Improved-Means for Propelling Boats.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1894
**Complete Specification "Left, 1st Apr.. 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
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Improved-Means for Propelling Boats.
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I, EDWARD FRANK WEST, of Angel Street, in the City of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, Wine and Spirit Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
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This invention consists of the hereindescribed "improved means for propelling
boats and particularly small pleasure boats.
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In carrying out, this invention I provide a rear paddle wheel, or two or more
rear paddle wheels side by side, outside the stern end of the boat free to revolve on
or with an axle supported by a suitable tubular or other framework fixed to the
boat. Within, the boat and either at the stern end or other part of the same
I provide a crank axle supported in bearings by the said tubular or other framework
and fitted with cranks and pedals similar to those used on a velocipede. At a
convenient distance above the said crank and pedals I'provide, a saddle or seat for
the person who is to propel and steer the boat. 'In front of the seat there is a
steering post and cross handle bar which may be similar to that of a safety bicycle
this steering post being connected by chains ropes levers or other means to a two-
armed lever on the rudder post so that by turning the steering post by the b
bar motion will be, communicated to the rudder and the boat steered in any
direction required.; Rotary motion' and power are communicated from the crank
axle to the paddle wheel axle, or to the paddle wheel or paddle wheels revolving
thereon, by means of an endless driving chain or endless driving chains running
round toothed wheels, on the crank axle and on the paddle wheel axle. I prefer
to use two of these driving chains, that is to say, one endless, driving chain
communicates motion from the crank axle (which is placed as near as possible to
the bottom of the boat) to two intermediate wheels fixed together and revolving
side by side at a short distance above the stern of the boat and then motion is
transmitted from one of these intermediate wheels by another endless driving
chain to the paddle wheel or paddle wheels. Thère is or may be a suitable splash
guard over the forepart of the paddle wheel to prevent the water splashing into
the boat.
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It will be understood that the person propelling the boat sits upon the said
saddle or seat and, works the crank axle with the feet and that rotary motion and
power ar
are as above described transmitted therefröm to the paddle wheel or paddle
wheels, the person at the same time steering the boat with the handle bar as stated
above.
When applying my invention to larger boats 1 arrange for the paddle wheel or
paddle wheels to be actuated by two or more persons each operating on different
pedal axles which may be arranged in tandem'fashion one in front of the other and
geared together so as to transmit power and motion from all of them to the same
paddle, wheel. Or, I may use two or more sets of the mechanism above described
arranged side by side so as to operate on two or more rear paddle wheels.
By my invention as above described considerable speed can be obtained with
comparatively little exertion.
Dated this 29th day of June 1904
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: 1
Improved Means for Propelling Boats.
I, EDWARD FRANK WEST, of Angel Street, in the City of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, Wine and Spirit Merchant 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 consists of the herein described improved arrangement of
mechanism for propelling boats and particularly small pleasure" boats. By my
invention as herein described considerable speed can be obtained with com-
paratively little exertion.
I will describe my invention by referring to the accompanying drawings on
which.
Fig. 1 represents a small pleasure boat with, my said. invention applied and
arranged for one person to propel the boat;
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 3 is a plan of the stern portion of a
small pleasure boat with my said invention applied thereto and arranged for two
persons to operate the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
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Referring firstly more particularly to Fig. 1 : For the purposes of this invention
I provide two rear paddle wheels A' A side by side outside the stern of the
boat B and mounted to revolve on or with an axle a' supported by the tubular or
other framework fixed to the boat. This framework may either, be rigid
(see Fig. 1) or as hereinafter described made adjustable (see Fig. 2) to enable the
depth of immersion of the paddles to be adjusted according to the load in the boat.
In the arrangement shewn by Fig. 1; the said rigid framework consists of two stout
skeleton side, brackets CC² fixed to the sides of the boat and supporting the
paddle wheel axle a' at their outer ends and tied together by the cross tie C³.
Within the boat and preferably near the stern of the same as shewn I provide a
crank axle D. supported in bearings E' E' fixed to the bottom of the boat at a
convenient height therefrom to permit of the turning of the cranks ƒ¹ƒ³ and
pedals g g which are fixed thereto and which are similar to those used on a
velocipede. The bearings E E2 are tied to the cross bar C₁ of the framework by
the two tubular stays which also assist in supporting the upright I to the
top of which is fixed the saddle or seat J for the person who is to propel. and steer
the boat. In front of the saddle or seat J, I provide a steering post K made with
a hand wheel for turning the same (or instead of the hand, wheel. k there may
be a cross handle like a bicycle handle fixed to the steering post K). The turning
movement of the steering post is communicated to, the rudder L by any
convenient means as by the two chains which are connected to the rudder and
led along inside the sides of the boat and round suitable guide pullies to the
drum k² fixed on the steering post K around which the said chains are wound so
that when the steering post is turned in one or the other direction one of the
said chains will be wound on the drum and the 'other, chain unwound from the
same thus turning the rudder in the one or the other direction to steer the boat as
required. Rotary motion and power are communicated from the crank axle D to
the paddle axle a', or to the paddle wheel or paddle wheels A' A' revolving
thereon, by means of two endless driving chains marked respectively M' M²
running round toothed wheels n' n² fixed on the crank axle D on the paddle wheel
axle a respectively and round the toothed wheels n³n fixed upon the counter-
shaft N; that is to say, the endless driving chain M¹ communicates motion from
the crank axle D (which as shewn is placed as near as possible to the bottom of
the boat) to the two intermediate toothed wheels n³ n* fixed together and revolving
side by side on or with the countershaft N which is carried by bearings at a short
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page_text: distance above the stern of the boat, and then..motion is transmitted from one of
these, intermediate wheels. viz.that marked n by the other endless driving
chain M² to the paddle wheel or paddle wheels A'A
There is a suitable splash guard:0 over the fore part of the paddle wheel, or
paddle wheels to prevent the water splashing into the boat.
