Improvements in Apparatus for Propelling Boats.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Propelling Boats.
We JOHN GODDARD, Mechanical Engineer, of Queen's Road, Beeston, Notts., and
WILLIAM RADFORD, Mechanical Engineer, of Chilwell in the same County, 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:-
This invention relates to propelling boats by pedal action by means of paddle wheels
or screw propellers.
In carrying out our invention, the person or persons intending to propel the boat,
are so seated that they can push forward levers, the motion of which is communicated
through suitable clutch arrangements to transverse or longitudinal shafts on which the
paddle wheels or screw propellors are mounted.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a boat fitted with our
invention for driving either by paddle or screw. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 3 a cross section of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, and Fig. 5 a transverse
sectional elevation, of the driving apparatus. Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation, and
Fig. 7 is a partial transverse section, of a paddle wheel suitable for the purposes
of our invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the stern of a boat, showing twin
screw propellers adapted thereto. Fig. 9 is a front elevation, partly in section, and
Fig. 10 a transverse section, of a clutch arrangement forming part of the driving
apparatus. The Figures on Sheet VI, VII, VIII, and IX, show various views of
modifications in the clutch arrangement, and Sheet X shows in side elevation, partly
in section, and in cross section, an arrangement for coupling up the main driving
shaft.
A is the shell of the boat, and A¹ the seats, which are provided with backs to
serve as push boards for the persons propelling the boat. B are transverse stafis
suitably mounted in bearings on the gunwale, and in a frame carrying the driving
mechanism.
When paddle wheels are employed to propel the boat, one or more of these shafts
may be prolonged beyond the side of the boat, to carry the paddle wheels shown by
dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Care longitudinal shafts carried in bracket bearings
secured to the bottom of the boat, and on the end of each of which a screw propeller
is secured, if the boat is to be propeller by screw. Motion is communicated to the
shafts C from the shafts B through pulleys and bands, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3,
or in any other convenient manner.
The driving apparatus consists of a bar D, the ends of which are fixed to the
gunwale of the boat, see Fig. 3. To this bar are attached standards D', and pendent
brackets D², which latter support the shaft B at or near the centre of its length. The
standards D' are connected together at top by screws and nuts, and they have sockets
to receive threaded centres D³. These sockets are set at a slight inclination, as shown
in the plan view Fig. 4º, for a purpose to be presently explained.
E are bent levers having their fulcra on the centres D³, and provided at their lower
ends with foot plates E', and stirrups E2. At or near the centre of their length,
these levers are attached to clutches of the intermittent action order, as will be
hereafter explained.
The person intended to propel the boat, will sit with his face towards the bow,
place his heels in the stirrups E2, and the flat of his foot against the plates E. He
will then push the levers E alternately forward, by which action rotary motion will
be communicated to the shaft B through the clutches, and thence to the paddle
wheels or
screwR

page_text: The paddle wheels we construct as follows:-We take a spider wheel of the type
ordinarily used for velocipedes, and we attach to the rim, wood floats E. The rim
we prefer to make of shallower section than velocipede wheels, and we secure in the rim,
by screws or otherwise, metal supports or brackets F, to which the floats are bolted,
and also filling pieces F2. On either side of the wheel, and within the rim, we apply
rings of thin sheet metal, or some water proof material, of a depth sufficient to keep
the water from the rim.
The paddle wheel thus constructed may he secured to the shaft by a key, washer
and nut, or in any other convenient manner.
Each propeller shaft C will pass through a sleeve C¹, which projects through the
side of the boat near the stern, to which it is secured by means of a circular plate C²,
formed on the sleeve, see Fig. 8. The sleeves are provided with ball-bearing thrust
blocks, as shown in the same Figure.
The clutch mechanism which we prefer to use is shown at Figs. 9 and 10, and
consists of a double box or drum G G*, of two diameters, the larger G to contain a
coiled spring G₁, which is attached to the box by one end, the smaller, G*, to contain
the gripping rollers G³. The inner end of the spring G₁ is connected to a sleeve or
boss carried by an arm G³, pendent from the bar D. To the outer periphery of the
box or drum G*, is secured one end of a cord or chain G+, which, after taking two or
more turns round the drum, is attached by the other end to the lever E. The cord or
chain fits into a helicoidal groove made in the drum to receive it.
The gripping rollers G2 we prefer to make toothed, and we make corresponding
teeth on that part of the shaft B against which they bear. We may also make one or
two teeth in the face of the excentric recesses in which the rollers are placed. By
making these parts toothed, we ensure an immediate grip when driving forward.
As the levers E are pushed forward, the box G will be rotated so as to make the
rollers grip, and the spring will be wound up preparatory to returning the box to its
normal position.
In sheets VI and VII, we have shown modifications in the form of the grip, which
are of the well known pawl and ratchet arrangement, and will be readily understood
by a competent workman, without further description. In these arrangements, the
pawl box and the spring box are of the same diameter.
In the modifications shown at Sheets VIII and 1X, the spring box is separated from
the gripper box, and is mounted on the bar D, its connection with the gripping box
on the axle B being by a cord or band H. In other respects, the parts are practically
the same as those in the former arrangements.
In this arrangement, we may have a spring box of larger diameter than the
drum, and thereby a reduced action of the spring will take place, which has
its advantages.
In order that either or both of the paddle wheels, or either or both of the screws,
may be thrown out of gear when required, we provide the arrangement shown at
Sheet X.
The driving shafts B or C, as the case may be, are divided, as shown by the
dotted line J. On one part, say B, is secured the collar and key J', and on the
other, B, the notched collar J2. Between these two collars, and on the part B, slides
the toothed clutch K, which is actuated by the fork K'. When it is desired to
drive B. the part K is thrown into gear with the part J2. K2 is the fulcrum of
the fork K¹.
The object of setting the centres D³ at an inclination, is, that the line of movement
of the lever E shall be shifted laterally to correspond to the line of draught of the
cord or chain G4 on the drum G*.
To provide for reversing the action of the paddie wheels or screws, we adapt,
between the two pedal levers E, a third pedal lever, with its clutch and connections.
The connection between this lever and its clutch, will he the reverse of that in the case
of the two levers, so that as the lever is pushed forward, the direction of motion of the
shaft B will be reversed.

page_text: It will also be evident, two persons sitting opposite one another may drive the
same shaft by duplicating the parts and having one set to act in one direction, and
the other set in the other direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The arrangement of apparatus for propelling boats as herein shown and
described.
2. Mounting the pedal levers on centres set at an angle, as shown in the plan view
Fig. 4, and for the purpose set forth.
3. In silent clutch mechanisms, the use of grooved, fluted or toothed rollers, in
combination with grooves, flutes or teeth, on the axle to be driven, and with or with-
out similar irregularities on the excentric gripping faces of the clutch, as shown and
described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings.
4. In apparatus for propelling boats, the combination of silent, pawl and ratchet, or
intermittent action clutches, with coiled springs arranged as shown and described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for propelling boats, the combination of pedal levers mounted on
centres set at an angle, with silent pawl and ratchet or intermittent action clutches
and coiled springs arranged as shown and described with reference to the accompany-
ing drawings.
6. The mode of constructing paddle wheels for propelling boats by pedal action as
herein shown and described.
Dated the
1000