Improvements in Otter Trawl Boards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Otter Trawl Boards.
I, HECTOR FOSTER FOURNY, of French Chambers, Queen's Dock, Hull,
Consulting Engineer and Marine Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to improve otter boards used for trawling, by
fixing to the back of the otter boards hinged or pivoted supports, in order to
prevent the board from falling flat when the net remains stationary on the bottom
of the sea, the same also serving the purpose of shoes, to diminish the resistance of
the boards when being towed.
In carrying out my invention, I attach to the back of each board, two or more
hinged or pivoted "fins" or "rudders" of triangular shape, the base of such
triangular shaped "fins" being at the bottom of the board, & projecting below the
bottom of the board, where it is desired to raise the board off the ground. At. the
bottom of the "fins" or "rudders," I attach broad shoes of large surface.
The advantage I obtain by this system of "fins" with shoes, is that, the "fin"
being able to swivel through 180°, it can always adjust itself to the line of resistance,
no matter at whatever angle the boards are towed.
This system of "fins" further provides for the raising of the boards to
any desirable height off the ground. The "fins" further act as buttresses
or props to hold the board in a vertical position when the trawl gear is
stationary.
Another advantage I obtain by fitting the "fins" & shoes at the back of the
board, is that, the "fin" & shoe cannot strike the vessel's side when the trawl is
being hauled on board, as is the case in all other description of shoes, & I so avoid
damaging the side of the ship, such damage being taken up by the board
instead.
A further important advantage of the "fins" & shoes being fitted to the
outside of the boards, is that, they counteract the weight of the chains attached
to the inside of the boards & resist the tendency of the boards falling inwards, the
centre of gravity of the boards. being varied as required.
The "fins" or "rudders" can be made of wood or iron, or a combination of
both.
Dated this 07th day of Inl 1900
Improvements in Otter Trawl Boards.
I, HECTOR FOSTER FOURNY, of French Chambers, Queen's Dock Side, Hull,
in the County of York, Consulting Engineer and Marine Surveyor, 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 improvements.in "otter" trawl boards, which are used to
work and spread trawl nets.
Now the object of my invention is to raise the "otter "boards a suitable height

page_text: off the ground, and to prevent the boards from falling flat when the vessel and the
trawl become stationary, also to reduce the. resistance of the boards when towing
the trawl.
In carrying out my invention, I attach to the back of the boards two or more
metal or iron, or wood and iron hinged fins or rudders, which project any desired
distance below the bottom of the board. These fins or rudders may be of triangular,
rectangular, or elliptical shape, and may be fixed at the lower part of the boards
only, or extend to the full height of the boards. The bottom of these fius or
rudders acts as a shoe, and they are made of large surface to prevent them sinking
into the mud or sand; wheels or rollers may also be fitted to the shoes.
When
the fins or rudders are made of wood, a cast iron or metal shoe of large surface is
fitted to the bottom.
The fins or rudders also act as buttresses or props to hold the board in a vertical
position when the trawl gear is stationary; by fitting the fins or rudders and shoes
at the back of the boards, the shoe cannot strike the side of the vessel when the
trawl is being hauled on board, thus preventing damage to the ship, any such
damage being transferred to the board instead.
A further important advantage of the fins and shoes being fitted to the back of
the boards, is, that they counteract the weight of the chains attached to the inside
of the boards, and resist the tendency of the board falling inwards, the centre
of gravity being outside the base of the board, and can be varied as required.
There are various ways of applying my invention. The fins or rudders may
be made to swivel through an angle of 180 degrees, so that they can always
adjust themselves to the line of resistance, no matter at what angle the boards
are towed. The fins may also be arranged with stops which only allow them to
turn through a less number of degrees, or they may be permanently fixed at any
desired angle to the boards.
To enable my invention to be fully understood, I describe the same by reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shewn a plain board with the fins
and shoes only, and exclusive of all other fittings.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of an "otter" board with cast iron fin and
shoe a.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, shewing fins and shoes a placed at a supposed
angle for trawling.
Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of fin & shoe, in which is a cast
bracket attached to the "otter" board o; d is a wrought iron pin fixed in the
bracket b and on which fin and shoe e turn or swivel. The rib f can be set to stop
the fin and shoe at any desired angle, or separate stops can be cast on the bracket b
with corresponding stops on the fin e.
9.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3, and shews outline of bottom part forming shoe.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of an "otter" board with wooden ruddor or fin
The dotted line h indicates a rudder or fin extending the full height of the board;
this rudder may be made with a flat iron strap pivoted at the top and bottom and
filled with wood, or it may be fitted without wood filling.
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of Figure 5, in which g is the fin or rudder, attached
to the "otter" board c, by means of brackets k, k, fitted with pins or pintles. I is a
cast iron shoe. This rudder may also be made wholly of iron.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of Figure 7 in which similar letters indicate similar
parts.
Figure 9 is part plan of Figure 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In "otter" boards attaching adjustable swivel fins or rudders with shoes,
substantially as, and for the nurmeses descuibed.

page_text: 2. Improved "otter" trawl boards, providing for the raising of the boards to any
suitable height off the ground in order to avoid useless waste of power, substantially
as, and for the purposes described.
3. Improved "otter" trawl boards, provided with fins
provided with fins or rudders which
counteract the weight of the chains, and which also act as buttresses or props to
prevent the board from falling when the vessel and trawl are stationary, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
4. Improved "otter" trawl boards, provided with fins or rudders, with shoes that
cannot strike and damage the vessel's side when heaving up the trawl, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
5. Improved "otter" trawl boards, with fins and shoes which can either swivel
through an angle of 180 degrees and so adjust themselves to any line of resistance,
or be stopped down to any less range of swivel as may be desired, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
6. The combination of the parts constituting improved "otter" trawl boards,
with fins and shoes, as shewn and described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1896.
H. F. FOURNY.