IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROWLOCKS FOR SHIPS' AND OTHER BOATS AND IN OARS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Searle Hazeland of the parish of St. Sampson's
64
in the County of Cornwall, Experimental Machinist, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROWLOCKS FOR SHIPS' AND OTHER
BOATS AND IN OARS TO BE USED THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Scarle Hazeland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1882.
SAMUEL SEARLE HAZELAND of the parish of St. Sampsons in the County of
Cornwall, Experimental Machinist "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ROWLOCKS FOR SHIPS' AND OTHER BOATS AND IN OARS TO BE USED THEREWITH."
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of oars and rowlocks
as described by me in the Specification of my Patent dated 1st March 1881
N° 871.
I now proposé instead of locking the self feathering. blade in a vertical position
when backing water to so construct and mount the oar in its rowlocks as to allow of
the action of the self feathering blade upon the water being easily reversed when
required.
The invention also relates to a novel construction of blade and to means for
enabling the blade to be readily detached from the shaft of the oar and to be
replaced by another.
For the purpose of enabling the rower to use the oar either for pulling or backing
water I encircle it at that part which rests in the rowlock by two rings or collars
of metal each provided with an annular rib or flange, and I mount these ribbed
rings or collars of metal within another band, the ribs serving when their respective
rings are secured to the oar in their proper position, to prevent them from sliding in
or outboard, while allowing the oar to be turned axially.
The extent of such axial motion I limit by means of a pin or stud the end of
which projects through the outer band and works in the space between the two
rings, a stop piece serving to arrest its motion. The outer band is mounted in a
crutch rowlock by means of trunnions, or on stud pins which pass through the
Povine 1

page_text: horns of the rowlock and enter holes formed in the said band at diametrically
opposite points,
As a modification of the above method of mounting the oar in its rowlock I may
use a single ring or collar of metal without flanges and slotted for a portion of its
circumference the said ring being suitably connected with the oar and with the
outer band of metal so as to rock with it on its trunnions.
By thus mounting the oar I obtain three motions of the oar viz: an axial motion
of the shaft of the oar, either limited by the stop piece or not as desired, and a
double swivelling motion from the trunnions and the central pin of the crutch
rowlock. Thus when desired I can alter the locking position of the blade for
backing water, and the oar will yet remain self feathering.
To lessen the strain on the wrist of the rower I construct or fit the oar with a
counterweight placed preferably on the handle and on the side of the oar opposite
to that to which the blade inclines when it is feathering automatically.
To counteract any jarring and noise which may result from the blade falling
forwards into the feathering position or when brought to the vertical position on
entering the water I fit the blade about the middle of its length with a rubber or
spring attachment working preferably over a smooth metal, or ivory surface to
provent cutting, and I interpose stops or buffers of rubber at the hinge of the blade
securing the said spring attachınent and rubber stops to the oar or blade in any
convenient manner, but preferably by metal staples or key-pieces.
In cases in which the feathering is not intended to be automatic but is to be
effected by hand, I preferably construct the oar with a compound blade of the
following description.
It consists of 3 main portions viz: a central piece formed in one with or suitably
connected to the shaft of the oar, and 2 side pieces or wings which lie one on
either side of the said central piece or prolongation of the shaft and which are
secured to the central piece or portion of the blade or shaft by screws or metal
bands in any suitable manner; the whole being so shaped as to constitute an oar of
the ordinary character but with a built up blade.
In order to enable the self feathering blade of the oar to be readily detached and
replaced by another of the compound type I propose to divide the shaft at a point
between the slotted collars which connect the self feathering blade to the shaft, and
form the outer portion of the shaft with a central pin or projection to fit into a
corresponding socket formed in the extremity of the upper part of the shaft. By
removing the pin or its equivalent which passes through the upper slotted collar I
am enabled to detach the blade together with the lower or outer end of the shaft
of the oar.
The compound blade above described may also be made detachable in an
equivalent manner by loosening the scrows or their equivalent which bind the side
pieces or wings of the blade to the shaft of the oar.
This is an economical method of constructing oar blades, and fitting them to their
shafts, as timber of smaller size can be used and a broken part of the oar can be
readily replaced by a new part.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Searle Hazeland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st February 1883.
SAMUEL SEARLE HAZELAND of the parish of St Sampsons in the County of
Cornwall Experimental Machinist "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ROWLOCKS FOR SHIPS' AND OTHER BOATS AND IN OARS TO BE USED THEREWITH
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of oars and rowlocks
as described by me in the Specification of my Patent dated first March One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one N° 871.
I now propose instead of mechanically locking the self feathering blade in a
vertical position when backing water, to so construct and mount the oar in its row-
lock as to allow of the action of the self feathering blade upon the water being
easily reversed when required
The Invention also relates to a novel construction of oar having a compound
blade and to means for enabling the blade to be readily detached from the shaft of
the oar and to be replaced by another.
