IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING SEATS FOR ROWING BOATS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE SAME.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archer Edwards, of Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING SEATS FOR ROWING BOATS,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE SAME.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archer Edwards at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1877.
ARCHER EDWARDS, of Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLIDING SEATS FOR ROWING BOATS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE
SAME."
My Invention relates to seats used in rowing boats, which seats are arranged so
as to slide longitudinally backward and forward in the boat, and so allow the rowers
to obtain a greater length of stroke of their oars with more ease than in such boats
constructed with fixed seats; it has for its objects improved methods of con-
struction of the apparatus upon which the seats slide backward and forward, so
that it works with less friction, and is cheaper and more durable than sliding seats
for such purpose as heretofore constructed and used.
I arrange two rails or supports, preferably of wood, parallel to one another and
fixed horizontally upon thwarts or supports fixed in the boat in the proper position
for the seat to rest upon them. These rails are fixed in a longitudinal position in
regard to the boat, and on each of them I arrange three or more rollers or friction
wheels of any suitable material, but preferably of hard wood, and of as large
diameter as is conveniently possible. These wheels turn freely upon screws or
centres fixed to the rail already described, so that the upper edges of the wheels are
in a line with each other, and preferably somewhat above the upper edge of
the rail.
I prefer to make the edges of the wheels in end view angular or semicircular,
and underneath the sliding seat itself I fix two longitudinal rails or strips. of any
suitable material, but preferably of hard wood, and each having a longitudinal
groove upon its lower side of a shape (in end view) similar to that of the wheels,
so that when the sliding seat is placed upon the wheels, each grooved strip rests and
.

page_text: fits freely upon one set of the wheels or rollers, upon which therefore it can be
made to travel backward and forward with very little friction.
I make the grooves of such length that they always rest upon a sufficient number
of the wheels or rollers to support them steadily. In order to prevent the possibility
of the seat rising from the rollers when in use, I prefer to make longitudinal
grooves, recesses, or projections at the sides of one or more of the grooved strips
under the seat as described, and I fix to the rails carrying the wheels corresponding
guides (preferably of metal) which fit these grooves, recesses, or projections, and so
allow the seat to travel horizontally backward and forward, but not to rise
vertically.
The grooves, recesses, or projections may be formed in the rails and the guides
attached to the sliding seat.
To limit the travel backward and forward of the sliding seat upon the wheels or
rollers as described, I prefer to attach firmly leather straps to the front and back
edge of the seat, and in the straps I make a series of holes, either of which as may
be desired can be passed over a hook or button attached to a cross bar between the
rails carrying the rollers, or to the thwarts upon which the rails rest and are fixed.
The sliding seat is placed upon or removed from its position upon the wheels or
rollers by detaching the straps from the hooks or buttons, and removing or replacing
the grooves under the seat upon the wheels or rollers end ways.
Instead of two sets of wheels or rollers and corresponding grooved rails under the
seat, three or more may be used; and sometimes I fix the rails carrying the wheels
to cross bars or frames which can readily be attached to or detached from the
thwarts of the boats, so that the whole apparatus can quickly be moved from one
boat to another if desired. Sometimes I attach the wheels or rollers to the sliding
seat and the grooved strips to the thwarts or supports.
Another part of my Invention relates to improved methods of constructing the
grooved strips arranged under the sliding seat, when these strips slide upon metal
or other bars instead of resting upon friction rollers as in the arrangement already
described, so that the sliding surfaces are kept well lubricated, but at the same time
the oil or other lubricating material is prevented from escaping and soiling or
injuring the clothes of the rowers; or, if brass be employed in the sliding surfaces,
from possibly injuring their health.
In each of the grooved strips which are fixed under the sliding seat as already.
described, and preferably near one of their ends, I form a recess opening into the
groove, into which recess I place a piece of sponge or other absorbent matorial
which is saturated with oil. Fitting into the recoss below the sponge I arrange
longitudinally a short lever or scraper, one end of which rests upon and is made.
to fit the upper surface of the bar upon which the seat slides, whilst its other end is
formed below into the shape of a cylinder or roller, which also rests upon the bar,
whilst its upper side may be supported or held by a pin or screw which prevents it
from rising.
