An Improved Engine for Propelling Boats by Hand or Foot Power.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Engine for Propelling Boats by Hand or Foot
Power.
I HENRY GEORGE DALLIMORE of 316 Camberwell New Road in the County
of London Solicitor and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a mechanical contrivance for propelling boats without
steam or electricity, by means of a train of wheels and pinions, connected with
each other and with an ordinary screw or propeller shaft, the principle of the fly
wheel, when necessary, being combined with, or contained in the engine, motion
being communicated to the propeller shaft in several ways, and the whole
contrivance driven, or set in motion by the feet, or by hand, in the manner
hereinafter mentioned.
This invention can be applied to boats as the only mode of propulsion, or as
auxiliary to sails or oars. It may be fitted to any part of the boat, and in any
position, either vertical, angular, or horizontal.
The train of wheels may consist of two or more wheels and pinions, according to
the size of the boat.
The following is a description of the engine as constructed of two wheels and
pinions only, and to stand upright in the boat.
At the forward end of the propeller-shaft, as it lies along the bottom of the boat,
I place a small wheel, or pinion, and fix it firmly to the shaft. This I call the
propeller-pinion. Over the same end of the shaft I set up two (or, if necessary,
more) pedestals of suitable shape, at a suitable distance from each other, one
forward, and the other aft of, or behind, the propeller pinion. On the top of these
pedestals place a shaft in the manner adopted by mechanics for affixing, or
setting, revolving shafts in their bearings. This shaft.I call the driving-shaft.
Upon this driving shaft I place a wheel of suitable size and weight, which I call
the driving wheel. It is to be fixed firmly to the driving shaft, so that it may
revolve as the driving shaft is revolved.
At a lower level I fix another shaft, set in suitable bearings, carrying another
wheel, which I call the sub-driving wheel, having a pinion fixed to it, and revolving
on the same shaft.
The driving wheel is connected with the pinion fixed to the sub-driving wheel,
and the sub-driving wheel is connected with the propeller shaft, by one of the
methods hereinafter mentioned.
Motion is communicated to the engine by hand by means of a crank-handle, or
winch, placed on one end of the driving shaft; or by foot by means of treddles
fitted to cranks on the driving shaft. As the operator causes the driving wheel to
revolve by either of the means last mentioned, motion is communicated to the sub-
driving wheel, and thence to the propeller-shaft, and as the propeller-shaft revolves,
it causes the propeller to revolve also, in the same way as ordinary propellers (or
screws) are made to revolve in screw steamers when driven by steam.
The several methods of communicating motion from the engine to the propeller
shaft are the following:
First. By means of cogs raised on the driving and sub-driving wheels, and leaves
on the pinions. In this case the cogs of the driving wheel engage the leaves of the
pinion on the sub-driving wheel, and the cogs of the sub-driving wheel engage the
leaves of the propeller-pinion. When the driving-wheel is moved, a revolving
motion is communicated, by means of the cegs, to the sub-driving wheel, thence to
the propeller-pinion, and thence to the propeller.

page_text: Second. By means of plain wheels and pinions and endless bands; or by grooved
wheels and pinions and endless ropes. One band, or rope, is placed over the driving
wheel and round the pinion on the sub-driving wheel, and another band, or rope, is
placed over the sub-driving wheel and round the propeller-pinion.
As the driving wheel is moved it communicates, by means of the bands, or ropes,
a revolving motion to each other part of the engine and propeller, in the same
manner, as in the first method.
Third. A small beam may be set up over the propeller shaft, one arm being
connected with the sub-driving wheel, and the other arm being connected with the
propeller shaft by a rod fixed to a crank (in the place and stead of the propeller-
pinion) on the propeller shaft.
Fourth. By a sliding bar connected by a rod at one end with the sub-driving
wheel, and by another rod at the other end of the sliding bar, with the last
mentioned crank on the propeller-shaft.
In each of these third and fourth modes, the beam, or sliding bar is actuated by
the sub-driving wheel, each revolution of which wheel produces one revolution of
the propeller.
For the purpose of reversing the revolution of the propeller (so as to drive the
boat astern, or backward, or to accelerate its stopping) without stopping. the
engine, I adopt plain wheels and bands, with additional wheels running free, and
additional bands over the same-one of such bands being crossed below. These
additional bands, or one of them, are or is to be shifted on to the driving-wheels,
and the band hitherto engaged as the driving band is to be run off the driving
wheel by means of a sliding bar and pins, or guides, thereto attached, and actuated
by a knob, or handle, of suitable shape at one end of it, or by a lever fixed to the
floor of the boat. When the sliding bar is pulled back, and the bands shifted, the
additional band which has been crossed will become the driving band, and at once
reverses the motion of the sub-driving wheel, and with it the motion of the propeller
shaft and propeller, and so accelerate the stopping of the boat, or drive it astern as
may be wanted.
