Improvements applicable to "Otter" or like Boards of Trawl Nets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to "Otter" or like Boards of Trawl Nets.
We, CHARLES DRAKARD, and FRANK DRAKARD, both of Dock Side Iron Works,
Boston, Lincolnshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, relieving the strain upon the cross or supporting
chains of the "otter board" used by trawlers by arranging a strut with a ball and
socket joint at one end and having the other end connected to a central eye of a
double ended link, to which ends the ordinary cross chains are linked, the strut or
prop being so set or fitted in relation to the cross chains that from the angle it
assumes takes all the strain of the "towing bridle or "warp."
"
For the purpose of our invention, we affix a cupped plate to the free end of an
"otter board," and we locate a ball end of a strut or prop therein, the length of the
strut being such and from its connection at the other end to the central eye of a
double ended link it can assume an angle of about 30° to the horizontal, this being
limited by the lengths of the cross chains, the forward of which are loosely affixed
to the "otter board" at the rear of the cupped plate, and the rearward cross chains
to the rear end of the "otter board," the connections being so arranged that the
drag of the "towing bridle" or "warp "sets the "otter board" at the required
angle during the trawling for keeping the head rope and the wing lines well spread
apart for retaining the mouth of the trawling net in a fully open condition.
If desired and as a modification, a couple of struts leading to the central eye of the
double ended link or a double legged strut can be arranged, and instead of these
having ball and socket ends they can be pivoted to bolt eyes passed through the
"otter board" and secured by nuts.
Improvements applicable to Otter or like Boards or Trawl Nets.
We, CHARLES DRAKARD, and FRANK DRAKARD, both of Dock Side Iron Works,
Boston, Lincolnshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of 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 has for object, relieving the strain upon the cross or supporting
chains of the "otter" board used by trawlers by arranging a strut with a ball and
socket or an equivalent joint at one end and having the other end connected to a

page_text: central eye of a double ended link, to which ends the ordinary cross chains are
linked, the strut or prop being so set or fitted in relation to the cross chains that
from the angle it assumes takes all the strain of the "towing bridle " or "warp."
"
For the purpose of our invention, and as we show in the annexed drawings, we
affix a cupped plate A, as at Figure 1 (an inside elevation) to the free end B of an
otter "board C and we locate a ball end D of a strut or prop E therein, the length
of the strut E being such and from its connection by chains F, G, at or near the
other end H to the central eye I of a double ended link J, it can assume an angle
of abont 30° to the horizontal, this being limited by the lengths of the cross
chains K, K, the forward ends of which are affixed to the "otter" board at or about
in line with the cupped plate A and the rearward cross chains F, G, to the rear end
of the "otter" board, the connections being so arranged that the drag of the
towing bridle or warp I sets the "otter" board at the required angle during the
trawling for keeping the usual head rope and the wing lines well spread apart for
retaining the mouth of the trawling net in a fully open condition.
If desired and as a modification, a couple of struts on ball socket or other joint
may be used instead of a single strut, and these may be located and affixed to
central eye of the double ended link J, the two struts being set at separate parts
near the front end of the "otter" board at converging angles, in which caso the
cross chains K, K, can be dispensed with, or a double legged strut E can be arranged
as at Figures 2 and 3, side elevation and plan respectively, and instead of these
having ball and socket ends they can be pivoted to bolt eyes M, M, passed through
the "otter" board and secured by nuts N, N, or by other suitable appliances.
در
The drag of the towing bridle L tends to keep the board inclined outwardly
during the trawling, and directly a slack occurs the "otter" board falls outwardly
and has to be lifted by the bridle before taking an edge on position for being
dragged along the bed of the sea. To prevent this inward falling of the "otter
we may supplement the strut ball D with a lug P to act against a bar Q of a skeleton
frame R for throwing said frame from the outer face of the "otter" board to
about right angles therewith where the frame R would serve as a prop, as seen at
Figure 4, and so support the "otter" board at such an angle that the trawling drag
can be commenced more rapidly than usual.
Figures aud 6 clearly show in section how this additional frame R is acted
upon, Figure 5 representing the frame lying nearly flat against the outer face of the
"otter" board, such as when lashed at the side of the vessel, and Figure 6 as
thrown out, such as when the trawling is in progress and not to be dragged on the
bed at a great distance like the "otter" boards as at present and before they assume
a vertical position.
From the arrangement of our jointed struts E bearing the "otter" boards at a
point in advance of the cross chains K, K, coupled with the dispensation of rigid
connections between the front ends and the vertical central line of said boards, and
by the double link J with central eye I connection, we produce a more efficient
actioned apparatus than hitherto, an apparatus of a more practical character with
the facility of compactness when "in board" not possessed by any "otter" board
at present known.
Another feature of our invention is by making the tail end of our "otter" boards
with strengthening plates, as at S, S, and making holes therein at intervals we can
ensure the mouth of the trawling net being kept open because the head rope and
the wing ropes can be affixed to the top holes of the two "otter" boards, there
being always two, one at each end of the net's mouth, and the front ropes of the
mouth of the net be lashed to the other holes in the tail, so that the ground rope
can be kept closer than usual to the "otter" boards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The above described improvements applicable to “otter” or like boards of

page_text: trawl nets and consisting of a ball and socket or like jointed strain taking strut
(single or double) acting from the forward end of the board, as and for the purposes
set forth, the arrangement of appliances being those exemplified by the annexed
drawings.
2. As trawl net "otter" board appliances, the jointed strut, central eyed link for
the attachment of said jointed strut, and of the chains and towing bridle, as set
forth and substantially as shown on the annexed drawings.
3. In combination with the arrangement of appliances claimed in the preceding
claims hereof, the frame operable by or from the jointed strut or its equivalent as
described.
The 17th day of July 1897.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Charles Drakard and Frank Drakard.