US3087455A - Boat propulsion unit - Google Patents

Description

G. G. COLLIER BOAT PROPULSION UNIT April so, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20. 1960 INVENTOR. Gilbert 6. Collier QQZZQJZM ATTORNEY April 30, 1963 e. e. COLLIER BOAT PROPULSION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Gilbert 6. Collier Filed May 20, 1960 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice 3,087,455 BOAT PROPULSION UNIT Gilbert G. Coltier, 2924 Catherine St, Shreveport, La. Filed May 20, 1964 Ser. No. 30,670 3 Claims. (Cl. 11525) This invention relates to pedal operated boats, and it has particular reference to propelling devices by which small boats can be moved over water by the manipulation of levers or pedals, and where speed is not a requisite, as when used for fishing or hunting water fowl, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a compact fin unit adapted to be installed in pairs on any type of small row boat and operated from the interior thereof.

An object of the invention is that of providing a simple and economical device capable of being installed in the sides of a boat, and having an operating mechanism extending through the hull while completely sealing the same against leakage.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a boat propulsion mechanism by which the boat can be maneuvered about the water by the feet while the hands can remain free to handle fishing gear, guns, and the like, as in fishing and hunting activities. It is. contemplated that the mechanism may be installed either fore or aft of the longitudinal center of the boat, or both forward or aft, as desired, and operated by one or two persons aboard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique butterfly type of fin, pivotally connected to the operating levers, and hinged longitudinally to fold upon itself whereby to present a minimum of resistance in its forward movement while presenting its maximum surface to the water as it is moved rearwardly.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a fin assembly which in its inoperative positon, lies within a receptacle attached to the sides of a boat whereby to present a minimum of resistance in the forward movement of the boat.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustration of the propelling fin in extended position, and fragmentarily, in dotted lines, in closed position, the boat being fragmentarily shown.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded illustration, in perspective, showing the fin and its receptacle plate, and the assembly of parts therefor.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective illustration of the fin in folded position in its forward stroke.

FIGURE 4 illustrates, in perspective, the pedal and linkage mechanism inside the boat for manipulating the pair of fins, the bow of the boat being fragmentarily how FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the fin receptacle plate, with portions cut away to fragmentarily show the fin reposing therein with its longitudinal hinge, and illustrating the actuating lever both in dotted and solid lines in operative and inoperative positions, respectively of the fin,

FIGURE 6 is an elevational sectional view on lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5 showing the sealing ring, the lever bearing plate and its housing.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, on lines 7-7 of FIGURE 5, showing the fin receptacle plate sealing ring, the lever bearing plate and its housing, and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the upper gasket for the bearing plate housing, the lower gasket being shown in dotted lines.

3,037,455 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 Referring to FIGURE 1, which fragmentarily shows the boat 10', the invention primarily comprises a fin receptacle plate 11 which is attached to the sides of the boat 10 by screws 12, or other suitable device. The plate -11 is elongated in form and its forward portion 13 is preferably rounded and has a gradual taper, as may be more readily seen in FIGURE 5.

Spaced rearwardly from the forward portion 13 of the plate 11 is a recess Which extends the remaining length thereof and is open at the rear end 15 of the plate 11, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to define a shallow receptacle 14 whose upper and lower walls 16 and 17 have exterior rounded surfaces which, with the inwardly curved forward end portion 13 of the plate 11, presents minimum resistance as the boat 10 is moved through the water.

A slot =18 is formed longitudinally in the plate 11 in the forward portion -13 thereof and communicates with the forward rounded end of the receptacle 14, as shown in FIGURE 1, through which the arm 19 of a fin assembly 20 extends and is capable of a reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane. The arm 19 is formed with a circular bearing plate 21, shown in FIGURE 2, and has its longitudinal axis angled obtusely with respect to the pivotal axis 22 of the bearing plate 21. Another arm 23 is formed with the plate 21 opposite the arm 19 and is axially aligned with the pivotal axis 22 of the plate 21.

Secured at one end to the arm 19, as by welding, or other device, is a rod 24 which provides a hinge for a pair of blades 25 and 26 which together comprise a fin capable of propelling the boat 10 when moved in an arc toward the receptacle plate 11. Each of the blades 25 and 26 has a pair of integral journals 27 and 28 by which the blades are pivotally attached to the rod 24 at their inner or adjacent edges, as apparent in FIG- URE 2, so that the blades 25 and 26 can fold together in their forward movement, as in the manner shown in FIGURE 3.

