|
Ericsson &
Ship Propeller design
John Ericsson created the unique design for the Monitor's propeller, which allowed it to be mounted under water and out of the way of enemy fire. The propeller is currently on display at The Mariners' Museum. Click here to visit the Museum Website concerning the Monitor displays. |
The Monitor screw propeller before being conserved at the NOAA Mariner's Museum. The propeller is now displayed in a cleaner and restored state. |
Ericsson would change his interests to developing a new propeller design for steamer ships. He improved the ship design with two screw-propellers moving in different directions (as opposed to earlier tests with this technology, which used a single screw). However, the English Admiralty disapproved of the invention, which led to the fortunate contact with the encouraging American captain Robert Stockton who had Ericsson design a propeller steamer for him and told him to bring his invention to the United States of America, as it would supposedly be more welcomed in that milieu. As a result, Ericsson moved to New York in 1839. Stockton's plan was for Ericsson to oversee the development of a new class of frigate with Stockton using his considerable political connections to grease the wheels. Finally, after the election of President John Tyler, funds were allocated for a new design. Unfortunately they only received funding for a 700-ton sloop instead of a frigate. The sloop eventually became the USS Princeton, named after Stockton's hometown.
The ship took three years to build. It had a special mounted gun that could allow more "charge" and was supposed to be safer to operated for the seamen. The ship won a speed contest, but the gun blew up killing United States government officials.
Ericsson invented the caloric steam engine that had a fuel/energy conservation that worked well. He became wealthy with this invention. As early as 1854, Ericsson had worked on designs for an ironclad ship.
In 1861 the Confederate Navy was having the hull of the burned U.S.S. Merrimack covered with iron sheets. The first ironclad was being built by the enemy. Ericsson did not trust or like the U.S. Navy, but was convinced by Cornelius Scranton Bushnell to work on an ironclad for them. Ericsson presented drawings of the USS Monitor, a totally unique and novel design of armored ship, which after much controversy was eventually built and finished on March 6, 1862. The ship went from plans to launch in approximately 100 days, an amazing achievement.
On March 8, the Southern ironclad CSS Virginia was wreaking havoc on the Union Blockading Squadron in Virginia. Then, with the appearance of the Monitor, a battle on March 9, 1862 at Hampton Roads, Virginia, ended in a stalemate between the two iron warships, and saved the Northern fleet from defeat. After this, numerous monitors were built, and are believed to have considerably influenced the victory of the Northern states. Although primitive by modern standards, many basic design elements of the Monitor were copied in future warships by other designers.
Later, Ericsson worked with torpedo inventions, in particular "The Destroyer", a torpedo boat that could fire a cannon from an underwater port. He also provided some technical support for John Philip Holland in his early submarine experiments. In the book Contributions to the Centennial Exhibition (1877, reprinted 1976) he presented his "sun engines", which collected solar heat for a hot air engine. One of these designs earned Ericsson additional sums after being converted to work as a methane gas engine.
Although none of his inventions created any large industries, he is regarded as one of the most influential mechanical engineers ever. After his death in 1889 his remains were brought from the United States to Stockholm by USS Baltimore and to the final resting place at Filipstad, in his Värmland.
THE MONITOR'S END:
|
|
