Improvements in Propelling Boats by Manual Labour.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling Boats by Manual Labour.
I, EDWARD GRIFFETH DELOE of Knox, County of Clarion, State of Pennsyl-
vania, United States of America, Photographer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in "Propelling boats by manual labor.”
In the present invention I provide improved means for operating a propeller,
the action being similar to that in rowing a boat with an ordinary oar, and the
object being to increase the speed of the boat without any additional expenditure
of force..
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts herein-
after fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a boat with my improvements applied
thereto;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the improvement;
Figures 3 4 5 and 6 are detail views.
In the said drawing the reference numeral 1 designates a frame consisting of a
curved metal bar 1, the ends of which are secured to the boat, a curved vertical
bar 2, the bent bar 3 and a bar 2ª connecting bars 1 and 3 to the side of an ordinary
row boat or skiff. Pivoted in the bars 1 and 3 secured to the boat, is a master
wheel 4, having a series of peripheral ratchet teeth 5, and on its under side
provided with cogs 6. On its upper side or face it is provided with a series of
ratchet teeth 7, arranged reversely to teeth 5.
Journaled in the bars 2 and 2 is a shaft 10, having secured thereto a cog-
wheel 12, meshing with the cogs on the master wheel. It is also provided with a
cog-wheel 13, meshing with a pinion 14, fixed to a propeller shaft 15, journaled
in the bar 2, and also in a box or bearing 16, fixed to the side of the boat. The
numeral 17 denotes the propeller, fixed to said shaft, which may be of any
ordinary or suitable construction.
Journaled or pivoted on the shaft of the master wheel is a lever 18, one end
of which extends into the boat, like an ordinary oar, and is adapted to be recipro-
cated back and forth by the occupant, in a manner similar thereto.
The outer end of this lever is cut away or recessed on its under side, as seen
at 19, and is also provided with a mortise or groove on its front side whereby it
may engage with the ratchet teeth on the upper face of the master wheel for the
purpose of rotating the same.
The extreme outer end of the lever is bifurcated or formed with two arms 20, 20,
between which is embraced a reciprocating two armed pawl, the outer or vertical
arm 21 of which is adapted to engage with the peripheral ratchet teeth of the
master wheel, while the horizontal arm 22, is connected by means of a rod 23,
with a band lever 24, pivoted to lever 18, near the opposite end, by means of which
the arm 21, can be thrown into and out of engagement with the said ratchet
teeth.
Loosely embracing the rim of the master wheel and slidable or movable
thereon, is a cage 25, provided with a pivoted pawl 26, adapted to engage with
the ratchet teeth on the upper face of the master wheel. This cage is connected
with a cord or rope 27, passing through a loop or eye 28, and over a pulley 28'

page_text: on the bar 1, from whence it passes to and is connected with the lever 18. The
cage is also provided with a cord 29, passing over a pulley 30, on the bar 1, and
secured to the lever 18 so that it is drawn back to normal position after being
actitated by the lever by the reverse movement of the lever. The cage is also
provided with a pivoted dog 31, which engages with the pawl 26, to throw the
same out of engagement with the master wheel when desired.
The operation is as follows: The person propelling the boat sits facing the
direction in which the boat travels. By reciprocating the lever 18 at every back-
ward movement or "pull" thereof, the mortised or grooved outer end thereof will
engage with the ratchet teeth on the upper face of the crown-wheel, causing said
wheel to be correspondingly rotated, which through the medium of the intermediate
gears, will rotate the propeller. By the forward movement or "push" of the lever,
the pivoted pawl in the cage 25, will engage with the said ratchet teeth, and by
means of the cord connected therewith and with the lever, the cage will be
pulled backward, actuating the master wheel. By these means a continuous rotary
inovement will be given to the said wheel, and to the propeller.
Upon the lever being again pulled backward, the cord 29 will cause the cage to
be returned to its normal position to be again actuated upon the reverse movement
of said lever.
When it is desired to propel the boat with the operator facing in the opposite
direction, or towards the stern, the two armed pawl in the end of the lever is pulled
inward by means of the rod and hand lever connected therewith so that the
vertical arms thereof will engage with the peripheral ratchet teeth of the master
wheel, which, as before stated, are arranged reversely to the ratchet teeth on the
upper face thereof. By pulling upon the lever, the said wheel and propeller will be
rotated. By this arrangement also the boat can be backed when the operator is
facing in the direction of the travel, and may be used to check the movement of
the boat by engaging the pawl with the ratchet teeth and holding the lever
stationary, whereby the propeller is prevented from rotating.
The advantages of my invention will be obvious. A boat can be propelled
inuch faster with the same power expended; there will be no splash, no matter
how awkward the operator; and the operator while occupying the best position
to exert the propelling power, can face the direction of travel of the boat. There
are also other advantages which will be apparent and need not be enumerated
here.
It is obvious that a paddle wheel, or travelling chain with brackets, may be
substituted for the propeller shown, without departing from the principle of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a boat the combination with the pivoted master wheel provided with cogs
and ratchet teeth, the propeller and the intermediate gears, of the pivoted lever
adapted to engage with said ratchet teeth, substantially as described.
2. In a boat the combination with the frame secured thereto, the master wheel
pivoted in said frame having cogs upon its inner side and ratchet teeth upon its
upper face, of the propeller and the intermediate gears, of the pivoted lever
adapted to engage with said ratchet teeth, the movable cage connected with the
rin of said wheel, having a pivoted pawl adapted to engage with the said ratchet
teeth, cords or ropes connected therewith, at one side of the master wheel, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a boat the combination with the frame secured thereto, the master wheel
pivoted thereto, having cogs upon its under side, and ratchet teeth upon its upper
face and periphery, the propeller, and the intermediate gears, of the pivoted lever
adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth on the upper face of said wheel, and

page_text: 5
having its end bifurcated, the two armed pawl working in said bifurcation and
adapted to engage with the peripheral ratchet teeth of the master wheel, the hand
lever pivoted to said lever, and the rod connecting said hand lever with the two
armed pawl, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of April 1
1900
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.