For the purpose of obtaining a simple treble-swivel rowlock which may be used
with an ordinary oar, or with an oar shaft which is fitted with the compound blade
aforesaid, I encircle it at that part which rests in the rowlock by two rings or
collars of metal each provided with an annular rib or flange, and I mount these
ribbed rings or collars of metal within another band, the ribs serving when their
respective rings are secured to the oar in their proper position to prevent the oar
from sliding in or outboard while allowing it to be turned axially.
When the oar shaft is used in connection with the self feathering blade I limit
the extent of such axial motion by means of a pin or stud, the end of which projects
through the outer band and works in the space between the two rings, a stop piece
attached to the oar serving in conjunction with the pin or stud to limit its axial
motion. The outer band is mounted in a crutch rowlock by means of headed
trunnions, their heads serving to so connect the rowlock tips that whether the user
is pulling or backing, both metal uprights may take the strain, this enables tho
bowl to be made lighter, and thus prevents the rowlocks when they are
permanently attached to the oar from becoming unnecessarily heavy and clumsy.
These trunnions pass through long bearings cast on or attached to the horns of
the rowlock and enter holes formed in the said band at diametrically opposite
points
As a modification of the above method of mounting the oar in its rowlock, I may
use a single ring or collar of metal without flanges, and slotted for a portion of its
circumference the said ring being suitably connected with the oar and with the
outer band of metal so as to rock with it on its trunnions.
By this simple method of mounting the oar I obtain three motions of the oar
viz an axial motion of the shaft of the oar either limited by the stop piece or not
as desired, and a double swivelling motion from the headed trunnions or their
equivalent and the central pin of the crutch rowlock. Thus when desired I can
alter the locking position of the self feathering blade for backing water, and
the oar will yet remain self feathering, or I can use an oar having a fixed blade
and feather it by hand, in which case the stop pin may be removed as it is then
neither necessary nor convenient to lock the axial motion in anyway whatever.
The manner of carrying my invention into effect will be readily understood on
reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig: 1 shows the inner end of an
oar mounted in a crutch rowlock according to my Invention, Fig: 2 shews the

page_text: outer end of the oar fitted with a self feathering blade after the manner described
in the Specification above alluded to, Fig: 1a is a transverse section taken on the
line 1, 2 of Fig. 1, and Figures 2 and 2b are transverse sectional views of the self
feathering blade when in position for pulling and feathering respectively. Figures 3
and 4 are sectional views on a larger scale showing the rowlock and its connection
with the shaft of the oar. Figures 5 and 6 refer to some modifications in details
of construction to be described hereafter and Figures 7 and 8 are plan and edge
views respectively of my new detachable blade to be used when the feathering is
to be effected by hand instead of automatically.
In these figures A is the shaft of the oar, B the self feathering blade secured by
slotted collars b b and pins b¹ b' to the outer end of the shaft, in such a manner
as to be free to move through an arc of 90° as clearly shewn in Figures 2a and 2b:
the former representing the vertical position of the blade in the water when
pulling, and the latter the horizontal or feathering position assumed by the blade
on leaving the water.
C is the clutch rowlock swivelling on the pin C which has a shoulder c upon it to
take the wear from the rowlock bowl, and which is provided with means for
locking it to a hole or socket in the gunwale D of the boat so as to enable a user
to put when these rowlocks are used in connection with an oar which is feathered
by hand, pressure on the water downwards with the flat of the oar blade and thus
lessen the chances of capsizing. The arins of the crutch rowlook C are formed or
fitted with horizontal lumps or sockets C which are cast so as to form long bearings
for the headed trunnions e of a ring E which encircles the shaft A at the point where
it is supported by the rowlock.
The ring E is free to oscillate upon its trunnions e e and the oar is prevented
from shifting its position within the said ring by means of two collars or flanged
rings G G which lie one on either side of the ring E and are secured to the oar by
screws or pins g g as shewn in Fig: 4.
I may however cast the collara G G as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 in sectional
and outside view so as virtually to leave small lugs projecting from the flanged
ring through which lugs the screws or pins g g are inserted for attaching them to
the shaft, or the portions of the rings or collars outside the flanges may be cast with
slots to receive the retaining pins or screws.
The trunnions are formed as shewn best at Figure 3 with smooth cylindrical stems,
threaded ends and screw heads-The threaded ends are "set up" after the trunnions
have been screwed into the band or ring E. Attached to the oar between the
inner edges of the rings G G is a stop piece H (see Fig 3) and this stop piece
serves in conjunction with the stop pin K which is inserted in a hole forined for
the purpose in the ring E, to limit the extent of axial motion of the shaft A and
enables the rower to at once turn the shaft to such a position as will bring the self
feathering blade B into the proper position for pulling or "backing water."
