US1961506A - Foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats - Google Patents

Description

c. F. MILLICAN ,961,506

FOOT POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS June 5, 1934.

Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet l F w A .i 4

ATTORNEY.

June 5, 1934. c LI 1,961,506

FOOT POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS Filed Dec. 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 4 L l I *1" Q 1 Z! 750 m m w 6 23 60 52 10 J16 1 M 0 w I 6! 5 4 A 7 1 J0 J0 J9 I T g 26 I l I I A0 J1 o 14 26 ATTORNEY.

tivities.

Patented June 5, 1934 FOOT-POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROL- LING APPARATUS FOR BOATS Carl F. Millican,

Indianapolis, Ind.

Application December 30, 1932, Serial No. 649,561

9 Claims.

This invention relates to combined propelling and controlling means for small boats of the type adapted for use by hunters and fishermen or by sportsmen, and has reference more particularly 5' to means whereby one person may propel and control movements of a boat not only for forward movement but rearward movement of the boat by foot-power or so as to not require use of the arms and hands for operation and control of the boat.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined propelling and controlling apparatus for boats that shall be of such construction as to enable one person to simply operate and control a boat to quitely move it either forwardly or rear- Wardly or to steer the boat to vary the direction of its movements, and especially while sitting in the boat and facing forwardly so as to most conveniently observe the attending sportmens ac- Another object is to provide an improved sportmans boat propelling and controlling apparatus which shall be adapted to be operated and controlled by the feet of one person with varying degree of movement of the feet, and which may be so constructed as to be adapted to be unitarily and portable to permit ready shifting of the apparatus to different boats and permitting the apparatus to be readily folded and stored when not desired for use.

A further object is to provide an improved propelling and controlling apparatus for boats which shall be of simple and reliable construction and yet not be costly to manufacture or to install for use.

A still further object is to provide an improved propelling and steering apparatus for boats which shall be of such construction as to be adapted to be shifted for reversing or propelling the boat backwards and again normally propelling the boat forwardly and entirely under control of the feet of an occupant of the boat, and which shall be adaptedto be strong, durable and economical in use.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a novel combined boat-propulsion and steering apparatus having reversing properties; and in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in claims comprising parts of this specification.

Referring .to the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan of a novel gearing comprised in the invention and mounted on the rearward portion of a boat, the gearing being according to one of the advantageous forms of the invention, the propeller shaft being shown as being arranged for propelling the boat forward; Fig. 2 is a similar top plan in which the gearing is shown in relatively reverse position of the propeller so as to cause backing or reverse movement of the boat Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the novel propelling and controlling gearing constructed substantially in accordance with one form thereof as indicated in the preceding views; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan View showing details of the gearing; Fig. 5 is a top plan of the rearward portion of a boat provided with the invention in the form of construction herein-before illustrated and showing the propeller shaft arranged so as to steer the boat in one direction; Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5 but with the propeller shaft turned oppositely so as to steer the boat in the opposite direction; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the gearing particularly showing portions of the driving gear apparatus; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing other portions of the drive gear; and Fig. 9 is a perspective View of associated controlling parts of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

As illustrative of the purposes and functions of the invention the rearward portion of a boat is shown which comprises a bottom 1, hull sides 2 and 3 and a stern portion 4 of suitable shape, for the purposes of the present invention the hull having a seat 5 fixed therein to support the occupant of the boat approximately in the stern portion thereof and so as to face forwardly and permit ready operation and control of the boat by means of a rotary propeller and novel apparatus for the operation and control thereof.

Suitable mounting devices comprise a frame base or hollow bar 6 of suitable'length which has end pieces 7 and 8 tightly secured on the opposite ends of the base part, each end piece having a vertical bar 9 of suitable vertical length to bear against the back of the stern portion 4 and extend higher and is provided with a jaw 10 and a set-screw 11 for clamping the end piece to the stern portion. Two guide rollers 12 and 13 are suitably spaced apart and mounted on end portions of the base and conveniently are each provided with a supporting jaw 14 secured to the upper portion of the bar 9 of the end piece. A supporting arm 15 is provided with a head member 16 which embraces the base bar 6 and pera screw propeller 28 fixed thereto.

mits the arm to be forced to turn upwardly but is supported against drooping movement by suitable means if needed, the arm having a journal box 17 on its end and may be provided with a heel 18 to engage the back of the boat to suitably support the arm and machinery that may be carried by the journal box which has a vertical hollow frame part 19 rotatable therein and extending therethrough, the part 19 extending downwardly approximately to a point lower than the bottom of the boat when in operative position. A gear case 20 is provided which has a hub 21 that is rigidly secured on the lower end portion of the part 19, the latter having a ring 22 fixed therein a short distance from its lower end through which a drive shaft 23 extends upward and downward beyond the frame part. A gear wheel 24 is fixedly secured to the lower endportion of the shaft and is located within the casing 20, one side of the casing being provided with a boxing 25 rotatively supporting a propeller shaft 26 so as to be horizontally arranged and having a pinion 27 thereon meshing with the gear wheel. The propeller shaft projects outwardly and has The under portion of the casing 20 and the journal box 25 has a suitable propeller guard 29 thereon which may be dragged over small obstacles and prevent damage to the propeller.

