Improvements in or connected with Rowing Boats, and Oars for Rowing Boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Rowing Boats, and Oars for
Rowing Boats.
I MARK ARONER of Farnacres, Ravensworth, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide means, in connection with rowing
boats, or with oars for rowing boats, so that the rower is assisted in rowing the
boat. According to this invention the row-look, or the oar, or both, is, or are,
provided with a spring, or springs, so arranged that when the oar is moved in one
direction the spring, or springs, is, or are, compressed, or distendod, and in returning
to its, or their, original, or norinal position, assists or assist the movement of the
oar in the reverse direction. The spring may, for example, be a spiral spring
attached at one end to the oar and at the other end to the boat, or there may
be blade springs which bear on wings of the stem of the row-lock (which may
have one or more horns) or projecting from a squared stem, on which the par
is placed, a hole being provided in the oar for tho purpose; or the row-look
stem, or pin, may have wings which can turn in semi-circular recesses with fixed
wings, there being rubber springs between the wings on the said stein, or pin, and
the fixed wings, so that when the oar is moved in one direction the said springs are
compressed and assist the rower on their returning to the normal position.
Π
Dated the 21st day of October 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields. London, W.C., Agents,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Rowing Boats, and Oars for
Rowing Boats.
1 MARK AROHER of Farnnores Ravensworth Gateshead in the County of
Durham Shipowner 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 its object to provide means, in connection with rowing
boats, or with cars for rowing boats, so that the rower is assisted in propelling the
boat. According to this invention the rowlock, or the oar, or both, is or are,
provided with a spring, or springs, so arranged that when the oar is moved in one
direction-the spring, or springs, is, or are, compressed, or distended, and in returning
to its, or their, original, or normal position, assists or assist the movement of the
car in the reverse direction. The spring may for example, be a spiral spring
attached at one end to the bar and at the other end to the boat, or there may be
blade springs which bear on wings of the stem of the rowlock (which may have a
horn or horns) projecting from a squared stem on which the oar is placed, a hole
being provided in the oar for the purpose; or the rowlock stem, or pin, may have

page_text: wings which can turn in semi-circular recesses with fixed wings, there being rubber
springs between the 'wings on the said stem, or pin, and the fixed wings, so that
when the oar is moved in one direction the said springs are compressed and assist
the rower on their returning to the normal position.
I will explain with reference to the accompanying drawings ways in which my
invention may be carried into practical effect.
Figure 1 is a plan shewing an arrangement according to my invention applied to
an our working between two rowlock pins.
Figures 2 and 3 are plans of arrangements as applied to a single rowlock pin.
Figure 4 is a plau view of a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 3
whereby the oar can be "feathered.”
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section; and Figure 6 is a plan of another
arrangement of the device,
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
lu the arrangement shewn in Figure 1' I mount the usual two rowlock pins a in
the gunwale A, to which latter, I also attach (for example by an eye b) one end of
a spiral spring B the other end.of which is similarly connected by an eye b¹ to the
oar C, the arrangement being such that when the inward end of the oar C is
nearest the oarsman or at the end of its effective stroke as shewn in full lines.in
Figure 1, the spring B is in its normal condition and when the said oar is moved
away froin the operator towards the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1,
preparatory to making an effective stroke, the spring B is extended so that when
the oar is dipped into the water it will assist the oarsman in making the effective
stroke. The spring may be attached so that it can be unhooked when desirod.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 2, the oar C has in it a slot c which is
passed over a single row-lock pin a, but in other respects this arrangement is like
that shewn in Figure 1, but the arrangement Figure 1 admits of the "feathoring.”
of the oar.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 3, a single rowlock pin is employed, but the
pin does not pass through a hole or slote in the oar itself, but through a hole or
slot in a bracket Cattached to the oar C, and provided with an arm or
wing c against which bears a blade spring B₁ secured to the gunwale A in any
convenient manner.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the rowlock A¹ is pivotted to the gun-
wale Aand has three prongs or pius a arranged at the points of a triangle. The
stem of this rowlock A¹ is provided with an arm or wing o' against which bears a
blade spring B secured to the gunwale A in any convenient manner. By this
arrangement the oar can be "feathered," and by the three rowlock pins a, the
rowlock A' is moved with and by the oar during the return or non-effective stroke,
against the action of the spring B which acts, in the effective stroke,, through the
rowlock on the oar so as to assist the oarsman.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 6 and 6 a single rowlock pin a is used, it
being squared or equivalently formed. at its upper part which fits into a hole or
slot in the oar Candat its lower part the said rowlook pin is pivotally mounted
inia box or case D secured by clips D' to the gunwale A. Within this box.or
case D is the spring B' one end of which is secured to the said case, and the other
end, to, the rowlock pin a,, either directly or, as shown in Figure 6, through a
collar. The rowlock pin a and spring B' may be retained in the case D by
means of a cover D' screwed or otherwise secured to the said case. A etop may
be provided to prevent the rowlock pin a from being moved beyond a certain point,
and this stop may be adjustable so as to enable the effective torsion of the spring
to be adjusted... Instead of employing a spiral spring B² encircling the rowlock
pin, as last described I may provide the said rowlock pin a with projections or
wings, and the, box or case D.with other wings and between these, wings a metal or
india-rubber, spring, or two or more such springs may be arranged so as to act on
the wings of the rowlock pin. The holes care, preferably elongated, as shewn, in
the dra
on to admit st

page_text: enable them to be dipped into, and withdrawn from the water, at the ends of the
strokes.
E represents a portion of the seat on which the oarsman sits,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with an oar of a spring or of springs substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described.
2. The combination with an oar of a bracket such as C' having a wing or
projection and with the boat of a spring such as B' acting on the projection d'
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described with reference to
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a boat of a spring-controlled rowlock substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the several devices
for assisting rowers substantially as hereinbefore described and as respectively
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawinga.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.