Improved Means and Apparatus for Propelling Boats and Barges.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Propelling Boats and Barges.
I, MARIUS CHENIVESSE of 53 Rue de Chemin de fer, Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Inventor 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 boats and barges of all kinds and its object is to furnish
an absolutely new system of propulsion, with the advantage of increased speed and
less expenditure of force, comparatively speaking, than any other system.
Another marked advantage of my system is that it can be introduced with very
little cost.
The accompanying drawings represent a boat furnished with my apparatus:
Fig. 1 represents the boat in longitudinal section showing the application of my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view.
Figs. 3 to 6 show certain details.
At the stern end of the boat, I fix a framework A carrying three bearings 1, 2, 3,
within which the axles 4, 5, 6, of the toothed-wheels B, C, D, revolve.
The toothed-wheel B is a spur wheel and is actuated by two ratchet wheels E,
keyed on the same axle 4, and which are themselves operated by a ratchet-lever 7
held by a spring 8, Fig. 4, and secured on a pivot 9 in the fork 10 of the lever 11
ending in a pedal or treadle 12. The ends of the branches of the fork 10 are made
of two pieces 13, united, by means of bolts, around the axle 4 of the two sides of
each of the ratchet wheels E.
The operator sits on a saddle 14 mounted on a screw-threaded post 15, turning in
a nut or female screw 16 forming the upper part of a light framework 17. The
screw-threaded post is furnished with a wheel 18 to regulate the height of the
saddle.
By pressing alternately on the pedals 12 of the levers 11 the ratchet-levers 7
engage alternately in the ratchet wheels E and thus act on the spur wheel B. The
latter engages the toothed-pinion C₁ keyed on the axle 5 as well as the spur
wheel C, which engages the toothed pinion D', keyed on the axle 6, as well as the
bevel wheel D which engages the bevel wheel F which is on same shaft as the
bevel wheel G, which engages alternately with the bevelled pinious H, H.
The latter are keyed on a hollow shaft J, furnished with a longitudinal wedge
engaging with a corresponding recess in the shaft K. of the propelling-screw L.
The hollow shaft J furnished with the pinions H, H serves to effect the
alternative engagement of the latter in order to propel the boat forward or
backward.
To accomplish this, it has two shoulders N, between which is secured a ring M
made of two pieces and turning round the said hollow shaft. The lateral
extensions m of the ring slide in guides n secured on each side of the hollow
shaft.
The ring is also fixed to the lever 19 jointed to the lever 21 which moves on
a pivot situated at the point 22 of the arc 23 furnished with notches to stop or fix
the lever 21.
The handle of the latter is within easy reach of the operator who, by a simple
backward or forward movement of the lever can bring the bevelled pinion H or H

page_text: into engagement and thus make the propelling-screw turn to the left or right,
according as it is desired to go forward or backward.
The operating levers 12, rest, near the point of their action, on a spring device
shown in Fig. 5, the object of which is to cause the lever to rise after being
lowered by the operator.
This device consists of an upright 24 forked in its upper part. Between the
branches 25 of the fork, a spring 26 is lodged, surmounted of a plate 27 sliding in
grooves 28 formed in the branches 25. This plate 27 supports the lever 11.
Within reach of the operator's hand there is also the tiller, connected with the
helm by means of two chains 29 passing over pulleys 30.
The number of operating levers 11 is optional, as well as the number of men who
may be employed to work the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A system for propelling boats and barges of all kinds distinguished by
a gearing, actuated by means of ratchet-wheels and ratchet-levers, a hollow shaft,
keyed on the screw-shaft and carrying two bevelled pinions engaging alternately,
by the action of a jointed lever, with a bevel wheel which is operated by the
above-named gearing to effect a backward or forward propulsion as herein described
and set forth.
2. In the propelling system, specified by Claim 1, the arrangement of spring-
supports for lifting the operating levers, as herein described and set forth.
3. In the propelling system, specified by Claim 1, the arrangement of a seat, the
height of which is regulated by means of a post, which is screw-threaded, and
a hand-wheel as herein described and set forth.
4. In the propelling system, specified by Claim 1, the steering device within
reach of the operator, and its connection with the helm by means of hinges and
pulleys, the whole as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1896.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.