other (B) is fixed. The moveable
float (A) is placed in front of (but in no way attached to) one of the series of
the long arms N, N, while the float B is securely bolted to the front of the
short arm N immediately behind, and the two are jointed together at a, b, by
a connecting radius rod C. The length of this rod is such, that when in the
middle of its range of action (turning on the fixed float B as a centre, see
Figure 1,) the float A, attached to its outer extremity, is at a little distance
from the front or driving edge of the arms N, so that the float A may be
moved towards or from the periphery of the wheel to an extent determined by
the length of the said radius rod C, and the distance of the fixed centre 6 from
the arm N (see the dotted lines). The movement towards or from the peri-
phery is effected by the reefing wheel through the medium of the connecting
rods F, F, which are attached to the moveable floats A, A. Supposing the
wheel to be turned in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, (by applying the
winch handle to the end of the spindle 1, or of the spindle of the pinion p, as
the case may be,) then the moveable floats A, A, are all thrust out towards the
periphery of the wheel, till they are brought by the circular divergency of the
radius rods C, C, by which they are connected with the fixed floats B, B, into
close contact with the driving edges of the long arms N, N, (as shewn by the
dotted lines in Figure 1,) where being securely locked, they are in an efficient
state for propelling. Or, suppose the reefing wheel is turned in the opposite
direction, then the moveable floats A, A, are drawn inwards till they are
brought as before into close contact with the driving faces of the long arms
N, N, but at a greater distance from the periphery of the wheel. To steady
the moveable floats A, A, while they are being moved outwards and inwards,
and to prevent their moving endways before they are brought into close contact
with their respective arms, two guides 7, s, (see Figure 2) are attached to them,
one at each end, which slide along the inner faces of the two long arms of the
wheel. The fixed floats B, B, are represented in the Drawings as narrower
than the moveable floats A, A, but they may be made of the same width as
the other, or of any other suitable width, or they may be altogether dispensed
with, and single floats only be used, by adopting the modification represented
in Figures 3 and 4 of Sheet B. In this case instead of the secondary short
arms N, N2, I make use of bars D, D, which are placed across the body of
the wheel, and securely fixed in suitable positions to the arms and rim, by
means of curved brackets E, E, and to these bars D, D, are directly attached
the radius rods C, C, which control the distance to which the moveable floats
can be moved outwards or inwards.
And now having described this second head of the Invention, I declare that

page_text: what I claim in respect thereof is, the reefing and unreefing of the floats of
paddle wheels by the combined action of the reefing wheel G, and connecting
rods F, F, (or any equivalent substitutes for the same,) and radius or con-
troulling rods C, C, fixed and adjusted as aforesaid.
The third head of the Invention consists in propelling vessels without the
aid of paddle wheels or any other external propelling machinery, by causing a
continuous volume or stream of water to be drawn in through one or more
pipes or channels having their orifices either at the bow or at the sides or near
the bottom forward of the vessel, and ejected or forced out again through other
pipes or channels leading to orifices at or near the stern, whereby a retroactive
force is produced which propels the vessel forward. The manner in which
this is effected is represented in the Drawings in Sheet C. Figure 1 is a
sectional plan of the after part of a vessel; D, D, are the pipes or channels by
which the continuous stream of water is admitted, which may either be at
right angles to the keel or axis of the vessel, as represented in the figure
inclined obliquely, as indicated by the dotted lines E, X, or carried in any
other suitable direction; A, B, and C, is a continuous series of chambers
(which serves as working barrels to the pistons afterwards mentioned) in the
interior of the vessel communicating one with the other, and shewn in section
horizontally, through which the water is forced by means of the pistons or
plungers H, I, K, one of which works in each of the said chambers or barrels
A, B, C; F is a pipe common to the three chambers A, B, C, which branches
off into two pipes or channels Q, Q, leading to the outside of the vessel, one
on each side of the stern post, through which the body of water is ultimately
ejected through orifices G, G, and a retroactive effect thereby produced which
propels the vessel forwards. A side elevation of these chambers or pumps
A, B, C, is given separately in Figure 2. A separate plan of the pistons or
plungers on a larger scale is given in Figures 5 and 6, from which it will be
seen that the plunger is of a square form, and that the pump chamber into
which it fits must also be of a square form, but it is not necessary that the
square form should be adopted (though recommendable for its convenience),
as a circular or other form would answer equally well. The fore end of the
first pump A communicates directly with the water induction pipes or
channels 1, 1); and the after end of C, the last of the series of pumps, opens
into the common chamber F, which leads to the eduction branch passages Q. Q.
The pump chambers A, B, and C, are closed at top by covers a, b, c, and the
piston rods work through stuffing boxes l, m, n, fixed in these covers. At their
outer ends, the piston rods are attached by three connecting rods L, M, N, to
a three-throw crank T, T, T, which is supported on bearings t, t, and worked

