An Improvement in Sliding Seats such as are used for Racing and other Boats.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1890--Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Sliding Seats such as are used for Racing and
other Boats.
I, HENRY JOHN PAYNE of No. 1 "River View," The Terrace Barnes, in the
County of Surrey, Scientific Instrument Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in sliding seats, such as are used in racing
and other boats, and in road sculling cycles.
Its object is to minimise friction, and as far as possible to get rid of the necessity
for lubrication.
In sliding seats as ordinarily used, strips or blocks of steel, or other suitable
material are arranged on the under side of the seat, which fit in, or test upon similarly
arranged recesses or strips, on the deck of the boat, or in other cases four or more
small wheels or rollers are arranged on the under side of the seat which fit into, or
rest upon recesses or strips as in the previous case.
According to my invention a perfectly easy horizontal movement of the required
range is obtained by supporting the seat upon balls in the manner I am about to
describe, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawing.
I assume for the purpose of description, that the space to be traversed is 25" and
that the seat is 7" from front to back, so that the actual movement of the seat is 18".
I take two 25" lengths of square brass tube of about " thick, and "internal diam.
Out of one of the four corners of each of these lengths, a piece is cut leaving an
opening wide (A). These two tubes are arranged on the deck of the boat, parallel
to each other, and about 73" apart, and conveniently supported by mouldings (B), of
wood or other material, the said opening being uppermost, so forming two V shaped
partly covered in recesses, parallel to each other, as shown in fig. 1. In each of these
diagonals a strip of brass is fitted (C) 16" in length, and about " thick, able to
move freely from end to end. These strips are perforated at regular intervals for the
whole length, with circular holes to receive the balls as shown in fig. 2. Either end
of these strips are bent up at right angles (D) for a purpose which will be presently
explained.
Into these holes are placed balls of 3" diam. the said holes being slightly larger,
enabling the balls to rotate quite freely in their respective places, and the strip with
its series of balls running quite freely from end to end of the recess or groove, in
which it moves.
In the one described eleven balls are used on each side and are about 137 apart.
The seat has fixed to its under side, parallel angle-pieces or runners (E) con-
veniently supported, and such distance apart as to be capable of entering and moving
within the recesses as above described, fixed on the deck of the boat.
The seat is now passed into position from one end, the angular runners (E) passing
freely over the steel balls, and stops (F) are then placed at each end, to keep the seat
steel balls and perforated strips from coming out, the bent angles (D) at each end of
the brass strips, makes it impossible for the seat to pass off the balls.
The seat being brought up close to the end as in fig. 2, it will rest on the first five
pairs of balls, the remaining six pairs projecting forward beyond the seat. Now if
the seat is brought forward as in use, it rolls freely over the balls leaving the first
pair behind, passing on to the sixth pair, then in turn it leaves the second pair
behind, passing on to the seventh pair, and so on, meanwhile the balls, and the
strip which retains them in position, moves forward at the same time, but at half the
pace of the seat, so that by the time the seat has traversed the full length of the slide,
it has passed over the whole of the balls, arriving at the end stops fixed on the deck

page_text: of the boat, at the same time as the angle stops on the ends of the perforated brass
strips, and is now ready for the reverse movement.
For different lengths of slides the dimensions of the parts described would be
proportionately greater, or less, and the number of balls, in all cases may be increased
or decreased.
In place of the steel balls, small cylinders of steel or other suitable material
may be used, and these may be arranged in perforations in a travelling metal strip,
as in the one described, or they may be linked together the aggregate length of the
links to be the same in proportion to the length of the slide as that of the metal strip
described.
Dated this 28th day of September 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Sliding Seats such as are used for Racing and
other Boats.
I, HENRY JOHN PAYNE, 1 River View, The Terrace, Barnes, Surrey, Scientific
Instrument Maker, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in sliding seats, such as are used in racing
and other boats, and in road sculling cycles.
'
Its object is to minimise friction and as far as possible to get rid of the necessity
for lubrication.
In sliding seats, as ordinarily used, strips or blocks of steel or other suitable
material are arranged on the underside of the seat which fit in or rest upon similarly
arranged recesses or strips on the deck of the boat, or, in other cases, four or more
small wheels or rollers are arranged on the under side of the seat which fit into or
rest upon recesses or strips as in the previous case.
According to my invention a perfectly easy horizontal movement of the required
range is obtained by supporting the seat upon balls in the manner I am about to
describe, reference being made to the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification.
I take two lengths of square brass tube of a suitable thickness and internal size.
Out of one of the four corners of each of these tubes a piece is cut leaving an
opening, as shewn at A. These two tubes are arranged on the deck of the boat
parallel to each other and at a suitable distance apart and are conveniently supported
by mouldings B of wood or other material. The two tubes are so placed that the
said openings are uppermost, thus forming two V shaped partly covered in recesses
parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 1. In each of the two tubes, and along the
diagonals of the squares, is fitted a strip of brass capable of freely sliding therein.
These strips are perforated at regular intervals throughout their whole length with
circular holes to receive the balls, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the strips are
bent up at right angles, as shown at D, for a purpose which will be presently
explained. The circular holes in the strips are made somewhat larger than the balls,
enabling the balls to rotate quite freely in their respective places and the strips
with their series of balls to run quite freely from end to end of the recesses or grooves
in which they move.
In the sliding seat described in my Provisional Specification eleven balls are used
on each side of the seat. I make the balls of stecl.
The seat has fixed to its under side parallel angle-pieces or runners E, conveniently
supported at such distance apart as to be capable of entering and moving within the
recesses as above described, fixed on the deck of the boat.
The scat is passed into position from one end, the angular runners E passing freely
over the steel balls, and stops F are then placed at each end to keep the seat, steel

page_text: balls and perforated strips from coming out, the bent portions or angles D at each
end of the brass strips making it impossible for the seat to pass off the balls.
The seat (shown in Fig. 2) being brought close up to the end of the slide will
rest on the first five pairs of balls, the remaining six pairs being forward beyond
the seat.
Now if the seat is brought forward as in use, it rolls freely over the balls, leaving
the first pair behind, passing on to the sixth pair, then in turn it leaves the second
pair behind, passing on to the seventh pair and so on. Meanwhile the balls and the
strips which retain them in position move forward at the same time, but at or about
half the pace of the seat, so that by the time the seat has traversed the full length of
the slide it has passed over the whole of the balls, arriving at the end stops fixed on
the deck of the boat at the same time as the angle stops on the ends of the brass
perforated strips, and it is now ready for the reverse movement.
I may make the parts of my improved seat of the dimensions given in my Provisional
Specification, but for different lengths of slides the dimensions of the parts described
would be proportionately greater or less, and the number of balls in all cases may be
increased or decreased.
In place of the steel balls, small cylinders of steel or other suitable material may he
used, and these may be arranged in perforations in a travelling metal strip, as in the
one described or they may be linked together, the aggregate length of the links to
be the same in proportion to the length of the slide as that of the metal strip
described the dimensions of which are given in my Provisional Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
The improved sliding seat for use in racing and other boats and in road sculling
cycles substantially as described herein and illustrated by the drawings accompanying
my Provisional Specification.
Dated this 30th da ne fum LAND
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.