Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 29th June, 1888
I, GEORGE TATE of 160 Walker Street, Kingston upon Hull Yorkshire, Hairdresser,
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 which is specially applicable to ship's boats, pinnaces and the like is
devised with the object of providing a simple and efficient means of propelling boats,
apart from, and independent of both sails and oars. It not infrequently happens that
when in the hurry and excitement of endeavouring to escape from a sinking vessel,
or a ship on fire, that both mast and oars are forgotten, or that there is no time to
obtain them, thus leaving the unfortunate occupants of the boat at the mercy of the
waves by the adoption however of the appliance to be heroinafter described, the
means of propulsion are always available 50 soon as the rudder is shipped.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively side
and front elevational views of a rudder to which my improved propelling device is
attached, and Figure 3 shows the rudder and propeller attached to a boats stern-post.
In carrying out my invention I construct a rudder A of the usual form but some-
what shorter in the blade. Upon the front and back of the lower part of the rudder A
are secured plates of metal a a', between which I mount a propeller B. Said pro-
peller B may comprise a shaft of a length to correspond with the rudder blade, and
having suitable plates, vanes or wing pieces 6 formed thereon or adapted thereto, of
the necessary pitch, either in pairs as shown in the drawings, or they may be arranged
in triplicate if so desired. The propelling device just described may also be made up
in sections, said sections being joined together in any suitable manner. To the front
end of the shaft B of the propeller is secured a grooved wheel or pulley (for the
purpose hereinafter described. At the top of the rudder post, I mount a grooved
wheel or pulley E to the spindle of which is attached a suitable handle F, and centrally
between the pulleys (and E in a recess formed in the rudder A is a double grooved
wheel or pulley D, d; the pulleys D and E being of much larger diameter than that
of the pulleys C and d. An endless chain, rope or equivalent e is arranged upon and
connects the pulleys E and d, and a second endless chain, rope or equivalent c connects

page_text: the pulleys D and C. A suitable tiller G may, if desired be employed either for
steering or for locking the rudder in position while using the handle for actuating the
propeller, although a tiller is not absolutely necessary, inasmuch as the bandle F might
be utilised for the purpose of steering with perfect ease.
From the foregoing it will be seen that by the adaptation of my improved pro-
pelling device to boats' rudders, the boats are always under control, and, by the
multiplying power employed, very little labor is required to rotate the propeller, which
is a matter of considerable importance in cases where, from want of food the occupants
of boats have become greatly weakened.
The device according to my invention is also well adapted for pleasure boats,
requiring as above mentioned little labor and necessitating the attention of one person
only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The adaptation to the rudders of ships' boats, pinnaces, pleasure boats and the like
of the propelling device rotated by hand substantially as herein described and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.