Improvements in and relating to Marine and Air Ships' Propellers...
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Marine and Air Ships' Propellers...
I, JOHN MACHAFFIE of Dalshannan Cottage (near Airdrie) in County of
Dumbarton, Mechanical Engineer and Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
33
My improved propeller which 1 call a "citropeller is similar in some parts
of its construction to that class of propellers commonly called " screw-propellers
wherein radial-helical blades are secured to a common centre or boss, and caused
to revolve with that centre, on and with a revolving shaft, but dissimilar in its
node of application and action, in so far, as, though it consists of radial, helical or
angled blailes or floats secured to a common centre or boss, yet those floats do not
always revolve when propelling, but under conditions, as hereafter described,
wabble on and with a portion of a revolving shaft, which portion is at a suitable
angle to the general axis of the shaft's revolution, so that by a combined action of
rolling contact of edge of boss of blades on a suitable fixed part of ship, the boss
being otherwise loose on its bearing, each of the floats performs a curved
reciprocative path, in the direction of the line of the desired propulsion, at the
same time feathering, so that their impelling effect is maximised, and their retarding
effect minimised, and under certain other conditions also to be herein ascertained,
when the said boss is clutched to said shaft's portion which is at an angle to the
general axis of rotation, the blades revolve and propel similarly to a screw-propeller,
thus producing opposite propulsions though said shaft revolves in same direction
continuously in both instances.
22
The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact, balanced,
direct-acting, yielding, feathering-bladed propeller or citropeller whereby the
reciprocative feathering action minimises what are generally known as "negative
slip" and friction of propellers, and also whereby the rolling contact of boss of
citropeller with some suitable fixed part of ship admits of what is known as
"thrust" of propellers, being by the citropeller transmitted to ship by means of a
rolling contact in lieu of the sliding contact of "thrust-blocks now in vogue;
and whereby on event of obstruction to normal action, while feathering or not
propelling, likelihood of accident by breakage of parts is minimised by the rolling
contact between "citropeller" boss and ship being changed into sliding contact
when citropeller floats are feathering, and by citropeller turning loosely on its
bearing when not propelling, as long, in both instances, as obstruction continues;
and moreover whereby is provided a propeller which is applicable to any submerged
part or parts of a marine ship, and any convenient part or parts of an air-ship, in
order to satisfy various conditions, such as protection of citropeller in warfare,
seafaring or airsailing, or for some special purposes, as for instance to avoid collision
to propel a ship backwards or forwards or cease to propel without stopping or
reversing the engine or engines, all at the will of any one of several possible
manipulators stationed at any convenient part of a ship, or to propel or reverse or
cease to propel by the ordinary manipulations of engines, or to reduce first cost
by a form of construction adopting existing blades of ordinary screw-propellers,
efficiently working them as the floats of this propeller which I have named the
citropeller," or both to propel and steer a ship by modifying the construction for
those combined purposes, or to distribute strain of propulsion, or assist in steering
on event of accident to helm, by having two or more citropellers suitably attached
to ship, or to ensure continued immersion of citropeller or citropellers in rough
seas by placing citropeller or citropellers at mid-ship-bottom.
The invention primarily consists in placing or fitting radial helical or angled

page_text: blades or floats on a suitable boss or centre which boss is so placed loosely on a
suitably bent portion of a revolving shaft, that an end or face or edge of the boss
engages in rolling contact with some suitable and fixed portion of the ship, whereby,
when the shaft revolves, the blades perform a curved reciprocative path in or near
the direction of the desired propulsion, at the same time feathering to effect that
propulsion. There may be placed over the shoulder on the bend of the shaft a
clutch-tube which may overlap on to said fixed portion of the ship and boss of
citropeller so that, when by a suitable device, the said shaft is moved in the line of
its revolutionary axis the said boss may be engaged by rolling contact with said
fixed portion of ship or clutched to said shaft, or be left free and loose on its
bearing, all at the will of the manipulator who may be one of many, in any
convenient part or parts of the ship. Said device for manipulating or operating
the shaft may be so connected with the, or some appliance for governing engines
that the power developed by the engines will be in proportion to the work desired
to be expended by the citropeller.
