US1162528A

US1162528A - Valved propeller for small boats and the like.

Info

Publication number: US1162528A
Application number: US3967515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas H Tracy; Mattie A Tracy
Original assignee: JOSEPH NIMNICH
Current assignee: JOSEPH NIMNICH
Priority date: 1915-07-13
Filing date: 1915-07-13
Publication date: 1915-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1932-11-30

Description

T. H. TRACY, DECD. M. A. TRA( 2 Y. ADMINISTRATR'IX. VALVED PROPELLER FOR SMALL BOATS ANDTHEYUKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13.1915. I 1 ,152,528.i Patented Nov; 30, 1915.

( LELTBAQY, Qwzmsfram'mx lrwemiorf- COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UFFfClE,

THOMAS H. TRACY, DECEASED, LATE OF MOARK, ARKANSAS, BY MATTIE A. TRACY,

ADMINISTRA'IRIX, or MOAR-K, ARKANSAS, Assienort or NIMNICI-I, 0F MOARK, ARKANSAS.

ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH VALVED PROPELLER FOR SMALL BOATS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 34), 1915.

Application filed July 13, i915. Serial no. eeflevs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MA'r'rrn A. TRAcY, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Moark, in the county of Clay and State of Arkansas, administratrix of the estate of THOMAS H. TRACY, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, and residing at Moark, in the county of Clay and State of Arkansas, claim a patent upon the new and useful Improvements in Valved Propellers for Small Boats and the like invented by the said THOMAS H. TRACY, and of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a valved propeller for small boats and the like, and has for its object to provide a valved cellular frame Which embodies novel features of construction whereby it opens up so as to offer but a slight resistance to the water when moved through the same in one direction, but closes so as to offer a solid surface to the water when moved in the opposite direction. 1

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be made in different sizes and used to facilitate swimming as well as for the propulsion of boats and the like, and which is automatic inits action and will operate in an eflicient manner to propel a boat or like member upon which it may be mounted when reciprocated back and forth through the water.

WVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a valved propeller constructed in accordance with the invention' Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same, the valve shutters being shown in a closed position by full lines and in an open position by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the valve shutters being shown in a closed position by full lines and the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an elongated rectangular frame formed of thin strips of material which are arranged in planes at right angles to the face of the frame so that the strips will move in an edgewis'e direction as the frame is reciprocated backand forth in a direction at right angles to the face thereof. EX tending longitudinally of the frame and connecting opposite ends thereof are two sets of longitudinalpartitions Q and 3 which are arranged alternately and have a spaced and parallel relation to each other and to the sides of the frame. These

longitudinal partitions

2 and 3 are intersected by transverse partitioned which are arranged parallel to the ends of the frame and cooperate with the longitudinal partitions to divide the frame into a series of open cells 5. Both the transverse partitions 4; and the longitudinal partitions 2 and?) are equidistant from each other so that the cells 5 are all of a uniform size. The transverse and longitudinal partitions are formed of thin material which, like the sides of the main frame 1, is arranged in an edgewise manner so as to offer a minimum resistance to the reciprocation of the frame back and forth through the water. The width of the interna'l partitions is preferably slightly less than the width of the sides of the main frame, since greater strength is necessary in the latter.

Extending longitudinally across the front of the cellular frame is a series of swinging shutters 6 which are arranged to close the cells 5, when swung inwardly toward the main frame and to leave the passage through the cells unobstructed when swung outwardly away from the main frame. One of the shutters 6 is provided for each longitudina'l row of the cells 5, and the shutters are hinged at 7 to the sides of the main frame 1 and to the longitudinal partitions 3. \Vhen the shutters 6 swing outwardly the cells 5 are opened so that the water has a substantially unobstructed passage through the same, while when the shutters swing inwardly toward the main frame the edges thereof meet over the longitudinal partitions 2 so that the cells 5 are closed and a flat surface is presented to the water.

In addition to the provision of the shutters 6, wings 8 are hinged at 9 to the sides of the main frame 1 so as to swing back and forth in substantially the same manner as the shutters and project outwardly from the sides of the main frame when the shutters are closed. The ends of the side wings 8 are formed with extensions 8 which project beyond the ends of the main frame 1 and have the inner edges thereof cut off at an angle or beveled, as indicated at 10. These beveled edges 10 of the extensions 8 at each end of the main frame 1 are connected by a flexible sheet 11 of fabric or other suitable material, said flexible sheet being also secured to the end pieces of the main frame. When the side wings 8 are swung outwardly into operative position the flexible sheets 11 are drawn taut so as to resist the movement of the frame through the water, while when the wings 8 are swung into inoperative position, the flexible sheets 11 collapse so as to ofier little or no resistance to the movements of the frame through the water.