When the sliding seat is moved in one direction, the action of the bar upon tho
cylindrical end of the scraper raises the loose end of the latter, and the lubricating
matter freely escapes upon the bar, but in the other direction the free end of the
scraper is pressed down upon the bar and so scrapes and takes up any free or
surplus oil, which is returned to the recess containing the sponge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Archer Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th September
1877.
ARCHER EDWARDS, of Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLIDING SEATS FOR ROWING BOATS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE
SAME."
5

page_text: This Invention relates to seats used in rowing boats, and arranged so as to slide
longitudinally backward and forward in the boat, and so allow the rowers to obtain
a great length of stroke of their oars with more ease than in boats constructed with
fixed seats; it has for its objects improved methods of construction of the apparatus
upon which the seat slides backward and forward, so that it works with less friction,
and is cheaper and more durable than sliding seats for such purpose as heretofore
ordinarily constructed and used.
In order to carry out my Invention I arrange two longitudinal supports or rails
of any suitable material, but preferably of wood, and I fix them horizontally and
parallel to each other upon thwarts or other supports in the proper position for the
moveable seat to rest upon them. These rails are fixed longitudinally in relation to
the boat, and connected to each of them I arrange a sufficient number (preferably
three or more) of rollers or friction wheels of any suitable material, such as hard
wood or metal, and of as large diameter as is conveniently possible. These wheels
revolve freely but truly upon screws or centres fixed to the rails already described,
so that the upper edges of the peripheries of the wheels are in a straight line, and
preferably somewhat above the upper edge of the rails.
I prefer to make the edges of the wheels angular or semicircular in transverse
section or end view, and underneath the sliding seat itself (upon which the rower
sits) I fix two longitudinal rails or strips of any suitable material, such as hard
wood or metal, cach having a longitudinal groove upon its lower side, of a shape (in
end view) similar to that of the edge of the wheels, so that when the sliding scat is
placed upon the wheels each grooved strip rests and fits freely upon one set of the
rollers or friction wheels, upon which therefore the sent can be made to travel
backward and forward with scarcely any friction.
I make the grooved strips of such length that they always rest upon a sufficient
number of the wheels or rollers to support them steadily; and in order to prevent
the possibility of the sliding seat rising from the rollers or wheels when in use,
I make longitudinal grooves, recesses, or projections at the sides of one or more of
the grooved strips under the seat, and I fix to the rails which carry the wheels or
to the thwarts or supports, corresponding guides, preferably of metal, which fit freely
the grooves, recesses, or projections, so as to allow the seat to travel horizontally
backward and forward, but not to rise vertically.
Instead of the arrangement just described the grooves, recesses, or projections
may be formed on the fixed rails and the guides attached to the sliding seat.
To limit the travel backward and forward of the sliding seat upon the rollers or
friction wheels as described, I sometimes arrange suitable stops, but I prefer to
firmly attach straps of leather or other sufficiently strong and flexible material to
the front and back edges of the seat, and in the straps I make a series of holes,
either of which as may be desired can be passed over a hook or button attached to
a cross bar between the rails or supports which carry the rollers, or to the thwarts
upon which the rails rest and are fixed. The sliding seat is placed upon or removed
from its position upon the rollers or friction wheels by detaching the straps from
the hooks or buttons, and removing or replacing the grooved strips under the seat
upon the rollers or friction wheels endways.
Instead of two sets of rollers or friction wheels and corresponding grooved rails
fixed under the seat, three or more such sets may be used, and sometimes I fix the
rails carrying the friction wheels to cross bars or frames which can be readily
attached to or detached from the thwarts of the boat, so that the whole apparatus
can, if desired, be quickly moved from one boat to another.
Instead of the arrangement described I sometimes attach the rollers or friction
wheels to screws or bearings fixed to the sliding seat, and I fix the grooved strips
on which they travel to thwarts or supports fixed to the boat. In this arrangement
the wheels or rollers travel backward and forward with the sliding seat to which
they are fixed, and the grooved strips remain stationary, instead of vice versa, as in
the arrangement first described.