The invention further consists in a novel construction of the boss of the
citropeller, namely, internally to provide a suitable ball-bearing to secure rolling
contact with the shaft, and externally to secure a clutch contact with the clutch-
tube, and present as little surface as possible to detract from the impelling effect
of the citropeller; in a novel construction of the combined thrust-block-and-shaft-
bearing rigidly attached to the ship, on which block the boss of the citropeller
rolls, and round which the clutch-tube revolves, in order to secure suitable rolling
contact of said boss and clutch-tube, and the driving shaft, and to accommodate a
suitable stuffing-gland to keep back sea water, and with suitable holes for lubri-
cating purposes; in a novel construction of the clutch-tube, namely, internally, to
secure sliding contact with the shoulder on the bend of the shaft suitable ball
bearing, contact with combined thrust-block-and-shaft-bearing, and a clutch
engagement with boss of citropeller when the shaft and citropeller is moved
longitudinally outwards, and a free revolution or position of rest, when shaft is
moved in opposite direction, and, externally, to present as little resisting surface
as possible to the impelling action of citropeller; in a novel construction of the
outhung extremity of the driving shaft, in order to secure a suitable ball-bearing
for boss of citropeller and with its own contact with thrust-block, to present a
suitable surface to slide within the clutch-tube, and with suitable holes for
lubricating bearings of citropeller; in a novel construction of steam, pneumatic or
hydraulic cylinder with all its appurtenances to secure the longitudinal manipulation
or holding of driving shaft; and in an automatic connection between the valve of
said cylinder and those of ship's engines, to secure combination of action between
said cylinder and the engines of the ship, which automatic connection through well
known devices is operated by officer on deck of ship, in helmsman's cabin or engine
room, or any convenient place on board a ship, thereby reversing ship's course
without reversing ship's engines; and in certain other details of construction.
In carrying out my invention the outer extremity of the driving shaft of the
citropeller is preferably made bent to any suitable angle with the general line of
shafting and at the bend there is or may be a solid shoulder so made that the boss,
thrust-block and clutch, if used, are retained in suitable relation to the shaft and
to one another.
The feathering blades of the citropeller are preferably similar in shape to the
ordinary screw-propeller blades, the twist or angle of the blades being dependant
on the angle to which the outhung extremity of the driving shaft is bent to the
general line of the driving shaft or to the general line of propulsion. The hub or
boss of the blades is preferably fitted with a series of balls sunk in the driving
shaft thus enabling the citropeller to be operated simultaneously with the shaft, the
boss engaging with and rolling and propelling upon the thrust-block which may be
fitted in or to the stern post of the vessel while the driving shaft revolves freely
within the boss when it is drawn inwards; and engaging with the clutch, thereby
revolving with said clutch and the shaft and propelling in a reverse direction when

page_text: the shaft is pushed outwards. The boss is preferably fitted with balls to ensure
rolling contact with the shaft and its shoulder.
Over the shoulder on the bend of the shaft is placed the clutch forming sliding
contact with the shoulder which is preferably of a polygonal external form so as to
drive the clutch round with it, when the shaft revolves and the clutch is preferably
fitted with balls to ensure rolling contact with the thrust-block. The clutch is
made preferably with a solid collar to retain it in fixed relation to the thrust-
block, so, that, when the driving shaft is moved inwards, or outwards, or held mid-
way, the boss is engaged with the thrust-block, or clutch, or is left free, so that
the shaft can revolve freely within the boss or the boss may revolve with it,
thereby propelling forwards or backwards or not propelling at all, while engines
and driving shaft may be revolving continuously in one direction in all three cases.
The clutch is or may be fitted with an eccentric collar to ensure clutching action
with an eccentric face made on the boss, when the shaft is pushed outwards.
The thrust-block is or may be fitted with a series of balls to ensure rolling
contact with the shoulder of the shaft and it may be hollowed out so as to form a
stuffing box through which the shaft works, the box is closed with a gland which
prevents leakage of sea-water into the ship. The thrust-block and boss are so
faced together as to ensure that they have the required rolling contact between
them.
There is a hole made through the ship's post the thrust block and the shaft for
supplying lubricant to the several bearings of the citropeller. The shaft may
also be bored or channelled out for this purpose.
