US495410A - Grosse - Google Patents

Description

2 SheetsSheet 1. W. GROSSE. STBAMBOAT (No Model.)

Patented Apr'. 11, 1893.

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W. GROSSE. STEA'MBOAT.

No. 495,410.. PatentdApr. 11, 1893.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GROSSE, OF LITTLE SUAMICO, WISCONSIN.

. STEAM BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,410, dated April 11, 1893. Applicationfiled September 1, 1892. Serial No. 444,761. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRossE, of Little Suamico, county of Oconto, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steamboats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce improvements in vertically adjustable propellers, whereby the draft of the boat may be increased or diminished to suit the necessities of navigation. It-is desirable, ordinarily,

to have the propeller set as low as possible in order to gain speed,but for small craft, where a river of varying depth is to be navigated, it also is desirable to have the propeller susceptible of vertical adjustment, either automatically or at will. By my device Iprovide means whereby the propeller of a boat may be ordinarily set deep, but arranged so that if the false keel should strike the bottom of the river it will raise the propeller asuitable distance, and allow the boat to pass without danger to the propeller, or without the possibility of getting stuck on the bottom.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a side elevation of a boat with my invention attached showing the propeller in the highest elevation. Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the propeller in the lowest position. Fig. 3, is a view of the knuckle joint, for uniting the propeller shaft to the main shaft. Fig. 4, is an end view of the supporting mechanism for the false keel. Fig. 5, is a top plan view of the false keel detached; and Fig 6, is a plan view of the mechanism at the stern of the boat.

Referring to the figures on the drawings: 1, indicates a boat, and 2, a shaft, connected to an engine 3, and set in suitable fixed bearings, as usual, in the boat.

4, indicates a propeller shaft, I will call it, or a shaft which is connected .to the main shaft by a universal joint 5, and which is carried in gimbal bearings 6, in the vertical frame piece 7. The frame piece is preferably composed of flat strips of metal, as illustrated, and which are adapted to be set in suitable vertical bearings 8, on opposite sides of the medial line of the stern of the boat.

9 indicates a rack upon the frame piece,

which meshes with a pinion 10, that isadapted to be rotated and raise the frame piece by means of the lever handle 11.

12 indicates a lock pinion united to the shaft 13 of the pinion 10, which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl or lock lever 14. By means of these pinions the frame piece may be raised by a push from below, without the aid of the handle for the purposes to be hereinafter explained. Anyother suitable loose connection between the boat and frame piece may, however, be employed. The gimbal bearing of the propeller shaft is soar-ranged that the propeller shaft may have some longitudi-f nal play within the bearing in order to accommodate-the shaft to the vertical motion of the frame piece. The construction illustrated consists of an internally squared collar upon the gimbal bearing, adapted to receive the correlatively squared end of the propeller shaft, thereby producing a longitudinally yielding connection between the shaft and the bearing.

15 indicates a false keel pivoted on opposite sides of the keel 16 near the stern of the boat. It consists preferably of two branches provided with a cross brace 17 and is adapted to be secured to the ends of the frame piece in any suitable manner.

18 indicates a rudder which is adapted to v be attached removably to a vertical rod 19 secured to the frame 7. For this purpose I prefer to employ split eyes 20 upon the rudder, the splits of the eyes are narrower than the body of the rod, but are adapted to allow the passage of the upper flattened end of the rod and so permit the rudder to be lifted vertically and removed.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description that the operation of my device is controlled by the operating of the ratchet, either by means of the lever or by the resistance upon the false keel from below, as where the boat passes over a shallow place, the bottom will strike against the false keel and raise it the proper distance. The ratchet wheel will revolve freely in the one direction so as to allow the rack upon the frame piece to pass up a suitable distance. After the rack has passed the desired distance the ratchet will be held rigidly and will support the rack in 2. The combination with a boat, of a false keel pivoted on opposite. sides of the main keel, extending rearwardly to the stern of the boat, and there connected with a vertical l frame piece, a rack upon the frame piece a ratchet upon the boat meshing with the rack, a shaft supported by suitable fixed bearings in the boat, a propeller shaft carried upon the fixed shaft, a suitable universal bearing in the frame piece andv means for the longitudinal movement therein of the propeller shaft, substantially as and for the purpose as specified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto v subscribed my name.

WILLIAM GROSSE. Witn esses WILLIAM SMITH, G. H. WILSIE.

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