US1720452A

US1720452A - Vessel-propulsion device

Info

Publication number: US1720452A
Application number: US225926A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith William Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-10-13
Filing date: 1927-10-13
Publication date: 1929-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1946-07-09

Description

VESSEL PRoPULsIcN DEVICE File@ oct. 13, 1927 2 sheetS-sheet 2 nnnaonnnn Wi IHcml Chai/kas m'd'h www@ ' ."Patented J .-9, l

y UNTEDSTTES PTENT vo-1`=j1=i Cr..

WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH, F MINEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. i

vEssiiLrRoPULsIoN- DEVICE.

appiicmonaiea' 4ottone: '13, ieaa serial No. 225,926.

My inventioi'r relates to vessel. propulsion devices and has for its object t'ojprovide'a pair -of revoluble 'members supporting an endless carrier, said carrier beingA provided with paddles .pivoted'thereto and adapted to project outwardly therefrom -or to'lie sub` -stantially in'the plane of s aid carrier.

Another object of the invention residesin providin pairs of facing stops adapted to be alternately engaged by said paddles for liolding the same from movement in either direc-J tion from projected position so as t'o cause the same totransmit tractive effort in propelling the -vessel in either direction.

' constructing said revoluble member so; as to cause the paddles theref 1 t0 jmove intp the -plane of said carrier u on"l lthe engagement thereofwith said revolu le members.

. ing in a reverse direction for .causing the ves` r 'sel to move backwards., A

-Al featurew'of the -invent-ion resides in I arranging said paddlesfor transverse move- 4ment soas to cause' the same to engage either i .of said sets ofl stops and to further arrange 3 said paddles with the pintles thereof project 4ing outwardly beyond the carrier and to pro-- vide cam members for shifting all of said pintles during the operation of said carrier.` Another object voit the invention resides in providing an arcuate guideway adapted to v engage lugs formed upon the ends of said paddles and to reverse the position of said paddles relative to said'carrier upon movement thereof. j"

lA still further object -of the invention re; sides in providing directing members for directing the said lugs into said guideways.

Another object of the invention resides in forming the paddles with air chambers for t causing the same to float into horizontal position so as -to allow thepaddles to pass around said vrevoluble members ,during the reversal of the paddles.

of the paddles to be shifted during the re- 5 versal of the positionof the same relative to'said carrier.

` Another object of the invention resides in' Another objectof the Ainvention .resides 4housing 10 and arra A 'feature of the Vinventionvresides iin,

",Withfthe foregoing and other objects .view, which will appear in the following'descri ,tionz the invention resides in the novel mation and arrangement of parts`and in the details ofconstruetion hereinafter de lscribed and claimed.

in' the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a small [vessel illustrating the application -of my inveiftion ithereto.4

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a"portion ofl the propulsiondevice removed from the vess l. l y Fig. 3 is a plan View of the'structure shown in ig. 2; and drawn to a somewhat larger sca e. i

Fig. .4 is a sectional view taken substani tially on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

F1g."5 is at fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of one of the chains with parts thereof removed to illustrate the method of mounting the paddles thereon.

Q. For the purpose of illustrating my invention,I have shown in Fig. 1 a vessel A Awhich may be a boat of any desired type adapted to be propelled by motive power. At the stern ofthis boat I have illustrated my invention in its entirety, at B, which is installed within a housing 10 formed in the bottom of the boat and adapted to 'enclose the propulsion device along the upper portion and 'sides thereof. Withinthe.; boat'is positioned an engine 11 ofvanydesir'd type which is provided with a'shaft 12 extending-through the ed to propel the device, aswillpresently ecome apparent.

vThe invention proper -as best shown in Figs. 2 andy 3, comprises two longitudinal beams y13 and ltwhich are 4connected together at suitable intervals' with cross members 15 ri'vetedthereto. Near the ends of the beams 13 are arranged bearings V16 in which are journaled two

'shafts

17 and 18 carrying

drums

19 and 20. The shaft 18 is driven from the shaft 12 through engine 11.

