Improvements in or relating to Trawl Nets,
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Trawl Nets,
We, SAMUEL LING, Smack Owner, of Beresford Road, Lowestoft, and WILLIAM
ROBBENS, Smack Owner, of Suffolk House, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, both in
the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to trawl nets, and has for its object to facilitate the
use of the boards which are employed in place of the beam and heads.
According to this invention the trawl boards are constructed in their main
features as usual, but they are provided with one or more rollers, wheels or other
similar devices for reducing the friction of the board as it passes over the bed
of the sea.
These rollers or wheels may be of various constructions and arranged
in different ways, but preferably they are constructed as castor wheels which
are pivotted preferably at the back of the board. By the employment of the
castor wheels the board is able to adjust itself easily and without any lateral
scraping movement of the wheels, which would take place if the latter were fixed.
The castor whels may, if desired, be mounted on the bottom of the board, but
we prefer to arrange them at the back, the wheels projecting below the bottom
of the board the required distance, but not far enough to take the board too much
off the ground.
Though the supporting rollers or wheels are preferably arranged on only one
side of the board, if desired, other rollers may be arranged on the opposite or
front side so as to support the board in an upright position; under ordinary
circumstances, however, the two rollers on the back of the board are sufficient,
the pressure of the water against the front being enough to keep the board in
the necessary upright position.
The fittings of the board for the attachment of the net and towing ropes may be
of any known types.
The board may, if desired, be provided with special brackets or the like for the
attachment of the rollers.
Dated this 6th day of Anril 1899
Improvements in or relating to Trawl Nets.
We, SAMUEL LING, Smack Owner, of Beresford Road, Lowestoft, and WILLIAM
ROBBENS, Smack Owner, of Suffolk House, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, both in
the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
[Price 8d.]

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to trawl nets, and has for its object to facilitate the
use of the boards which are employed in place of the beam and heads.
According to this invention the trawl boards are constructed in their main
features as usual, but they are provided with one or more rollers, wheels or other
similar devices for reducing the friction of the board as it passes over the bed
of the sea.
These rollers or wheels may be of various constructions and arranged
in different ways, but preferably they are constructed as castor wheels which
are pivotted preferably at the back of the board. By the employment of the
castor wheels the board is able to adjust itself easily and without any lateral
scraping movement of the wheels, which would take place if the latter were fixed.
The castor wheels may, if desired, be mounted on the bottom of the board, but
we prefer to arrange them at the back, the wheels projecting below the bottom
of the board the required distance, but not far enough to take the board too much
off the ground.
Though the supporting rollers or wheels are preferably arranged on only one
side of the board, if desired, other rollers may be arranged on the opposite or
front side so as to support the board in an upright position; under ordinary
circumstances, however, the two rollers on the back of the board are sufficient,
the pressure of the water against the front being enough to keep the board in
the necessary upright position.
The fittings of the board for the attachment of the net and towing ropes may be
of any known types.
The board may, if desired, be provided with special brackets or the like for the
attachment of the rollers.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the improved trawl boards constructed
in accordance with this invention. The boards A may be constructed in the
main as usual, but each is provided at the back with brackets 13 in which are
pivotted the pivot pins C¹ of castor wheels C. The wheels are so disposed near
the bottom of the board A that the latter will be raised sufficiently far off the
ground to prevent scraping, the wheels facilitating the passage of the board as
the net is towed along. The brackets B and castors C may be disposed in various
ways on the board in order to suit requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. The combination with a trawl board of one or more carrying wheels for the
purpose described.
2. The combination with a trawl board of one or more castor wheels for the
purpose described.
3. The combination with a trawl board of one or more castors C carried by
brackets at the outside of the board whereby the lower edge of the latter may be
brought into proximity with the ground without interfering with the operation
of the castors.
4. The combination with a trawl net of a wheel supported trawl board.
5. The complete trawl board substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 11th day of August 1899