Improvements in and relating to the Propulsion of Boats and other Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Propulsion of Boats and other
Vessels.
We, EDWARD CHARLES FREDERICK OTTO and EDWARD CHARLES FREDERICK
OTTO, Junior, Engineers, both of 16, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the propulsion of boats and other vessels either by
manual or motive power, and it has for its object the production of a more effi-
cient method of propelling boats and other vessels, more particularly small
pleasure boats. Hitherto the usual methods employed for propelling these kind
of boats have been either by oars or sculls or by paddle wheels or screw pro-
pellers but in each of these methods much of the applied power is lost or wasted
owing to various causes such as slip, friction or excessive vibration.
According to this invention one or more longitudinal channels are formed in
the bottom or sides of the boat; these channels are of a sufficient depth to allow
of the upper portions to be clear or free of the water when the boat is fully
immersed. Mounted within the channels in any convenient position are
sprocket or other wheels adapted to engage with and drive chains, belts or the
like carrying at or about right angles thereto transverse blades, plates, discs
or similar devices. The sprocket or other wheels are preferably so mounted
that only their under sides are immersed in the water and we prefer to so
arrange the wheels that they may be easily adjusted with regard to the depth
of immersion of the blades or the like carried by the chains or belts. Further
we may so arrange the blades that they may feather or lie parallel with the
chain or belt when in their inoperative position i.e., clear of the water.
We prefer to impart motion to the chains or belts by hand or foot power or
both through the medium of crank chains and sprocket wheels or equivalent
devices although it will be understood that any other motive power may be used.
In some cases, for instance when two chains or belts are used one on either
side of the boat, the aforementioned channels or waterways may be dispensed
with.
Improvements in and relating to the Propulsion of Boats and other
Vessels.
We, EDWARD CHARLES FREDERICK OTTO and EDWARD CHARLES FREDERICK
Orro, Junior, Engineers, both of 16, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, in the County
071

page_text: of Surrey, 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 the propulsion of boats and other vessels either by
manual or motive power, and it has for its object the production of a more effi-
cient method of propelling boats and other vessels, more particularly small
pleasure boats. Hitherto the usual methods employed for propelling these kind
of boats have been either by oars or sculls or by paddle wheels or screw pro-
pellers but in each of these methods much of the applied power is lost or wasted
owing to various causes such as slip, friction or excessive vibration.
According to this invention, one or more longitudinal channels are formed
through the boat, the said channel or channels being of such a depth that the
upper part or parts thereof are clear or free of the water when the boat is fully
immersed i.e., fully laden. Mounted within the channel, or within each of the
channels if more than one is employed, are two or more sprocket or equivalent
wheels adapted to engage with and drive chains, belts or the like which carry
a series of transverse blades, plates, discs or similar devices. The sprocket or
other wheels are preferably so mounted that only their under sides are im-
mersed in the water and are so arranged that they can be easily adjusted with
regard to the depth of immersion of the blades or the like carried by the chains
or belts.
Motion is imparted to the chains, belts or the like by hand or foot power or
both through the medium of crank or other suitable driving gear although it
will be understood that any other motive power may be used.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates-by way of example-a boat
fitted with this invention and adapted to be propelled by foot power:-
Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section.
Figure 2 is a view in plan.
Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on line a Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are views in elevation and plan showing method of mounting
the blades on the chains.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The boat which may be of any suitable type has a longitudinal channel A
extending completely from stem to stern. Across this channel at a suitable
distance apart are two axles B and B on each of which are mounted two
sprocket wheels C, C. The sprocket wheels on one axle are connected with those
on the other by means of chains D, D, which carry at suitable distances apart
transverse plates or floats E, E, etc., the positions of the axles B and B₁ being
such that the plates or floats E, E, etc. on the momentarily lower part of the
chains D, D, are immersed in the water. Instead of sprocket wheels and chains
any other convenient form of driving wheels and. flexible travelling connec-
tions may be employed.
Motion may be imparted to one or both of the axles B and B₁ from any suit-
able source of power. In the construction shown by the accompanying drawing
motion is applied to the axle B by means of pedal-crank driving gear adapted
to be operated by two persons, the motion of the pedal cranks F, F, being im-
parted to the said axle by means of spur gearing.
The arrangement of the seats for the drivers and the controlling of the rudders
present no novel features, but it is preferred to employ two rudders G, G,
mounted one on each side of the channel A.
Although in the construction illustrated by the accompanying drawing only
one channel is shown, more than one may be employed, in which case each is
fitted with the travelling float propelling mechanism.
It will be understood that motion is imparted to the boat or vessel by reason
of the floats or their equivalents engaging the water, which being confined in
the channel in the boat causes the boat to move in the opposite direction to that
in which the floats or their equivalents are moving.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
(1) The improved propelling mechanism for boats and other vessels, substan-
tially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2) Propelling mechanism for boats or other vessels consisting of a series of
floats or their equivalents mounted on one or more chains or bands or equivalent
devices passing over wheels mounted in a longitudinally arranged channel run-
ning throughout the length of the boat or vessel, the said floats being caused
to travel in the said channel-and so impart motion to the boat or vessel-
by motion being imparted to one or both of the wheels carrying the chains or
bands on which they are mounted, substantially as set forth.
(3) In combination, a boat or vessel having one
arranged channels running throughout its length, and one
or more longitudinally
or more series of
floats or their equivalents arranged to travel through the said channel or chan-
nels, as and for the purpose set forth.
PASST
Dated
UITS
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.