It will be understood that the person. propelling the boat sits upon the saddle or
seat J and works the crank.axle D with the feet; and rotary motion and power are-
as above described transmitted. therefrom.. to the paddle wheel. or paddle
wheels A¹ A² the said person at the same time.. steering the boat by turning the
steering post K.as stated, above.
As before stated the framework-which-carries-the-paddle wheel axle-may be
made adjustable to enable the depth of immersion of the paddle to be adjusted:
according to the load of the boat. This can very conveniently be done by
arranging the said, framework. as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 where it will be seen
that the two tubular side frames. C C are each made of triangular form tied
together by the cross tube C³ at their..upper angles c and, by the paddle, wheel
axle a (on, which, the paddle wheels revolve) and by the cross tube N which is.
fixed to their lower, angles on which the chain wheels n revolve this cross.
tube N. being carried from the boat (as by the brackets or bearings p¹² p² p³ p²) at
a short distance above her stern. The said framework with the paddle wheel or
paddle wheels can thus be raised or lowered turning about the tubular shaft N, as
a centre. The splash guard is in this case hinged at its lower edge o' to the boat
and carried by the side stays o' from the: axle a' so as to rise and fall with the
paddle wheels. The upper cross tube C³ is connected to the seat pillar I by an
adjustable stay which may be made as shewn on the two tubes. QQ jointed at
their outer ends to the seat pillar and to the cross tube C³ respectively and
connected, together by the right and left hand screw connector R'screwed into
both and made with hand wheel so that the person propelling the boat can
by turning this hand wheel and screw-R in the one or the other direction
raise or lower the paddle wheel or paddle wheels. The seat pillar I is stayed by
the inclined side stays s' s fixed thereto and to the sides of the boat.
When it is desired for the paddle wheel or paddle wheels to be actuated by two
or more persons I arrange for each of the persons to operate on different pedal
axles which may be arranged in tandem fashion one in front of the other and
geared together so as to transmit power and motion from all of them to the same
paddle wheel.
An arrangement of this kind for two persons is shewn by Figs. 2 and 3 where
another pedal axle D and cranks and pedals with chain wheel n are fixed at a
convenient distance in front of the pedal axle D2 to be operated by a second
person sitting on the second seat J2 and supporting himself by a bicycle handle K³
on the second handle pillar K. Or when the boat is wide enough to admit of it
I may use two or more sets of the mecbanism above described arranged side by
side so as to operate on two or more of the rear paddle wheels.
In my drawings I have shewn two narrow paddle wheels A' A² side by side with
the driving chain arranged between them as I have found this to answer well in
practice, but if preferred one wide paddle wheel may be used and the driving
chain M² and chain wheel n² arranged at one side of the same.
In conclusion I wish it to be understood that I am well aware that rear paddle
wheel boats are well known, also that the rear paddle wheels of such boats have
been made to rise and fall to adjust the depth of immersion of the paddles in the
water; the said rear paddle wheels of such boats, however, have been driven by
other means than those herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what 1 claim is :―
1. In a rear paddle wheel boat and in combination with the paddle wheel or

page_text: "
paddle wheels, of the same, the employment of pedal mechanism and the two
endless driving chains and corresponding chain wheels arranged substantially as
herein before described and, shewn for turning, the paddle or paddle wheels to
propel the boat as set forth.
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2. In a rear paddle wheel boat and in combination with the paddle wheel for
paddle wheels, the employment. of the means-for-supporting the paddle wheel or
paddle wheels at the stern of the boat and for. transmitting power and rotary
motion from the pedal axle or pedal axles. in the boat to the said paddle wheel or
paddle wheels all arranged substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a rear paddle wheel boat the combination of the paddle wheel or paddle
wheels supported from the stern.of.the boat by the rigid or adjustable framework,
the seat for the, person..propelling, the boat, pedal mechanism adapted "to be
operated by said person, the two endless driving. chains land corresponding chain
wheels for transmitting rotary motion and power from the pedal axle to the axle of
the paddle wheel or paddle wheels: all substantially as set forth.
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4. In a rear paddle wheel boat, the combination of the paddle wheel or paddle
wheels supported from the stern of the boat by the rigid or adjustable framework,
the seat for the person, propelling, the boat, pedal mechanism to be operated by
said person, the two endless driving chains and corresponding tehain wheels for
transmitting motion from the pedal axle to the axle of the paddle wheel or paddle
wheels, and the steering, post, adapted to-be-turned by the person propelling the
boat and connected to the rudder so. that the person, propelling the boat can also
steer the same, substantially as herein before. set. forth.
Dated this 30th day of March 1895
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.