Improved Propelling Apparatus for Boats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
Improved Propelling Apparatus for Boats.
We, BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, both of
66 Victoria Street Westminster, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of propelling apparatus
suitable more particularly for small pleasure boats or skiffs, wherein two screw
propellers driven by small motor engines are mounted in frames overhanging the
sides of the boat and are so arranged that the entire apparatus can be fixed in
position or removed in the space of a few minutes, so as, in the latter case to leave
the boat free to be propelled by rowing or sailing in the ordinary way; the various
parts of the apparatus are also so constructed that they can be readily disconnected
from each other in order to be stowed away in a small compass.
For this purpose we construct such apparatus as follows:-
Two brackets, adapted to carry small motor engines, such as electromotors,
naphtha, petroleum, gas or steam engines, are secured in a removeable manner on
the overhanging ends of a transverse bar or shaft, also secured in a removeable
manner to the gunwales of the boat.
The transverse shaft is divided into a central tubular part and two end parts
fitted adjustably by clamping screws in the tubular part, so that the entire shaft
can be adjusted in length to suit the width of the boat by sliding the ends to a
greater or less extent into or out of the tubular part.
To cach bracket carrying the motor engine is fixed a light tubular framing,
consisting by preference of four pyramidably arranged rods to the apex of which is
fixed a single tubular rod; through this passes a propeller shaft having its one end
connected directly to the armature or other rotary shaft of the motor, and carrying
a screw propeller at the other end, projecting beyond the tubular rod of the framing.
The bracket with the motor engine being carried by the transverse shaft at the
level of the gunwale of the boat, the tubular frame carrying the propeller extends
therefrom sternwards at such a moderate angle as to cause the propeller to be
held thereby in the requisite immersed position.
For enabling the degree of immersion to be adjusted and also to enable the
propeller with its frame to be raised quite out of the water, the transverse shaft is
made to pass through eyes in brackets that are removeably clamped by thumb
screws on to the gunwales of the boat. These brackets have projecting from them
vertically placed quadrants with holes or notches, and on each end piece of the
transverse shaft is fixed an arm placed close against the quadrant, and capable of
being turned together with the shaft, motor and propeller frame into any angular
position relatively to the quadraut, in which position the parts are then secured
either by spring catches or by thumb screws taking into the holes or notches of
the quadrants.
Thus by this arrangement either the entire transverse shaft with the two.
propeller frames can be turned into any angular position for giving the requisite
degree of immersion to the propellers, or for raising them both out of the water,
or, by loosening the clamping screw at the one end of the tubular part of the
transverse shaft, the one end part thereof can be turned so as to move the propeller
on that side of the boat up or down independently of the other one.
By loosening the clamping screws of the brackets that secure the apparatus on
the gunwales, the entire apparatus can be at once removed, for which purpose
handles are provided on the propeller frames.

page_text: When detached, the various parts of the apparatus can also be readily separated
from each other by loosening the several clamping screws securing them, thus
allowing of the apparatus being stowed away in a small compass.
Dated this 7th day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Propelling Apparatus for Boats.
We, BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE, and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, both of
66 Victoria Street, Westminster, Electrical Engineers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of propelling apparatus
suitable more particularly for small pleasure boats or skiffs, wherein two screw
propellers driven by small motor engines are mounted in frames overhanging the
sides of the boat and are so arranged that the entire apparatus can be fixed in
position or removed in the space of a few minutes, so as, in the latter case to leave
the boat free to be propelled by rowing or sailing in the ordinary way; the various
parts of the apparatus are also so constructed that they can be readily disconnected
from each other in order to be stowed away in a small compass.
For this purpose we construct such apparatus as we will describe with reference
to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1 shews a plan of the apparatus and Fig. 2 a side view to a smaller scale.
Two brackets B B adapted to carry small motor engines M such as electromotors,
naphtha, petroleum, gas or steam engines, are secured in a removeable manner on
the overhanging ends of a transverse bar or shaft T O also secured in a removeable
manner to the gunwales of the boat.
The transverse shaft is divided into a central tubular part O and two end parts T
fitted adjustably by clamping screws O in the tubular part, so that the entire
shaft can be adjusted in length to suit the width of the boat by sliding the ends to
a greater or less extent into or out of the tubular part.
To each bracket B carrying the motor engine is fixed a light tubular framing,
consisting, by preference, of four pyramidably arranged rods A. A to the apex of
which is fixed a single tubular rod A'; through this passes a propeller shaft S
having its one end connected directly to the armature or other rotary shaft of the
motor M, and carrying a screw propeller P at the other end, projecting beyond the
tubular rod of the framing. The bracket with the motor engine being carried by
the transverse shaft at the level of the gunwale of the boat, the tubular frame A
carrying the propeller extends therefrom sternwards at such a moderate angle as
to cause the propeller to be held thereby in the requisite immersed position.
For enabling the degree of immersion to be adjusted, and also to enable the
propeller with its frame to be raised quite out of the water, the transverse shaft T
is made to pass through eyes D in brackets C that are removeably clamped by
thumb screws on to the gunwales of the boat. These brackets have projecting
from them vertically placed quadrants D' with holes or notches, and on each end
piece of the transverse shaft is fixed an arm Q placed close against the quadrant
and capable of being turned together with the shaft, motor and propeller frame
into any angular position relatively to the quadrant, in which position the parts are
then secured either by spring catches or by thumb screws E taking into the holes
or notches of the quadrants.
Thus by this arrangement either the entire transverse shaft with the two
propeller frames can be turned into any angular position for giving the requisite
degree of immersion to the propellers, or for raising them both out of the water,

page_text: or, by loosening the clamping screw O' at the one end of the tubular part of the
transverse shaft, the one end part thereof can be turned so as to move the propeller
on that side of the boat up or down independently of the other one.
By loosening the clamping screws C₁ of the brackets that secure the apparatus
on the gunwales, the entire apparatus can be at once removed, for which purpose
handles F are provided on the propeller frames.
When detached, the various parts of the apparatus can also be readily separated
from each other by loosening the several clamping screws securing them, thus
allowing of the apparatus being stowed away in a small compass.
It will be evident that instead of using a motor and propeller on each side of the
boat as described, only one such can be used, either on one side of the boat, or
fitted at the stern or, when made very small and slight, it may even be held loose
in the hands in a similar manner to a punt pole, having a small electro motor at
one end to which the current would be supplied through a flexible conductor.
In this application the framing carying the propeller shaft might conveniently
consist of a single tubular pole of bamboo or other suitable material through
which the shaft passes.
The propelling apparatus may be fixed at any convenient part of the boat, as
indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
claim is:-
we
1. Portable apparatus for propelling boats, consisting of the combination of a
light extended framing, a small motor engine fixed to one end thereof, and a shaft
driven by the motor extending through the framing and carrying a screw propeller
at its end, substantially as described.
2. In portable apparatus for propelling boats a bracket carrying a small motor
engine and supported by a bar or shaft overhanging the gunwale of the boat to
which it is clamped or fastened in a detachable manner, a framing extending from
the said bracket a sufficient length to have its end immersed in the water when
lying at a moderate inclination, and a propeller shaft driven by the motor, extending
through the framing and carrying a screw propeller at its end, substantially as
described.
3. Portable apparatus for propelling boats combined and operating substantially
as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.