To render the movement of the engine easy and to prevent fatigue to the
operator, the principle of the fly wheel may be adopted in large boats by making
one of the wheels with a thick and heavy rim. The weight of such a wheel will
produce and maintain momentum.
To increase the velocity of the propeller the
than the wheels.
pinions should be made smaller
The propeller should be moveable, so that it may be taken off its shaft when
not required for propulsion.
The engine may be constructed of a train of two or more wheels and pinions for
large boats, while for small boats the sub-driving wheel before described, may be
dispensed with, and the motion communicated directly from the driving wheel to
the propeller shaft by one of the methods before mentioned.
The weight and size of the wheels, and also the width, thickness, and strength
of the endless bands, or ropes, where such are used, will depend upon the size and
strength of the boat."
Although this engine may be actuated and driven without steam or electricity,
and is so intended, yet steam or electricity may be utilized for communicating
motion by removing the treddles before mentioned and connecting the cranks in
the driving shaft, or one of them, with a small steam or electrical engine.
Dated this Seventeenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
ninot then

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Engine for Propelling Boats by Hand or Foot Power.
I, HENRY GEORGE DALLIMORE of 316 Camberwell New Road.London S.E.
Solicitor and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of a mechanical contrivance or engine for propelling
boats, without steam or electricity, by means of a train of wheels and pinions
connected with each other and with an ordinary screw propeller shaft, the
principle of the fly wheel, when necessary, being combined with, or contained, in
the engine, motion being communicated to the propeller shaft in several ways, and
the whole. contrivance driven, or set in motion, by the feet or by hand, in the
manner hereinafter mentioned.
This invention can be applied to boats as the only mode of propulsion, or as
auxiliary to sails or oars. It may be fitted to any part of the boat, and in any
position, either vertical, angular, or horizontal.
The train of wheels may consist of two or more wheels and pinions, according
to the size of the boat.
The following is a description of the engine as constructed of two wheels and
pinions only, and to stand upright in the boat, and is shewn by Figures 1 and 2—
Figure 1 being a side view, and Figure 2 being the front or back view.
At the forward end of the propeller shaft, a. Figure 2, as it lies along the bottom
of the boat, I place a small wheel, or pinion, b. Figures 1 and 2, and fix it firmly
to the shaft. This I call the propeller-pinion. Over the same end of the shaft
I set up two (or, if necessary, more) pedestals, c Figures 1 and 2, of suitable
shape, at a suitable distance from each other, one forward, and the other aft of, or
behind, the propeller-pinion. On the top of these pedestals I place a shaft, d.
Figures 1 and 2, in the manner adopted by mechanics for affixing, or setting,
revolving shafts in their bearings. This shaft I call the driving-shaft. Upon
this driving-shaft I place a wheel, e. Figures 1 and 2, of suitable size and weight,
which I call the driving-wheel. It is to be firmly fixed, or keyed, to the driving-
shaft, so that it may revolve as the driving-shaft is revolved. At a lower level
I fix another shaft, f. Figures 1 and 2, set in suitable bearings, carrying another
wheel, g. Figures 1 and 2, which I call the sub driving-wheel, having a pinion, h.
Figures 1 and 2, fixed on to it, and revolving on the same shaft. The driving
wheel in connected with the pinion fixed to the sub-driving wheel, and the sub
driving wheel is connected with the pinion on the propeller shaft.
Motion is communicated to the engine by means of a crank handle, or winch, i
Figure 2, placed on one end of the driving-shaft, or by foot by means of treddles
fitted to cranks on the driving-shaft j. j. Figure 2.
As the operator causes the driving-wheel to revolve by either of the means last
mentioned, motion is communicated to the sub-driving wheel, and thence to the
propeller shaft, and as the propeller-shaft revolves, causes the propeller to revolve
also, in the same way as ordinary propellers (or screws) are made to revolve in
screw steamers when driven by steam.
In addition to the vertical position hereinbefore described, as shewn by Figures 1
and 2, the engine may be constructed in an angular position, the centres of the
driving-wheel, sub-driving wheel and propeller-pinion being placed in a line at an
angle of 45 degrees (more or less) from the keel. This arrangement does not,
require any detailed description or drawing.
The engine may be placed in a horizontal position along the keel and below the
floor of the boat. This is illustrated by Figure 3, where the reference letters
indicate the same parts as in Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: In the engine as constructed according to Figure 3, the driving shaft, d, is fitted
into bearings on the keel and in the floor, and the crank handle, or winch, i.
Figure 2, is placed immediately over the floor as at i. Figure 3; or the driving
shaft d. may be continued upwards to the seat (or thwart) above, as shewn at ¹
Figure 3, and the crank handle, or winch, placed in position on the seat as shewn
at Figure 3.
This form of the engine is suitable for ships boats, as it leaves the floor of the
boat clear and free from obstruction. And the placing of the crank handle, or
winch, on the floor enables the operator to lie down out of sight if necessary.
The engine may also be constructed for suspension at the stern of the boat, either
within a moveable frame, or box, as shewn by Figures 4. 5 and 6, or within an
aperture, or space, provided for it in the counter.