When oars having fixed blades of the ordinary form are used the pin K may be
removed and the oar can then be feathered by hand.
When oars having fixed blades are used, I prefer to construct the fixed blades in
the manner shewn in Figures 7 and 8.
This novel construction of blade consists of a central portion B¹ formed in one
with or secured to the shaft of the oar by a tenon and mortise or a square pin and
socket, and having two wings or side pieces B B2 in which at their outer ends
narrow slots are made extending lengthwise of their thickness each slot driven
tightly over the projecting end of a flat metal plate which has been driven tightly
through a corresponding slot made lengthwise through the centre of shaft A or
projecting end B', each metal plate has two projecting ends one extending from
each side of shaft and through each end a hole has been punched through which
and through that part of the slotted portion of the wing which covers it (after it
has been tightly driven over the plate) a metal pin is driven which may then
be rivetted by means of metal washers to the outer flat of the blade wing on either
side, the inner end of wing being secured to shaft A by screws or nails running

page_text: through its width, and into the shaft beneath the extreme outer end of the compound
blade wings may when both blades have been thus fitted be bound and
strengthened as usual with a netal strip which will also prevent the blade from
splitting.
In cases where this compound blade is detachable from the shaft A, I prolong
the wings or side pieces so as to lie alongside the permanent portion of the shaft A
and I secure the prolonged portions of the wings to the shaft by means of a metal
collar or its equivalent A' and preferably by means of screws as above mentioned.-
I would however here remark that I do not limit myself to any particular way of
joining these wings B B to the shaft A or to the central portion of the blade B',
but I claim the right to make wooden oars having blades of wood built up in the
manner described as a new stronger and cheaper manufacture, for the shaft of the
oar may thus be made of a straight and sizeable natural grown taper spar the
wings being fitted to its tapered extremity to form a blade in the manner described.
-An oar shaft thus made and fitted with a compound blade is dependibly stronger
than one which has the blade in one with the shaft as a result of the known truth
of grain, and these compound blades may thus be fitted so as to make thein as
strong as, if not stronger than those that are in one with the shaft.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that an oar mounted in a rowlock
as shown is capable of a double swivelling motion and also of an axial motion,
which movements afford the rower the greatest command over the oar and by
means of the removable stop piu K he is able to use either an oar with a loose self
feathering blade, or an oar having a fixed blade of the ordinary form, or of the novel
construction shewn in Figures 7 and 8.
To lessen the strain on the wrist of the rower I construct or fit the oar shaft
when it is used in connection with a self feathering blade only, with a counter-
weight placed preferably on the handle and on the side of the oar opposite to that
to which the blade inclines when it is feathering automatically.
To counteract any jarring and noise which may result from the self feathering
blade falling forwards into the feathering position or when brought to the vertical
position on entering the water I may fit the blade about the middle of its length
with a rubber or spring attachment, working preferably over a smooth metal or
ivory roller, to prevent cutting, and I may interpose stops or buffers of rubber at or
near the hinge of the blade securing the said spring attachment to the oar or blade
in any convenient manner, but preferably by metal staples or key pieces.
In order to enable the self feathering blade of the oar to be readily detached and
replaced by another of the compound type, I propose to divide the shaft at a point
between the slotted collars which connect the self feathering blade to the shaft and
form the outer portion of the shaft with a central pin or projection to fit into a
corresponding socket formed in the extremity of the upper part of the shaft.
By removing the pin or its equivalent which passes through the upper slotted
collar-I am enabled to detach the blade together with the lower or outer end of
the shaft of the oar.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of " Improvements in the con-
struction of rowlocks for ships' and other boats and in oars to be used therewith "
and explained the manner of carrying the same into practical effect I wish it to be
understood that I claim :-
First: Mounting an oar fitted with a self feathering blade such as that shewn in
Figures 2. 2 and 2b within a crutch rowlock in the manner described with reference
to the drawing whereby the rower is is enabled to use the self feathering blade
either for pulling or backing water substantially as set forth.
Secondly: In combination with the shaft of an oar a plain metal ring or band E
pivotted to a crutch rowlock (the pin of which has a shoulder thereon and is
provided with means for locking it to the gunwale) by headed trunnions having
smooth cylindrical portions working in long bearings in bosses attached to or
formed in one with the tips of the rowlock, flanged rings or collars G G attached
to the shaft A one on either side of the ring E and means for limiting (when a

page_text: self feathering blade as shewn and described is used therewith) the axial motion of
the shaft within said ring E for the purpose of getting and keeping the oar shaft
in position either for pulling or backing water with the self feathering blade afore-
said all substantially as set forth.
Thirdly: The compound oar blade described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of
the drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Searle Hazeland have hereunto set
my hand and seal the twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
SAMUEL SEARLE HAZELAND. (L.S.)