Improvements in Boats Convertible into Traction Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
Improvements in Boats Convertible into Traction Engines.
I JOHN OWENS of Kimberley, South Africa, at present residing at 24 Brynmear
Street, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Mechanical 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 :-
My invention consists of a convertible boat and traction engine, and has for its
object to provide a boat for rivers which are difficult to navigate on account of
rapids, shallows, or other natural objects which would necessitate the boat to be
taken out and transported, on land for a certain distance, which in countries where
transport is difficult to obtain, proves a great obstacle to travelling.
My invention overcomes these obstacles as I am enabled to convert the boat
into a traction engine capable of travelling any distance on land.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now describe it with
reference to the annexed illustrative drawings of which :-
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section of the boat.
Fig. 2. is a plan of same.
Fig. 3. is a longitudinal sectional view of the steering wheels (when acting as
traction engine).
Fig. 4. cross section of same.
Fig. 5. sectional plan of same.
Fig. 6. plan of front steering, showing block and springs.
Fig. 7. cross section through tunnel showing axle, guides, spring, and raising and
lowering gear.
Fig. 8. longitudinal section of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9. sectional plan of cross head, showing axle and guides.
Fig. 10. sectional face view of float, showing how it is fixed to the driving wheel.
Fig. 11. cross section through above.
Fig. 12. side elevation showing float hinges and link.
Fig. 13. plan of same.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
In these drawings A is the boat, constructed of any suitable material.
D is a tunnel going through the section of the boat in which works an axle M,
on which are forged 3 bosses, said bosses being boxed for a pin to pass through,
which is connected with a vertical shaft, or spindle m. These vertical spindles
have a deep cut threaded screw down their entire length and their upper end
passes through cross heads m' fixed on the top of said tunnel. These cross heads
are each attached to a pair of very strong springs m², which are supported on
standards m³.
Each of these spindles is provided with a raising nut m', and a locking nut m³
fitted with suitable gear for quickly running them up and down.
Vertical guides N ensure the proper adjustment between sides of the tunnel and
the axle. To provide for the exact working of the axle on the guides, the axle has
cross heads n fixed on to it provided with tail pieces, which slide up and down in
the guides and keep the axle rigid in any position.
Suitable wheels J are placed on the ends of the axle M.
These wheels are made very strong, and act as paddle wheels when the boat is
afloat, and as driving wheels of the traction engine when the boat is travelling on
land.
Said wheels are provided with tyres g¹ and g". g₁ is a broad tyre, and gll is a
narrow tyre.
TL
Lenna of different sizes is to provide one niz the

page_text: smaller sized one'g for travel on ordinary hard ground and the larger sized
one, g¹ to act as a substitute on sandy or soft ground.
We disclaim any novelty in this, as it has been used for traction engines before.
The wheels are worked from a suitable engine E, by means of the counter
shaft F, into which is geared the toothed wheel G., which is actuating the driving
wheel H by means of an endless chain; said chain passing outside the vessel on
each side. L is the boiler and K is a suitable engine for driving the propeller,
where such is used.
B is a cylinder containing the steering wheels C. C. which only comes into
action when the boat is used as a traction engine.
The steering wheels C. C. are placed in the bow of the boat, at a suitable
distance from the driving wheels J, so that the axle C¹ carries the proper weight
in regard to the balancing of the boat.
The cylinder B is open at the bottom and has a removeable cover on top, the
wheels C. C. are made of a corresponding diameter to move freely in this cylinder.
The vertical spindle d is constructed in the same way as spindles m, and is also
worked in the same manner by nuts lifting nut d* (lock nut for raising and
lowering of the wheels C. C.).
A cross head e supports the springs which are held by standards f¹.
The bottom of the spindle has a square end which passes through a square socket
or slot in the large boss e forged on the middle of the axle.
The axle consists of four arms radiating from centre boss c, two. of the arms.c¹ c¹
form the axle of the two wheels C. C. (the spindle passing through, is locked by
nut d³).
The other two arms are situated at right angles to the axle arms and are: of; the
same length, their ends are square and are provided with, sleeved brackets. for
double friction pulleys which run on the inner flange b' and in the opening b (for
dropping the arms through).
The top of the spindle is provided with a suitable tiller or wheel, for steering
purposes when on land.
When the boat is used on a river, the floats of wheel J come into action (vide
Figs. 10. 11. 12 & 13).
represents hinged straps.
the float centre support.
the tail of same.
the grip or washer, and
Chain of links.
The action is very simple. The chain is unfolded and the floats are fixed into
the square slots in the tyre, the nut and links holding the floats in position.
The endless driving chain from the engine shaft is changed on to another set of
toothed wheels of proper speed.
In converting the boat into a traction engine the wheels are lowered (after the
floats have been taken off) and the driving chain is adjusted.
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 of a boat for rivers difficult to navigate, which boat may be con-
verted into a traction engine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the annexed illustrative drawings.
Dated this 31st day of August 1893.
5
THORS.
The action is very simple. The chain
is unfolded and the floats are fixed into
the square slots in the tyre, the nut and links holding the floats in position.
The endless driving chain from the engine shaft is changed on to another set of
toothed wheels of proper speed.
In converting the boat into a traction engine the wheels are lowered (after the
floats have been taken off) and the driving chain is adjusted.
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 of a boat for rivers difficult to navigate, which boat may be con-
verted into a traction engine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the annexed illustrative drawings.
Dated this 31st day of August 1893.
CHARLES WILLIAM JULIUS NOLTE,
Agent for the Applicant.