For drawing in or thrusting out the driving shaft there is provided a cylinder
having a piston acted on by any suitable pressure. The cylinder with its ports,
valve and necessary appurtenances may be of any well known type. The driving
shaft, preferably passes right through the cylinder and is connected by a collar or
otherwise with the piston so as to be operated with said piston. The shaft passes
out through stuffing boxes at each end. The supply valve is so constructed that
in one position the pressure can act freely on both sides of piston, thus retaining
the shaft in a non-impelling relation with citropeller or in other positions so that
pressure acts on one side or other of the piston thus throwing the boss in contact
with either the clutch or the thrust-block according to whether a forward or
reverse propulsion is desired. The supply valve may be operated by a lever
connected by a rod or its equivalent with the engines, valves or valve and with the
engineer, helmsman and officer on deck or any other place in a ship, any one of
whom can start, stop or reverse the ship's propulsion, independently of one another
and without stopping or reversing the engines or driving shaft, thus saving time in
avoiding collision, or certain other accidents to which swift moving steam ships are
exposed.
When it is desired to adapt the citropeller to ordinary manipulations of ships
propeller shafts and engines, the clutch is removed so that the shaft must have its
revolutionary motion reversed or stopped, in order to produce reversal or stoppage
of action of citropeller.
The blades of the citropeller may be those of an ordinary screw-propeller if
desired.
The citropeller may be applied to a ship as ordinarily in the case of screw-
propellers at stern, with the shaft running horizontally above keel or it may be
applied as ordinarily for twin-screw propellers, with driving shaft running hori-
zontally to right and left above keel at stern.
In the case of warships the citropeller may be fitted in a recess amidships so as
to be protected from projectiles.
The citropeller may be used as a helm, in this case there may be a hoop or its
equivalent fitted onto the stern post. The hoop which is free to turn on hinges or
pivots has on it a rigid pin. To the pin is fixed a suitable circular or spiral spring
and at or near the mid-length of the spring are rigidly attached any convenient
number of blades. On one of the blades of the ordinary screw propeller is fixed

page_text: a second rigid pin or equivalent which is free to revolve within the spring and at
the same time retains the spring in fixed relation to the propeller blade so that
when the engine shaft revolves, the blades of the citropeller perform a reciprocative
feathering propelling action in whichever direction caused by the angle of the
hoop turning on its hinges, the citropeller blades feathering to effect desired
propulsion, thus steering or assisting in propulsion or both, by thrusting the stern
of the ship to one side or other, or straight forward or astern.
In lieu of a spring as hereinbefore described there may be used a link connected
to the pin on the propeller blade in the same manner as the spring and connected
to the pin on the hoop by means of a universal joint.
The citropeller may be fitted to any class of air ships. It may be fitted on the
car in which is developed the motive power or in any other suitable. situation.
There may be two or any number of citropellers.
The holes in the boss and clutch through which the friction balls are inserted
may be closed by plugs or their equivalent.
The driving shaft may not be traversed backwards and forwards as hereinbefore
described but may revolve in the same manner as ordinary shafts; and, otherwise,
the details of the construction of the invention may be altered to suit different
circumstances.
Dated this 6th day of August 1890
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Marine and Air Ships' Propellers.
I, JOHN MACHAFFIE of Dalshannan Cottage (near Airdrie) Dumbartonshire,
Mechanical Engineer and Draughtsman, 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 :-
21
My improved propeller which I call a "citropeller" is similar in some parts of
its construction to that class of propellers commonly called "screw-propellers
wherein radial helical, or angled blades or floats are secured to a common centre or
boss, and caused to revolve with that centre, on and with a revolving shaft; but
dissimilar in its mode of application and action, in so far, as though it consists of
radial, helical or angled blades or floats, secured to a common centre or boss, yet
those blades or floats, when propelling, do not always revolve, or not always with
the same angular velocity, as a revolving driving shaft on which they may be
placed, but under certain conditions (to be herein ascertained) wabble on and with
a portion of said revolving driving shaft which portion is at a suitable angle to the
general axis of the shaft's revolutionary motion, so that by a combined action of
rolling contact of edge of boss of said blades on a suitable and suitably fixed part
of the ship, the boss being otherwise loose on its bearing, each of said floats
performs a curved oscillatory-reciprocative, and if so designed slow revolutionary
path, in or near the direction of the desired propulsion, at the same time feathering,
so that the impelling effect is maximised and the retarding effect minimised; and,
under other conditions, (also to be herein ascertained,) when said boss is clutched
to said shaft's portion which is at an angle to the general axis of rotation, the
blades revolve and propel similarly to a screw-propeller, thus producing opposite
propulsions though said shaft revolves in the same direction continuously in both
instances.
