GB2477749A

GB2477749A - A boat driven by paddlewheels equipped with v-shaped voluminous blades

Info

Publication number: GB2477749A
Application number: GB201002273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Richard Chance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-11
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Also published as: GB201002273D0

Abstract

A boat where propulsion is provided by the use of paddlewheels 3 equipped with v-shaped voluminous blades and where the said paddlewheels are positioned to utilize water displaced by the hull 1 in order to increase the effectiveness of the paddlewheel. Power to turn the paddlewheels may be provided by means of a pedal drive arrangement 5, 6, 7 and 8 or by means of a motor. The output of water from the paddlewheels 17 is able to fill in areas 16 at the rear of the hull to minimise suction on the hull.

Description

Manual or motor powered boat propelled by a paddlewheel impeller.

This invention relates to a boat being propelled by a paddlewheel that has vee-shaped blades.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved means of powering oneself over water though a wider use may be possible by using a motor.

At the present time there are several well known types of boats that are propelled by using ones own power. For instance there are rowing boats. Prolonged rowing though can be tiring and so makes these boats unsuitable for long periods of use. They also need a good width for the oars to work in. Canoes and kayaks need less space and with their streamlined hulls are easy to propel. However, by having narrow hulls they are less stable and more difficult to get into which deters many people from using them. They also, along with rowing boats, engage most of ones upper body in there operation. Pedal boats, such as pedaloes, offer a comfortable ride and only require the use of ones legs to work them. However they require a lot of effort to power the inefficient paddlewheels that propel them. They are also difficult to manoeuvre and easily blown by a strong wind. There are pedal boats that use a screw propeller for propulsion. These are more efficient but they do require a greater depth of water and the propeller is prone to damage and weed entanglement. Also their efficiency is reduced by being unable to make allowances for the varying energy input that is created when only one person pedals.

The present invention proposes a boat powered by pedalling or by hand cranking and propelled by using a paddlewheel that has vee-shaped voluminous blades, such as the one described in patent application number GBO6O 1372.6. These paddlewheels have the ability to create a stream of water that not only propels the boat, but can also work with the hull in making the boat move more efficiently through the water, This is achieved by placing a paddlewheel in the vicinity of water that has been displaced by the hull and where the paddlewheel can take in some of this displaced water and utilise it to create extra thrust whilst at the same time reduce the adverse effects of water impacting on the hull. Also drag on the rear of the hull can be reduced by directing some of the water expelled from a paddlewheel to areas at the rear of the hull where water is tending to pull on the hull.

By using the said paddlewheel the spacing and shape of the blades on the paddlewheel can be designed so as to allow for the varying power input created when pedalling.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the working apparatus of a pedal boat, Figure 2 shows the pedal boat with a seat and protective covers, Figure 3 shows the boats underside with a pair of paddlewheels placed between two hulls, Figure 4 shows a mono hull with a paddlewheel placed either side the hull.

Referring to the drawing, figure 1 shows the working layout of a pedal boat comprising two hulls 1 set apart by using cross pieces 2 that are fixed to the hulls. Attached to these cross pieces 2 a frame 8 is provided to support a pedal apparatus 6 and a drive wheel 7. This drive wheel pulls a chain 5 or a belt that is connected directly or indirectly to an axle 4 or cog attached to one or more paddlewheels 3 that have vee-shaped voluminous blades (such as described in patent application number GBO6O 1372.6). Upon pedalling, rotation of the partly submerged paddlewheels occurs which produces a stream of water 17 (see fig 3) that propels the boat forwards 24 or rearwards, dependent on the direction of pedalling Figure 2 shows the boat fitted with a seat 11 and a protective cover 12 over the paddlewheels 3. This cover 12 can be shaped so as to provide a back support for the seated occupant and by moving the cover 12 along the deck, can be positioned to suit the size of the occupant. A cushioned pad 23 may also be provided to the back rest and may extend above the cover to give extra support. The cover 12 may also be hinged 22 to the rear end of the boat allowing the front of the cover to be lifted for easy access to the paddlewheels 3. A protective cover 13 over parts of the transmission may also be provided along with decking 15 and flooring 14.

To steer the boat a rudder 9 may be provided at the rear of the boat centrally(as shown in fig 3) or to the end of each hull 1 and operated from either side of the seat 11. Alternatively the boat may be steered by immersing a hand held paddle 18 into the water. This can either be used as a brake on one side of the boat, in order to swing the boat round, or to propel the boat forward. To help take the strain when braking the paddle may be attached to the boat by a tie 19. This will also prevent the paddle being lost overboard.

Figure 3 shows a view of the boats underside with two paddlewheels 3 placed between two bulls 1. As the boat moves forward 24, water is pushed aside by the hulls and by placing a paddlewheel in the vicinity of this displaced water the paddlewheel can draw in some of this water 20 and utilize it to create extra thrust 17. If a paddlewheel is placed near the rear of the hull some of the discharged water can be directed to areas at the rear of the hull 16 to lesson the adverse effects of water pulling on the hull.

Figure 4 is a variation to figure 3 showing a paddlewheel 3 placed on the outer sides of a mono hulled boat. This arrangement aids the flow 26 of displaced water from the front of the hull to the rear of the hull 25 and in so doing reduces the adverse effects of water impacting on the front half of the hull and water tending to drag on the rear half of the hull. This arrangement also enables the boat to be steered by varying the output of the two paddlewheels 3. A simple means would be obtained by hand cranking the drive to each paddlewheel.

The size and spacing of the blades on the paddlewheel may be designed to cope with the varying energy input that occurs during normal solo pedalling. The input from each normal power stroke of the pedal covers about 135 degrees and with two pedals to each drive wheel the total amount is 270 degrees. That leaves 90 degrees or 45 degrees for each pedal over which there is very little input from normal pedalling. If the paddlewheel 3 rotates twice to that of the drive wheel 7 there is 90 degrees when there is little energy transfer by the paddlewheel so rather than have a submerged blade reduce efficiency over this phase of pedal rotation, the blades on the paddlewheel may be spaced apart so no blade is totally submerged at this point. The blades may also be designed to cope with the varying energy input as the leverage of pedal to drive shaft differs during pedal rotation. By having a point when very little blade is submerged also allows for easier coasting through the water.

An additional hull 10 may be incorporated between the paddlewheels to gain independent buoyancy for the paddlewheels in order to achieve the correct working level for the paddlewheels and also to guide water into the workings of the paddlewbeel.

The boat as depicted may be wider or longer than the one shown and extra seats may be incorporated and by using two or more paddlewheels the boat may be steered by powering these independently.

Power to propel the boat may be aided by or made solely by the introduction of a motor. This along with a battery or fuel store may be placed beneath or behind the seat and be controllable from the sides of the seat.

For ease of transport, storage and part replacement the main members of the boat may be constructed so as to be easily removable.

Claims

Claims I A boat where propulsion is provided by the use of paddlewheels equipped with vee-shaped voluminous blades and where the said paddlewbeels are positioned to utilize water displaced by the hull in order to increase the effectiveness of the paddlewheel.
2 A boat as claimed in claim I where power to turn the paddlewheels is provided by means of pedalling.
3 A boat as claimed in claims 1 and 2 where the spacing, shape and size of each blade on the paddlewheels is determined by the varying power output that occurs during the full rotation of the pedal..
4 A boat as claimed in claim 1 where power to turn the paddlewheels is provided by a motor.
A boat as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 where the output of water from a paddlewheel is able to fill in areas at the rear of the hull to minimise suction on the hull.
6 A boat substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing.