GB2274633A

GB2274633A - Muscle-powered boat

Info

Publication number: GB2274633A
Application number: GB9302036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Peter Rayner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-02-02
Filing date: 1993-02-02
Publication date: 1994-08-03
Also published as: GB9302036D0

Abstract

A boat or raft is fitted with one or more airflow generating devices, (a propeller or propellers), 22. Persons in or on the boat or raft use their muscles to move levers or pedals, 20. This muscle power is transmitted from these levers or pedals to the boat propeller or propellers by mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic means. The person or persons may operate the levers or pedals while standing, sitting, or lying. <IMAGE>

Description

BUSCLE-:OWERE3 BOAT This invention is in the field of boat propulsion.

Existing methods of utilising human muscle power for the propulsion of boats include:rowing, paddling, punting, rotation of water wheels and screw-type propellers.

This invention comprises a mechanism for the propulsion of boats using human muscle power to generate an airflow. The force utilised in generating the airflow produces a reactive force on the boat which propels it. In this invention a boat is fitted with one or more devices capable of generating airflows, such as airscrews ar air centrifuges, referred to hereafter collectively as 'propellers', powered by the muscles of those persons, one or several, in or on the boat. The activating muscles of those in or on the boat may be in their legs or arms which may be used separately, in combination, or alternately. Those powering the propeller may do so in a standing, sitting, or lying position. The muscle power may be transmitted to the propeller or propellers by mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic, systems, or a combination of such systems.

The propeller or propellers may be made of any material such as metal, ceramic, wood, or plastic, separately or in combination, and may have one or more blades, have blades of fixed or variable pitch, have contra-rotating blades, be open or ducted, be mounted on a shaft or shafts with axes that are fixed or variable with respect to the hulls, be supported by mountings that are fixed or variable with respect to the hulls, The boat may be of any construction, e.g., collapsible, dismantlible, or unitary, single-hulled, multi-hulled, or a raft, and could be made of any material.

Examples of the manner in which the invention may be employed are shown in the accompanying figures. For simplicity all the examples show mechanisms suitable for using leg muscle power and utilising mechanical means for transmitting this power to the propellers, but arm actuated systems, or leg and arm actuated systems, and systems utilising electrical or hydraulic means for transmitting power, would be alternative forms of this invention.

Figure 1 shows the invention arranged for one person to power a single hulled-boat.

Figure 2 shows the invention arranged for one person to power a multi-hulled boat.

Figure 3 shows the invention arranged for two or more persons to power a single boat propeller.

Figure 4 shows the invention arranged for two or more persons to power two or more boat propellers.

Boat hulls are shown in the drawings by components 1, 11, 12,and 13.

The figures illustrate means by which persons located in or on these hulls could use their muscles to power boat propellers. In the arrangements shown in the drawings such persons would be supported by seats or saddles 14, and hand grips 15, while using their leg muscles to rotate cranked pedal assemblies 2, and thereby causing axle 21 to be rotated.

The drawings outline a mechanical system for transmitting the power from axles 21 to the propellers 22, consisting of pulleys or sprockets at 30 and 31, connecting belts or chains at 32, and bevel gear boxes connected by a shaft at 33, 34, and 35, to transfer the power through two right-angled turns to the propellers.

These illustrations are not exhaustive of the arrangements that could utilise the invention. The persons providing the muscle power could do so while lying or standing, and could do so using their arm muscles. Furthermore muscle power could be applied to levers rather than pedals, and power transmission could be by hydraulic or electric systems.

Claims

C'AIMS.

1. A mechanism for the propulsion cf a boat using human muscle power to generate an airflow.

2. A mechanism as in claim 1 by means of which human muscle power generates an airflow by activating any suitable device or devices such as airscrews, air centrifuges, etc., hereafter referred to collectively as propellers.

3. A mechanism as in claims 1 and 2 for the propulsion of single or multi-hulled boats or rafts.

4. A mechanism as in claims 1, 2, and 3, for powering a boat propulsion system by one or more persons.

5. A mechanism as in claims 1 to 4 utilising one or more propellers for the propulsion of a boat or raft.

6. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 to 5 which utilises human leg and arm muscles, either separately, in combination, or alternately, as the power source of boat propellers.

7. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 to 6 utilising mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic systems, separately or in combination, for transmitting human muscle power to a boat propeller or propellers.

8. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 to 7 in which those powering the propeller or propellers do so while standing, sitting, or lying.

9. A human-muscle powered boat propulsion mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, figures 1 to 4.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS.

1. A mechanism for the propulsion of a boat using human muscle power to generate an airflow.

2. A mechanism or mechanisms as In claim 1 by means of which human muscle power generates an airflow by causing the rotation of one or more airscrews and/or air centrifuges, hereafter referred to collectively as propellers.

3. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 and 2 for the propulsion of single or multi-hulled boats or rafts.

4. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1, 2, and 3, for powering a boat propulsion system by one or more persons.

5. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 to 4 utilising one or more propellers for the propulsion af a boat or raft.

6. A mechanism or mechanisms as in claims 1 to 5 which utilises human legs and arms, either separately, in combination, or alternately, to transmit the muscle power to the propulsive mechanisms.