IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING MOTION OR ENERGY FROM FLUIDS, AND FOR IMPARTING IT TO THEM, AND IN THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS AND APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, of Tew Park,
Oxfordshire, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RECEIVING MOTION OR ENERGY FROM FLUIDS, AND FOR IMPARTING IT TO
THEM, AND IN THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS AND APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR
THAT PURPOSE."
Sealed the 24th September 1867, and dated the 28th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Piers Watt
Boulton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th March 1867.
I, MATTHEW PIERS WATT BOULTON, of Tew Park, Oxfordshire, Esquire, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING MOTION OR ENERGY FROM FLUIDS, AND FOR IMPARTING
IT TO THEM, AND IN THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS AND APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR
THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
Rotary instruments suitable for being worked by water or fluids are con-
structed according to my Invention as follows: A chamber similar in form
to the wheel known as a reaction wheel is fixed and acts as a guide; it may
have several spiral passages or only one. Water entering under pressure the
spiral passage or passages acquires within the chamber a vortical movement,
and issues with this movement at the neck or central orifice of the chamber;
passing through this it enters the neck or central part of a wheel, which it
turns, acting both by pressure and impulse. This wheel may have the form
of the guides of a Fourneyron turbine when these are made with double
curvature, or it may have the form of a reaction wheel, viz., a hollow disc
with spiral outlet passages at the circumference.

page_text: Another construction of turbine is as follows:-Water passes through the
guides of a Fourneyron or outward flow turbine, and issues from them as a
vortex. It enters a spiral revolving chamber similar in form to that which
acts as a guide in the inward flow turbine. It issues from an orifice at the
end of this spiral chamber having the form of the contracted vein, causing
the spiral chamber to rotate. A revolving chamber may be employed with
several spiral arms and orifices, or the channels of the guides may be divided
into several compartments, each opening into a separate spiral chamber. The
mouths of discharge of these chambers being at different parts of their cir-
cumference, while they all rotate together. Again, the chamber into which
the vortex issues may have the form of a reaction wheel. The above con-
struction may be varied by employing a chamber shaped like a reaction wheel
as a fixed guide to create the vortex instead of the guides of a Fourneyron
turbine. Thus in one construction the apparatus consists of two chambers
similar in form to reaction wheels, one inside the other, the interior one being
fixed while the exterior one revolves. In the various constructions above
described the pressure on the bearings is relieved when required by using two
wheels revolving on the same axis, the inflow entering these wheels in opposite
directions.
Instruments constructed as above described may be worked either by liquids
or by aeriform fluids, and they may be used either to receive motion or energy
from liquids or fluids or to impart it to them. In the latter case the wheel
is forcibly turned in a direction opposite to that in which it moves when it is
worked by the liquid or fluid. All the instruments above described may be
employed as propellers of vessels, the stream created by the working of the
instrument being drawn in and expelled in a direction contrary to that of
the vessel's movement. The passages both of inflow and outflow may have a
rectangular section, and the sluices used to change the direction of the
current may be so shaped that when closed they form part of the channel
with an easy curve; they may either slide or rotate; the orifices of inflow
and outflow may project beyond the sides or exterior of the vessel. When
this is the case I adopt the following construction: I place the orifices in a
body chamber or piece projecting beyond the exterior of the vessel of the
same section throughout as the orifices, or nearly so; and I so arrange the
passages for the flow that both the orifices are always in use while the pro-
peller works; the one which serves for inflow when the vessel is moving ahead
serving for outflow when it is moving astern, and vice versa. When it is
desired to move the vessel by sails, and to discontinue the action of the pro-
peller, the projecting sides or portions of the channels which deflected the

page_text: water through the orifices are removed, so that the water flows freely through
the projecting chamber or passage and does not resist the movement of the
vessel. Pairs of propellers may be used revolving in the same direction, but
having the curvatures of their channels reversed, so that they create streams
in opposite directions. Valves or sluices are provided, so that the flow of
water through either propeller can be permitted or cut off at pleasure. When
the flow takes place through one propeller the vessel moves in one direction,
when through the other the direction of the vessel's movement is reversed.
The propeller which is inactive works empty; air may be admitted into it
through a tube provided for the purpose.
The following is one construction which may be used:-A pair of parallel
flow turbines is employed having their axes parallel to the length of the
vessel; the orifices of inflow and outflow are cylindrical at the ends of a
cylinder projecting from the side of the vessel; the same pair of orifices
serving for both turbines. I prefer that one turbine should be annular,
encompassing the other. The change in the form of the channels when the
vessel's motion is reversed may be made by a rotating sluice bringing channels
of the right form into gear as desired; this may also be effected by a sliding
movement, the guides being caused to move along the axis.
The following is one construction for the propulsion of vessels according to
my Invention: A parallel flow turbine or screw is employed working with its
axis parallel to the length of the vessel; the turbine or screw is so made as to
be suitable for creating a stream in either direction according to the direction
of its rotary motion. For this purpose blades of flexible material, such as
sheet iron or steel, are mounted on an axis; these blades are fixed at their
middles, while from the middle to either extremity they are capable of being
bent by the application of force. When it is desired to create the stream in
one direction force is applied to that portion of the blades through which the.
stream enters, and this portion is bent so as to make a screw of increasing
pitch, or, in other words, so as to form channels similar to those of a parallel
flow turbine through which the water passes without shock; on the other side
of their middles the blades remain unbent. After passing through the screw
or wheel of the turbine the water enters guides in which its vertical move-
ment is destroyed, and it quits the guides as a stream parallel to length of
the vessel in a direction contrary to the vessel's movement. When it is
desired to reverse the movement of the vessel the blades of the wheel or screw
are bent on the other side of their middles, while the portions of them which
were previously bent are allowed to resume their straight form. The bending
of the blades may be effected by stops fixed on the driving shaft in such a way.

page_text: that when the shaft is made to revolve in one direction it tends to turn a ring
secured to one edge of each of the blades, and when it is made to revolve in
the opposite direction it tends to turn a ring secured to the other edges of the
blades, leaving the first ring free. Otherwise two sets of blades of different
curvatures may be arranged round a cylindrical core, so as to be capable of
being withdrawn into it and protruded from it. One set of blades is pro-
truded when the vessel is moving in one direction, forming channels in which
the water is deflected; when the motion of the vessel is reversed these are
retracted and the other set of blades is protruded. The action of the guides
is also reversed when the motion of the vessel is reversed. For this purpose
the guides may be caused to move longitudinally along the axis, so that they
can be placed in position or removed as desired; or the blades of the guides
may be alternately bent and straightened like those of the wheel; or they may
be protruded from a cylindrical core and retracted within it, one set being pro-
truded when the vessel moves in one direction and the other when its motion
is reversed. Instead of a parallel flow turbine of the ordinary construction,
turbines of other forms may be used, the flow entering and quitting them
parallel to the axis. A propeller of this kind may be worked in various
positions. It may be worked outside the vessel, or in a channel inside it,
discharging its stream through orifices in a cylinder outside the vessel.
prefer that in such a casc a pair of propellers should be used placed on
opposite sides of the vessel near the sides, the channels through which the
stream flows not being much curved; more than two propellers may be used
if desired. In the constructions above described the area of the passages may
be varied, and the orifices may be fitted with mouth pieces of the form of the
contracted vein; apparatus for altering the curvatures of the blades of a screw
as above described may be used without guides; also a screw may be used
having its blades formed with opposite curvatures on either side of their
middles, the pitch increasing from one edge up to the middle part of the blade
and diminishing beyond it. In all the above cases the propellers may be
worked by an engine of the ordinary construction, or they may be worked by
means of turbines or wheels driven by steam or by aeriform fluid, for which
purpose the constructions previously described may be used. The rapidity of
the motion of the turbine or wheel driven by the aeriform fluid may be
reduced to the desired degree by suitable gearing; when the turbines are
worked by steam the steam after issuing from the wheel may pass to a con-
denser. The bearings of the turbine may be placed in water communicating
with the boiler, so that the heat generated by friction is utilized in the
production of steam.
I

page_text: The various forms of propeller above described are applicable to the pro-
pulsion of vessels moving in the air. In such a case the turbine or wheel
driven by the aeriform fluid and that which creates the stream of air may
rotate on the same axis.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
PIERS WATT BOULTON, of Tew Park, Oxfordshire, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date of the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, Her special licence that I, the
said Matthew Piers' Watt Boulton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, 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, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING
MOTION OR ENERGY FROM FLUIDS, AND FOR IMPARTING IT TO THEM, AND IN THE
PROPULSION OF VESSELS AND APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, 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 per-
formed, 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 Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Rotary instruments suitable for being worked by water or fluids are con-
structed according to my Invention as follows: A chamber similar. in form
to the wheel known as a reaction wheel is fixed and acts as a guide; it may

page_text: have several spiral passages or only one. Water entering under pressure
the spiral passages or passages acquires within the chamber a vortical move-
ment, and issues with this movement at the neck or central orifice of the
chamber; passing through this it enters the neck or central part of a wheel,
which it turns, acting both by pressure and impulse. This wheel may have the
form of the guides of a Fourneyron turbine when these are made with double
curvature, or it may have the form of a reaction wheel, viz., a hollow disc with
spiral outlet passages at the circumference.
Another construction of turbine is as follows:-Water passes through the
guides of a Fourneyron or outward flow turbine, and issues from them as a
vortex. It enters a spiral revolving chamber similar in form to that which acts
'as a guide in the inward flow turbine. It issues from an orifice at the end of
this spiral chamber, which may have the form of the contracted vein, causing
the spiral chamber to rotate. A revolving chamber may be employed with several
spiral arms and orifices, or the channels of the guides may be divided into several
compartments, each opening into a separate spiral chamber. The mouths of
discharge of these chambers being at different parts of their circumference,
while they all rotate together. Again, the chamber into which the fluid issues
may have the form of a reaction wheel. The above construction may be varied
by employing a chamber shaped like a reaction wheel as a fixed guide to create
the vortex instead of the guides of a Fourneyron turbine. Thus in one con-
struction the apparatus consists of two chambers similar in form to reaction
wheels, one inside the other, the interior one being' fixed while the exterior
one revolves.
Instruments constructed as above described may be worked either by liquids
or by aeriform fluids, and they may be used either to receive motion from
liquids or fluids or to impart it to them. In the latter case the wheel is
forcibly turned in a direction opposite to that in which it moves when it is
worked by the liquid or fluid. Instruments constructed as above described
may be employed as propellers of vessels, the stream created by the working
of the instrument being drawn in and expelled in a direction contrary to that
When a vessel is propelled by a stream so dire
of the vessel's movement.
so directed
'the orifices of inflow and outflow may project beyond the sides or exterior
of the vessel; when this is the case I adopt the following construction:-I
place the orifices in a body chamber or piece projecting beyond the exterior
of the vessel of the same section throughout as the orifices or nearly so, and
I so arrange the passages for the flow that both the orifices are always in
'use while the propeller works, the one which serves for inflow when the vessel
is moving ahead serving for outflow when it is moving astern, and vice versa.

page_text: When it is desired to move the vessel by sails and to discontinue the action
of the propeller the projecting sides or portions of the channels which
deflected the water through the orifices are removed, so that the water flows
freely through the projecting chamber or passage and does not resist the
movement of the vessel.
The following is one construction for the propulsion of vessels according to
my Invention: A parallel flow turbine or screw is employed working with its
axis parallel to the length of the vessel; the turbine or screw is so made as to
be suitable for creating a stream in either direction, according to the direction
of its rotary motion. For this purpose blades of flexible material, such as
sheet iron or steel, are mounted on an axis; these blades are fixed at their
middles, while from the middle to either extremity they are capable of being
bent by the application of force. When it is desired to create the stream in
one direction force is applied to that portion of the blades through which the
stream enters, and this portion is bent so as to make a screw of increasing pitch,
or, in other words, so as to form channels similar to those of a parallel flow
turbine through which the water passes without shock; on the other side of
their middles the blades remain unbent. After passing through the screw or
wheel of the turbine the water enters guides in which its vortical movement
is destroyed, and it quits the guides as a stream parallel to the length of the
vessel in a direction contrary to the vessel's movement. When it is desired to
reverse the movement of the vessel the blades of the wheel or screw are bent
on the other side of their middles, while the portions of them which were
previously bent are allowed to resume their straight form. The bending of the
blades may be effected by stops fixed on the driving shaft in such a way that
when the shaft is made to revolve in one direction it tends to turn a ring
secured to one edge of each of the blades, and when it is made to revolve in
the opposite direction it tends to turn a ring secured to the other edges of the
blade, leaving the first ring free. Otherwise two sets of blades of different
curvatures may be arranged round a cylindrical core so as to be capable of
being withdrawn into it and protruded from it. One set of blades is protruded
when the vessel is moving in one direction; forming channels in which the water
is deflected. When the motion of the vessel is reversed these are retracted
and the other set of blades is protruded; the action of the guides is also
reversed when the motion of the vessel is reversed. For this purpose the
guides may be caused to move longitudinally along the axis, so that they can
be placed in position or removed as desired, or the blades of the guides may
be alternately bent and straightened like those of the wheel, or they may be
protruded from a cylindrical core and retracted within it, one set being pro-

