AU2013228031B2

AU2013228031B2 - A Manual Thrust Device Propulsion System for a Water Craft

Info

Publication number: AU2013228031B2
Application number: AU2013228031A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruce William James Mcmullen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-17
Filing date: 2013-09-13
Publication date: 2018-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-13
Also published as: AU2013228031A1

Abstract

A manual thrust device propulsion system (250) for a personal buoyant watercraft (300, 400) where the thrust device is made operational by the movement of a lever ( 264) - associated with a ratchet device (262) - through an arc, which via cog wheels transfers the rotary movement to a paddle wheel. The form of the manual thrust device and purpose made hull configuration result in an easily steerable pleasure craft being able to operate in shallow water thereby facilitating boarding and landing the craft close to the beach, and easy re-boarding of this very stable craft in deep water situations. The size and dis-assembly provisions allow the craft to be transported by a vehicle. The craft can be easily operated by those with limited endurance but also can suit those who may want to use it as part of an exercise regime. {c ~~- ~aoo '214

Description

Field of the invention

The system relates to a manual thrust device propulsion system for a water craft and the configuration of the hulls of such water craft to suit such manual thrust device propulsion system.

Background Art

There are a wide variety of means for manual propulsion of a personal water watercraft. What is proposed here is suggested as a way of bringing together several mechanical elements to create a different form of propulsion system which can be readily operated either seated or standing and also associating the system with a very stable form of buoyant water craft.

Summary of the invention. A manual thrust device propulsion system for a personal buoyant water craft, where such manual thrust device is an assembly with a frame structure which incorporates a paddle wheel assembly - two of which such assemblies are used with each craft - each of which is mounted above and over an opening at the side of each hull, whereby the said frame structure is for each unit configured to provide all the necessary supports for its constituent parts and where said constituent parts consist of a lever element with a handle for the operator at one end and where the other end is connected to a ratchet, where such ratchet has a horizontal axle member running through it which is integrally bonded to the core of the ratchet and said horizontal axle is able to rotate within the horizontal plane around its central axis in relation to two points on two of the vertical legs of the assembly frame through which it passes at each of it’s ends, and where said axle has a large primary cog wheel integrally bonded to it between the two penetration points that the said axle makes with the frame, and where such large primary cog wheel intermeshes with a secondary smaller cog wheel which is integrally bonded to a secondary horizontal axle where such secondary rotatable axle also passes through the afore mentioned frame components of the assembly frame structure and also extends on further in one direction through a third horizontally offset vertical frame component of the assembly frame structure, and where such secondary horizontal axle has a paddle wheel orientated in a vertical plane integrally bonded to it, which is located between the second and third vertical frame elements of the main assembly frame and being set at such a level that the ends of the paddles extend below the waterline and such that each complete thrust assembly as described, is as a result able to be operated by the operator by hand operation by pushing or pulling each of the two afore mentioned levers separately or together through a limited arc to impart thrust against the water when moved in one direction and to freewheel when moved back to the initiation position and whereby the imparted thrust by the paddle wheels results in movement by the watercraft in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the rotating paddle, and whereby each ratchet mechanism, having a re-setting mechanism enabling the ratcheting operation to be reversed, allows the paddle wheels to either be operated together in a clockwise direction, or together in an anticlockwise direction, or for one to be operated by itself leaving the other inactive resulting in the ability to steer by this technique, or for one lever to be operated in a clockwise direction and the other to be operated in an anticlockwise direction - which in that case maximises the turning effect on the watercraft.

The above afore mentioned operating lever can have telescoping components to allow adjustment of it’s length to suit operators of different stature and different arm length and also to suit the craft being operated either in a seated or standing position.

As indicated each craft would have two of the thrust devices each being on alternative sides of the water craft and each operated by the person using separate hands. The paddle elements on the paddle wheels will usually be flat elements and have a degree of flexibility such that they will deform to a degree during operation in the water. The paddle elements could also be of a double leaf form which opens and shuts under water pressure with spurs off a central spine to limit the degree to which they open, or another alternative is for the paddle elements to have a slight concave face, such face favouring the forward direction operation of the craft.

