IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND PROPELLING BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bridges Heathorn of Wilton Place, Knights-
bridge, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND PROPELLING BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November 1883.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND PROPELLING BOATS
AND OTHER VESSELS,"
This invention has for its object the construction of rudders, oars, or paddles
whereby both steering and propelling may be effected by the said apparatus
The invention consists in making the rudder in two principal parts, the upper
part of the rudder being fixed to the rudder post, and the lower part of the rudder
being attached by a movable joint to the rudder post and the upper fixed part of
the rudder, at any angle less than a right angle to the vertical of the rudder post,
so that the lower part of the rudder may sway from side to side independently of
the turning of the rudder. Attached to the lower part of the rudder there are
two vertical arms, one on each side of, and hinged to it. These arms are free to
move from side to side either with the lower part of the rudder or independently of
it. To the upper part of one arm there is fixed a short chain which passes over a
pulley above, and descending is fastened at the other end to the top of the other
arm. The pulley just mentioned is pivotted to a frame that slides up and down a
slot in the upper part of the rudder, and the frame is fixed to a rod, or screw,
works in a guide in the rudder post.. The rod has a cord or chain fastened to the
top of it, the other extremity of the cord or chain being passed between a pair of
sheaves in the rudder post, and out through a hole in the rudder post, so that upon
pulling this cord or chain tight and fastening it to a cleat fixed to the tiller, the
arms or levers may be drawn together so as to clip the upper part of the rudder
and hold the lower part to it almost as rigidly as if the rudder were made in one.
piece. If in lieu of the rod a screw is used, the same may pass through a nut in
the top of the rudder post, when on turning the nut the frame will be drawn up
Price 61
and

page_text: and the arms brought near together as previously described. The rudder post is
furnished with a yoke and a tiller, so that the boat may be steered by the use of
yoke lines, or by the tiller, at pleasure. When the cord or chain just mentioned is
drawn up tightly and fastened to the tiller, the rudder is fit only to steer with,
but on releasing the cord or chain the arms or levers become partially free and on
moving the tiller rapidly from side to side, both the upper and lower parts of the
rudder are caused to vibrate and produce a motion similar to that of a fish's tail,
or to the action of a single scull when used for sculling, thus affording a very
easy and effective means for propelling the vessel to which the apparatus is applied.
The oars, sculls, or paddles are constructed upon a similar principle, the blade
being made in two parts hinged together.-The upper part of the oar, scull or
paddle works in a bearing fixed to the side of the boat or vessel and is caused to
turn or partially turn with each vibration of a handle, which through the action
of a connecting arm produces a motion of the blade similar to that of the pectoral
fin of a fish, and so causes the boat or vessel to be propelled in the required
direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn in the Patent Office on the 15th May
1884.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the Count of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND PROPELLING BOATS
AND OTHER VESSELS,"
This Invention has for its object the construction of rudders or paddles whereby
both steering and propelling may be effected by the said apparatus.
"
The
Figure 1. is a side elevation of the rudder or apparatus and Figure 2 is an end
elevation of the same, and in each of the Figures, similar letters refer to the same
or equivalent parts. The invention consists in making the rudder in two principal
parts A and B, the upper part B of the rudder being fixed to the rudder post C,
and the lower part A of the rudder being attached by a movable joint D to the
rudder post and the upper fixed part E of the rudder, at any angle less than a
right angle to the vertical of the rudder post, so that the lower part A of the
rudder may sway from side to side independently of the turning of the rudder.
Attached to the lower part of the rudder there are two vertical arms E. E. one on
each side of and hinged to it at F. These arms are free to move from side to side
either with the lower part of the rudder, or independently of it. To the upper
part of one arm there is fixed a short chain G which passes over a pulley H above,
and descending, is fastened at the other end to the top of the other arm.
pulley just mentioned is pivotted to a frame I that slides up and down a slot J in
the upper part of the rudder, and the frame is fixed to a rod or screw and works
in a guide K in the rudder post C. The rod has a cord or chain fastened to the
top of it, the other extremity of the cord chain being passed between a pair of
sheaves in the rudder post, and out through a hole in the top of the rudder post,
so that upon pulling this cord or chain tight and fastening it to a cleat L fixed to
the tiller or yoke, the arms or levers may be drawn together so as to clip the
upper part of the rudder and hold the lower part to it almost as rigidly as if the
rudder were made in one piece. In each view M represents the stern post of the
boat or vessel. If in lieu of the cord a screw is used, the same may pass through
a nut in the top of the rudder post, when on turning the nut the frame will be
drawn up and the arms brought near together as previously described. The
rudder post is furnished with a yoke and a tiller so that the boat may be steered
by the use of yoke lines, or by the tiller at pleasure. When the cord or chain
just mentioned is drawn up tightly and fastened to the tiller, the rudder is fit only
to steer with, but on releasing the cord or chain the arms or levers E. E. become
partially free, and on moving the tiller rapidly from side to side, both the upper
and lower parts of the rudder are caused to vibrate and produce a motion similar
to that of a fish's tail, or to the action of a single scull when used for sculling, thus
affording a very easy and effective means for propelling the vessel to which the
apparatus is applied.
In Figures 3. 4. 5. 8. 9 and 10-modifications of the foregoing are shown, and
although their construction is identically the same in principle the arrangement of
the parts are varied.
The paddles are shown in Figures 6 and 7 and are constructed upon a similar
principle the blade being made in two parts A and B, hinged together at D D.
The upper part of the paddle works in a bearing N fixed to the side of the boat
or vessel and is caused to turn or partially turn with each vibration of a handle O,
which through the action of a connecting arm or through a segment of a bevel

page_text: wheel P which gears into a corresponding bevel wheel Q fixed to the upper part of
the paddle, a motion is produced similar to that of the pectoral fin of a fish, and so
causes the boat or vessel to be propelled in the requisite direction. T-is a grooved
pulley or wheel fixed to the top of the paddle, and to which is fastened a rope or
chain that passes round it and over the sheave U, the ends of the rope or chain
being left free. Upon hauling one or other of the ends of the rope or chain the
position of the paddle may be adjusted prior to its being put into rapid motion.
Figure 10 exhibits a method by which on slacking the chain R part of the lower
portion of the rudder may be turned up and "fished," so as to be out of the way
when the boat or vessel is sailing and the rudder used only for steering. In
figures 6. 8. and 9. S is a ring or short piece of chain passing through the fixed
and movable parts of the rudder, sufficient play being given to allow the lower
part of the rudder to vibrate independently of the motion imparted by the tiller
or yoke.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is-The
construction of rudders and paddles as herein described and shown on the
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twelvth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN (L.S.)