Improvements in or relating to Trawl Gear.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Trawl Gear.
We, THE BOSTON DEEP SEA FISHING AND ICE COMPANY, LIMITED, and JAMES
BLOOMFIELD, Engineer,, both of Boston, in the County of Lincoln, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
and
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in trawl gear
consists in providing a new or improved trawl board and a new or improved
method of connecting the steel towing warp to our improved trawl board, which
method is equally applicable to the ordinary trawl boards at present in use.
According to our invention, we form our improved trawl board in the shape
of a disc with (or without) flanged rim. As with the ordinary trawl boards,
two of such discs are used, one at each side, the boards being thrust apart by
the resistance of the water when towing. Each disc is mounted on an axle fixed
to a triangular, quadrangular, or other suitably shaped frame to which the
head and foot ropes are connected, the said disc being free to revolve on such
axle and the latter being of such dimensions as found necessary to prevent any
excess of lateral or transverse movement. A small wheel or roller is mounted
on the lower part of each frame to assist the gear over the ground and to prevent
the frame digging or burying itself.
Our improved towing warp connection is of such a character that the point
of towing, and consequent angularity of the trawl board, may be readily
adjusted. The steel towing warp from the vessel is fixed to a block formed with
its upper and lower edges serrated or toothed. This block is arranged to fit
between a double rack in such a manner that their respective teeth or serrations
mesh, a bolt and nut being used to secure the block in position after adjust-
ment. The double rack is fixed to the frame of our improved trawl board or
to the trawl board direct in the case of those at present in use.
Dated 18th October 1898.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
We, THE BOSTON DEEP SEA FISHING AND ICE COMPANY, LIMITED, and JAMES
BLOOMFIELD, Engineer, both of Boston, in the County of Lincoln, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The obiect of our invention is to effect improvements in trawl gear, and it

page_text: consists in providing a new or improved trawl board, and a new or improved
method of connecting the steel towing. warp to our improved traw! board, which
method is equally applicable to the ordinary trawl boards at present in use.
According to our invention, we form our improved trawl board in the shape
of a disc, with or without a flanged rim. As with the ordinary trawl boards
two of such discs are used, one at each side, the boards being thrust apart by
the resistance of the water when towing. Each disc is mounted on an axle fixed
to a triangular, quadrangular, or otherwise suitably shaped frame, to which the
head and foot ropes are connected, the disc being free to revolve to prevent any
excess of lateral or transverse movement. A small wheel or roller is mounted
on the lower part of each frame to assist the gear over the ground and to prevent
the frame digging or burying itself..
"
Our improved towing warp connection is of such a character that the point
of towing, and, consequently, the angularity of the trawl board, may be readily
adjusted. The steel towing warp from the vessel is fixed to a block formed with
its upper and lower edges serrated or toothed. This block is arranged to fit
between a double rack in such a manner that their respective teeth or serrations
mesh, a bolt and nut being used to secure the block in position after adjust-
ment.
The double rack is fixed to the frame of our improved trawl board, or directly
to the trawl board, in the case of those at present in use.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one of our improved trawl boards.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a modification of our invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is a cast steel annular disc frame, formed in
halves and bolted together as shewn at a, b is a cast steel boss formed with an
annular groove. b. in which groove the disc frame a revolves freely. c is a
serrated or toothed rack to which an adjustable block - is fitted in any suitablé
position for the attachment of the steel towing warp. The rack e may be bolted
to the boss or cast in one therewith. e f g is a steel frame bolted to the
boss b, the lower end being fitted with a wheel h, and the upper end provided with
an eye for attachment thereto of the trawl net, in the usual manner. m m arè
boards fixed to the revolving frame a. By adjusting the position of the block a
in the toothed rack c the trawl board is- towed at the required angle of incidence,
the annular disc frame a and the wheel h revolving by contact with the ground.
Referring to Fig. 3, a is a rectangular cast steel frame to which the boards m m
are fitted, is an eye for attachment thereto of the head line of the trawl net.
h is a wheel attached to the lower part of the frame. n are eye bolts for attach-
ment to the usual towing chain loop o. The disc r revolves freely upon the
axis. s.
'
*
Although we prefer to use steel in the construction of our improved trawl
boards, we do not confine ourselves thereto, as other materials may be used in
their construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In the construction of trawl boards, the combination of a revolving annular
disc frame fitted with boards m, a central boss b fitted with a double toothed rack c
for receiving an adjustable block d; a frame e f g and wheel h, substantially
as and for tlie purposes described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
2. In trawl boards of ordinary construction, the combination therewith of a
double toothed rack. c and an adjustable block d for connecting the towing

page_text: warp and adjusting the angle of incidence of the trawl board substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a trawl board of a disc adapted to support the trawl
board and prevent it "ploughing," substantially as described.
Dated 12th July 1899.
THE BOSTON DEEP SEA FISHING & ICE CO., LTD.
JAMES BLOOMFIELD.
By George Downing & Sons,
Chartered Patent Agents, 8, Quality Court, London, W.C.