A novel drive and control mechanism includes a sector 30 having a hub 31 which is secured to the hollow frame part 19 upon the journal box 17, a guard plate 32 suitably arranged upon the sector and axle stud 33 with a pulley 34 thereon,

' and an axle stud 35 secured to the sector approximately on the opposite side of the hub. The studs project through the plate 32 and the'pulley 34 and a small guide pulley 36 is arranged on the studs respectively upon the guide plate. A similar guide plate 32' is arranged upon the studs slightly above the rollers and upon the plate 32', a roller 34' is mounted on the stud 33 so that it is above the roller 34, and a roller 36' is arranged on the stud 35 and upon the plate 32'. A drive pulley 37 is mounted with its hub member approximately on the top of the frame part 19, the latter being tubular as shown, and a lower portion of the pulley extends. downward over the part 19 and rotatively guided thereon by means of bearing rollers 38. The drive shaft 23 has a clutch member 39 secured to the upper portion thereof and extending into the upper portion of the pulley 3'7 and has suitable grooves or recesses in which rollers or balls 40 are arranged L to co-operate with the inside of the pulley rim an opening freely receiving the clutch member 39.

For stopping rotation of the frame member 19 when turned so as to move the propeller and under the boat for reversing boat movement, a stop device is provided which comprises a body plate 43 having a hub 44 which is secured on the base 6 and serves as a stop collar for the part 16, the plate 43 having a stop member 45 and also a tail part 46 adjustably bolted thereto and extending downward to bear against the back of the stern or the portion 4 of the boat, the plate 43 having also a stop finger 4'7 on its upper portion to be engaged by a stop projection 48 with which the sector 30 is provided.

In case the heel 18 of the arm 15 does not make contact with the rear portion of the boat stern because of inclination of the stern portion, the journal box 17 may have a lug 49 fixed thereon to normally contact with the end of the arm 45 so as to ordinarily steady the frame part 19 to prevent angular changes thereof but releasing the connection in case the propeller is swung upward by dragging of the guard 29.

Suitable foot-power apparatus comprises two belts 50 and 51 extending over the guide pulleys 12 and 13 respectively, the belt 50 extending over and partly about the roller 34, the belt 51 being oppositely arranged and extending partially about the roller 34, both belts being wrapped on and secured to the drive pulley 37 in one and the same direction. A- pivot shaft 52 is arranged in practice upon the bottom of the boat and connected at its ends to two radius rods 53 and 54- that are pivotally connected to seat rails 55 and 56 respectively which are mounted upon the seat 5 and supporting a seat back 57. Two foot- levers 58 and 59 are supported at the lower ends by the rod 52 and are connected to the belts 50 and 51 respectively so as to be independently operated for control of the apparatus, the levers being provided with suitable pedals or foot parts 60 and 61 respectively so that an operator on the seat 5 may push the foot-levers forward and thereby exert pulling force on the belts, retraction being effected by the spring 41.

In practical use both foot-levers may be simul taneously pushed forward with equal force which turns the drive pulley and thereby rotates the drive gearing and the propeller, pressure on the foot-levers being intermittently released while the spring 41 causes retraction and return movement of the drive pulley. Steady propulsion of the boat is accomplished by pushing of both foot-levers simultaneously and intermittently, and steering is effected by varying the force applied to the foot-levers by which the frame part 19 is turned more or less in the desired direction after which equal pressure is applied to cause rotation of the propeller. 'The propeller is swung around in the direction shown in Fig 5 by increased pressure and movement of the righthand foot-lever 58 while further movement will cause the propeller to be swung further around so as to be under the boat as shown in Fig. 2 whereby backing or reverse motion of the boat may be effected. When the foot-lever 59 is pushed forward while the other is retracted the propeller is swung around sufficiently for steering in the opposite direction, approximately as shown in Fig. 6. After causing proper adjustment of the propeller shaft radially to effect the desired steering movements the propeller is rotated by causing uniform pull on both the belts, and propulsion may result by graduatingly pushing on either one of the foot-levers, since each one of the belts is appropriately wound on and connected to the drive pulley. The guidance of the belt by the rollers 34 and 34 as their positions are shifted result in various rotative movements of the frame part 19 and consequent shifting of the propeller to effect steering actions, as clearly illustrated in various figures of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. A propelling and controlling apparatus for boats unitarily combined and having a propeller shaft and a propeller thereon, a solitary portable supporting frame base, an arm mounted on the base, a frame part vertically supported rotatively by the arm, a propeller shaft radially carried by the frame part and radially movable thereby to various positions and under the base and the arm, and foot-actuated gearing and apparatus continuously to rotate the frame part and also the propeller shaft.

