US929564A - Boat-propeller. - Google Patents

Description

S. T. CRAWFORD.

BOAT PROPELLER. v APPLIOATION FILED mus, 1908.

929,564. Patented July 27, 1909.

N unumu l W him! .21 [law 0rd SAMUEL T. CRAWFORD, OF

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM GREEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOAT-PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application filed May. 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,900.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boat-Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in marine propellers, and it has for its object primarily to provide a simple and em cient propelling apparatus which is capable of being readily applied to vessels of various kinds and especiall to small vessels, such as row boats or the li e, and in some instances it may be applied to the usual steam or sail ing vessels of moderate size to serve in cases of emergency to effect the propulsion and steerin thereof.

Anot er object of the invention is to provide repelling means of this character wherem the propelling blade or screw is mounted in cooperative relation and movable with a rudder element whereby the ap paratus serves not only for the propulsion of the vessel, but may be used also for the steerin thereof.

Further objects of the invention are to provide "propelling mechanism of the class described which is provided with novel means for attaching it to the stern of the boat, the mounting thus provided serving to support an inclined shaft carrying the propelling means, able axially so as to vary the depth of the propeller so as to accommodate it to shallow water, and it is also an object of my invention to provide operating means for the propeller that may be conveniently manipulated while the operator either sits within the'boat or is in a standing position.

To these and other endsfthe invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propeller constructed in accordance with my. present invention, the pro eller being shown attached to the stern o a small boat; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the device partly in section Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the coupling elements which provide a universal connection between the'shaft of the propeller the said shaft being adjust 4 a horizontal screw and the main operating shaft; and Be it known that I, SAMUEL T, CRAWFORD,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a device for mounting the propelling means-upon a boat.

Similar parts are designated by thesame reference characters in the several views. Propelling apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention is capable of being used generally on vessels of various kinds and sizes, the size of the propelling I apparatus and the detail construction thereof varying according to the different application of the invention, the apparatus being shown in the present instance as applied to a vessel of relatively small size, such as a row boat, which is capable of being propelled by hand power.

The propplling apparatus shown in the present em odiment of my invention comprises a frame 1 which is referably flat and provided with a plate or lade 2 at the rear end which serves as a rudder. The forward portion of this frame is recessed at 3 to receive a pro eller. Any suitable form of propeller may e used, but it is generally preferable to employ an axially-elongated screw or auger propeller 4, the axis of which is arranged horizontally of the rudder frame. This pro eller is provided with a supporting shaft 5, t e rear end of which is 'journaled in a bearing 6 formed at the forward end of the rudder blade 2, and the forward end of the propeller shaft is connected by a suitable o crating shaft is preferably inclined rela .tively to the axis of the ropeller in order that the axis of the propel or may remain in ositionbeneath the surface of the water w ile the inclined shaft extends upwardly so as to be accessible for o eration from the boat. The operating sha in the present instance is provided with a socket 8 at its lower end having a square or other angular-shaped recess therein to receive a corresponding angular-shaped member 9 fixed to the forward end of the propeller shaft, the recess in the socket being referably ta ered toward its inner end and t e member 9 eing also correspondingly tapered in order that the socket and its cooperating member may provide a driving connection between the shaft and propeller notwithstandin the angular relation ofthe two shafts. T e socket 8 may be keyed, plinned or otherwise suitably attaehed to t e lower end of the driving shaft, the adjacent end of saidshaft being journaled in a bearing 10 formedin the forward end of therudder frame. The opposite-end of the driving shaft is journaled m a gear su porting frame 11, and a driving pinion 12 is eyed, pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to the u per end ofthe driving shaft. A relatively lar e bevel wheel 13 cooperates with the sma er pinion 12 and 'isv venient y manipu ate these handles to propel the boat.

7 The gear frame is connected rigidly to the rudder frame preferably by means of a tube or pipe 17, the ends of which may be threaded 1nto the respective frames, and this tube or pipe ineloses the driving shaft and thus protects it from sea-weed or from the deteriorating action ofthe water.

Any suitable means may be employed for -mounting the propelling means upon the boat orvessel. It IS generally preferable to so mount the propelling means as to enable the same to be swerved or turned in a horizontal direction so as to steer the course of the vessel by the use of the rudder, and to also permit an adjustment of the apparatus in the direction of the axis of the driving shaft in order that the depth 'of the ropeller and rudder beneath-the surface of t e water may be varied according to the depth of the water which the boat is navigating. In the present instance, a bracket is provided which com rises a clam portion 18, the arms of whic h are adapte to fit over the boat or vessel at the stern and is provided with a screw or other appropriate device 19 for locking the clamp in position. A swiveled clam 20 is mounted on the vattaching clamp, itav.- ing a stem 21 which fits into a bearing 0 en'-, ing formed in the upper side of the attae ing clamp, and it is provlded with a air of arms 22 and 23 which are connected y a clam ing screw 24. The roximate sides of t e arms 22 and 23 are ormed with concentric recesses to receive the tube 17 which connects the rudder and gear frames and surrounds the driving shaft. 24 is loose, the tu may be adjusted axially so as to vary the depth of the ro eller below the surface of the water an a so the distance'of the propeller from the stern of the boat, and by tightening the screw 24, the apparatus will be firmly locked in adjusted position, the rudder 2 at this time standin in a vertical position, and the driving shaft eing inclined upwardly-and forwardly from the propeller.

