Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
I, RICHARD WATSON LEWIS, of Myrtle House, Walker Road, Torry, Aberdeen, in
the County of Kincardine, Scotland, Boatbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in otter-boards for trawling, the objects
being to provide means for attaching the tow rope to the otter-board in such a manner
that the centre of tractive effort may be adjusted to suit different depths of water,
and to arrange the coupling rod or lever so that it keeps the otter-board from falling
down.
In carrying out my invention I fix on the back of each otter-board a bracket in
which there are two or more holes, the axes of such holes being vertical and parallel
to the face of the board. For the bracket two angle irons may be used, the vertical
holes being in the free flanges. A coupling rod or lever, which passes through the
otter-board, engages with such bracket. It is so arranged that it is free to partially
rotate about the axis of the pin which attaches it to the bracket, unless otherwise
constrained, that is to say the coupling rod can vibrate to some extent in a plane
normal to the axis of the aforesaid bracket pin but it bears against the upper and
lower faces of the slot in the otter-board. At the front face of the otter-board means
is provided for limiting the amount of play which may be given to the coupling rod
or lever, that is to say an adjustable vertical pin may be placed across the slot in the
When such pin is used
board against which one side of the coupling rod may bear.
the coupling rod is supported on three sides and is only free to vibrate to some extent
at the fourth. When the otter-board is in operation at the bottom of the sea the
coupling rod will not vibrate.
I, RICHARD WATSON LEWIS, of Myrtle House, Walker Road, Torry, by Aberdeen,
in the County of Kincardine, Scotland, Boatbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of
071

page_text: this invention 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 improvements in otter-boards for trawling, the objects
being to provide means for attaching the tow rope to the otter-board in such a
manner that the centre of tractive effort may be adjusted to suit different depths of
water, and to arrange the coupling rod or lever so that it keeps the otter-board from
falling down.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference numerals are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown, that is to
say :-
Figure 1, (Sheet 1) shows the face of an otter board constructed and fitted with my
improvements.
Figure 2, (Sheet 1) is a section at B, B, (Figure 1) and Figure 3, (Sheet 1) is a
section at A, A, (Figure 1) of same.
Figure 4, (Sheet 2) is a plan showing the trawl net and otter-boards in position.
Figure 5, (Sheet 2) is a front elevation and Figure 6, (Sheet 2) is a side elevation
of same.
In carrying out my invention, I fix on the back of each otter-board 10, a bracket 11,
in which there are two or more holes 12,-in the drawings I have shown three holes
-the axes of such holes being vertical and parallel to the face of the board. For
the brackets two angle or T irons may be used, the vertical holes being in the free
Hanges, but I prefer to use the casting and have therefore shown such in the
drawings. A coupling rod or lever 13, which passes through the otter-board engages
with such bracket 11. It is so arranged that it is free to partially rotate about the
axis of the pin 14, which attaches it to the bracket, unless otherwise constrained,
that is to say the coupling rod can vibrate to some extent in a plane normal to the
axis of the aforesaid bracket pin 14, but it bears against the upper and the lower
faces of the slot 15, in the otter-board. At the front face of the otter-board means
is provided for limiting the amount of play which may be given to the coupling rod
or lever 13, that is to say an adjustable vertical pin 16, may be placed across the
slot in the board against which one side of the coupling rod may bear. When such
pin is used the coupling rod 13, is supported on three sides and is only free to
vibrate to some extent at the fourth. When the otter-board is in operation at the
bottom of the sea-as shown by Figures 4, 5, and 6,--the coupling rod will not
vibrate because the tow ropes 17, pull the trawl net 18, along and the tendency is
therefore to keep the coupling rod against the pin 16. The particular position in
which the coupling rod and its bearing pin 16, is placed depends upon the depth
of the water, and the objects to be kept in view are the keeping of the otter-boards
as wide apart as possible and the head rope 19, taut, and the bottom of the trawl net
as close to the bed of the ocean as possible. The action of the coupling rod in keeping
the otter-board from falling down is shown in Figure 3. The pull on the tow
rope 17, is inclined upwards-as shown by the arrow-and as the coupling rod 13,
bears against the upper side of the slot in the bracket 11, it counteracts the tendency
of the otter-board to fall forward, due to the resistance of the ground as it is dragged
along.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am aware of the specification of G. R. Purdy, No. 3732 of 1897, and that I
lay no claim to anything described and claimed therein, but I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) In otter-boards for trawling, the use of an adjustable coupling rod, substantially
as decoribed and for the burners eat fanth

page_text: (2) In otter-boards for trawling, the combination of an adjustable coupling rod with
a bracket, coupling pin, and bearing pin, substantially as described and illustrated on
the annexed drawings.
(3) In otter-boards for trawling, the combination of an adjustable bearing pin with
an adjustable coupling rod as described.
(4) In otter-boards for trawling, the attaching of the coupling rods by means of pins
at the back of such boards, as described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1899.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.