Improvements in Rowlocks for Boats.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rowlocks for Boats.
I HENRY PHILIP HOGHTON of 40 William Street Cheetham Hill Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the rowlocks which are applied to boats and serve as
fulcra for the oars or sculls as is well understood. Previously to my invention
each rowlock has been in the form of a rigid fork which has been formed in one
piece with a pivot or shank and when the rowlock has been applied in position
upon the side of a boat such pivot has been dropped into a socket or eye provided
to receive the same. Such rowlocks project upward above the upper edge of the
boat's side and are frequently in the way at the times when they are not required
to serve the purpose for which they are designed. At such times it has been
customary to lift the rowlocks out of their places and throw them down at the
bottom of the boat but this has occasioned loss of time in afterwards replacing the
rowlocks and occasional loss of the rowlocks themselves. The object of my
invention is to improve the construction of the rowlock so that it can be instantly
removed out of the way and be as quickly replaced. To this end I form the
rowlock proper or the fork part of the rowlock separatively from the pivot and I
hinge the two parts together so that the rowlock can be quickly turned down so
as to hang down below the edge of the boat either inside or outside of the same
as may be desired. A spring or a catch or movable locking part may be employed
to keep the rowlock in its upright position but I do not consider such appliances
to be necessary I prefer to form the pivot with a head and to hinge the rowlock to
one side of this head so that the axis of the hinge shall be outside the centre of
gravity of the rowlock. When the rowlock would be turned up a base formed on
the rowlock would rest upon the head upon the pivot the position of the hinge
giving the rowlock sufficient stability. I prefer also to form a groove or slot in
the pivot head and a tongue upon the base of the rowlock so as to cause the two
parts to interlock or the parts may be otherwise formed to interlock. Such
interlocking parts may be made to wedge together to some extent in order that
the steadiness and stiffness of the rowlock. may be increased. The shank or
pivot of the rowlock may be permanently secured in its socket by means of a
nut or of a collar pin, key, or other suitable appliance to prevent the loss of the
rowlock.
Dated this 16th day of September 1890.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rowlocks for Boats.
I HENRY PHILIP HOGHTON of 40 William Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Engineer 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 and accompanying drawings
My invention relates to the rowlocks which are applied to boats and serve as
fulcra.for the oars or sculls as is well understood. Previously to my invention in
the most usual construction each rowlock has been in the form of a rigid fork.
D
037

page_text: which has been formed in one piece with a pivot or shank and when the rowlock
has been applied in position upon the side of a boat such pivot has been dropped
into a socket or eye provided to receive the same. Such rowlocks project upward
above the upper edge of the boat's side and are frequently in the way at the times
when they are not required to serve the purpose for which they are designed. At
such times it has been customary to lift the rowlocks out of their places and throw
them down at the bottom of the boat but this has occasioned loss of time in after-
wards replacing the rowlocks and occasional loss of the rowlocks themselves. The
object of my invention is to improve the construction of the rowlock so that it can
be instantly removed out of the way and be as quickly replaced. To this end I
form the rowlock proper or the fork part of the rowlock separately from the pivot
and I hinge the two parts together so that the rowlock can be quickly turned down
so as to hang down below the edge of the boat either inside or outside of the same
as may be desired or according to the position of the socket.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the formation and application of my
improved rowlock.
In the said drawings Fig. 1 represents a rowlock in position to act as an ordinary
rowlock.
In Fig. 2 the rowlock is represented as being turned down inside of the
gunwale of the boat so as not to project upward above such gunwale to an
important extent.
Each rowlock consists of two parts a and b which are hinged together instead
of being formed in one rigid piece as is usual.
The forked part a is suitably shaped to answer the purpose of the ordinary
rowlock. The part is the pivot of the rowlock and is mounted to turn freely in
a socket or in bearings as is usual.
In the example the upper part of the pivot is mounted in a socket which would
be let into and secured to the gunwale c of the boat. The lower part of the pivot
turns in a bearing d attached to the side of the boat. The manner in which the
two parts are hinged together is additionally illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4. The
pivot is formed with a head 6' upon which are cast or formed lugs 62. The forked
part a is formed with a heel a¹ which enters between the lugs 2. A hinge pin
passes through the lugs and the heel a¹ the two parts being thereby hinged together.
It will be seen that the centre or axis of the hinge is outside of the centre line or
axis of the pivot. When the rowlock is turned up for use it is brought into
position just over the axis of the pivot or thereabouts. This disposition of the
hinge enables the rowlock to be turned down clear of the edge of the gunwale as
in Fig. 2 and also renders the rowlock more steady when in its upright position as
represented in Fig. 1.
A spring or a catch or movable locking part may be employed to keep the
rowlock in its upright position but I do not consider such appliances to be
necessary.
When the rowlock is turned into position for use a base formed upon the part a
beds upon the head b¹ so that the part a is well supported. I may in some or in
all cases form the parts to interlock as for example I may form a groove or slot in
one part and a tongue or projection upon the other part so as to cause the two
parts to interlock when the rowlock is turned into the upright position. Such a
formation is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein e is a tongue or rib which enters a
groove formed in the head b'. The tongue and groove may have inclined sides
so that the tongue shall fit tightly into the groove when the rowlock is turned up
so as to increase the steadiness and firmness of the rowlock.
The shank or pivot of the rowlock may be permanently secured in its socket by
means of a nut or of a collar pin key or other suitable appliance to prevent the
loss of the rowlock.
In the example a split ring is passed through a hole at g to prevent the rowlock
pivot from being lifted out of its socket.

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
1. The swivel rowlock formed in two parts hinged together as set forth and
indicated.
2. The rowlock consisting of the forked part a hinged to one side of a head b¹
formed on the top of the pivot b substantially as set forth and indicated.
3. The rowlock a adapted to hinge to one side of a head 6' formed upon a pivot b
the parts being formed with interlocking tongue and groove connections substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
Dated this 15th day of June 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.