New or Improved Mechanism to be used in the Rowing of Pleasure Boats and other Boats.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Mechanism to be used in the Rowing of Pleasure
Boats and other Boats.
We, JABEZ LONES, and EDWARD HOLDEN, trading as Lones, Vernon, and Holden,
of Sandwell Iron and Axle Works, Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of the new or improved mechanism hereinafter described
to be used in the rowing of pleasure boats and other boats the said mechanism
having for its object to cause the boat to travel in the direction in which the boat-
man or boatmen are facing. By this arrangement the boatman or boatmen can
see any obstruction or obstructions which may be in the boat's course and the
steering and control of the boat is thus facilitated.
The mechanisms constituting our invention are fixed at opposite sides of the
boat in place of ordinary row-locks and each of the said mechanisms consiste essen-
tially of a light metallic or non-metallic box pivoted at its ends by horizontal pins
or pivots projecting from opposite ends of the box turuing in bearings on the sides
or edges of the boat. The opposite sides of the box are open. In the said box a
pair of toothed quadrants geared together is situated, the vertical spindles of the
said toothed quadrants turning in bearings in the top and bottom of the said box.
The ends of the toothed quadrants projecting from the open sides of the box terminate
in metallic sockets. Each of the oars to be used with the said mechanism is made
in two parts of unequal length the shorter part constituting the handle of the
car, the longer part carrying the blade of the oar.
The shorter or handle part of the oar is fixed in the socket of the toothed quad-
rant presented to the inner side of the boat and the end opposite to the blade of the
other or longer part of the oar is fixed in the socket of the toothed quadrant over-
hanging the water side of the boat.
It will be understood that by the action of the toothed quadrants when the
handle of the oar is pulled towards the person in the ordinary way for propelling
the boat, the blade of the oar is caused to travel through the water in the same
direction as the handle end of the oar instead of in the contrary direction as is
usual with oars of the ordinary kind, that is to say, each dar consists of two levers,
instead of one long lever as is usual, the short arms of each of the two levers being
formed into toothed quadrants gearing with one another. The pins or pivots on
opposite ends of the box permit the box parlaking of the angular motion; necessary
for the oar to be dipped into and raised out of the water at the commencement and
end of each stroke of the oar.
Instead of employing toothed quadrants in the box we may employ toothed
pinions. And instead of connecting the parts of the oar to the toothed quadrants
in the way herein before described the spindles of the toothed quadrants or pinions
may terminate in square ends or keys on to which eyes or keyholes on the meet-
ing ends of the two parts of the oar may take or be fixed; and in place of or in
addition to pivotting the ends of the box containing the gearing to the boat the

page_text: said box may be provided at bottom with a ball and socket or other swivelling
joint.
Dated this Twenty-third day of June 1897.
New or Improved Mechanism to be used in the Rowing of Pleasure
Boats and other Boats.
J
We, JABEZ LONES, and EDWARD HOLDEN, trading as Lones, Vernon, and Holden,
of Sandwell Iron and Axle Works, Smethwick, in the County of: Stafford, Manu- 1
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner' the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention consists of the new or improved mechanism: hereinafter describodi
to be used in the rowing of pleasure boats and other boats, the said mechanisin
having for its object to cause the boat to travel in the direction in which the boat-
man or boatmen are facing. By this arrangement the boatman or boatmen can
see any obstruction or obstructions which may be in the boat's course "and the
steering and control of the boat is thus facilitated.
.
The mechanisms constituting our invention are fixed at opposite sides "of the
boat in place of ordinary row-locks and each of the said mechanisms consists essen
tially of a light metallic or non-metallic box pivoted at its ends by horizontal pins
or pivota projecting from opposite ends of the box turning in bearings-on-the sides
or edges of the boat. The opposite sides of the box are open. In the said box a
pair of toothed quadrants geared together, is situated, the vertical spindles of the, 2
said toothed quadrants turning in bearings in the top and bottom of the said box!
The ends of the toothed quadrants projecting from the open sides of the box terminate'
in metallic sockets. Each of the oars to be used with the said mechanism is made
in two parts of unequal length, the shorter part constituting the handle of
oar, the longer part carrying the blade of the oar.
Ji "
...
1.1
11
3
The shorter or handle part of the oar is fixed in the socket of the toothed quad
rant presented to the inner side of the boat and the end opposite to the blade of, the
other or longer part of the oar is fixed in the socket of the toothed quadrant over
hanging the water side of the boat.
It will be understood that by the action of the toothed quadrants" when thes
handle of the oar is pulled towards the person in the ordinary way for propelling
the boat the blade of the oar is caused to travel through the water in the same.
direction as the handle end of the oar instead of in the contrary direction as is
usual with oars of the ordinary kind that is to say, each oar consists of two levers;
instead of one long lever as is usual the short arms of each of the two levers being
formed into toothed quadrants gearing with one another. The pins or pivots on
opposite ends of the box permit the box partaking of the angular motion necessary
for the oar to be dipped into and raised out of the water at the commencement, and
end of each stroke of the oar.