Suitable stops 12 may be provided to limit the swinging movement of the wings 8 and hold them in operative position during the forward movement of the frame, and some form of stop means is also preferably utilized in connection with the shutters 6 so that there will be no danger of one shutter swinging over on top of the other shutter upon the forward or driving movement of the frame. For this purpose one end of each of the shutters 6 is shown as provided with a segmental plate 13 which is arranged to slide against the adjacent end piece of the main frame 1. These segmental plates 13 may be formed of any suitable material, such as light sheet metal, one side of each of the segmental plates being bent laterally and returned at lt to provide a clip for engagement with the end of the shutter. The curved edge of eaclrof the segmental plates is shown as formed with a stop 15 adapted to engage a stop pin 16 on the main frame to limit the swinging movement of the shutter 6. These stop pins 16 may be positioned in the proper manner to limit the opening of the shutters 6 and secure the most effective operation of the device. In the preferred construction the stops are arranged so that the shutters 6 open almost, but not quite, to their full extent. A quick and positive closing of the shutters is thus assured at the beginning of the return or driving stroke of the frame, and the stop members render it impossible for one of the shutters to accidentally swing over on top of the adjacent shutter.

The back of the main frame 1 is shown as provided with a yoke 17 by means of which it may be attached to the foot of the swimmer, or to any reciprocating member upon a boat or like member to be propelled through the water. The exact manner of mounting the frame is immaterial, and the yoke 17 is only shown as one possible means of accomplishing this result. Upon the rearward movement of the frame through the water the shutters 6 will swing out- .wardly away from the frame 1 so as to open the cells 5 and permit a practically unob structed passage of the water through the same, and the wings 8 will at the same time swing into inoperative position so as to olfer practically no resistance and permit the flexible webs 11 to collapse. However, upon the backward or driving stroke of the device, the shutters 6 will all close, and the wings 8 swing outwardly into operative position so as to ofier a maximum resistance and draw the webs 11 into a taut condition.

The resistanceoffered by the return or driv- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A marine propelling device including an open frame, swinging shutters extending across the frame so as to close the same when swung toward the frame and open the same when swung away from the frame, wings hinged to the sides of theframe, and

stop means for causing the wings to project outwardly from the frame when the shutters are closed.

2. A marine propelling device "including an open frame constructed to be reciprocated back and forth in a direction at right angles to its face, swinging shutters extending across the frame and arranged to swing against the frame and close the samewhen the frame is reciprocated in one direction and to swing away from the frame to open the same when the frame is reciprocated in the opposite direction, wings hinged to the sides of the frame so as to swing outwardly when the frame is reciprocated to close the shutters, said wings being formed with end extensions, and a web connecting the end extensions so as to be drawn taut when the wings swing outwardly into operative position.

3. A marine propelling device including an open frame constructed to be reciprocated back and forth in a direction at right angles to its face, swinging shutters extending across the frame so as to swing toward the frame and close the same when the frame is moved in one direction and swing away from the frame to open the same when the frame is moved in the opposite direction, wings hinged to the sides of the frame so as to swing outwardly into operative position when the frame is moved to close the shutters, said wings being formed with end extensions which have the inner sides thereof out off at an angle, webs connecting the said angular edges of the extensions and secured to the ends of the main frame so as to be drawn taut when the wings are swung outwardly into operative position and collapsed when the wings swing rearwardly into inoperative position.

4. A marine propelling device including a cellular frame having the cells arranged in parallel rows and adapted to be reciprocated back and forth throughthe water in a clirection at right angles to the face of the frame, hinged shutters mounted upon the frame so as to alternately swing over the re spective rowsof cells to close the same and swing outwardly away from the main frame as the main frame 1s reclprocated back and forth, and wings hinged to the sides of the frame so as to swing outwardly into operaac tive position when the shutters are closed and swing rearwardly into inoperative posi tion when the shutters are open.

5. A marine propelling device including an open frame arranged to be reciprocated 35 back and forth in a direction at right angles to its face, swinging shutters extending across the frame and arranged to swing alternately toward and away from the frame to close and open the same as the frame is 40 reciprocated back and forth, a stop plate applied to each of the shutters, said stop plates being formed with shoulders and also with clips to engage the ends of the shutters, and stop pins upon the main frame for 00- 45 operation with the shoulders to limit the swinging movement of the shutters.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MATTIE A. TRACY, Adminstmtm'm 0f the estate of the late T.

-H. Tracy. vVitnesses:

C. T. BLooDwoR'rH, J OSEPH NIMNIOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent-s,

' Washington, D. G.