page_text: by the means to be herein-after explained. The cross heads of the connecting
rods L, M, N, are furnished with guide rollers Y, Y, to ensure the correct
working of the piston rods. In each piston there are valves u, v, which open
outwards towards the stern, as shewn separately in the sectional view of one of
these pistons, Figure 6, so that when any one of the pistons is pushed aft, it
causes necessarily a column of water to be driven in the same direction, and as
the three pistons are worked in continuous succession by the three-throw crank,
it follows that there must always be one piston in action, and one continuous
flow of water towards the stern thus kept up. The three-throw crank T, T, T, is
proposed to be worked by steam power, and for this purpose there are attached
to it two additional cranks R, S, which are placed at right angles to each
other, and connected by rods with the engines. As it is of importance to have
the power of decreasing and increasing the velocity of the water ejected
through the orifices G, G, according to the varying depth to which the vessel
may be immersed, by consumption of fuel or otherwise, I effect this by
enlarging or diminishing the area of the said orifices G, G, in manner follow-
ing. I place in the middle of each channel Q, Q, a conical plug P, to which
is attached a rod or stem p, which is supported by a bearing t within the
channel, passes through a stuffing box at the top of the channel, and
terminates on the outside in a screw s, which is turned by a winch handle h.
When it is desired to diminish the area of the channel, the conical plug is
more or less pushed forwards by a turn or two of the winch handle, and when
it is desired to leave the channel quite free, the plug is withdrawn by turning
the winch in the contrary direction. Instead of using a plain conical plug of
the form represented in Figure 1, a plug may be used of the description repre-
sented in Figure 3, consisting of a series of diminishing discs, or instead of
using a plug of either form, the orifices may be increased or diminished by
the means represented in Figure 4. The channel or pipe Q (which in the
Drawing, Figure 4, is supposed to be of a circular form) is covered at the
extremity by two plates A and B, having corresponding apertures a, a, a, and
b, b, b. The plate A is fixed to the channel Q, but the plate B is made to
turn round by means of a rod p, which passes through a stuffing box to the
outside of the said channel Q, so that by turning round the plate B, the
orifices a, a, a, can be closed to any extent desired.
Should it be found advisable to diminish or encrease the flow of water by
lessening the area of the induction, instead of that of the eduction or ejecting
passages, any of the contrivances last before described may be applied to the
pipes D, D, that is to say, the plain conical plug P (Figure 1), or the plug of

page_text: the diminishing aises (Figure 5), or the fixed shang aperture plates A, B,
(Figure 4).
And having now described this third head of the said Invention, I declare
that though I have represented the water as being forced through the vessel by
means of three pumps, acted on by a three-throw crank, and prefer such
an arrangement to any other; I do not confine myself to the use of three
pumps, for the like effect may be produced by means of two, four, or more
pumps, so arranged as to act successively in unison with one another, to pro-
duce the required effect. And I declare that what I claim under this head
is, the mode of propelling before described, by causing the water to flow con-
tinuously from the outside into and through pipes or channels having their
orifices at the bow, at the sides, or near to the bottom forwards of the vessel,
and to be ejected continuously through orifices placed near to the stern, by
means of two, three, four, or more pumps arranged and worked in manner
aforesaid; and also the different modes before described of diminishing or
encreasing the area of the orifices, through which the water is passed through,
and ejected from a vessel for propelling purposes, whether the same are
adopted in combination with the particular means before described for effecting
such propulsion, or by any other means.
Fourthly and lastly, the said Invention consists in the improved mode of
connecting and disconnecting the cranks of the paddle shafts of steam vessels to
the cranks of the engine or intermediate shaft, represented in the Drawings,
Sheet D, of those hereunto annexed. A, Figure 1, represents a portion of the
intermediate shaft of a pair of marine engines; B is the crank attached to
the end of the shaft A; and C is the toe pin of the crank B, which toe pin is
flattened at the outer end in the manner more distinctly shewn in the separate
view of it given in Figures 2 and 3; D (Figure 1) represents a portion of the
paddle shaft; and E, the crank attached thereto. The outer end of the crank
is shewn in section in Figure 1, and a front view of it is given in Figure 4.
On the face of the crank E is a projecting part b, b, as more distinctly shewn
in the separate view, Figure 5, and in this projecting part there is a vacant
space or recess R, into which the end a of the toe pin C passes, where it is
secured by a ring F, F, previously passed backwards over the toe pin, and
brought over the projecting part 6, 6, after the end of the toe pin has been
inserted into the recess R. When the two shafts have been thus connected
by the toe pin C, and encircling ring F, the ring F is kept in its place by
bolts and nuts e, e. I sometimes prefer to cut quite through the projecting
part of the crank E, as shewn at Figure 8, and in that case I employ a ring

page_text: F, F, formed as shown separately at Figure 9, and if this ring is placed over
the projecting part of the crank, as before described, it will form a recess R
(see Figure 10), adapted to receive the broad flattened end of the toe pin as
aforesaid.
And having now described this fourth and last head of the Invention, I
declare that what I claim in respect thereof is, the mode before described of
connecting and disconnecting the cranks of the shafts of paddle wheels to the
cranks of the engine shaft.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth
day of January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
J. JOSH (L.S.) BRUNET.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid James Joseph Brunet came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifica-
tion aforesaid, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-four.