Improvements in or connected with Rowlocks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
Improvements in or connected with Rowlocks.
I, CHARLES PELHAM Junior, of 3, High Street, Littlehampton, in the County
of Sussex, Boat Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a novel construction of rowlocks whereby the same may
be readily unshipped from the gunwale when not required for use.
According to my invention the crutch of the rowlock is carried by a block
designed to slide in vertical guides in such a manner that, when the said block is at
the upper end of the guides, the rowlock will project above the gunwale whilst
when at the lower end of the said guides it will be beneath the gunwale.
In practice I find it advantageous to make the guides in the form of a box
having a flanged top which affords means for firmly securing the guide box in
position. The sliding block is locked in either its upper or lower position by
means of bolts which engage in openings or notches in the sides of the guide
box, the said bolts being preferably bevelled on their upper sides so that the
rowlock may be removed from its lower to its upper position without manipulating
the bolts.
The bottom of the guide box is left open so that when desired the sliding
block which carries the rowlock can be removed.
In practice the rowlocks swivel or rotate in the blocks.
By my invention the necessity of making holes in the gunwale is avoided.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Rowlocks.
I, CHARLES PELHAM Junior, of 18 and 19 (late of No. 3) High Street,
Littlehampton, in the County of Sussex, Boat Proprietor, 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:-
My invention relates to a novel construction of rowlocks whereby the same may
be readily unshipped from the gunwale when not required for use.
According to my invention the crutch of the rowlock is carried by a block
designed to slide in vertical guides in such a manner that, when the said block
is in its upper position in the guides, the rowlock will project above the gunwale
whilst when in its lower position it will be beneath the gunwale.
In practice I find it advantageous to make the guides in the form of a box
having a flanged top which affords means for firmly securing the guide-box in
position. The sliding block is locked in either its upper or lower position by
means of a bolt.
In practice the rowlocks swivel or rotate in the blocks.

page_text: By my invention the necessity of making holes in the gunwale is avoided.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a rowlock and its mounting constructed according
to my invention; and,
Figure 2 is a plan of the same :
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 1; and,
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Figure 1:
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shewing the crutch or rowlock proper
in its lower position :
Figure 6 is an elevation of the rowlock and the block by which it is carried
removed from the casing.
a is the box or casing for the rowlock, b indicating the back plate thereof,
c the flanged top, d, d the sides, and e the front plate. In practice the parts b, c
and d, d are made in a single casting whilst the part e is made separate and
secured to the sides d, d by means of screws f entering holes in enlargements 9,9
formed on the said sides d, d. Holes h, are formed in the flange of the top c and
in wings i, i of the back plate b for securing the box or casing a to the gunwale.
jis the block which slides in the box a and k is the crutch or rowlock proper
the shank of which is mounted in a bearing 1 in the said block. An opening is
formed in the top plate e in the top of the box or casing to allow the rowlock to
pass through it, and the top of the block is cut away at the corners as shewn
at m, m whereby, when the block is in its upper position, the upper surface shall be
flush with the surface of the top c as shewn in Figure 1, the said cut-away portions
being engaged by corresponding parts on the top e to limit the upward movement
of the block j.
n is the bolt or locking device for retaining the block; in its uppermost position.
As shewn in the drawings this locking device is in the form of a disc fixed to a
spindle o carried in a bearing p in the block j and having a lever or crank-arm 9 at
its lower end whereby the disc can be turned. The disc n is of a greater diameter
than the internal width of the box from front to back and has a part cut away
to form a flat edge portion r as shewn in Figure 4 so that the block can be raised
to bring the disc opposite to a slot s in the back plate b, the front plate e being cut
away or slotted to allow the disc to pass. When the flat edge portion of the
disc is opposite to the slot s, the disc is rotated by the lever-arm g whereby the
unmutilated part of the disc enters the said slots and retains the block; in its
upper position as clearly shewn in Figure 3.
In order to prevent the block from dropping out of the box when the block is
lowered, stops t, t may be formed at the lower ends of the sides d, d as shewn in
Figures 1, 3 and 5 to support the said block. In cases where it is desired to
remove the rowlocks when a boat is not in use these stops may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said:
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is :-
1. A rowlock mounted upon a block sliding in guides and provided with means
for locking the said block with the rowlock above the gunwale of a boat,
substantially as described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved rowlock hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
D
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.