The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact, balanced,
direct-acting, yielding, feathering bladed propeller or "citropeller" whereby the
oscillatory-reciprocative, slow revolutionary, feathering action, minimises the losses
in propulsion which are generally known as due to "slip" and "friction" of screw
propellers, and causes the blades or floats simultaneously to advance into

page_text: mechanically undisturbed water or air, as the case may be, thus taking a maximum
advantage of the inertia of the water or air, as the case may be, to produce the
desired propulsion; and also whereby the rolling contact of boss of citropeller,
with some suitable and suitably fixed part of ship, admits of what is known as
"thrust" of screw propellers, being by the citropeller transmitted to the ship, by
means of a rolling contact in lieu of the sliding contact of thrust blocks now in
vogue; and, whereby, in event of obstruction to normal action, while feathering or
not propelling, likelihood of accident by breakage of parts is minimised, by the
rolling contact between citropeller boss and ship, being changed into sliding contact
when citropeller blades or floats are feathering, and by citropeller turning loosely
on its bearing, when not propelling, as long as, in both instances, obstruction
continues, and morcover whereby is provided a propeller, or citropeller, which is
applicable equally efficiently, to any submerged part or parts of a marine ship and
any convenient part or parts of an air-ship, in order to satisfy various conditions,
such as protection of citropeller or citropellers in warfare, seafaring or airsailing,
in the cases of warships, merchant vessels or ships and similar craft, by placing
citropeller or citropellers at an elevated mid-ship bottom, thereby ensuring
continual immersion in rough seas, and a more even distribution of impelling effect
over the citropeller's or citropellers' complete water disc or discs, as the case may
be, because at mid-ship bottom there are more even accelerations of currents over
said water disc or discs, thereby reducing to a minimum, the vibrations due to
propellers acting in water set in commotion by the passage of ships or vessels or
similar craft, through water, as well as protection as above stated, or for some
special purposes, as for instance to avoid collision, to propel a ship backwards or
forwards or to cease to propel, without stopping or reversing the engine or engines
or other power developing mechanism of the ship, all at the will of any one of
several possible manipulators, stationed at or in connection with any convenient
part of a ship or to propel or cease to propel or reverse by the ordinary manipu-
lation of the engines or other power developing mechanism or mechanisms; or to
reduce first cost by a form of construction adopting existing blades of ordinary
screw-propellers, and efficiently working them as the floats of the "citropeller" or
adopting complete screw-propellers and efficiently working them as citropellers; or
both to propel and steer a ship, by modifying the construction for those combined
purposes; or to distribute strains of propulsion; or assist in steering in event of
accident to helm by having two or more citropellers suitably attached to said ship
for those purposes.
The invention primarily consists in placing or fitting radial, helical or angled
Blades or floats on a suitable boss or centre, which boss is so placed loosely on a
suitable and suitably bent or cranked portion of a revolving driving shaft, that an
end or face or edge of the boss engages in rolling contact with some suitable and
suitably fixed portion of the ship, whereby, when the said shaft revolves, the said
fonts perform a curved oscillatory-reciprocative, slow revolutionary path, in or
near the direction of the desired propulsion, at the same time feathering to effect
that propulsion. There may be so placed over a shoulder on the bend or crank of
the said shaft, a clutch-tube, which may overlap on to said fixed part of said ship
and boss of citropeller, so, that, when by a suitable device, the said shaft is moved
either inwards or outwards in the line of its revolutionary axis, the said boss may
either be engaged in rolling contact with said fixed part of said ship, or clutched to
said shaft, or be left free and loose on its bearing, all at the will of the manipulator,
who may be one of many in any convenient part or parts of the ship. Said device
for manipulating or operating the shaft may be so connected with the, or some,
appliance for governing the engines or other motor mechanism or mechanisms, that
the power developed by said engines or mechanism or mechanisms, will be in pro-
portion to the work desired to be expended by the citropeller or citropellers, as the
case may be.