The ratio of the number of cogs between the large and the small cog wheels would be of the order of 4:1 which will ensure a good range of rotational movement of the central plate with a relatively small arc movement of the lever/ratchet element.

For each of the hull forms proposed either the widened hull with the wells formed integrally with the hull, or the central hull with outrigger floats, each is inherently a very stable form. This is a desirable partnership with the type of thrust devices proposed to make the craft as safe as possible and to enable movement by the person over the main central area of the craft with minimal likely hood of capsize and also make easy the re-boarding of the craft from the water. Typical kayaks, canoes and similar craft do not have those advantages.

Examples of the invention.

Reference is now made to the various drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the hull (1) of a generic form of one of the configurations of the watercraft at the location where one of the integrally formed open wells (2) in the hull of the watercraft (300) occurs and which has one of the manual thrust devices propulsion systems (250) mounted over it, and which incorporates a paddle wheel which is made to revolve by the movement of a lever and associated through a limited arc and which has a freewheeling return operation by the interposing of a ratchet mechanism.

The system is equally applicable to water craft with a central hull with outrigger floats.

Note FIG. 1 shows an option with a standing operator (14).

Note a full description of the component parts of the manual thrust device propulsion system is at the description with FIG’s. 6,7 and 8. FIG.2 is a longitudinal section through the watercraft (300) as shown in FIG. 1 but showing how the operator can operate the craft from a seated position. (In this case the operator (seated) is numbered (10)).

The manual thrust device (250) is the same as for FIG. 1 except the lever is shorter to suit a seated operator. The advantage of the shorter lever is that a greater arc of the lever can be swung with less displacement of the operators arm. FIG.3 is a cross section through a typical hull of the water craft (300) at the location where one of the integrally formed wells (2) in the hull occurs. Note that the craft can be steered by operating one of the side mechanisms and leaving the other idle. There is also the option of switching the ratchet to the reverse operating configuration by moving its small control lever. Note part figures of both the seated person (10) option and the standing person(14) option are indicated. FIG.4 is a generic plan view of the water craft (300) with integral wells formed in it for the passage of the paddle wheel (rotating plate with attached thrust devices).

Note additional parts: (1) (a) - a recessed step formed into the rear of the hull to facilitate return to the craft from the water; (1) (b) raised handle grips to facilitate return to the craft from the water; FIG. 5 is a generic plan view of an alternative form of the water craft (400) which has a central buoyant hull together with outrigger beams and floats whose relative positions are configured to suit the clearance and fixing requirements of the manual thrust device (250)

Note additional parts: (1) (c) beam members or upturned protrusions on the top surface of the hull and being at the front and rear of the main hull (shown dotted on the drawing) and which are securely pre-fixed to the hull and over which the detachable outrigger channel section beams (3) are fixed to by bolting or fast action clamps; (4) outrigger floats which are either prefixed to the outrigger beams or alternatively are removable and are fixed with fast action clamps. FIG. 6 is an isometric drawing of the generic form of the manual thrust device mechanism (250) with the various generic components identified.

