An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Crafts by Manumotive Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Crafts by
Manumotive Power.
JOSEPH PAUL CLARKSON, The Close, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, in the
County of Durham, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
to be as follows:-
The propulsion of boats, skiffs canoes and the like by manumotive power in
which the rotary motion is applied to the propeller by the boatman. Such craft
are usually propelled by oars, paddles, sculls, and the like. The object of my
invention is to convey rotary motion to a screw propeller by means of a fly-wheel
mounted on a crank-shaft similar to that of a bicycle and driven by manumotive
power in much the same way by a person seated in a suitable position. From
this wheel motion is transmitted by means of a chain or belt to a wheel on a counter
shaft upon which is also fixed a bevel wheel.
This bevel wheel engages with a pinion on the propeller shaft and gives motion
to the propeller. The whole being geared in such a way as to produce the necessary
speed of the propeller.
Where it is desirable for more than one operator in the same craft each of them
will be provided with a separate fly wheel and crank shaft but all will be connected
by a chain or belt to the propeller shaft either direct or through the counter shaft
as the case may require.
Dated this Wifth day of March 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Propelling Crafts by
Manumotive Power.
I, JOSEPH PAUL CLARKSON, of The Close, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, in the
County of Durham, Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to the propulsion of boats, skiffs, canoes and the like.
small craft by manumotive power in which the rotary motion is applied to the pro-
peller by the boat man and is applicable to such crafts as are usually propelled
by oars, paddles, sculls and the like.

page_text: The screw propeller is operatively connected with foot pedals the action and
motion of which is similar to that required for riding a cycle except that a fly
wheel must be employed to carry the pedal cranks over the dead points. It is
obviously essential to the utility or success of such an apparatus the same as in
the case of a cycle that the loss of power through friction and transmission should
approach as nearly as possible to the irreducible minimum, regard being had to
stability of the boat so far as this is affected by the position of the moving parts
of the apparatus and the position of the operator.
The object of my invention is to design mechanism for this purpose in which
the above named conditions are complied with to an extent not hitherto attained.
The mechanism as constructed and employed for the purpose of my invention will
be understood from the following description taken with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which a boat is illustrated in outline but furnished with
propelling mechanism of the kind embodying my invention. This is shown in
longitudinal view in Fig. 1 and in plan in Fig. 2 when the mechanism is pro-
pelled by a single operator, but the mechanism may be extended and worked on
the tandem system by two or more operators as shown in plan in Fig. 3. In the
figs. a is the screw propeller to which rotary motion is conveyed by means of a fly
wheel 6 mounted on a crank shaft c which is similar to that of a bicycle and is
driven from a pedal crank d by manumotive power in much the same way by one
or more occupants of the boat seated in a suitable position over the pedal cranks
the seat e and seat pillar f being adjustable and representative of what is suitable
for the purpose. From the fly wheel motion is transmitted by means of chain
or belt g to a wheel g' on a counter shaft gå upon which is also fixed a bevel
wheel geared into a bevel wheel or pinion on the propeller shaft j thereby
imparting a rotary motion to the propeller. These parts are geared together
with a view of producing the requisite speed of the propeller with the least loss of
the power applied by the operator. The boat or skiff may be steered in the
ordinary way or if preferred the steering may be controlled from a handle bar k
which corresponds to the steering handle of a bicycle the tiller of the rudder being
connected thereto by the chains or cords suitably trained over pullies to their
respective points of connection with the arms or a wheel on the handle bar shaft.
In larger boats requiring two or more boatmen to work the propeller the tandem
arrangement is provided as shown in plan view in Fig. 3. Each operator is
provided with a separate fly wheel and pedal crank shaft but all are connected by
chain or belt to the propeller in the same way as when only a single operator is
provided for.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings it will be seen that I have provided very simple and compactly arranged
mechanism in which the several parts are so constructed and arranged as to be
easily operated without undue loss of power in transmission or by friction between
the operator, and the screw propeller and furthermore to ensure the stability and
steadiness of the boat, I provide a trough or chamber m sunk or let into the boat's
bottom in line with the keel or make the keel hollow for the accommodation of
the one or more fly wheels the object in view being that the mechanism employed
together with one or more operators mounted above do not occupy a level in-
compatible with the stability of the boat.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of carrying the
same into effect I wish it to be understood that I am aware that mechanism has
been devised for this purpose. I therefore make no claim to such method or
principle otherwise than as embodied in and carried into effect by my improve-
ments as above specified, and I declare that what I claim is:
In connection with a boat, skiff, canoe or the like, the particular arrangement
and combination of parts by which a screw propeller is operated from one or
more pedal crank shafts the intervening mechanisın consisting of a fly wheel
mounted on each of the said pedal crank shafts in aid of the rotary motion which

page_text: is transmitted therefrom by one or more chains or their equivalents to a counter
shaft and by means of bevel gearing to the propeller shaft substantially in the
manner and for the purpose as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of December 1897
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees and Hull,
Agent for the Applicant.