page_text: truded when the vessel moves in one direction and the other when its motion
is reversed. Instead of a parallel flow turbine of the ordinary construction
turbines of other forms may be used, the flow entering and quitting them
parallel to the axis. A propeller of this kind may be worked in various
positions; it may be worked outside the vessel or in a channel inside it, dis-
charging its stream through orifices in a cylinder outside the vessel. I
prefer that in such a case a pair of propellers should be used placed on
opposite sides of the vessel near the sides, the channels through which the
stream flows not being much curved; more than two propellers may be used
if desired. Propellers such as above described may be driven by a turbine or
wheel worked by aeriform fluid; when propellers such as above described are
used for the propulsion of vessels moving in the air the turbine or wheel
driven by the aeriform fluid and that which creates the stream of air may
rotate on the same axis.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan of an
apparatus constructed according to my Invention where the guide and the
rotating chambers are shaped like reaction wheels.
a is the supply pipe; b is the fixed or guide chamber with orifices c, c,
through which the fluid issues, as indicated by the arrows; d is the rotating
chamber, which is mounted on an axis d¹, and which has orifices e, e, for the issue
of the fluid from the apparatus, as is also indicated by the arrows; the arrow f
indicates the direction in which the rotating chamber is caused to turn. The
number of orifices both in the guide and in the rotating chambers may be
greater than that which is represented in the Figure.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of passages connected with orifices for propulsion,
which orifices are placed in a body chamber or piece projecting beyond the
exterior of a vessel, and arranged in such a manner that the orifice which
serves for inflow when the vessel is moving ahead serves for outflow when it
is moving astern, and vice versa; u is a portion of the vessel's side, through
which three passages are formed u', u, u³, the middle passage u' communicates
with the inflow of a turbine or any rotary or other pump or like instrument
worked by the engine power within the vessel; the two passages u³, u³,
communicate with the outflow of the instrument; is a piece or chamber
formed with two curved passages, whose curvatures are directed respectively
ahead and astern, and so arranged that it can be made to slide longitudinally
by means of a rack and pinion or other convenient gearing worked from the
interior of the vessel; when this sliding piece is in the position represented

page_text: the stream of water is directed through the passage u¹ to the pump or other
instrument within the vessel, and discharged thence by passage u³, as indi-
cated by the arrows, thus propelling the vessel in the contrary direction. The
passage u being closed by part of the slide is inoperative. When it is
desired to reverse the vessel's movement the piece v is moved into the position
indicated by the dotted lines; the passage u³ is thus closed, and while u¹ still
serves as inflow, u becomes the passage of outflow from the instrument. The
direction of the stream is thus reversed, as indicated by the dotted arrows, and
the propelling power is so made to act in the contrary direction; the middle
passage u may be used for outflow instead of inflow, and the passage u² or u³
for inflow instead of outflow.
Figures 4 and 5 are plans of apparatus constructed according to my Inven-
tion, being a modification of a parallel flow turbine for the propulsion of a
vessel in either direction; g is part of the vessel's side, which is hollowed
inwards to receive the apparatus; h is an external piece or covering arranged
in relation to the cavity in such a manner as to form a channel of easy curva-
ture with openings fore and aft as nearly as possible parallel with the line of
the vessel's motion; h, k, are two sets of flexible blades mounted on cylindrical
cores with conoidal or ogival ends. These do not rotate, but serve as guides,
and are so constructed that they can either lie parallel to the axis of the cylinder
containing them, as k¹ in Figure 4 or 2 in Figure 5, or that they can be curved
like kin Figure 4 or k¹ in Figure 5; is the rotating part of the apparatus,
consisting of a cylindrical core fitted with blades and mounted on a shaft, which
passes freely through the centres of the guides k¹ and 2 and through stuffing
boxes in the curved portion of the vessel's side. This shaft is worked by the
engine power within the vessel, so that the direction of its rotation can be
reversed at will. When it rotates in the one direction, as represented in
Figure 4, the blades upon are curved in one way, the blades of ¹ are left
straight, while those of are curved. Thus water entering at one end of the
cavity passes freely between the straight blades of k¹, is caught by the revolving
curved blades k, and from them receives a vortical movement in addition to its
movement along the channel. As it passes through the spaces between the
curved blades of the guide it loses this vortical movement and flows out
behind, having in its course exerted a forward pressure on the blades and k
so as to propel the vessel ahead; on turning the shaft in the opposite direction,
curving the blades k¹ and straightening the blades while the curvature of
the blades k is altered as represented in Figure 5, the water receives a corre-
sponding impulse in the opposite direction, and exerts a pressure to propel the
vessel astern.

