US122874A - Improvement in canal-boats - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATEs ATENT OFFICE.

HORACE WICKHAM, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY P. CALDWELL AND HUGO WAN GEMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CANAL-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,874, dated January 16, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, HORACE WICKHAM, Jr., of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi' Illinois, have invented-a device or mode to prevent a wave or waves made by aboat or its propellingpower from washing or reaching the banks or shores of any canal, river, or the banks or shores of any other stream or body of water, of which the following is a speciication.

Nature and Object of the Ivwentton.

The rst part of my invention relates to the mode ofintercepting or preventing the wave or waves made by a boat or its propelling power, by means of one or more movable or stationary false sides, so constructed as to retard or prevent the wave or waves made by a boat or its propelling power from washing or reaching the banks or shores of any canal, river, or the banks or shores of any other stream or body of water; the false sides should be attached to and be sufciently removed from the sides ofthe boat so as to give sufcient space for wave or waves to break against the inside ofthe said false sides, and pass between the said false sides and the sides of the boat in an opposite direction from which the boat is moving. The said false sides are to extend into and above the natural level of the surface of the water, so as not to allow the wave or waves to pass under or over the said false sides or over the sides of the boat. Both ends and the lower edge of the said false sides should enter into and move against the water, so as not to create a wave or waves that would have the tendency to wash the banks or shores 5 and the said false sides should be of sufficient length, so as not to allow the wave or waves to pass outside of the said false sides until they, the waves, have been destroyed, and have passed between and through the length of the space between the said false sides and the sides of the boat in an opposite direction from which the boat is moving. The said false sides should be braced and supported in such a manner as to prevent as far as possible any of its parts trom vibrating. The said false sides and connections can be made of any suitable material. The material used should have sufficient strength to prevent as far as possible any vibrations. Movable false sides are preferable to stationary ones. The second part of my invention relates to the mode of operating the said false sides by means of movable arms, levers, and supports for folding the said false sides to the sides of the boat, and for 1owering and raising the said false sides, according to the draught of the boat. The said movable parts are to be made stationary when desired.

Description of the Acconwanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention; Fig. 2, section end elevation of the same.

General Description.

A, Fig. l, is the hull of the boat to which my device is attached. B and C, Fig. 1, are movable false sides, which should be constructed in a substantial manner, so as to prevent vibrations. The false side B folds against the boat horizontally. C, Fig. 1, folds against the boat vertically. D and D', Fig. 1, are movable arms. F F F, Fig. 1, are sockets in which the arms D D are placed. G, Fig. 1, is a lever for folding to the side of the boat the false side B. H is the fulcrum of the lever G. E, Fig. 1, is an rm to connect the lever Gto the arm D. The dotted lines, Fig. 1, show the false side B, Fig. 1, in a half-folded position. I I, Fig. 1, are the arms which support the false side C, and are made movable. K K are the sockets in which the arms I I', Fi g. 1, are placed. M is the lever for folding the false side C, which is forked on one end: L is a swivel between the forks N on the end of the lever M. The swivel L moves on the arm I when in the act oi' raising or lowering the false side C. O is the fulcrum ofthe lever M. The dotted lines, Fig. 2, show the false side C in a half-closed or lowered position.

Claim.

I claim as my invention- The adjustable parallel false sides B and C, in combination with the hull of a boat, when arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

HORACE WICKHAM, JR.

Witnesses:

D. C. ALLEN, J AS. T. ALLEN.

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