IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PROPULSION OF ROW BOATS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Sage of 77 Lorrimore Road, Walworth in
the County of Surrey Mechanician for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS
AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PROPULSION OF ROW BOATS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Sage at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1882.
WILLIAM JOHN SAGE, of 77 Lorrimore Road, Walworth, in the County of Surrey
Mechanician "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PROPULSION OF
ROW BOATS
The object of this Invention is a certain improved method and appliances to be
fitted to the gunwales of row boats to enable them to be propelled either forward
or backward or to hold the boat at any given position at the desire of the person
or persons occupying the boat.
For the purpose of my Invention I attach by claws and clip nuts one or two
metal rods to the gunwale or side of a row boat. The rods if more than one be
used are arranged parallel to each other and carry sliding ferrules or sockets
which can be slid to and fro on them by hand.
The ferrules or sockets may be plain or provided with rollers to give freedom of
motion with reduced friction.
The ferrules or sockets and the rollers if such be used carry a hinged flat piece
to which a propeller blade is attached and also a handle for governing it.
The blade can be lowered to any desired depth in the water or be lifted out of
it by a lift or a depression of the handle.
By this means the occupant has absolute control over the propeller blade and
he sits with his face to the direction of motion

page_text: For carrying my invention into practice I attach by brackets of brass or other
suitable metal d à figure 1, to the gunwale at each side of the boat a metal rod b
figures 1 and 7 in a jacket or cusing of tubular sheet brass or other suitable
metal c figures 1 and 7, of a convenient length, and slotted longitudinally so as to
allow the sliding socket of brass, or other suitable metal a figures 1, and 3, and 4,
to be slid to and fro on the aforesaid rod by the rower in the boat. The aforesaid
jacket or casing c figures 1 and 7. is to prevent damage to the clothes of the
occupants of the boat from oil or grease from the aforesaid rod, and is mounted so
as to oscillate freely, or partially revolve during the operation of rowing. The
aforesaid sliding socket a figures 1. 3. and 4 is carried on another socket of brass or
other suitable metal which encircles the rod b figures 1 and 7, and said socket a is
provided with a screw for the purpose of holding the oar or scull e figures 1, and 2
firmly in position, the aforesaid screw fitting into a cavity, in a piece of metal
imbedded in the said our or scull. By this arrangement the necessity for
unshipping" the oar or scull is dispensed with, as by simply depressing the handle
of the oar or scull the latter is caused to jerk into almost a vertical position in
which it is retained as is shown by the dotted lines figure 2, the handle being
held securely against the inside of the boat by means of the aforesaid screw and
sliding socket a figures 1. 2. 3. 4. Having explained and illustrated the means, I
now proceed to explain the mode in which my said invention is to be carried into
practice. The rower simply slides the sliding socket a hereinbefore mentioned on
the rod b figures 1, and 7, and the oar or scull fixed in said sliding socket as is
herein before described propels the boat forward The advantage of this invention
is that the rower always sees the forward course of the boat and thereby the
danger of collision is avoided. The boat can also be stopped almost instantaneously,
and within a few inches of an object. The operation of rowing is rendered
agreeable and much less laborious than by the ordinary manner.
"

page_text: Having now fully described the nature of my said invention and the means by
which it is to be carried into practice I wish it to be understood that what I
consider as new and therefore secured to me by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is substantially as is hereinbefore mentioned, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings
In Witness whereof I the said William John Sage have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand
Eight Hundred and Eighty three
WILLIAM JOHN SAGE (L.S.)