An Improved Means for Propelling Boats.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Propelling Boats.
We, HERMAN WILLIAM HOEFT of West Avenue, La Crosse, La Crosse
County, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Carpenter, and MoritZ LANGSTADT of S. 7th Street
in the same place, Musician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows: -
The boat propelling mechanism of this invention consists of paddles jointed to
the cranks of a crank shaft carried in bearings upon a frame which for this purpose
extends beyond the stern of the vessel. The upper part of the paddles are in
jointed connection through. a pitman with an upright upon the frame by which
means the paddles are controlled so that their lower propelling parts move through
the water in an elliptic instead of a circular path. The height of the crank shaft
frame may be adjusted relatively to the surface of the water by raising or lowering
it in slotted supporting posts. The crank shaft may be driven through spur wheels
and chain.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1894
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
An Improved Means for Propelling Boats.
We, HERMAN WILLIAM HOEFT of West Avenue, La Crosse, La Crosse
County, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Carpenter, and MORITZ LANGSTADT of S. 7th Street
in the same place, Musician, 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 :-
The boat propelling mechanism of this invention has for object to obtain
steadiness of movement, a continuous and even propulsion, and the maximum
propelling force from the paddles.
In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied to a boat and
Fig. 2 a rear end view of the same.
The propelling mechanism is located at the stern of the boat. Four paddles F¹, F',
F, F are shewn, this being the least number that will effect a steady and continuous
propulsion. Each paddle is mounted at about the middle of its length upon a
crank and at its upper end is connected by a pitman G with a suitable support C.
In this way the propelling end of the paddle will move in an orbital or elliptic path
substantially as shewn in the dotted line of Fig. 1. The paddles are arranged
parallel side by side respectively connected to the crank arms e¹, e, e, e¹, of crank
shaft E carried in suitable bearings provided on the side bars A. At the two ends
of said shaft are fixed sprocket wheels D upon which and opposite wheels Jare
carried two driving chains H for transmitting motion to the crank shaft. The
crank arms stand at different angles so that one or more of the paddles will travel
through the water to propel the boat whilst the others are returning to perform

page_text: work. The pitmen G are pivotally connected at one end to the upper ends of the
paddles and at the other end to the support C which with the side bars A,
standards B and stays 6 (one only shewn) forms a suitable supporting frame for the
propelling mechanism. This frame is vertically adjustable in two standards I to
raise and lower the propelling mechanism, and fix it in position, by means of pins i
fixed in the side bars A and taking into vertical slots in the standards I. The
other ends of the side bars are supported and may turn on two standards T. The
driving wheels J may be operated by any suitable power. In the present instance
they are shewn provided with a crank for turning by hand.
The elliptical path of the paddles is obtained by the peculiar mounting of the
paddles upon the cranks of the shaft E in conjunction with the pitman connections G
and support C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
.. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
mechanism for propelling boats, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 4th day of February 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.