page_text: Figure 6 represents on an enlarged scale a mode of constructing the
propeller blades and of changing their curvature when the direction of rotation
is changed; is the shaft, to which are fitted three rings or bosses m, m³, m²;
of these the two outer bosses m¹, m2, are fitted with a feather,, so that they can
slide longitudinally on the shaft but are turned with it; the middle boss m is
fitted between collars so that it cannot slide longitudinally on the shaft and has
a feather and keyway with a certain amount of play, so that when the shaft
rotates it can turn a certain distance round without turning the boss m; arms
or radii n, which may be oblique to the axis, project from the middle boss m,
and an equal number of arms n', n, project from the bosses m', m³, respectively.
These latter arms are formed with fine outer edges and terminate in round
inner ends fitting into round holes in their respective bosses, so that they can
turn therein. A sheet of flexible material, such as thin steel plate or any
suitable fabric water-tight or nearly so, is fixed on each side of the arms. n, n', n².
When the shaft is turned in the direction of the arrow the two bosses
m¹, m2, being compelled to rotate with the shaft while the boss m has
certain freedom thereon, are brought with their arms n', n, in advance of the
middle arms n, and thus a curvature is given to the flexible sheets which cover
the arms.
When the shaft rotates in the opposite direction the curvature is
reversed, as indicated by the dotted lines. The blades of the guides k¹, k, in
Figures 4 and 5, may be curved or straightened by similar arrangements, with
this exception, that as the shaft rotates freely through their centres without
moving them the flexure is not given by bosses upon it but by rings at the
outer circumference of the blades to which their arms are attached, and
which can be moved partly round by gearing acted on by hand from the
interior of the vessel.
Figure 7 represents a transverse section, Figure 8 a longitudinal section,
and Figure 9 a plan of an arrangement in which the blades employed are not
flexible but have opposite curvatures, and the change necessary for reversal is
effected by protruding one set of blades and retracting the other. o is the
shaft, on which a broad toothed pinion o¹ is fixed; p¹, p², are curved blades
fitted to slide freely through slots formed in the cylindrical casing or core q,
which is mounted on the shaft and can turn thereon. Each pair of blades is
attached to a rack which gears into the pinion o¹, so that on turning the shaft
and pinion through part of a revolution in either direction, the cylindrical core q
remaining stationary, the one set of blades is protruded beyond the core, and
the others are retracted within it. When the blades are protruded or retracted
to their full extent, as determined by the length of the rack or stops thereon,
the core with the blades rotates with the shaft, although the diameter of the

page_text: core q, represented in Figures 7, 8, and 9, is such that when the blades of the
one curvature are retracted into the core those of the other are necessarily
protruded into the annular chamber surrounding it, yet by sufficiently
increasing the diameter of the core both sets of blades may be retracted
into it so as to leave the annular chamber quite clear for the passage of water
when the vessel is under sail. The guide blades r¹, r, are likewise fitted to
slide through slots in hollow cylindrical cores q', q, which are formed with
conoidal or ogival ends to lessen resistance to the stream. When the shaft
rotates in one direction one set of those blades is protruded to serve as guides
and the other set is retracted, and conversely. The ogival-ended cores q', q³,
are attached by fine-edged arms u to the outer circumference of the channel
in which they are placed so that they do not rotate with the shaft, and the
gearing for effecting the protrusion or retraction of their blades is therefore
somewhat different from that above described in reference to the rotating
blades p², p².
Figure 10 is a transverse section through one of the fixed cores q¹. o is the
shaft having a narrow toothed pinion t fixed upon it; s is a toothed arc which
gears into the pinion t, but is broader than that pinion and thus gears also
into a broad toothed pinion t' which is loose upon the shaft. The blades 71
are attached to racks which gear into the pinion t¹. When the shaft o rotates
in one direction by means of the pinion t it moves the arcs as far as its teeth
extend. The arc s turns the free pinion t¹, and this acting on the racks causes
the blades r¹ to be protruded. When the shaft o turns in the opposite direction
the converse action is produced and the blades r¹ are withdrawn within the
core; the other set of guide blades 2 are similarly acted on, the gearing being
so arranged that the movement which causes the one set of blades to be pro-
truded causes the other set to be retracted. Instead of employing toothed
gearing as above described, the blades may be protruded and retracted by
means of cams fixed on the shaft.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.