Improvements in or relating to the Towing of Boats and other Vessels on Canals and Waterways.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Towing of Boats and other
Vessels on Canals and Waterways.
A communication from Joseru I. Morris, residing at Camden, in the County
of Camden and State of New Jersey, United States of America.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to towing boats on canals and water-ways. It consists in
a continuous motion endless-cable arranged and operated above the surface of a
canal or water-way, or the sides thereof. Said cable is provided with a removable
grip which is suspended from and carried by it. A tow-line or connection extends
from the grip to the tow or boat, as does an operative line or connection by which
the grip is set in motion with the cable, or released to suspend idly from it.
Circumstances may arise by which the grip operating line may have to be operated
from a different and more suitable place than the deck of the boat being towed, as
for instance, it may be operated by a person walking on the tow-path.
required the cable may be enclosed in a tube having intermediate grip-attaching
stations.
If
On reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings making part of this
Specification
Figure is a side elevation of a grip-system embodying this invention;
Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1, with the exception of the removal
of the side cover, to show the rack and pinion which operate the grip-jaw;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the grip system, opposite to Figure 1, the plate
being removed to show the operating wheel, and line or connection, by which the
rack and pinion operate the grip-jaw;
Figure is a transverse and vertical section through the line 1--2, Figure 1 ;
the rack, pinion, shaft, and pulley not being sectioned;
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the carrying-tube cable and grip;
Figure 6 is an opposite side elevation of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is an end view of the cable and grip, showing the eye-bolt, and the
operating line opening;
Figure 8 is a side view of the cable and tube; and
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the cable, grip and grip-connections applied in
canal and water-way towage.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.
A is a continuous motion endless-cable arranged and operated at a convenient
height above the surface or sides of a canal or water-way. B is a grip, removably
suspended from the cable A, consisting in a case C, Figures 1, 6, having a covered
circular enlargement D, containing a pulley E, Figures 3, 4, on the end of a
transverse-shaft F, which is operated from the boat or tow F1, Figure 8, or other
convenient place, by means of a line or connection G. The opposite side of the
case is recessed for the reception of a rack-plate H, Figures 2, 4, having a
reciprocal movement in the same by gearing with a pinion I, on the transverse
shaft which receives its motion from the pulley E on the opposite end thereof;
the rim of the enlargement being slotted at a, for the passage of the line or
connection G.

page_text: The top end of the rack-plate H has an outward extension which forms the
lower and movable jaw of the grip B, to that end its upper side is concaved at b,
to the diameter of the cable A. The upper jaw K is rigidly attached to the
casing C, and is provided with a gripping curve e, which hooks over the cable A,
and besides embracing it, serves to removably suspend and carry the entire grip
from snid cable. Whilst the cable gripping is effected by a fixed upper jaw K and
a reciprocal lower-jaw J, actuated by a rack and pinion 11, 1, operated by a line
or connection G between the grip and boat F¹ or other suitable place, the jaw-
opening and cable-releasing is accomplished by a spiral spring L, located in the
bottom of the casing recess d, and endwise connected with the rack-plate II and
casing. The tow-line or connection M is drawn between an eye-bolt N of the
grip and the usual line-hold of the boat F As herein before mentioned, circum-
stances may arise by which the grip operating line or connection G may have to be
operated from another place than the deck of the boat being towed, for instance
from the tow-path, therefore my correspondent does not confine himself to any
other than a suitable place.
For simplicity and economy of construction and operation the cable A is
suspended uncovered, but if desired it can run through an elevated tube O providel
with a longitudinal slot e, in which the neck of the grip B moves, Figures 5, 7.
At intermediate stations P', the slot e is enlarged at its top side 9, dotted line 4
Figure 8, for the insertion and engagement of the grip-jaws J, K, with the
cable A. An adjustable cover Q, is litted around the outside of the tube 0.
Figure 8, for covering the enlargement, after the grip-jaw curve e, has hooked
on the cable, and making the slot uniform which keeps the grip on the cable. Said
cover at each end has an L-shaped slot through which projects a pin j of the
tube 0. On turning the cover froin the slot r, the enlargement is uncovered and
the jaws JK, inserted and hooked on the cable. By returning the cover Q to
the slot e, its bottom edge k, aligns with the top g of the slot e which alignment is
retained by sliding said cover along the tube Q until the pin is lodged in the
part of the L-shaped slot. For reducing friction the tube O can be fitted with
anti-friction wheels for carrying the cable A. The jaw-hook e and the neck which
moves in the slot e can also have anti-friction wheels for reducing frictional contact
when the grip is motionless and inoperative on the running cable and its neck idle
within the slot e. The tube O can be carried by brackets extending from supporting
posts arranged along the side of the canal without interfering with the running of
the cable or the working of the tow and grip lines or connections. The grip B
being removable can be taken from the cable A and stored on the boat F, at any
point of the canal or water-way, it therefore when not in use does not form any
impediment whatever to the travel of the cable. Should it be thought advisable
to run the cable over pulleys without the tube, the jaws of the grip will ride over
them with the cable with ease.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by any foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a canal and water-way towage system the combination of a continuous
motion endless cable arranged and operated above the surface or sides of a canal
or water-way a removable grip suspended from and carried by the cable a distinct
and separate tow-line or connection between the grip and boat solely for towing
said boat and a distinct and separate grip-line or connection between the grip and
boat solely for operating the grip for the purpose shown and described.
2. In a canal and water-way towage system the combination of a continuous
motion endless cable arranged and operated above the surface or sides of a canal or
water-way an elevated longitudinally slotted cable-carrying tube having inter-
mediate grip-attaching stations and a removable grip suspended from and carried
by the cable and provided with connections for towing a boat and operating said
grip for the purpose shown and described.

page_text: 3. In a canal and water-way towage system the combination of a continuous
motion endless-cable arranged and operated above the surface or sides of a canal or
water-way a removable grip consisting in a fixed jaw which embraces said cable
and is suspended therefrom and a movable jaw having a vertical movement by
means of a rack and pinion operated by a line or connection from the boat and a
tow-line between the grip and boat for the purpose shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.