2. A foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats combined having a stationary frame base, a vertical frame part and a propeller shaft carried radially thereby, a propeller fixed to the shaft, means supported by the base rotatively supporting the frame part in normal position and permitting the part to shift the propeller shaft radially and to reverse position, drive gearing supported by the frame part and operatively connected with the propeller shaft, and foot-power means having connection with the drive gearing to operate the gearing and simultaneously to control the frame part.

3. A foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats combined and having a relatively stationary supporting and controlling frame base, a vertical rotary frame part and a propeller shaft carried radially thereby, a propeller fixed to the shaft, means supported by the base rotatively supporting the frame part to control radial position of the propeller shaft, intermittently-acting clutch drive gearing carried by the frame part for rotating the propeller shaft, and foot-power means having operative connection with the drive gearing and guided on the frame base to control rctativity of the propeller shaft and also the frame part.

4. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combined having a horizontal stationary frame base and two guide sheaves widely spaced apart thereon, a frame part rotatively supported by the base, a propeller shaft rota-- tively carried by the frame part and carrying a propeller, over-running clutch drive gearing supported by the frame part and operatively connected with the propeller shaft, the gearing having a drive pulley, two foot-levers movably supported separately, two flexible drive belts connected to the foot-levers respectively and extending over the sheaves respectively and thence to the drive pulley and wrapped thereon, and a sector fixedly secured to the frame part and having devices thereon contacting with the belts to control them to rotate the frame part and thereby shift the propeller shaft.

5. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combined having independently movable foot-levers, a frame part with a base and an arm thereon rotatively to support the part, intermittently-acting clutch drive gearing and pulley therefor rotatably supported by the frame part, a propeller shaft radially carried by the frame part and shiftable thereby to various positions radially with a propeller fixed to the shaft, the propeller shaft being driven by the drive gearing, a sector fixedly secured to the frame part and having two rollers thereon, two drive belts connected to the foot-levers respectively and in one direction with the gearing pulley and extending about the rollers in opposite directions respectively, and two sheaves spaced apart on said base in guiding contact with the drive belts respectively.

6. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combined having a stationary horizontal frame base provided with a clamp jaw and also two spaced-apart guide sheaves, a frame arm pivotally connected to the base, means to control pivotal movement of the arm, a hollow frame part rotatively carried vertically by the frame part and carrying a propeller and a guard therefor, a rotary driving mechanism carried by the frame part and having driving connection with the propeller, a sector fixedly secured to the frame part and having rollers mounted thereon, two movably supported foot-levers, and two flexible belts operatively connecting the driving mechanism with the foot-levers separately and guided separately on the guide sheaves and on the rollers to control the sector.

7. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combined having a stationary horizontal frame base, a vertical hollow frame part having a lateral supporting arm pivotally mounted on the base for support and rotatably supporting the part, the frame part including a gear case with a propeller carried thereby. a driving mechanism including an intermittently acting drive pulley carried by the frame part and having operative connection with the propeller, two movably supported foot-levers, a sector arranged upon and fixedly secured to the frame part and having control devices thereon, and means operatively connecting the driving mechanism drive pulley with each of the foot-levers and having lateral guiding control on spaced-apart portions of the frame base and also with the control devices on the sector.

8. A reversible foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combined including two foot-actuated power devices, a propeller shaft carrying a screw-propeller, a hollow frame part carrying the propeller shaft and provided with a control sector fixed to the part and having control devices for rotatively moving the frame part, a base having belt guides widely spaced apart thereon, control means carried by the base and rotatively carrying the frame part for shifting the propeller shaft radially, drive gearing having an actuating pulley carried by the frame part to operate the propeller shaft, and two belts wrapped upon the pulley in one and the same direction and connected with the two power devices respectively, the belts being guided by the belt guides respectively and controlling the control sector by lateral pulling contact with the control devices thereon.

9. In a reversing foot-power propelling and 130 controlling apparatus, the combination of a frame base and an arm thereon, a hollow frame part rotatively supported vertically by the arm, drive gearing having a pulley rotatively carried by the frame part, a rotary propeller carried on one side of the frame part and having operative connection with the drive gearing, a coil spring connected with the frame part and the gearing pulley, a sector fixedly secured to the frame part, two separate foot-levers, two drive belts connected to the foot-levers respectively simultaneously to operate and control the clutch pulley and the sector, and separate means on the frame base to guide the belts.

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