US876385A - Propelling apparatus for boats. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 14. 1908.

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JQHIT Ulm? Snecma L7M/@QAM J. A. MOILWEE. PROPBLLING APPARATUS APoR BOATS,

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APPLIOATIDH FILED SEPT..16,1907.

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PATENTED JAN. 14, 19.08.

J. A. MOILWEE, PROPELLING APPARATUS .FOR BOATS.

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lvwentoz APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16,1907.

wi h1 uns Gnomz JAMES A. MCILWEE, OF CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO.

PROPELLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedaan. 14,1908.

Application filed September 16. 1907. Serial No. 393.203.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. MeLwnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cripple Creek, in the county of Teller and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Propelling Apparatus for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propelling aparatus for boats and its object is to provide paddle Wheels designed for use in connection with small boats and having mechanism whereby said wheels can be conveniently actuated by an occupant of the boat.

A still Afurther object is to provide means whereby either or both paddle wheels used can be placed in or out of operative relation with the driving mechanism.

A still further object is to provide simple means whereby either or Aboth of the paddle Wheels can be locked against rotation.

Another object is to provide simple mechanisni by means of which the person operating the boat can at the same time steer it.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more Vfully de# scribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure l is a plan view of a boat embodying the present improvements, a portion of one of the paddle boxes and paddle wheels being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. F ig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of the clutch members and its actuating lever.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a boat of any preferred construction having oppositely arranged seats 2 therein adjacent the center of the boat and located below and in front of the rear seat is a centrally fulcru med steering lever 3 connect-ed by means of cables 4 with oppositely extending arms 5 within the stern of the boat and secured to and movable with the rudder 6. The end portions of lever 3 constitute foot rests as indicated at 7 so that the person occupying the Arear seat 2 can place his feet upon the rests 7 and readily steer the boat. Extending laterally from and secured to the gunwales of the boat are paddle boxes S preferably substantially semieylindrical in form and open at the bottom and Within each paddle box is journaled j a shaft l l l l l j l l l l s 9 having ears l() radiating therefrom. To each ear is bolted or otherwise fastened a paddle 11 the inner end of which is of less width than the outer end thereof. Each paddle has ears 12 extending from one face thereof and bolted or otherwise fastened to reinforcing rings 13 which are arranged concentric with shaft 9.

Each shaft 2) extends a short distance into the boat and feathered upon the inner portion thereof is a sleeve 14 having an annular groove 15 and a disk-like head 1.6. Teeth 17 extend from the inner faces of the disks and projections 1S extend from the outer faces thereof. An inclined lever 19 is fulerumed below each shaft t) and has a projection 2O designed to project into groove 15.

Standards 2l. are secured within the boat and journaled within them is a shaft 22 disposed in alinement with the shafts 2) and pro# vided at eaeh end with a toothed clutch member 23 which is ilixedly secured to the shaft and designed to be engaged by the teeth 17 of the adjoining disk lo'. A crank 24 is formed by that portion of the shaft .22 between the standards and extends through slots 25 formed in a lever 2G which is fulfrumed below the shaft as shown at 27. The upper portion of the lever has handles "2S whereby the same can. be conveniently oseillated by a person or persons occupying the seats 2.

In using the mechanism herein described it is to be understood that the same may be actuated either by one or two persons occupying the seats 2. lf one person alone is to operate the boat it will be necessary for him to assume the rear seat 2 so that by placing his feet upon the rests 7 it would be possible to steer the boat as well as to propel it. By pulling the .levers 10 inwardly toward the center of the boat the disks 1.6 can be shifted so that their teeth 1.7 will engage the clutch members 23. By oscillating the handles 2S crank 24 will be rotated and cause a correspending movement of the shafts and 'paddle wheels. As the levers 1.) can be independently actuated it will be obvious that either or both of the paddle wheels can be placed in operative relation with the driving mechanism. Should it be desired to lock either or both of the wheels against movement, as when it is desired to quickly turn or stop the boat, the levers 1) are swung outwardly until one of the projections 1S on each disk 16 is caused to lap the adjoining lever Whereupon said lever will act as a lock to prevent further rotation of the disk and paddles.

lt will be seen that with this apparatus a considerable of speed rotation of the paddle wheels can be obtained and the boat can be readily propelled either backward or forward. Should the crank assume a position at a dead center it can be quickly moved by placing a foot upon the crank and pushingl it downward.

/Vhat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a boat having'v oppositely disposed seats g of a drive shaft interposed between the seats and having a crank, oscillatory means interposed between the seats and engaging the crank for rotating the shafts, paddle wheels at the sides of the boat, a lever for placing either of said wheels in or out of operative relation with the drive shaft, and means disposed to be engaged by each lever to lock the wheels against movement.

2. The combination with a boat of a drive' shaft journaled therein, means for rotating the shaft, clutch members revoluble with the end portions of the shaft,jshafts projecting beyond and alining with the lirst mentioned shaft, paddles carried thereby, clutch members slidably engaging the projecting shafts, oscillatory means disposed when moved in one direction to shift the slidable clutch member into engagement with the adjoining clutch member of the drive shaft, and when shifted in the opposite direction to uncouple the clutch members and engage the slidable clutch member to lock it and its shaft against rotation.

.3. rl`he combination with a boat, paddle shafts journaled thereon, and a drive shaft of a clutch member movably mounted upon each paddle shaft, and means disposed when moved in one direction to couple said member with the drive shaft, and when moved in the opposite direction to uncouple said member from the drive shaft and place it in engagement with said means shaft against rotation.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MCILWEE.

Vitnesses:

J. B. ROERIG, E. J. /VHITE.

to lock the paddle

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