NOVEL INVENTION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 8 June 1937, Page 7

NOVEL INVENTION

PROPULSION OF SHIPS Blades Replace Screws I ' London, May 12. i A new system of ship propulsion : by blades instead of screws has been I invented by a German. Trials have I r.-r.oven so .successful theft, two British [steamship companies, both with long {oxperi nee of peddles and screws, ' have placed orders for passenger.? carrying vessels to be fitted with th& new system. In maritime circles it is thought that the< invention may prove as revolutionary as was the introduction of screws. This new system, known as the VoithJ 1 hneider, after itis invendor, is. entirely novel. It consists of a ciiiculi.ir group of vertical curved ' 1 dos projecting from beneath ttho cut-way counter stern of (he vessel. There are ge rs to the shaft of the main engine, which can be of any type, but is usually a. Dirsel, and not onlj r does the whole group of blades revolve in either direction, but each blcde is separately movable on its own axis. : Operation From Bridge. Thus, with a simple feet o£ three combined controls operated by one man on the bridge., the ship can be made to go fa>st or slow, ahead, astern, or even sideways—like a crab —-i. nd can also be steered in any di? rection, no ruddier being requiredThere are six blades in the propeller, group, and with twin groups a vessel of up to about 200 ft. length /can a complete turn in less than its own length. The chief advantages are greater propulsive efficiency with less power than either screw or paddle, ease of manoeuvring capabilities—namely, sideways movement—and reduction o.f time lag between the giving of a bridge order and its execution, due i to the direct control. i The companies which are pioneer, png this invention in Great Britain ■ are the Southampton, Isle of Wight, and South of England Steam PacKtu. Company and' the Southern Railway. The Isle of Wight Company has plfaced with John I. Thornycroft and Company, Southampton, an order for

a passenger vessel 195 ft. long by 30ft. beam, fitited with two 600 h.p. Diesel I • n.gSnes, each driving a six-bladed Voith-Schnieder propeller. This, ship ! will have a speed of, 15 knots,, bind i will be employed in the regular serI vice between Southampton and Cowes. Popularity on Continent. I .The Southern Railway has ordered a slightly ?mailer vessel from Wil_ liam Denny Brothers, Dumbarton, it | will measure 14811 by 36ft., u.nd will ■ have two 200 h.p. Diesel engines, each (hiving a six-bladed propeller. It will i be used as a passenger and motor-car ferry between Lymington and Yari mouth, Ifele of Wight. I Voith-Schn ider propulsion is ideal I for navigation in crowded and nar- ! row watterways, and for this reason ;it has already attained considerable i popularity on the Continent in the i past year. Germany has several tugs : with the invention on Lake Constance ' and the Rhine; France- has a few passenger launches on the Loire at Nuntes; and early this summer six Voith-Schneider motor “gondolas’ will he in service on the canals of Venice.