The list of additional parts shown on this diagram are as follows: 251 - is a metal, or other material, frame component which is fixed to or is integral with the hull to which all of the other components are fixed. 252 - are fixings for the frame to the hull which could be of many forms. 253 - is the lower axle which has the rotating plate which supports the multiple thrust devices attached to it and also at another point has the small cog wheel secured to it using screws fixed through the extended collar or other means. 254 - is the rotating plate. 255 - are the support stems for each of the thrust elements which are welded to the rotating plate or otherwise made integral with it. 256 - are the angled spur rods which are attached or integral with the stem elements and limit the extent of opening of the thrust leaves in the case where the opening and shutting leaves are used. As noted in some cases fixed concave plates will be used in which case the spurs will not be required. 257 - are the twin leaf elements (or the concave plates) of each thrust element. 258 - are the support rod for the hinge components to which in turn the leaves are fixed - such that the leaves can rotate freely in an arc until they reach the points where they are constrained. (Note: - parts 255,256,257 and 258 will now usually be replaced by either flat flexible or non flexible plates, or slightly cupped plates, in each case generally being of the same total size and general orientation to the support stems as the twin leaves they replace. Refer to FIG. 9) 259 - are typically and collectively threaded nuts, washers and bearings at the end of axle elements. 260 - is the small cogwheel element which is securely fixed to the shaft 253. Note a pair of different size sprockets - to give a similar ratio advantage to that achieved with the cog wheels - together with a drive belt could be substituted for cogwheels in the manual thrust device mechanism (250). 261 - is the large cog wheel - which will usually have between 3 and 4 times as many cogs as the small cog wheel to ensure a reasonable movement of the small cog wheel is imparted by the arc of movement of the large cog wheel. 262 - is the upper axle including the ratchet mechanism which is bonded integrally to the axle to make a composite. 263 - is the ratchet handle. 264 - is the level handle extension piece to suit either the seated or standing position or may be telescopic to suit both situations. (the telescopic option is shown on FIG.7) 265 - are the fixings between the ratchet handle and the lever handle extension piece. 266 - is the handle grip - usually rubber. FIG.7 is a sectional elevation view of the thrust device mechanism (250) also with all parts numbered. Additional parts that are shown are 264(a) the upper part of the telescopic lever; and 264(b) is the tightening down collar between the telescopic parts of the lever. FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation view of the thrust device mechanism (250) facing in the direction of the rotating plate and its attached thrust elements, also with all typical parts numbered. FIG. 9 is an isometric drawing of a generic paddle wheel (500) with flat or slightly cupped paddle elements (267) which are either integrally moulded or mechanically attached to the central plate (268). The central hub (269) which protrudes from both faces of the central plate is shown here as square as one way to maximise the positive turning interaction between a square axle - or a square piece on the axle at the central plate’s location - and the paddle wheel. Holes are shown in the outer parts of the square hub as a provision for bolt fixing being one option for securing the paddle wheel to the axle.

