US24129A - Propelling and steering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

sirius Armar ersten.

MURDIGK LYTLE, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROPELLING .AND STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,129, dated May 24, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURDICK LYTLE, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Steering and Propelling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichf f Figure l is a partial section and partial side elevation of my invention as applied to a boat employing a screw propeller. Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same as applied to a boat employing two paddle wheels instead of a propeller. Fig. 3, is a side view of a portion `of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference, in each of the severals iigures indicate correspondingparts.

The combined steering and propelling devices hereinafter more fully described, are not intended usually to be employed on vessels of much speed; but are particularly adapted to coal or other Vboats that ordinarily move with so littlevelocity that rudders cannot be employed advantageously, if at all. On such vessels, in lieu of the rudder, steering oars are employed at the stern and also at the bows and sides, for the purpose of guiding them into the channel of the stream, which necessarily requires the services of a large number of men, and consequently increases the expense of getting the coal or other commodity to the market.

By means of my invention, the use of steering oars and rudders is entirely obviated and increased velocity given to the vessel in order to quickly get it back into the channel, by means of a propeller at one end of a horizontal shaft, or in lieu of the propeller by means of side paddle wheels which may be attached instead of the propeller at the two extremities of the shaft. I would also remark that coal boats are generally lashed together in pairs, and when any accident occurs to one of the boats that would endanger the loss of the other, the lashings are cut loose. In such case in order to remove any machinery from the injured boat t-o the other and render it quickly operative, it is necessary that such machinery should be so adjusted, as to be removable from one boat to the other without derangement of its parts. To effect this result, my steering and propelling devices are adjusted in a frame work not permanently attached to the boat, so that the frame together with the machinery it contains, may be moved from one boat to the other and still remain in working condition. The point of application of the power must in this case be higher than the stern work `of the boat, in order that the machinery may be readily moved'to its new position. By hanging my machinery in such a frame, I am enabled to shift the combined steering and propelling machinery from one boat to the other without deranging the parts, and I am also enabled by means of tubular shafts herein more fully described to change the point of application of the power which may become necessary in the new position of the frame with its machinery.

In the drawing A, B, C, is the frame, which forms no part of the vessel, is not permanently connected with. it and can readily be removed. In this frame is situated the 'propelling and steering device; b, is a vertical shaft hung in a bearing i, in the frame at its lower extremity, on which it freely rotates; the upper end of said shaft passes through the upper part of the frame and a pinion a, is attached to the upper extremity of the shaft which, meshing into other gearing (not shown in the drawing), will enable the shaft to be turned at the will of the operator.

At the lower end of the shaft Z2, are two arms g, with bearings 0, at their upper extremities for the reception of a shaft k, on one extremity of which is situated the propeller c, see Fig. 1, or two side paddle wheels m, may be placed on the shaft la, see Fig. 2. The shaft le, is supported also in a step or recess fu, in the shaft b. By this arrangement of parts, the propeller shaft is supported and rotates freely on its own axis, while it may be placed'at any angle to the axis of the vessel and the cumbrous framing by which the propeller shaft is ordinarily supported, be dispensed with.

f, is a pinion on the shaft 7c, which meshes into a pinion e, on the tubular shaft c, so that it may rotate and by means of its gearing drive the propeller shaft, while the shaft I), .remains stationary. To the upper extremity of the tubular shaft c, a pinion d, is attached which meshes into a pinion on the shaft to which the power is applied, not shown.

The operation of my combined steering and propelling apparatus is evident; an" position may be given the propelling Whee or the sidepaddle wheels in case they are empioV ed, relative to the aXis of the vessel, by ro ating the shaft b, so that when the propeller or paddle Wheels are operated by means of the gearing on the tubular shaft and the pinion f, all the advantages are gained thatWould accrue `from the use of steering oars or rudder While at any time a forward motion may be given to the vessel.

By using tubular shafts of different lengths or having the tubular shaft capable .of extension or the Wheel capable of sliding up and down the point of applicationof the power can readily 'be raisedor lowered, as the necessity of the case may require.

V What I claim as my invention and desirev Ato secure by Letters Patent, isl l. The shaft b,vvith` a supporting arm or arms g, and bearing recess lv, in combination Wlth the propeller or paddle Wheel shaft le, the whole being arranged in the manner and for the 1mrposes set forth. l

2. The tubular shaft c, with gear 'Wheels at the upper and lower ends in combination With the shaft and propeller'shaft It', the Whole being constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my improvement in propelling and steering apparatus signed by me this 16th day of April 1859.

MURDICK LYTLE.

Witnesses:

G. YORKE AT LEE, H. H. YOUNG.`

A'Eri

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