AN IMPROVED ROWLOCK
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ROWLOCK." A. communication from abroad by Frederic Allen Gower, of the
City and County of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of
America.
Sealed the 30th June 1876, and dated the 1st February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED ROWLOCK."
This Invention is intended to increase the speed and improve the convenience of
racing boats with outriggers by providing them with rowlocks that prevent
"wabbling," "crabs," and other interruptions, which are supported in simple and
rigid manner on the outrigger rods, and the Invention consists of a rowlock of
novel shape that is mounted by ball-and-socket joint on the supporting shaft
which connects and binds directly the four rods of the outrigger in connection
with a screw nut.
According to this Invention the rowlock proper is mounted horizontally by a
ball-and-socket joint on a shaft or standard which is supported jointly by the four
rods of the outrigger. The rowlock is cast in one piece with the socket, and is
provided with a strengthening rib, and the lower part or base of the lock on
which the oar rests is larger than the upper part, a space being left between their
ends of such width 'that the oar may be introduced at the thinnest point near the
blade to fit, when pushed forward towards the thicker end, nearly the interior
width of the rowlock. The rowlock and socket is cast of bronze metal, malleable
iron, or other suitable material, and is applied to the ball of the shaft by a plug
that screws into a thread of the socket and completes the same. The ball is cast
solid, and is inserted into the socket before the plug is screwed on. A circular
hole is drilled through the socket and half way through the ball, and serves to
screw ball and socket together on the shaft by inserting a small tool into said hole.
The screwing home of the plug is effected by a stub cast upon it which is removed
after the plug is in position. The ball is made of the same material as the rowlock,
while the shaft may be made of steel to resist any strain to which it may be

page_text: exposed when rowing; the shaft also has a shoulder to increase its strength which.
is sunk into a recess of the upper rod of the outrigger. The hole of the socket
serves for oiling, it being preferably so arranged that when the boat is lying
bottom up in the boat house the oil-can may be used with advantage. The shaft
on which the rowlock is supported passes through eyes of the four rods of the
outrigger, and is firmly held by a bottom nut screwing on the threaded end of the
shaft and pressing the rods firmly against the round base and shoulder of the
shaft. The rowlock is hung so that its base or lower part is slightly below the
horizontal and the back thrown out of the perpendicular, being prevented however
from going too far by the striking of the base of the socket against the shaft.
The object of this deflection is to cause the blade of the oar to enter the water at
an angle, which experience shows to be the best position for it. On beginning the
stroke the handle of the oar is thrown aft to the oarsman's feet, causing the
rowlock to turn on the ball until it is stopped by a shoulder at the outside of the
oar. The blade is then dropped into the water at the angle formed by the base
and back of the rowlock, but as soon as it fairly takes hold of the water at that
angle it is no longer desirable to maintain that angle, but the oar is allowed to
return to a right angle. This change in the position of the oar is not provided for
in the common rowlock, but is accomplished by allowing the back of this rowlock
to come into perpendicular position. The stroke is then continued to its close, the
rowlock revolving with the play of the oar and keeping always at right angles
to it.
The distance from the base to the top part of the oar lock is a little greater than
the vertical diameter of the oar loom in order to admit the free vertical play of
the blade for "feathering high" in rough water.
"
"
The rowlock avoids the jamming of the oar in the lock which produces
'crabs," and even if a crab" should be caught it cannot strain the rowlock,
which forms a very objectionable feature of those commonly used.
The blade of the oar is allowed to fall back parallel to the boat, avoiding thereby
not only strain but enabling the oar to be recovered by the oarsman without
stopping the boat, a point of great value in a race.
The connection of the four outrigger rods at a single point renders it impossible
for any of them to be bent without applying a strain exceeding the whole resisting
force of the outrigger. The rods may therefore be inade lighter, saving weight
without loss of strength.
The unscrewing of the fastening nut of the outriggers allows the detaching and
folding together of the rods, which forms a great convenience in transportation, as
their shape is preserved. No wiring of the outrigger is required, and only one
screw nut in place of two, which simplifies the attaching of the rowlock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th July 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED ROWLOCK." A communication to me from abroad
by Frederic Allen Gower, of the City and County of Providence, State of Rhode
Island, United States of America.
