A Form of Propeller for River Boats and Light Craft.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
A Form of Propeller for River Boats and Light Craft.
I, ALFRED RÉNÉ UPWARD, of 19, Old Queen Street, Westminster, London,
S.W., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This device is primarily intended to supersede the ordinary punt or boat pole,
which as is well known can only be used in comparatively shallow water, and is
further to some extent dependent on a suitable river bed of more or less even
depth.
-
This propeller consists essentially of a device so formed as to offer the greatest
possible resistance to being thrust through the water in one direction, and the
least resistance to being drawn through the water in the opposite direction,
this device as a whole being mounted at one end of a pole or shaft. The pole or
shaft may be mounted on a sliding bearing, the bearing itself being swung on
a swivel. The propeller may be of curved form, or so shaped as to augment its
hold of the water on the thrust or propelling stroke, and at the same time reduce
its resistance to the water on the return or idle stroke. I now proceed to describe
a convenient design of propeller constructed in accordance with this invention,
without of course limiting the invention to the form of the particular con-
struction described.
The propeller may be conveniently constructed of ribs or blades hinged or
pivotted radially, and placed at equal distances apart (somewhat similarly to an
umbrella frame) these ribs being covered with any flexible material such as leather
(or an elastic membrane may be substituted) the whole acting very much as the web
foot of a water fowl, which so forms itself as to alternately offer the greatest
resistance to the water on the thrust or propelling stroke, and the least resis-
tance on the drawing back or idle stroke. The pole, at one end of which the
propeller is attached, may pass centrally through or over the stern of the boat or
punt, the pole being mounted on a sliding guide, the guide itself being swung
on a simple form of swivel, this arrangement providing both for steering, and
also allowing for the angular motion or swing of the pole when in use. The
handle end of the pole may be provided with an adjustable grip or hand rest,
and may also be made telescopic so as to be readily adjustable in length to suit
the operator.
It is clear that the alternate expansion and contraction or change of form of
the propeller at each stroke may be simply effected by the resistance of the
water alone, or it may be augmented by arranging for the thrust on the pole to
actuate the ribs jointly with the resistance of the water, the slight advantage
gained by this would merely amount to increasing the rapidity with which the
propeller changed its form at the commencement of each stroke.
This form of propeller, may if required be advantageously combined with a
modified form of engine, as owing to the direct backward and forward stroke,
the rod of the propeller may be coupled direct to the piston rod of a simple
piston and cylinder, and it will readily be seen that the whole of that part of a

page_text: steam engine necessary to convert the oscillating motion of the piston rod into
circular motion could be omitted.
Dated this 24th dox of Sanamhan 1800
A Form of Propeller for River Boats and Light Craft.
I, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD, of 19, Old Queen Street, Westminster, London,
S.W., Engineer, 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 device is primarily intended to supersede the ordinary punt or boat pole,
which as is well known can only be used in comparatively shallow water, and is
further to some extent dependent on à suitable river bed of more or less even.
depth.
*4*4.
This propeller consists essentially of a device so formed as to offer the greatest
possible resistance to being thrust through the water in one direction, and the
least resistance to being, drawn through the water in the opposite direction,
this device as a whole being mounted at one end of a pole or shaft. The pole or
shaft may be mounted on a sliding bearing, the bearing itself being swung on
a swivel. The propeller may be of curved form or so shaped as to augment its
hold of the water on the thrust or propelling stroke, and at the same time reduce
its resistance to the water on the return or idle stroke. Curved blades or paddles
or radial strips or plates may be swung or hinged on a boss or holder so as to
offer the greatest resistance on the thrust or driving stroke.
I now proceed to describe in detail preferable design of propeller constructed
in accordance with this invention, the invention including but not being limited
to such special design:The propeller may be conveniently constructed of ribs
say nine inches in length and of tapered form, these ribs (five is a convenient
number) are hinged or set in "knuckle joints" on a boss or holder and are
arranged radially like the ribs of an umbrella frame; the fitting of the ribs in
the knuckle joints" should be free, so that they will readily open and close
with the backward and forward motion of the propeller in the water. The ribs
and the spaces between them are covered with securely stitched canvas or sail
cloth. The knuckle joints are so adjusted that the ribs can neither open too
widely nor close completely.
"
The complete propeller may be mounted on a pole or shaft of suitable length
the weight of the pole being supported on a sliding guide which may consist
of a small roller set in bearings and mounted on a swivel, this combination of
parts not only allowing for the backward and forward thrust motion of the pole
when using the propeller but also providing for easy steering.
This sliding guide may be mounted on and securely fixed to the punt or boat
and may be so placed that the pole lies over the side or stern or passes through
a way cut in the stern above the water line.
The propeller as a whole is worked by a pole which is alternately thrust and
drawn with a backwards and forwards motion, this pole being attached by a
hinged joint to the rod S. The rod S passes through bearing blocks on a travel-
ling guide in which blocks the rod S turns, thus providing for steering, by allow-
ing the propeller to be set or thrust through the water at any angle which may
be given to the pole.
Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of the covered and jointed rib expanding and

page_text: contracting device already described, the former view shows the device opened
as at the thrust or propelling stroke, and the latter the same collapsed as on the
backward or idle stroke, R are the ribs preferably gun metal, over which the
canvas or other covering is placed, these ribs being arranged radially and set in
simple joints working on a pin as shown at r. It is convenient that these ribs
be provided with a stop or shoulder so as to allow them to open and close within
fixed limits only.
It
It will be observed that this expanding and contracting device Figs. 1 and 2
is intended to work entirely submerged or below the surface of the water.
is clear that the alternate opening and collapsing or change of form or position
of the propeller at each stroke may be simply effected by the resistance of the
water alone or it may be augmented by arranging that the thrust of the pole
assists in throwing the ribs open jointly with the resistance of the water the
slight advantage gained by this would merely amount to increasing the rapidity
with which the propeller changed its form or position at the commencement of
each stroke.
This form of propeller may if wished be advantageously combined with a
modified and very simple form of steam or vacuum engine, of few parts, as owing
to the direct backward and forward stroke, the rod of the propeller may be
coupled direct to the piston rod of a simple piston and cylinder and valve
arrangement, and it will readily be seen that the whole of that part of the steam
engine necessary to convert the oscillating motion of the piston rod into circular
motion could be omitted.
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 form of propeller mounted on a pole or shaft with a backwards and for-
wards thrust motion and sliding guide and so formed and constructed as to offer
the greatest resistance or re-action against the water on the thrust or driving
stroke and the least on the return stroke.
2. The particular form and details of construction and combination of parts
of propeller herein described and as set forth in the drawings hereto.
Dated this 24th dor of Tul. 1900.
A. RÉNÉ UPWARD.