While the screw In practice the boat or vessel is propelled.

by an occupant thereof tumin the handles 15 and 16 111 an ap ropriate motion of the whee 13 being transmitted thro gh the pinion 12 to the driving shaft 7, and tation'of the driving shaft communicates motion through the universal joint to drivin shaft to vary the immersion-of the pro e er and rudder according to the depth of t e water. As the swivel clamp is capable of rotating only about the stem 21 as an axis, the a paratus will be supported at all times in t e proper angular position. By

.surroundingthe propeller with a frame such as that described, the pro eller is protected from foulingupon shallow ottoms and other sunken objects. v

'Propelling apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention is com-- paratively simple in construction and efficient in operation, all parts of the apparatus being connected together so that it is only necessary to attach the securing clamp to the boat in .order to apply the ap aratus thereto, and in practice a relatively igh efirection, the

ficieney is 'obta'med for the reason that the axis of the propeller is horizontal or parallel to the surface of the water so that the driving force of the propeller is in a plane parallel to the path of movement of the boat, the inclined driving shaft being operatively connected by the universal joint to the shaft of the pro eller and extending in a direction upward y and forwardly to the boat.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a boat propeller, in combination, a clamp for attachment to a boat, a gear frame, a propeller frame, a tube conneetin said frames and held in said clamp, said tube being mounted in'sai'd clamp for axial adjustment, a driving shaft passed through said tube andhaving its end portions j ournaled in said frames, gear means su ported by said gear frame for driving said s iaft, a propeller shaft having a bearing in said propeller frame, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, and a driving connection between said driving shaft and said propeller shaft.

2. A propeller attachment for boats com prising a revoluble propeller sup orted for angular adjustment in a horizonta direction with respect to a boat, a rigid driving shaft arranged angularly with respect to the axis of the propeller, means for maintaining the propeller an dpermanently its driving sea-sea shaft in fixed angular relation, a universal drivin connection between said shaft and propel er, and means for operating the drivmg shaft from a boat.

3. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a revoluble propeller having its axis arranged substantially horizontal, a driving shaft inclined relatively to the axis of the propeller, one of said parts having a socket provided with an angu ar tapering recess and the other part having an angularly-shaped tapering stem to cooperate with said socket and form a driving connection therewith, and

means for supporting the propeller andshaft for angular adjustment with respect to the length of the boat and for driving the propeller and shaft.

4. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a revoluble propeller having its axis arranged substantially horizontal, a rigid driving shaft inclined relatively to the axis of the propeller, means for permanently maintaining the axes of the propeller and driving shaft in fixed angular relation, a universal joint 'operatively connecting the propeller and the driving shaft, and means for supporting the propeller and shaft for angular adjustment bodily with respect to the bofit and for operating the shaft and prope er. 5. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a revoluble pro eller having a longitudinal axis, a rope ler frame having a steering rudder t ereon in rear and in co-' operative relation with said propeller, a driving shaft inclined relatively to the axis of the propeller and o erable from the boat, a driving connection etween the propeller and said inclined shaft, and means for supporting the propeller and shaft for angular adjustment about an axis transverse to the length of the driving shaft.

6. A propeller attachment for boats comrising a frame, a ropeller journaled on a ongitudinal axis tierein, a rudder formed by the rear portion of said frame, a rigid driving shaft inclined with respect to the axis of the propeller and having its lower end journaled in said frame, means for rigidly maintaining the said shaft in fixed angular relation to the axis of each propeller, a universal joint operatively connecting said inclined shaft and pro eller, and means connected to the frame 'or sup orting it in different angular positions wit 1 respect to the boat.

7 A propeller attachment for boats comprising a propeller frame having a rudder formed in the rear portion thereof, a revoluble propeller having a shaft journaled at its rear end in said frame and provided with a member of a universal joint at its forward prising a frame, a rudder formed in the rear portion of said frame, a propeller journaled in the frame in advance of the'rudder, a rigid driving shaft arranged in inclined relation-to the axis of the propeller and having its lower end journaled in the frame and provided with a universal joint forming a driving connection with the propeller, a gear frame mounted on the upper end of the shaft and provided with suitable operating mechanism, a tube inclosing the shaft and having its ends secured respectively to the rudder frame and the gear frame, and means cooperating with said tube for supporting the apparatus for angular adjustment with respect to the boat. I 9. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a propeller frame, arevoluble ropeller j ournaled therein, a rlgid driving s raft melined with respect to the axis of the pro peller and having a universal joint providing a driving connection therewith, means at the upper end of the driving shaft foroperating the latter, a tube inclosing the driving shaft, and a bracket coo crating with said tube and adapted for attac ment to theboat and providing for an axial adjustment of the driving shaft with respect thereto to vary the immersion of the pro eller. 10. A propel er attachment for boats comprising a revoluble propeller, a drivmg shaft operatively connected thereto and provided with gearing for driving the same, the arms of said shaft being inclined relative to the axis of the propeller, and a bracket for-suporting the apparatus upon a boat, said racket being provided with an attaching clamp, and with a clamp swivcled to turn on the bracket about an axis transverse to the axis of the driving shaft, the swiveled bracket being provided with means to surround said inclined driving shaft for permitting a relative axial adjustment thereof, and'for securing the same in different adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit-

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