The drums19 and 20 may be constructed in any suitable lmanner l and are preferably -formed seven sided, as illustrated, to accom- Vmodatethe particular type of carrier Achains shown in the drawings. AThe propulsion device which is supported on the beams 13- and 14 is mounted in the'boat by suitable structures secured to the-framework of the boat jproper--a`ndh carrying the said beams 13 Over the two drums -19and 20 pass two wardly therefrom as illustrated on the

lower chains

21 and 22, each arranged with an upper and

lower run

23 and 24. These chains consist of spaced

link bars

25 and 26 which are pivotally connected to blocks27 which serve as suitable spacers and also connect the said link bars together. These chains ride freely upon the drums 19 and 2O and it will be noted that the corners of said drums indicated at 28'are cut away to accommodate the blocks 27 of the said chains. 'I he lower runs 24 of the

chains

21 and 22 run free and are arranged to project below the'keel of the boat, as shown in Fig. 1, while the upper runs 21 are supported on tracks 29 secured to .the cross members 15 of the supporting structure of the device. l

In the centers of each of the

link bars

25 and 26 are pivotally mounted pintles 30 which extend completely across both chains and may be slid transversely relative to the same.

These pintles have secured to them paddles 3l which are adapted to normally extend outrun 24 of the

chains

21 and 22, in Fig. 2,

or which may be swung upon said pintl'es to A occupy positions as illustrated in conjunctionwith the upper runs 23 of said chains 1n the same figure, said movement being permitted through the swinging of said paddles upon the p intlesl30. In between the respective link bars 25. and 26 are arranged levers 32 and 33l which are mounted upon said pintles and are connected at their outer por tions 35 to the paddles 31. These levers are best shown in Fig. 5 and terminate at their lower ends in cams 35 which normally project outwardly beyond the contacting surface of the

chains

21 and 22, when said paddles are in projected position. Vhen the chains 21 and 22'engage the

drums

19 and 20, the cams 35 of

levers

32 and 33 engage the surface of said drums and cause the said levers together with the paddles 31 connected therewith, to

be moved into positions substantially coin-v cidingr with the plane of said chains.- In this manner, as the two chains travel around the

drums

19 and 20, the paddles are permitted to extend into projected position along the lower runs 24 and are caused to lie substantially inthe plane of the chains when moving along the' upper runs of the same.

For holdingthe addles 31 in projected position, the'following construction is employed which is best shown in Figs. 5 and 3. Along the facing surfaces of each of the link bars 25 and '26 o f the

chains

21 and 22 are arranged oppositely disposed

stops

36 and 37. These stops are-'arranged with in clined Surfaces 38 and -vertical surfaces 39 adapted to cooperate with the extended portions 40 of levers 32 orvwith portions of said leversfindicated at 41 adjacent lthe cams 35. It will be noted that the width of the levers 32 and cams 35isle'ss than the distance between one of the

link bars

25 or 26 and the '55 slidable 'along the shaft 47.

opposite stops

36 or 37 so that said levers 32 may be shifted into engagement with either of the stops. By means of this construction the said levers may be held from movement stolps. V

s before stated, the pintles 30 which carry the levers 32 and 33and the paddles 31 are slidably arranged in the link bars 25 and26 of the

respective chains

21 and 22 so that said levers may be shifted to position the same for operation `of the carrier in either forward or reverse direction. For this purpose the said pintles are of such a length that the extreme ends 42 and 43 thereof extend outwardly beyond the outer faces of the link bars 26. The ends of these pintles are adaptcdto be engaged by two cams 44and 45 which are moved in unison and which serve to shift the

shafts

46, 47 and 48 which are journaled in bearings 49 formed on the underside of said track and rigidly secured thereto. The shaft 47 is arranged for rotation within its bearings and is held from axial movement by means of two

collars

50 and 51. The two shafts 46 and 48ste connected togetherv at their two ends by means of

cross heads

52 and 53 which are rigidly secured theretoand are arranged for sliding motion in their bearings 49 and upon the shaft 47. TheseA two cross'heads have rigidly attached to them the cams 44 and 45 so that when the said cross heads are reciprocated, said cams are drawn in the paths of the

en ds

42 and 43 of p intles 3() so as to shift the same into engagement with either of the sets of

stops

36 or 37.

For shifting theeains 44 and 45 -I construct l the cross headsy 52 and 53 with bosses 54 and These bosses are constructed with spiral cani surfaces,56 and 57 which are adapted to ccact with complcmenta'l spiral cam` surfaces 58 and 59 formed on the .hubs 60 and 161 ,of the twoA levers 62 and 63 rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft 47. With this construction, the cams 44 and 45 may be simultaneously shifted llO in either direction depending upon the movei ment of said

levers

62 and 63. The lever 62 extends. upwardly beyond the device proper and may have attached to -it -arod 64 by means of whichthe device "ma be manually operated. It will be. noted-tint such playV 4exists between the

bosses

54 and 55 and the hubs 60 and 61 so' that the lever 62 may 4moved from one extreme position back into its intermediate position without affecting the shifting ofthe respective paddles. This allowsthev machine to betr-ought back to' neutral without requiring' the same to re-v main ineither of its extreme positions dur# ing the operation. of the device.