10
..
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in plan a pleasure, boat pro-4.
vided with the n
new or improved rowing mechanism constituting our invention...
Figures 2 and 3, are plans, the latter partly in section of one of the oars of the..
boat:

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 are elevations at right angles to each other of the portion of
the oar, represented, in Figures 2 and 3. together with the supporting part of the
said oar
fixed on the side of the boat..
1
T ::
Figure 6,is a section on the dotted line, Figure 2.
Figures 7 to 11 both inclusive represent a modification of 'our invention herein-
after described.
.
Figures 2 to 11 both inclusive are drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1.´´.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
We will first describe the arrangement Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive.
31.
...
AY
The said arrangement consists essentially in making each of the oars in two
parts marked respectively a and b, the presented ends of the said two parts terminat-
ing in 'toothed quadrants-marked respectively a, b. At a short distance from the
toothed ends a¹, b1, the said parts a, bare provided with vertical axes a, b which
are capable of turning in bearings in the upper and lower plates c, e of a box like
case; the toothed quadrants' a', 6 gearing with one another in the said box like
case c, clThe two opposite ends of the box like case c, e have horizontal ping
or trunnions which take in bearings d, d on the side of the boat.
In will thus be understood that the oar a, bis capable of a vertical angular niotion
on the pins or trunnions, and the two parts a, b of the oar are capable of a
horizontal or nearly horizontal angular motion on their vertical axes a³, the toothed
quadrant a of the handle part a transmitting its angular motion to the blade
part 6 of the oar through the toothed quadrant 6. Consequently on the pulling
of the oars in the ordinary way the blades of the oars travel in the same direction
as the handle, ends of the oars and the boat is thereby propelled in the direction
faced by the oarsmen.
When it is desired that feathering may be effected on the return stroke of the
oars we make the blade part 6 of the oar capable of motion through an angle of
about 90 degrees on its own axis.
This modification is represented in Figures 7 to 11 both inclusive.
Figure 7 is a plan of a portion of an oar and Figures 8 and 9 are elevations at
nght angles to each other (the latter figure partly in section) of the portion of
the oar Figure 7 together with the supports or bearings for the oar; Figure 10 is
a similar view to Figure 8 without the bearings of the box like case and Figure 11
is a cross section on the line y, y Figure 7.
In this modification the blade part 6 of the oar is provided at its inner end with
a tubular sleeve taking on the outer end or arm of the toothed quadrant 61 and
capable of turning thereon and the said tubular sleeve 63 is provided with a slot e
through which a pin f on the outer end or arm of the toothed quadrant &¹ projects.
The angular motion of the blade part b of the oar on its own axis is further limited
by a projection 6 on the rotary sleeve 63 and stops, on the box like case c, c¹.
In using this modified or feathering oar, the blade of the oar on the return
stroke instead of being raised clear of the surface of the water is simply raised to
the said surface. Its motion thereon causes the said blade automatically to turn
through a quadrant and effect a feathering of the oar: On again dipping the oar
for another forward stroke the blade of the oar assumes its vertical position. The
stops, ensure the acting aide of the blade of the oar, when it assumes its
vertical or acting position, taking its proper direction.
Instead of employing toothed quadrants in the box we may employ toothed'
pinions. And instead of connecting the parts of the oar to the toothed quadrants
in the way hereinbefore described the spindles of the toothed quadrants or pinions
may terminate in square ends or keys on to which, eyes or keyholes on the meet-
ing ends of the two parts of the oar may take or be fixed; and in place of or in
addition to pivotting the ends of the box containing the gearing to the boat the
said box may be provided at bottom with a ball and socket or other swivelling
joint.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim as our
invention of "New or improved mechanism to be used in the rowing of pleasure
boats and other boats "
First; Making each of the oars of the said boats in two parts the presented
ends of which parts are provided with toothed quadrants or toothed pinions gearing
with one another, the quadrant or pinion ends of the two parts turning on vertical
axes in a swivelling box like case having preferably horizontal pins or trunnions
supported in bearings on the side of the boat substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly; The addition to or modification of the arrangement claimed in the
prior claim whereby feathering at the surface of the water on the return stroke of
the oar is permitted; the said modification or addition consisting in making the
blade part of the oar capable of an angular motion on its own axis and providing
it with stops for the purpose of limiting the angular motion on its own axis, to an
angle of about 90 degrees substantially as herein before desoribed and illustrated in
Figures 7 to 11 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-second day of February 1898.