The invention further consists in a novel construction of the boss of the citro-
peller, namely, internally to provide a suitable ball-bearing to ensure rolling contact

page_text: and actuating effect with the bent or cranked extremity of the driving shaft, and
externally to secure a clutch contact with the clutch tube and present as little
surface as possible to detract from the impelling effect of the citropeller; in a
novel construction of the combined thrust block and shaft-bearing rigidly attached
to the ship on which block the boss of the citropeller rolls, and round which the
clutch-tube revolves, in order to secure suitable rolling contact of the said boss and
clutch tube, and the driving shaft, and to accomodate a suitable stuffing gland to
keep back sea or other water, and with suitable lubricant holes; in a novel con-
struction of the clutch-tube, namely, internally, to secure suitable sliding contact
with the shoulder on the bend or crank of the said driving shaft, suitable ball-
bearing contact with combined block-and-shaft bearing and a clutch engagement
with boss of citropeller when the shaft and citropeller is moved longitudinally
outwards, and a free revolution or position of rest to the citropeller boss, when said
shaft is moved in opposite direction, and, externally, to present as little resisting
surface as possible to the impelling effect of the citropeller, at the same time aiding
in counterbalancing the necessary eccentricity or bend or crank of said driving
shaft in a novel construction of the outhung bent or cranked extremity of the
driving shaft, in order to secure a suitable ball-actuating-bearing for boss of citro-
peller, and suitable ball-bearing with its own contact with combined block-and-
bearing, to present a suitable external driving, (regular or irregular polygonal)
surface of shoulder to slide within the clutch tube, at the same time aiding in
counterbalancing the necessary eccentricity or bend or crank of the said driving
shaft, and with suitable holes for lubricating the bearings of the citropeller; in a
novel construction of steam, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder with all its appur-
tenances, to secure the longitudinal manipulations and the aforesaid, holding of said
driving shaft and in an automatic connection between the valve of said cylinder
and those of a ship's or vessel's engines or motor mechanism or mechanisms, to
secure combination of action between said cylinder and the engines or motor
mechanism or mechanisms of the ship or vessel, which automatic connection,
through well-known and suitable devices is operated by officer on deck of ship, in
helmsman's cabin or engine room or rooms, or any convenient place or places
aboard a ship, thereby reversing or stopping the ship's course, without reversing or
stopping the engines or motor, as the case may be; and in certain other details of
construction hereinafter specified.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended four explanatory sheets of drawings whereon:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the citropeller with its appur-
tenances.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the citropeller, without clutch-tube
arrangement, and showing the blades of any ordinary screw-propeller adopted as
the floats of the citropeller.
Fig. 3 represents longitudinal and stern elevations of a marine ship or vessel, with
citropeller at stern.
Fig. 4 represents longitudinal and stern elevations of a marine ship or vessel,
with twin citropellers at stern.
Fig. 5 represents longitudinal and stern elevations of a line-of-battle ship, with
protected citropeller under an elevated mid-ship-bottom.
Fig. 6 shows a removable blade fitted to citropeller boss.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal side elevation of citropeller adopted as a helm, in con-
nection with a screw-propeller.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a proposed air-ship, with twin citropellers.
Fig. 9 is a view of a fish-torpedo propelled by a citropeller.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters, wherever repeated,
indicate similar or like parts
:-
As will be seen at Fig. 1, the outer extremity of the driving shaft A of the
citropeller, is made or bent or cranked to an angle with the general line of the
shafting, and at the bend there is a solid tapering or lobe-sided shoulder B, B' so

page_text: made or tapered or lobe-sided, as shown, that the boss C, thrust block D and
clutch-tube E, are retained in suitable relation to the shaft A, and to each other,
and to aid in counterbalancing the necessary eccentricity or bend or crank of the
outer extremity A' of the shaft A. The feathering blades F of the citropeller, are,
preferably, similar in shape to the ordinary screw-propeller blades, the twist or
angle of the blades being dependent on the angle to which the outhung
extremity A of the driving shaft A, is bent to the general line of the driving
shaft, or to the general line of propulsion. The hub or boss C of the blades F, is,
preferably, fitted with a series of balls G2, partly sunk in the driving shaft's
portion A¹, thus enabling the citropeller boss to be operated simultaneously with
the shaft A, the boss engaging with and propelling and rolling upon face M' of the
thrust-block D, which block is fitted in the stern post of any ship, vessel, boat, or
any similar craft, while the driving shaft A revolves freely within the boss C
when it (the shaft A.) is drawn inwards; and the boss C engages with the clutch-
tube E, thereby revolving with said clutch and shaft, and causing the citropeller to
propel in a reverse direction, when the shaft A is pushed outwards. The apparatus
for causing the inward and outward movement of the shaft A, will be hereinafter
described. The boss C is also preferably fitted with balls H, to ensure rolling
contact with the part A', of the shaft A and with the shoulder B, B. Over the
shoulder B, B, the clutch-tube E is fitted, so as to have sliding contact with the
shoulder B, B', which shoulder is of a polygonal, (regular or irregular,) external
form, so as to drive the clutch-tube round with it, when the shaft A revolves. The
clutch-tube E is preferably fitted with balls K to ensure rolling contact between it
and the thrust-block D. The clutch-tube is made with a solid collar L, to retain
it in fixed relation to thrust-block D, so that, when the driving shaft A is moved
inwards or outwards or held in a mid-way or neutral position, as hereinafter
described, the boss C is engaged in rolling contact with the thrust-block D, or
clutched to clutch-tube E, or is left free, as the case may be, so that the shaft can
revolve freely within the boss C, or the boss may revolve with the shaft, thereby
propelling forwards or backwards or not propelling at all, while the engine and
driving shaft A, may be revolving continuously in one direction, in all three cases.