This form of the engine is for use alternately with oars, or sails, as when oars
and sails are of little or no avail by reason of the wind, or tide, or both being
adverse.
.
Figure 4 is a front view and Figure 5 is a side, or edge view, illustrating the
engine as enclosed in a frame, or box, and applied to a boat of which the stern is
large enough to permit of the engine being placed below the top edge thereof.
The frame, or box, may be fitted with hooks to run into the rudder rings, or
eyes, common to small boats, to keep the frame, or box, containing the engine, in
position, the weight of the whole being borne by hooks, or other contrivances,
placed over the top of the stern, or into suitable bearers, the rudder being carried
by rings or eyes outside the frame or box.
In this form of my invention the engine is fitted between, or carried by, two
vertical bars of iron which are made to slide between guides fitted to the frame,
or box, or affixed permanently to the frame or box. The driving-shaft is made
with a square head to which a crank handle, or winch is fitted, carried hori-
zontally through an aperture cut in the stern of the boat, as in Figures 4 and 5, or
it may be carried over the stern, as in Figure 6, so that the operator may work the
engine while seated in the stern. When the engine is not required it is lifted up
through the guides and taken into the boat, or placed across suitable bearers in the
frame, or box, and there made fast; or the frame, or box, together with the engine
may be lifted off its supports and taken into the boat.
Reference letters are not used in Figures 4, 5, and 6, except the letters W L.
which indicate the water line, as the several parts of the engine are so obviously
distinct and plain, that a more detailed description of this form of my invention is
unnecessary. And in Figures 4 and 6 the wheels and pinions are indicated by
plain circles.
The several methods of communicating motion from the engine to the propeller-
shaft are the following
:-
First. By means of cogs raised on the driving and sub driving wheels, and leaves
on the pinions. In this case the cogs of the driving-wheel engage the leaves of the
pinion on the sub-driving wheel, and the cogs of the sub driving wheel engage the
leaves of the propeller-pinion. When the driving wheel is made to revolve, motion
is communicated by means of the cogs to the sub driving wheel, thence to the
propeller pinion, and thence to the propeller.
Second. By means of plain wheels and pinions and endless bands; or, by grooved
wheels and pinions and endless ropes; or, by endless chains so constructed as to fit
on to or around suitable studs, or projections, raised on the wheels and pinions
(instead of cogs and leaves) in the same manner as chains are used for propelling
bicycles and tricycles. One band, or rope, or chain, is placed over the driving
wheel and round the pinion on the sub driving wheel, and another band, or rope,
or chain, is placed over the sub-driving wheel and round the propeller pinion. As
the driving wheel is moved it communicates by means of the bands, or ropes, or
chains, a revolving motion to each other part of the engine and propeller in the
same manner as in the first method.
Motion may also be communicated between the parts of the machine by means of

page_text: a small beam, or a vertical sliding bar, as described in my Provisional Specifica-
tion. But these two last mentioned methods are not necessary to my invention and
I do not therefore describe them in this Specification.
The mode of reversing the revolution of the propeller, described in my
Provisional Specification, may be used, if thought desirable, but as it is not
necessary to my invention I do not describe it in this Specification.
To render the movement of the engine easy, and to prevent fatigue to the
operator, the principle of the fly wheel may be adopted in large boats by making
one of the wheels with a thick and heavy rim. The weight of such wheel will
produce and maintain momentum.
To increase the velocity of the propeller the pinions should be smaller than the
wheels, the relative proportions of pinions to wheels being made to depend upon the
velocity with which it is desired that the propeller shall revolve.
The engine may, as before mentioned, be constructed of a train of two or more
wheels and pinions, which may he arranged in other ways besides those shewa in
the drawings hereto annexed, while for small boats, the subdriving-wheel, before
described, may be dispensed with and the motion communicated directly from the
driving-wheel to the propeller shaft, by one of the methods before mentioned.
The size and weight of the wheels, and also the width and strength of the endless
bands, or ropes, or chains, where such are used, will depend on the size and strength
of the boat.
Although this engine may be actuated and driven without steam or electricity,
and is so intended, yet steam or electricity may be utilized for communicating
motion by removing the treddles before mentioned, and connecting the cranks or
one of them with a small steam or electrical engine.
Having now 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 (save
and except the small beam, the vertical sliding bar, and the method of reversing
the engine hereinbefore respectively mentioned, which I do not claim) is
1. The mechanical contrivance, or engine, for propelling boats, constructed of a
train of wheels and pinions, as applied to and connected with an ordinary screw-
propeller shaft by means of cogs and leaves, or endless bands, or ropes, or chains,
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the drawings hereunto annexed.
B
11
1000
GUS AIRI URV UI TODA
BLEU DHIS GIRL URLY UI ORA
H. G. DALLIMORE.
Witness:
H. DICKENS DALLIMORE,
Articled Clerk to H. G. Dallimore.