Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Boats by Manual Power.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Boats by Manual
Power.
I HENRY FREDERICK Cox, of 3 Upper Kings Cliff, St. Heliers, Jersey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved mechanism for propelling boats by means
of a screw propeller actuated by manual power.
On the propeller shaft are loosely mounted two bevel wheels capable of being
locked to the said shaft by sliding clutches, by means of suitable lever gear, to
throw one or other of the said wheels into gear with a bevel wheel mounted on
a vertical shaft carried in suitable bearings supported by a frame adapted to
be fixed in the boat. On this vertical shaft is fixed a heavy fly-wheel and also
a ratchet wheel, and on the said shaft is loosely mounted a grooved pulley,
carrying a pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft.
To the grooved pulley is attached a band or cord, the free end of which passes
round suitable guide pulleys and terminates in a cross handle for the operator.
Connected with this pulley is a spring drum, or its equivalent, for returning the
grooved pulley to its normal position after it has been revolved by a pull on
the driving band.
To propel the boat the operator pulls the operating band or cord by means
of the handle attached to it, and alternately releases it, this by reason of the
ratchet and pawl gear imparts continuous rotary motion in one direction to the
vertical shaft, which in turn imparts motion to the propeller shaft in one
direction or another according as one or other of the bevel wheels on it, is in
gear with the bevel wheel on the vertical axle, the fly wheel on the said
vertical axle storing up sufficient energy to propel the propeller shaft between
the strokes.
As a modification the reversing gear may consist of double ratchet and pawl
gear with suitable gear for throwing one or other of the pawls out of gear with
the ratchet wheels.
I may use two of these gears for driving twin propellers.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Boats by Manual
Power.
I, HENRY FREDERICK Cox, of 3 Upper Kings Cliff St. Heliers, Jersey,
Gentleman, 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 relates to an improved mechanism for propelling boats by means
of screw propellers actuated by manual power.
On the propeller shaft are loosely mounted two bevel wheels capable of being
locked to the said shaft by a sliding clutch operated by means of suitable lever

page_text: gear, as it is desired to gear one or other of the said bevel wheels with a bevel
wheel mounted on a vertical shaft carried in suitable bearings supported by a
frame adapted to be fixed in the boat. On this vertical shaft is fixed a heavy
fly-wheel and also a ratchet wheel, and on the said shaft is loosely mounted a
grooved pulley carrying a pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel fixed
to the shaft. To the grooved pulley is attached a band or cord, the free end of
which is attached either directly or indirectly to a sliding cross bar. Connected
with this pulley is a spring drum or its equivalent for returning the grooved
pulley to its normal position after it has been revolved by a pull on the driving
band or cord.
To propel the boat the operator draws the sliding cross bar towards himself
by his arms and alternately releases it, this by reason of the ratchet and pawl
gear imparts continuous rotary motion in one direction to the vertical shaft,
which in turn imparts motion to the propeller shaft in one direction or the other
according as one or other of the bevel wheels on it is clutched to the shaft, the
fly wheel on the said vertical shaft storing up sufficient momentum energy to rotate
the propeller shaft between the strokes.
I may use two of these gears driven from one cross bar for driving twin
propellers.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of my improved mechanism, and
Figure 2 is a broken view in plan thereof of a double set of mechanisms for
driving twin propellers, similar parts in both views being denoted by like letters
of reference.
On to the propeller shaft A which is mounted in suitable bearings in the well-
known manner are loosely mounted two bevel pinions B, B, between which is
mounted on a feather, a sliding clutch C adapted to engage with one or other
of the said bevel pinions B and so lock it to the propeller shaft. This sliding
clutch is operated by a lever and quadrant locking gear as shown, or by any
other suitable mechanism.
Over each of the propeller shafts A, between each pair of bevel pinions B, B,
is mounted a vertical shaft D carried in suitable bearings E carried by the frame F
adapted to be fixed to the boat. On the vertical shaft D is fixed a bevel
wheel G gearing with the bevel pinion B, B, on the propeller shaft A. Imme-
diately above the bevel wheel G is fixed a heavy fly wheel H, and above the
fly wheel (on the vertical shaft) is fixed a ratchet wheel J. Above the ratchet
wheel J on the vertical shaft D is loosely mounted a grooved drum K carrying
a pawl L engaging with the ratchet wheel J. Attached to the grooved drum K
is a band or cord M the other end of which is attached to a cross bar N
mounted on two sleeves O sliding on bars P carried by stanchions "p" adapted
to be fixed to the boat. To the drum K is connected by a suitable strap or
cord "r," a spring R adapted to return the said drum to its normal position
after each stroke. As an alternative the drum K may be made as a spring
drum in the well-known manner.
If two sets of the hereinbefore described mechanism are used to drive twin
propellers as shown by Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing each of the drums K
is connected to the sliding cross bar N.
The cross or propelling bar may be fixed on either side of the mechanism and
it may be adapted to be operated by one or more persons.
Suitable seats are provided for the operators and also stretchers or their
equivalents for their feet so that they can utilize their strength through the legs
and loins as well as through the arms.
By this construction of propelling mechanism the fly wheel is always rotating
in one direction thus avoiding the loss of time and power inseperable from
mechanisms in which the rotation of the fly wheel has to be reversed when it
is desired to reverse the propelling screw or screws.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same, is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinbefore set
forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, constituting a new and
improved mechanism for propelling boats by manual power.
1000
www
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.