The clutch-tube is also made or fitted with an eccentric collar M, to ensure
clutching action with an eccentric face N, made on the boss C, when the shaft A is
pushed outwards, and the clutch-tube may preferably, be made more lobe-sided
than its designed mechanical effects require, so that extra weight so placed, may
aid in counterbalancing the necessary eccentricity, or bend, or crank, of shaft A.;
and moreover the clutch-tube E may be made of more than one piece bolted or
otherwise secured together, or of special shape, so that it may be put suitably into
its required position.
The plugs O are for filling the holes through which the anti-friction balls are
inserted.
The thrust-block D is or may be fitted with a series of balls, P, to ensure rolling
contact with the shoulder B, B¹, on the shaft, and it may be hollowed out at its
inner end and closed with any well known and suitable form of packing, so as to
-form a stuffing box Q, through which the shaft A. works. The stuffing box, which
is provided with a stuffing-gland R, prevents leakage of water into the ship or
vessel. The thrust-block D and boss Care faced end wise at M', so as to ensure
that they have required end or edge rolling contact between them to transmit,
"thrust," as well as produce a slow revolutionary action of citropeller, for the
purpose aforesaid.
The holes W, made at a slant through the thrust-block D and the post of the
ship, or vessel, and communicating with a groove W, made around the inner
surface of said block D, is for lubricating purposes. The shaft A is also, preferably,
bored with a channel Ú which communicates with the groove W', and as the shaft
revolves, carries lubricant to the several bearings of the citropeller. Lubricant is
supplied to the channel or hole W from any suitable source of supply through a
tube or pipe X¹

page_text: The thrust block D, may be secured in position by means of studs D¹.
:
For drawing in, thrusting out, and holding in a neutral position the driving
shaft A there is provided at any suitable part of the ship or vessel a cylinder, Y,
having a piston, G, connected to or fitted or made as part of the shaft A. The
piston has preferably cup-leathers G', shown on each side, but any well known and
suitable cylinder or piston packing may be used. The general construction of the
cylinder, with its valve T, ports T, and the other necessary appurtenances, is of any
well known and suitable type. The driving shaft passes right through the cylinder,
and works pressure-tight in stuffing boxes Z, Z', at each end of the cylinder. The
slide valve T, is made and fitted so that in one position the pressure, (somewhere
aboard conveniently accumulated and ready for use,) can act freely on both sides
of the piston G, thus retaining the shaft A in a non-propelling relation with the
citropeller, or in other positions, so that the pressure acts on one side or other
of the piston, thus throwing the boss C, in contact with either the clutch-tube E,
or the thrust-block D, according to whether a forward or reverse propulsion is
desired. The slide valve T, is operated by the lever T, which is connected by a
rod T³, with the engine's or motor's valve or valves or regulator or regulators, and
also by means of suitable rod and lever or cog-wheel or other suitable connections,
with the engine room or rooms, helmsman's cabin, the deck, or any other suitable
part or parts of the ship or vessel, so as to be operated by the engineer, helmsman,
or commanding officer, or any other officer, any of whom can, by operating the
valve T, start, stop, or reverse the ship's or vessel's, propulsion or course, as the
case may be, independently of one another, and without stopping or reversing
the engines or driving shaft or shafts, according as to whether one or more
citropellers may be used, thus saving time in avoiding collision or certain other
accidents to which swift moving ships or vessels are exposed. F' is the pipe
or tube for the steam, air, water, or other fluid pressure to act on or work the
piston G.