"
This Invention is intended to increase the speed and improve the convenience
of racing boats with outriggers by providing them with rowlocks that prevent
wabbling," "crabs," and other interruptions, and are supported in simple and
rigid manner on the outrigger rods, and the Invention consists of a rowlock of
novel shape that is mounted by ball-and-socket joint on the supporting shaft which
connects and binds directly the four rods of the outrigging in connection with a
screw nut.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of
the improved rowlock; Figure 2 a horizontal section of the same on line c, c,
Figure 1; Figures 3 and 5 are detail side views of the shaft or standard; and
Figure 4 is a detail top view of the upper rod of the outrigger.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The
D represents the rowlock proper which is mounted horizontally by a ball-and-
socket joint on the shaft or standard A supported jointly by the four rods E of
the outrigger. The rowlock D is cast in one piece with the socket C, and provided
with a strengthening rib. The lower part or base of the lock on which the oar
rests is larger than the upper part, a space being left between the ends of such
width that the oar may be introduced at the thinnest point near the blade to fit,
when pushed forward towards the thicker end, nearly the interior width of the
rowlock. The rowlock and socket is cast of bronze metal, malleable iron, or other
suitable material, and is applied to the ball B of the shaft A by a plug C₁ that
screws into a thread of the socket and completes the same.
The ball is cast solid,
and is inserted into the socket before the plug is screwed on. A circular hole a is
drilled through the socket and half way through the ball, and serves to screw ball
and socket together on the shaft by inserting a sinall tool into the hole a.
screwing home of the plug C¹ is effected by a stud cast upon it, which is removed
after the plug is in position. The ball is made of the same material as the row-
lock, while the shaft may be made of steel to resist any strain to which it may be
exposed in rowing. The shaft has a shoulder b that increases its strength, and
which is sunk into a recess 61 of the upper rod E of the outrigger. The hole of
the socket serves for oiling, it being preferably so arranged that when the boat is
lying bottom up in the boat house the oil-can may be used with advantage. The
shaft A passes through eyes of the four rods E of the outrigger, and is firmly held
by a bottom nut & screwing on the threaded end of the shaft and pressing the rods
E firmly against the round base and shoulder of the shaft A. The rowlock is
hung so that its base or lower part is slightly below the horizontal and the back
thrown out of the perpendicular, being prevented however from going too far by
the striking of the base of the socket against the shaft. The object of this
deflection is to cause the blade of the oar to enter the water at an angle which
experience shows to be the best position for it. On beginning the stroke the
handle of the oar is thrown aft to the oarsman's feet, causing the rowlock to turn
on the ball until it is stopped by a shoulder at the outside of the oar. The blade
is then dropped into the water at the angle formed by the base and back of the
rowlock, but as soon as it fairly takes hold of the water at that angle it is no
longer desirable to maintain that angle, but the oar is allowed to return to a right
angle. This change in the position of the oar is not provided for in the common
rowlock, but it is accomplished by allowing the back of this rowlock to come in
perpendicular position. The stroke is then continued to its close, the rowlock
revolving with the play of the oar and keeping always at right angles to it.
The distance from the base to the top part of the oar lock is a little greater than
the vertical diameter of the oar "loom" in order to admit the free vertical play of
the blade for "feathering high" in rough water.
The rowlock avoids the jamining of the oar in the lock which produces "crabs,"
and even if a "crab" should be caught it cannot strain the rowlock, which forms a
very objectionable feature of those commonly used.
The blade of the oar is allowed to fall back parallel to the boat, avoiding thereby
not only strain, but enabling the oar to be recovered by the oarsman without
stopping the boat, a point of great value in a race.
The connection of the four outrigger rods at a single point renders it impossible
for any of them to be bent without applying a strain exceeding the whole resisting
force of the outrigger. The rods may therefore be made lighter, saving weight
without loss of strength.
The unscrewing of the fastening nut of the outriggers allows the detaching and
folding together of the rods, which forms a great convenience in transportation, as

page_text: their shape shape is preserved. No wiring of outrigger is necessary, and only one
screw nut in place of two being required, the attaching of the rowlock is simplified.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is.―
1st. A rowlock made of a ribbed base part, back and top, with space for
introducing oar and retaining the same, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
2nd. The combination of a rowlock by ball-and-socket joint with the supporting
standard or shaft, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The ball-and-socket joint having small holes for admitting oil and screwing
to shaft, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the rowlock carrying shaft, having strengthening base
or shoulder, with the outrigger rods and fastening bottom screw to secure the
entire rowlock at one single point, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A M CLARK
Ιταλ
AM CLARK
(IS)