Instead of the strips having grooves into which the edges of the wheels fit, the

page_text: latter may have grooves round their peripheries, corresponding with projecting ribs
upon the strips.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 is a side view in section; Figure 2, an end view; and Figure 3, a plan
of a sliding seat constructed and fixed according to my Invention.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the sliding seat at the ends of its travel. a, a¹, are longi-
tudinal rails, each carrying rollers or friction wheels b, b, b, b, b, revolving upon
screws or centres attached to the rails; c is the sliding seat having fixed beneath it
the grooved strips d, d, which rest upon the wheels and travel backward and
forward upon them; e, e¹, are adjustable leather straps fixed to the sliding seat c,
and having holes which can be adjusted upon the hooks f, f¹. In Figure 2 grooves
are shewn in the edge of the strips d, ', fitting upon guides g, g³, fixed to the
thwarts of the boat.
Another part of my Invention relates to an improved method of constructing the
grooved strips fixed under the sliding seats; when these strips are arranged to slide
upon metal or other bars instead of resting upon friction rollers, as in the arrange-
ments already described, the object of such improved method of construction is to
keep the sliding surfaces well lubricated, whilst at the same time the oil or other
lubricating material is prevented from escaping and soiling or injuring the clothes
of the rowers, or if brass be employed in the sliding surfaces from possibly injuring
their health.
In each of the grooved strips which are fixed underneath the sliding seat as
already described, and preferably near one end, I form a recess opening into the
groove, into which recess I place a piece of sponge or other absorbent_material
which I saturate with oil. Fitting into the recess below the sponge I arrange
longitudinally a short lever or scraper of wood, metal, or other suitable material,
one end of which rests upon and is made to fit the upper surface of the bar upon which
the seat slides, whilst its other end is formed below into the shape of a cylinder or
roller, which also rests upon the bar, whilst its upper side may be held or supported
by a screw or pin which prevents it from rising.
When the sliding scat is moved in one direction the action of the bar upon the
cylindrical end of the scraper raises the loose end of the latter, and the oil or other
lubricating material freely escapes upon the bar; whilst in the other direction the
free end of the scraper is pressed down upon the bar by the action of the latter
upon its cylindrical end, and so scrapes and takes up any free or surplus oil, and
returns it to the recess containing the sponge.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figures 6, 7, and 8, are in illustration of this part
of my Invention. a is the sliding seat (shewn broken off); b is one of the grooved
strips, shewn dovetailed into it, resting and travelling upon the bar c, and having
the recess & containing sponge saturated with oil; e is the lever or scraper having
one end cylindrical below and kept in contact with the bar c by the screw f, whilst
its other end fits the bar c and is free to rise and fall. When the seat is sliding in
one direction the free end of the scraper is raised by the action of the bar upon its
cylindrical end, and the oil descends upon the bar c. In the other direction the free
end of the lever e is pressed against the bar c, and scrapes off the oil from the latter
and returns it to the sponge. One or more springs may be arranged to keep the
lever e in contact with the bar c.
с
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim,―
1. The construction of sliding seats for rowing boats, having longitudinal bars
fixed beneath such seats and travelling [upon rollers or friction wheels turning
upon centres fixed to the boat, substantially as described and shewn in the
Drawing.
2. The construction of sliding seats for rowing boats having rollers or friction
wheels turning upon centres fixed under such sliding seats, the rollers or friction
wheels travelling upon longitudinal bars fixed to the boat, substantially as
described.

page_text: 3. In combination with sliding seats in rowing boats working upon wheels or
rollers, and constructed as described, the method of regulating the extent of their
travel backward and forward by means of flexiblo straps capable of adjustment,
substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
4. In sliding seats for rowing boats in which the seats slide upon bars, the method
of lubricating and removing the lubricating material from such bars by means of
vibrating levers, constructed and actuated substantially as described and shewn in
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archer Edwards, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ARCHER EDWARDS. (L.S.)