Improvements relating to the Propulsion and Steering of Boats.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Propulsion and Steering of Boats.
We, ANDREAS MARX, Stockmaster, and WILHELM DODSCHWEIT, of no occupa-
tion, both of Wallstrasse 264, Furstenberg in Mecklenburg, in the Empire of
Germany, 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:
The object of the present invention is a boat whose screw propeller is put into
rotation by the pedaling of a person seated on a saddle and which is provided
with an arrangement enabling such person to steer the boat from the saddle as
desired.
The annexed drawing shows an example of such boat and mechanism. Fig. 1
is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 a plan. Fig. 3 represents the driving gear
on the screw shaft in plan view. Fig. 4 shows the saddle, steering in upper view
in considerably enlarged scale.
In a boat A is journalled in a suitable manner a crank axle B which can be
put into rotation by a person seated on the saddle C. On the shaft is a chain
wheel D which by means of a chain E rotates a second smaller chain wheel F
on a second axle G. From there the movement is transmitted with a further
augmentation of ratio of gearing by means of a chain wheel H and a chain I
and the smaller chain wheel J to an axle K which carries the grooved wheel L.
On the axle N carrying the screw propeller is also a grooved wheel O. Parallel
to L and to respectively are two more grooved wheels L' O. Round them a
chain is carried by means of which the rotation of the axle K is transmitted to
the shaft N. In order to adjust the chain the wheel O₁ is suitably provided with
adjustable bearings.
On the shafts B and G fly wheels M M are preferably mounted by means of
which shock and irregularity in movement are compensated.
Before the saddle a vertical shaft 1 is arranged carrying on the top a
steering wheel 2 and connected to the tiller 4 by means of two cords 3 of steel
wire which are wound on and off on a drum at the lower end of the shaft. Un
the axle 1 is fixed a toothed wheel 5 gearing into a train of toothed wheels 6, 7,
8, 9, 10 carrying the rotation of wheel with diminishing gear to a toothed
wheel 10 which is concentric with the movable support II of saddle C. So
a turning of the steering wheel 2 is followed by a smaller turn of the saddle C
and vice versa, if the saddle C is turned a little, the steering shaft 1 turns
considerably.
Either the steering wheel or the saddle can be disengaged so as to be set freo
from the gear so that they are not obliged to follow the movement.
By this arrangement if the saddle is coupled with the gear the boat can bo
simply steered by displacing the center of gravity towards the side towards which
one wants to turn thus giving a suitable displacement to the saddle and thereby
also to the rudder without using the hands.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A driving device for the propeller of a boat put into operation by pedal
action consisting of a chain wheel on a crank shaft which puts into rotation a
second axle by means of a chain and a second smaller chain wheel and which
with further augmentation of gearing ratio transfers its movement by means
of chain wheels and chains to a third axle which by means of 4 wheels round
which a chain is wound puts the axle of the propeller into rotation.
2. A device for steering for pedal motor boats by means of a saddle the saddle
being arranged on a movable spindle which is adapted to be put into connection
by gearing with the tiller so that the latter when the saddle is turned is also
turned the saddle support being coupled with the gearing.
Datod this 31st day of Mo, 1900
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London,