Fig. 2 shows a citropeller adapted to ordinary manipulations of ship's propeller
shafts and engines or other power developing mechanism in so far as the
clutch E (Fig. 1) is removed, so that the shaft A must have its revolutionary
motion reversed or stopped in order to produce reversal or stoppage of action of
citropeller.
The blades of the citropeller shown in this figure are those of an ordinary
screw-propeller here adopted as the floats of the citropeller; and the same adoption
can also be made when a clutch is used (as at Fig. 1) and be worked equally
efficiently.
In Fig. 3 the citropeller is shown as fitted to the stern of a ship, with the shaft
running horizontally above the keel. The rudder is as shown, cut away to allow
space for the citropeller floats, but this may not necessarily be the case in all
instances.
In Fig. 4 the citropeller is shown as applied in the ordinary way for twin screw-
propellers, one being fitted to each side of the stern post, and worked horizontally
by parallel driving shafts.
The line-of-battle ship shown at Fig. 5, has the citropeller fitted at mid-ship
bottom, under an elevated keel, so as to protect the citropeller from shot & shell &
at the same time to afford a more even distribution of impelling effect over the
citropeller's water disc while propelling, because at mid-ship-bottom there are more
even current accelerations over said water disc, thereby reducing to a minimum, the
vibrations due to propellers acting in water set in commotion by the passage of
ships and similar craft, through water, as well as prevent grounding of citropeller
in shallow waters. The driving shaft is arranged in this line-of-battle ship at a
suitable angle to the keel, so as to drive the citropeller and the engine or engines
or motor or motors, in this case, may be of the diagonal or other suitable and well-
known type, or any type which may hereafter be specially designed for such
purposes. It will be noted that the bottom of this line-of-battle ship is scooped out
some suitable distance crosswise and lengthwise, so as to partially or wholly enclose
:

page_text: :
and protect the citropeller, and prevent the citropeller from being grounded in
shallow-waters as aforesaid and moreover this method of applying the citropeller,
is equally applicable to any marine ship, vessel, boat, or any similar craft, and two
or more citropellers may be so applied to any one ship, vessel, boat, or similar
craft.
The citropeller blades are shown in Fig. 6 as removable, secured by studs C¹ to
the boss C, instead of being cast or made in one piece therewith, thereby indicating
an adoption of ordinary screw-propeller blades, or attached blades, as the case
may be.
In Fig. 7 is shown a citropeller adopted as a helm, V, VI, being hinges on which
the hoop V is free to turn. P is a rigid pin, (shown dotted,) fixed to hoop V².
To the pin P is rigidly fixed, by means of pin P³, so as to prevent any
revolutionary action of the citropeller, a suitable circular or spiral spring S and at
or near the mid-length of the spring S are rigidly and suitably attached, by any
well known and suitable device, any convenient and suitable number of blades F.
On one of the blades R' of an ordinary screw-propeller, is fixed a second rigid
pin which is free to revolve within the spring S, and by any well known and
suitable device, the pin P2 at the same time retains the spring S in fixed relation
to the propeller blade R, so that when the engine or propeller shaft A revolves,
the blades F of the citropeller, perform an oscillatory-reciprocative-feathering-
propelling action, in unison with the screw-propeller's action in whichever direction
caused by the hoop V2 turning on its hinges V, V₁, thus steering or assisting in
propulsion, or both, by thrusting the stern of the ship, vessel, boat, or any similar
craft, as the case may be, to one side or other, or straight forward or astern.
Fig. 8 shows twin citropellers applied to an air ship, or hollow-sailing or floating
vessel, Z2 being the car in which is developed the motive power and F, F, the
blades of the citropeller. The stalks Z3 Z4 ure or may be telescopable, so as to
change the position of the centre of gravity of the ship, for sailing purposes.
Fig. 9 shows a fish-torpedo as propelled by a citropeller and a citropeller or
citropellers may be similarly applied to any torpedo, or torpedo-boat.
Although I have shown on my drawings convenient methods of carrying out my
invention, I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement or arrangements of parts
thereon shown, as the arrangements may manifestly be sightly altered to suit
different requirements.