For thepurpose ofreversing the position .of the paddles 31 in traveling over the drums 19 and 20 I attach to the center portions of each ofthe tracks 29 a casting: 65 best illusvtrated in detail in Fig. 4, which is vformed with an arcuate guideway or groove 6 6 open at its two lower ends which face the chains 21`and 22 as the same pass through saidtracks. At the lowermost portions of this guidewayare pivotally mounted lingers 67.and 68 which are attached to

shafts

69 and 70 journaled in said casting 65 and extending ycompletely through the .same where said shafts have at tached to them

arms

71 and 72. These lingers are adapted to swing from their two extreme positions shown in full and dotted lines in E ig. 4 in conjunction with arms 71 'and 72 and are arranged to catch lugs 75 formed on the they extend onthe other side of said casting The

fingers

67 and 68 are .manipulated by means of the

levers

62 and 63 which are adapted to engage the extreme ends of the

arms

71 and 72 and cause the same to swingto throw the

fingers

67 and 68 into either of their extreme positions.

Arms

71 and 72 haveattached to them tension coil s rings 76 and 77 which vare so arranged 'as to old said

fingers

66 and 67 in either of their extreme ositions. As soon as the

arms

71 and 72 are rought over dead centerwith respectto' these springs, said springs throw said levers to their extreme positions.

For resetting the fingers 67 and.68 in normal position, the-"followingconstruction is used: On the end of each of s aidngers is provided an inwardly .extendingx beam 78 which is adapted to 'engage as oulder 79 formed'on. each of the 'levers' 32 and 33;4 When theA lugs 75 are entering thegroover, the saidshoulder 79 follows along upon the beam" 78 and `into'the groove 66 until-'the

levers

32 and 33 are sufficiently elevatedto cause the lowermost end of said shoulder to -clear said beam. The said 'lugs 75 the'nconf the said fingers hack into nornilhpostion.'

When all of the paddles 31 have beenieversed the shoulders 79 act 'as cam surfaces andengage the beams 78 and cause the fingers 67 l.

be again elevated. As soon as theingers pass dead center the same snap'back into normal position leaving-the

levers

32 and 33 free4 from the same and adaptedto pass along the tracks 29 without obstruction. It will be noted that the said tracks 29 are depressed as indica-ted at 80-to permit the cams35 on said

levers

32 and 33 to swing durin -the reversal of the paddles 31.- Itwill readily he comprehended that by simply throwing the lever 62 into either direction so as to engage either of the arms 71 and .72 that the lingers 67 or 68, as the case may be, are brought into operativerelation to cause the reversal of the paddles. To cause the paddles to lie'horizontally along the lower run so as to enable the same to travel over the drums in reversed position,

each paddle isformed at its outer end with an air space 81 which tends to float the said paddles and hold themin substantially horizontal position. Such buoyancy is further aided through the resistance offered by the water to the passage of thepaddles therethrou' h which causesthe paddles to swing into t er plane of the carrier. As soon as-.all of the paddles have been reversed, the power transmitted tothe drum 18 from engine 11 can also be reversed and the device will propel the vessel in a reverse direction.

My invention is highly advantageous in that a great'amount of power may be transmitted so as to give a large amount or tractive efforttogether with high velocity. The device will function so as to propel the vessel in either direction by. simply operating one lever-to reverse the paddles and another lever to reverse the power after the reversalof the- Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be madew'ithin the scope of what isclaimed without departlng from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what' I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patentis: A

1. A vessel propulsion device comprising spaced revoluble' members, an endless carrier passing around said members, a plurality of..

paddles -pivotedto. said carrier and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom 'or to' swing substantially into the plane ofsaidjcarriers,

said paddles being movable transversely relativel to said carrier, and pairs of stops for holding said paddles from movement in either' direction while in extended position, and means for shifting said paddles laterally to bring ofsto s.