Claims

What I Claim is: 1 A manual thrust device propulsion system for a personal buoyant water craft, where such manual thrust device is an assembly with a frame structure which incorporates a paddle wheel assembly, two of which such assemblies arc used with each craft, being mounted above and over an opening at the side of each hull, whereby the said frame structure is for each unit configured with three vertical components and three horizontal components to provide all the necessary supports and fixings for its constituent parts and where said constituent parts consist of a lever element with a handle for the operator at one end and where the other end is connected to a ratchet, where such ratchet has a horizontal axle member running through it wrhich is integrally bonded to the core of the ratchet and said horizontal axle is able to rotate within the horizontal plane around its central axis as a result of it passing through purpose made holes in the first two adjoimng vertical components of the frame structure, at each end of its axle, and where said axle has a large primary cog wheel integrally bonded to it within the space between those two vertical components of the frame structure where it is located, and where such large primary cog wheel intermeshes with a secondary' smaller cog wheel which is integrally bonded to a secondary horizontal axle, where such secondary rotatable axle passes through the afore mentioned pair of vertical components of the frame structure, and also extends on further to a position past the third horizontally offset vertical component of the frame structure through a purpose made hole in it, and where such secondary horizontal axle has a paddle wheel orientated in a vertical plane integrally bonded to it, w'hich is located in the space between the second and third vertical components of the frame structure, and with that axle being set at such a level that the ends of the paddles extend below the waterline and such that each complete thrust assembly as described, is as a result, able to be operated by the operator by hand operation, by pushing or pulling each of the two afore mentioned levers separately or together through a limited arc to impart thrust against the water when moved in one direction, and to freewheel when moved back to the initiation position, and whereby the imparted thrust by the paddle wheels results in movement by the watercraft in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the rotating paddle, and whereby each ratchet mechanism, having a re-setting mechanism enabling the ratcheting operation to be reversed, allows the paddle wheels to either be operated together in a clockwise direction, or together in an anticlockwise direction, or for one to be operated by itself leaving the other inactive resulting in the ability to steer by this technique, or for one lever to be operated in a clockwise direction and the other to be operated in an anticlockwise direction - which in that case maximises the turning effect on the watercraft.
2 The manual thrust device propulsion system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said lever element is made up of telescopic components with knurled clampdown collars at junctions between the sections such that the lever iength can be adjusted to suit operators of different stature and arm lengths and also to suit operation of the craft both silting and standing.
3 The manual thrust device propulsion system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the said paddle wheel for each mechanism and the said hull shape are configured such that the lowest point of the paddle wheel in each case does not extend below the bottom of the portion of the hull that adjoins it.
4 The manual thrust device propulsion system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support structure to which the manual thrust device is fixed is not an integrally formed part of the craft but a separate framework fixed to the top of a central primary buoyant hull element, where such separate framework has attached outrigger floats and where such framework is configured to provides a space at each side of the craft between the inner surfaces of the outrigger floats and the side of the central primary buoyant element to suit fixing of the thrust assembly framework and also to provide the required space for the operation of the paddle wheel.
5 The manual thrust device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the separate framework to which the outrigger floats arc attached is fitted with fast clamp down mechanisms to enable separation of the components to suit easy transportation in and upon a vehicle, and for fast re-assembly of the complete craft at the destination.
6 The manual thrust device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outrigger floats arc attached to the separate framework with fast clamp down mechanisms to enable separate easy transportation of the component parts and fast reassembly.
7 A method of propelling an aquatic craft through the water, said method comprising the steps of: (i) A frame structure - for each of the two thrust assemblies required for each craft - mounted above an opening in the top of hull and being at the side of the hull - or the space between the side of the hull and the outrigger float where that option applies - and which incorporates a paddle wheel, for each thrust assembly, (ii) integrally connecting an axle to such paddle wheel through its centre point and supporting that axle at three points in the said frame structure through which it passes such that paddle wheel is in one of the two bays created by the three vertical frame elements of the frame structure and with the axle set at such a level in relation to the normal floating level of the hull that it will engage the paddles with the water when it is rotated and, (iii) incorporating a small cog wheel integrally bonded to the said horizontal axle within the bay of the said frame structure which adjoins the bay where the paddle wheel is located and, (iv) incorporating another horizontal axie - spanning across the bay of the frame structure where the afore mentioned small cogwheel occurs such other axle having a larger cogwheel integrally bonded to it and which is positioned vertically above the small cog wheel of the first mentioned horizontal axle and also located such that it’s cogs fully mesh with the cogs of the small cog wheel, such second axle also incorporating a ratcheting device the hub of which is integrally bonded to the axle and the lever component of said ratchet has a telescopic handle attached to it to enable operation either sitting or standing (v) the movement of the lever handle by the operator through a limited arc rotates the larger cog wheel through the same arc, the smaller cogwheel which is meshed with it rotates through a much larger arc depending on the ratio of their circumferences, the paddle wheel attached to the axle with the smaller cog moves through the same larger arc, (vi) the free wheel return of the of the lever to the initiating position by the hand movement of the operator in that direction is facilitated by the ratchet mechanism, (vii) change of the operational direction of resistance for the paddle wheel is facilitated by the hand adjustment of the setting mechanism of the ratchet.
8 The manual thrust device propulsion system as claimed in claims 1-6 inclusive wherein the meshing cog wheels, on the upper and lower axles, are replaced by sprockets, with the larger sprocket being integrally bonded to the top axle and smaller sprocket integrally bonded to the lower axle, the two axles being spaced apart a distance such that the faces of the sprockets are clear of each other, the rotational movement of the top sprocket being transferred to the lower sprocket and its associated axle - to which its paddle wheel is attached -by an interposed, purpose made, drive belt.