"
as
citropellers
And although I have only shown the improved propellers or
adapted to marine and air ships and a fish torpedo, it is to be understood, that it
may be used efficiently and advantageously for propelling or steering, or both pro-
pelling and steering, any vessel or body on or in water or air.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
6:
1. The improved feathering-bladed propeller, or citropeller," consisting of one,
or two, or more blades or floats, secured to a common boss or centre, or axial
attachment, fitted at or near or on the extremity of a bent or cranked or eccentric
driving shaft, with a tapered or lobe-sided shoulder to aid in counterbalancing its
bent, cranked, or eccentric portion, as well as retain the adjoining parts of the
citropeller in position, the revolutions of which shaft cause the blades to describe
an oscillatory reciprocative, feathering action, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2. In a feathering bladed propeller or "citropeller" the combination with a bent
driving shaft, of any convenient number of helical, or angled blades or floats,
secured to a common boss, centre, or axial attachment fitted at or near or on the
extremity of a bent, or cranked, or eccentric driving shaft, the blades radiating
from that boss or centre or common axial attachment, and during their propelling
action being subjected jointly and successively to an alternate edgewise cutting
motion in one direction, and a broadside propelling movement in an opposite or
B

page_text: nearly opposite direction, at the same time performing a slow revolutionary action,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination with the bent, cranked, or eccentric driving shaft or shafts,
of a feathering bladed citropeller, or of more than one such citropeller, as the case
may be of one or more combined thrust-block-and-bearings or simple thrust-
blocks, rigidly fixed to the stern post or any other convenient and suitable part or
parts, on which block or blocks, the boss or losses of the citropeller, or citropellers
as the case may be, rolls or roll, and in which block or blocks as the case may be,
the shaft or shafts may or may not revolve, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
4. In a feathering bladed citropeller, the combination with its bent or cranked or
eccentric driving shaft, and of one or more combined thrust-block-and-bearings or
simple thrust-blocks, of a clutch-tube driven by said driving shaft and retained in
fixed relation longitudinally to said combined thrust-block-and-bearing, and having
an eccentric collar to engage with the eccentric surface of the citropeller boss,
when those two surfaces or faces are forced into contact, thereby effecting a reverse
propulsion, by clutching said boss to said shaft, the feathering action being thereby
changed into a reverse screw action, without reversing the direction of rotation of
said driving shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
5. In a feathering bladed citropeller, the combination with the bent driving shaft,
combined thrust-block-and-bearing, and clutch-tube; of an operating piston
attached or fixed rigidly to or made as part of the driving shaft and acted upon by
steam, pneumatic, hydraulic or any other suitable fluid pressure within a cylinder,
so that when the pressure acts on one side of said piston said boss engages with
said combined thrust-block-and-bearing, or when the pressure acts on opposite side
of said piston, said boss engages with said clutch-tube, or when the pressure acts
simultaneously on both sides of said piston said boss assumes a neutral position,
or non-propelling attitude, to both the said combined thrust-block-and-shaft-bearing
and said clutch-tube, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
6. In a feathering bladed citropeller, the combination with the bent, cranked, or
eccentric driving shaft, A, combined thrust-block-and-bearing D, clutch-tube E,
and operating piston G, within cylinder Y; of a lever T2 and rod T³ or equivalent
connection between the valve T of said cylinder and valve or valves, or regulator
or regulators, of the driving engine or engines, or motor or motors, and a rod and
lever or cog-wheel or other well known and suitable device or devices connecting
said valve T with the engine room or rooms, helmsman's cabin, deck, or any
suitable part or parts of the ship or any sailing or floating vessel, so that the power
developed by the power generators of said ship or vessel is proportional and
dependent to and upon the work to be done by the citropeller or citropellers, as
the case may be, and can be manipulated by engineer or engineers or helmsman, or
commanding officer, or any other appointed person or officer aboard said ship or
vessel, as the case may be, independently of one another, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
7. The combination with a propeller (R) of the flexible shaft or spring S and
the propelling blades F, fitted or attached to said flexible shaft or spring S so that
when the propeller, is in motion the said blades F, perform an oscillatory-recipro-
cative-feathering-steering or propelling or both propelling and steering action,
in whichever direction caused by the angle of the hoop V2 in its hinges V, VI, and
forward or reverse according to the direction of rotation of the propeller, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 of the annexed drawings.
8. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the improved propeller
or citropeller, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference'
drawings annexed.
to the
Dated this + 1
7001
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.