'2.` vessel the .same in engagement with eitherset repulsion device comprising'.

spaced revolub e members, an endless carrier passing around -said members, al plurality of.

to bring the same in engagement with either setof stops, and means operated by said shifting means for reversing the position of said paddles relative to said carrier when substantially positioned in the plane thereof.

iii

8. A'vessel propulsion device comprising spaced revoluble members, an endless carrier passing around said members, a pluralit)r of paddles pivoted to said carrier and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom or to swing suhstantially into the plane of said carriers, said paddles being movable transversely relative to said carrier, and pairs of stops for holding' said paddles from movementin either direction ivhile in extended position, means fdr shifting said paddles laterally to bring the saine in engagement with either set ot stops. an a'ienate guideivay positioned in proximity .to said carrier, lugs-on. tlie-end of said pad dles adapted to pass through said guidewav. said paddles beingadapted to reverse in direction upon` passage therethrough, and means for directing said lugs into said guideivay. l

4. A vessel propulsion device comprising spaced revoluble members. an endless carrier passing around said members. a-` plurality ot paddles pivoted to said'cari'ier and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom' or to swing -substantially into the plane ot said carriers, said paddles being movable transversely relative to said carrier.` and pairs of stops tor holding said paddles from movement in either direction while in extended position, means for shifting said paddles laterally4 to bring the same in engagement with either set of stops. an arcuate guide 'av positioned in proximity to said carrier, lugs on -the end of said paddles adapted to pass through said guideivav. said paddles being adapted to reversein direction upon passage therethrough. and means for directing said lugs'into said guideway,'and mcanslfor rendering said direeting means inoperative upon the reversal of all of said paddles'. Y. A

5. A vessel propulsion device con'iprising spaced revoluble members. an-endless carrier passing around said members. a plurality of paddles pivoted to said carrier and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom or toswing substantially into the plane of said carriers, said paddles being movable transversely relative to. said carrier.. and pairs of stops for -holding said paddles' from 'movement in either direction lwhile in exten-ded position, means for shifting said paddles laterally to bring the same in engagement with either set of stops, an arcuate guideway positioned .in proximity to said carrier, lugs on the end of said paddles adapted to pass throu h said guideway, said paddles being adapte to reverse in direction upon passage therethrough, and means for directing said lugs into said guideway, said directing means being simultaneously operable with said shifting means.

6. A vessel propulsion device` comprising a. pair of revoluble drums, a pair of chains passing over'eaeh end of s'aid drums, said chains comprising spaced link bars pivoted together, levers pivoted to said link bars at the centers thereof, paddles attached tosaid levers, oppositely facing lstops formed on the inner surfaces of said link bars' for alternate engagement with said levers for holding said paddles from movement from extended position in either direction, said levers being transversely movable, and means forshifti ig4 said levers to bring the same in engagememl` ivith either set of stops.

7. A vessel propulsion device comprising a pair ot revoluble drums, a pair of chains passing over each end ofvsaid drums, said chains comprising spaced link bars pivoted together, levers pivoted to said link bars at the centers thereof, paddles attached to said levers. oppositelyfacing stops formed on the inner surfaces of said ,link bars for alternate engagement with said levers for holding said paddles from movement from extended position in either direction, vsaid, levers being transversel)v movable, said levers having the p intles thereotextending outwardly beyond the surface of said chains,a member shittable transversely relative to said -chains, spaced cam members formed on said shiftable member adapted to strziddle said chains and to alternately engage the p intles on opposite sides ot said paddles for shitting said levers into engagement with either of said set ot stops.

8. A vessel propulsion device comprising a pair of ievoluble drums. a pair of chains passing over ea'cb end of said drums. said chains comprising.spaced link bars pivoted together, levers pivotcd to said link bars at the centers thereof, paddles attached to said levers, oppositely facingr stops formed on the inner surfaces ot said link bars for alternate engagement with said levers for holding said paddles4 from movement from extended positi'on in either direction. said levers being transversely movable. said levers having the pintles thereof?extending outwardly beyond the surtace'ot' said chains, a member shiftable transversely relative to said chains. spaced cam members formed on said shiftable inember adapted to straddle said chains and to alternately engage the piiitlcs on opposite sides of saifd paddles for shifting said levers into engagement with either of said set of stops,

medito,

. of said paddles rela-tive to said chains.

9. l vessel propulsion device Comprising spooed revolulole members, an endless carrier passing' allround said members, 2i `plurality of paddles pivoted to said carrier and adapted 4 to extend outwardly therefrom. stops on sziid paddle from swinging in one direction, and the other of said stops being adapted to engage the peddle on the opposite side theeof for holding` said paddle from swinging; in the opposite direction, sind means for alternately bringing each successive paddle into'engage ment with either oit' the stops Corresponding therewith.

ln testimony whereof-'vl have afxed my 2Q- l signature to this specilication.

llllhldtlllll CHARLES lllll'lll..

carrier, two tor each paddle, one'of said stops l@ being; @Adopted to engage the corresponding; peddle on one side thereof vlor holding seid