The blades 25 and 26 are normally extended in the positions shown in FIGURE 1 by a relatively light spring 29 coiled about the rod 24- and having portions 3% and 31 hearing against the blades 25 and 26 and readily yieldable under water resistance when the fins are moved forwardly upon each. stroke.

A pair of cylindrical spacers 32 and 33 are arranged on the rod 24 to prevent movement of the blades 25 and 26 therealong, the inner spacer 33 hearing against the shoulders 34 formed at the juncture of the rod 24 with the arm 19, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The hinged blades 25 and 26 are held in open position by engagement of their adjacent edges. The blades 25 and 26 are prevented from being collectively rotated by their engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the arm I9 at their inner ends, and by engaging a pin 35 arranged through the outer end of the rod 24, the latter being shown in FIGURE 2. The blades are retained on the rod 24 by a nut 36 threaded on the outer end thereof.

The bearing plate 21, of which the arms 19 and 23 are integral parts is pivoted on a bushing 37 arranged on a bolt 38 which extends through an integral semi-circular flange 39 on the inner surface of the receptacle plate 11 and through a conformable cover plate 40 which is secured at each end to the fiange 39 by screws 41, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The flange 39 has a recess 42 in its inner face to receive the bearing plate 21 and, with the cover plate 40 provides a housing therefor, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The flange 39, with the cover plate as, is projected through a slot 43 in a side of the boat 10, as shown in 3 FIGURES 4, 5 and 7, so that the arm 23 extends into the boat It} where a longitudinally adjustable link 44 is pivotally attached by a clevis 45 to the outer end of the arm 23, a pin 46 being passed through the clevis and an aperture 47 in the end of the arm 23. A bushing 48 provides a bearing for the pin 46.

The opposite end of the link 44 has a clevis 49 thereon which is pivotally attached to crank arm 50 rigidly fixed to a shaft 51 rotatably supported by hearing supports 52 and 53, the former being attached to the inner wall of the boat 16 while the latter is secured to the bottom thereof, as shown in FIGURE 4. Attached to the inner end of the shaft 51 is a pedal 54 by which the shaft can be oscillated by the foot to effect reciprocation of the fin assembly 26 through the link 44 and the arms 23 and 19.

It has already been stated that the invention is installed in pairs, one assembly on each side of the boat 10, and thus a pedal 54 is provided for each of the fin assemblies 20. Each pedal 54 has its fulcrum located nearer the heel portion thereof so that the greater portion is forward to provide greater leverage in operating the fin assembly to propel the boa-t forward. The heel portions of the pedals 54 have upturned flanges 55 to support the operators heels when the pedals 54 are depressed rearwardly to return the folded fin assemblies 2% to their operative positions. This operation requires less leverage because the fins are brought back to their operative positions more easily due to their minimized resistance in the water.

To facilitate the operation of the leverage assembly provided by the link 44, and the arms 23 and 19, the bearing plate 21, of which the arms 19 and 23 are integral parts, is lubricated in its housing through a plurality of curved and diverging slots 56 and 57 formed in gaskets 53 and 59 between the flange 39 and the undersurface of the plate 40, as shown in dotted and solid lines, respectively, in FIGURE 8 and in dotted lines in FIG- URE 5, and in the sectional view shown in FIGURE 7. A conventional grease fitting 60 is threaded into the plate 40 which communicates with the slots 56, as well as an arcuate slot 57 also formed in gaskets 58 and 59 to conduct the grease onto the surfaces of the plate 21 and about the perimeter thereof within its housing to aid in sealing the housing against leakageof water from the exterior of the craft. Plugs 61, of a nubber-like material, are impressed in recesses 62 formed in the flange 39 on forward and aft edges of the rotatable bearing plate 21 to further seal the bearing plate housing against leakage.

A sealing ring 63 of a suitable yieldable material is arranged about the slots 43 in the sides of the boat 10 between the outer wall thereof and the receptacle plate 11, as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

The structure herein shown and described is obviously capable of certain changes and modifications, by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a small boat having opposing sides, each having an opening therein forwardly of said boat and partially below the normal water line, pedal means for propelling said boat, comprising, a receptacle plate for a pair of fin assemblies attached to each side of said boat at said opening therein and covering said opening, each of said plates having a recess formed substantially coextensive therewith and a slot providing an extension of the forward end of the recess in each plate, a semi-circular flange formed with the inner face of each plate and extending through the opening in each side of said boat, each said flange having a recess extending across its upper face aligned with the bottom of each said opening, a cover plate secured to the upper face of each flange and beyond the sides of said recess therein, a circular bearing plate, having inner and outer arms formed on opposite sides thereof, pivotally secured in the recess of each flange and between said flange and said cover plate, whereby the outer arms extend through the openings in said boat exteriorly thereof and the other of said arms extends interiorly of said boat, a rod integral with and forming an extension of each of the exteriorly extending arms, a pair of blades hingedly connected to each of said rods along their adjacent longitudinal edges and foldable upon themselves upon horizontal pivotal movement of said rods forwardly of said boat, a pair of shafts rotatably arranged transversely of the bottom of said boat, each having a crank arm fixed thereon, and a link operatively connecting each said crank arm to the inner end of each of said interiorly extending arms of said bearing plate, and a pedal fixed to each of said shafts for rotating the same to oscillate said bearing plates and the arms formed therewith whereby to operate said hingedly connected blades on said rods.

2. The structure of claim 1, the receptacle plate having an elongated recess, substantially coextensive with its Width, in its outer face, rearwardly thereof, and the slot of the receptacle plate communicating with the forward end of the recess, the rod being movable pivotally with the arm from a retracted position, in which the oppositely extending blades and the rod are received in the recess, to an extended position in which the blades and the rod extend laterally outwardly and forwardly relative to the direction of movement of the boat.

3. The structure of claim 2, a resilient sealing ring surrounding the opening of the sides of said boat, between the sides and the receptacle plate, a pair of resilient spacer elements between the flange and its cover plate, forwardly and rearwardly of the arm, whereby the flange and its cover plate are connected under tension, a pair of gaskets on opposite sides of the arm, between the arm and the flange and its cover plate, providing a fluid seal therebetween, the gaskets having lubricating channels therein for application of a lubricant to the oppored surfaces of the arm and the flange and its cover plate to provide a more fluid tight joint therebetween while at the same time permitting free pivotal movement of the lever relative to the flange and its cover plate, and a lubricating fitting operatively connected to the cover plate and communicating with the lubricating channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 44,380 Bachmann Sept. 27, 1864 2,715,884 Greenlee Aug. 23, 1955 2,733,680 Wagner Feb. 7, 1956 l

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SMALL BOAT HAVING OPPOSING SIDES, EACH HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FORWARDLY OF SAID BOAT AND PARTIALLY BELOW THE NORMAL WATER LINE, PEDAL MEANS FOR PROPELLING SAID BOAT, COMPRISING, A RECEPTACLE PLATE FOR A PAIR OF FIN ASSEMBLIES ATTACHED TO EACH SIDE OF SAID BOAT AT SAID OPENING THEREIN AND COVERING SAID OPENING, EACH OF SAID PLATES HAVING A RECESS FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH AND A SLOT PROVIDING AN EXTENSION OF THE FORWARD END OF THE RECESS IN EACH PLATE, A SEMI-CIRCULAR FLANGE FORMED WITH THE INNER FACE OF EACH PLATE AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN EACH SIDE OF SAID BOAT, EACH SAID FLANGE HAVING A RECESS EXTENDING ACROSS ITS UPPER FACE ALIGNED WITH THE BOTTOM OF EACH SAID OPENING, A COVER PLATE SECURED TO THE UPPER FACE OF EACH FLANGE AND BEYOND THE SIDES OF SAID RECESS THEREIN, A CIRCULAR BEARING PLATE, HAVING INNER AND OUTER ARMS FORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, PIVOTALLY SECURED IN THE RECESS OF EACH FLANGE AND BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SAID COVER PLATE, WHEREBY THE OUTER ARMS EXTEND THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN SAID BOAT EXTERIORLY THEREOF AND THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS EXTENDS INTERIORLY OF SAID BOAT, A ROD INTEGRAL WITH AND FORMING AN EXTENSION OF EACH OF THE EXTERIORLY EXTENDING ARMS, A PAIR OF BLADES HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID RODS ALONG THEIR ADJACENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES AND FOLDABLE UPON THEMSELVES UPON HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID RODS FORWARDLY OF SAID BOAT, A PAIR OF SHAFTS ROTATABLY ARRANGED TRANSVERSELY OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOAT, EACH HAVING A CRANK ARM FIXED THEREON, AND A LINK OPERATIVELY CONNECTING EACH SAID CRANK ARM TO THE INNER END OF EACH OF SAID INTERIORLY EXTENDING ARMS OF SAID BEARING PLATE, AND A PEDAL FIXED TO EACH OF SAID SHAFTS FOR ROTATING THE SAME TO OSCILLATE SAID BEARING PLATES AND THE ARMS FORMED THEREWITH WHEREBY TO OPERATE SAID HINGEDLY CONNECTED BLADES ON SAID RODS.

Images