US2479659A - Extensible drum float for watercraft - Google Patents

Description

c. L. WOODS 2,479,659

EXTENSIBLE DRUM FLOAT FOR WATER CRAFT Aug. 23, 1949.

Filed Dec. 4, 1945 5 3 T H6. 1 FIG. 2

l/ a I2 20 a F L --------------r--+----- 3+ 23 34 22 FIG. 3

mvsm-on CHARLES L. wo oos,

BY w ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23, 1949 EXTENSIBLE DRUM FLOAT FOR WATERCRAFT Charles L. Woods, Quincy, Ill.

Application December 4, 1945, Serial No. 632,713

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a float for boats, and more particularly to such a float adapted for the reducing of the draft of the vessel, in order to permit the same to navigate shoal water, or be refloated after having grounded, or th like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved float adapted to be associated with a boat and characterized by means whereby the same may be raised to be clear of the water during normal navigation of the boat, but lowered to increase the buoyancy of the associated craft, in the event the same runs aground, or when navigating shoal or shallow water, or in other instances where it is desirable to decrease the draft of the craft.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of an improved type float comprising an improvement over my previously issued Patent No. 1,902,006, entitled Boat, issued March 21, 1933.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is the provision of improved means for raising and lowering the float or floats associated with the boat as desired.

Still another object is the provision of a float of the character indicated adapted to be utilized with relatively small craft, and adapted to be fully manually controlled.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a float system for boats characterized by floats on opposite sides, which may be independently manipulated in such manner as to trim the craft, or vary the deck angle or the angle of the keel, as may be desired.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a boat embodying one form of float constructed in accordance with the instant inventive concept, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 1, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines, and other portions thereof being broken away.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmg.

Having reference now to the drawing, there is generally indicated at ID the hull of a boat, or similar water craft, provided with a deck H which extends outwardly a material distance from the side of the hull, as best shown in Figure 2.

Depending from the overlapping portion I2 of the deck H are four upright guide members l3 which extend downwardly to an extending portion or lower deck I 4 of the hull ID. The uprights 13 are positioned at the opposite corners of a relative square aperture in the portion [4 of the hull and serve as guides for a drum float housing generally indicated at 15. A diagonally extending reinforcing brace I6 is provided between opposite upper and lower corners of certain of the uprights I3, as may be desired.

The upper portions of the uprights l3 are connected by frame members I! forming a substantially rectangular housing, and extending across an intermediate portion in a direction longitudinally of the boat hull between two of the members I7, is a pair of spaced supporting members I8. The members l8 carry a depending bracket 20 secured to the under side thereof, in which bracket is journaled the extremity of an axle 2| which carries a pinion 22 positioned substantially between the members l8.

The opposite extremity of the axle 2| carries a gear 23 adapted to mesh with a pinion 24 carried by a crank lever 25 suitably secured in any desired manner in the hull l0 and preferably extending interiorly thereof into the engine room. The crank arm 25 terminates, as best shown in Figure 2, in a handle 26, whereby rotation of the handle 26 serves to rotate the axle 2|, and hence the pinion 22, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring back now to the drum float housing l5, the same is comprised of a top plate 30 from which depend guide members 3! on the sides thereof, and guide boards 32 at the ends thereof. Side boards 34 are provided and suitably secured in any desired manner to the guide members 3| and the guide boards 32. Reinforcing braces 35 are positioned about all four sides of the assembly and serve to hold the parts in related assembly.

Journaled between the side boards 34 is an axle 36, upon which is rotatably mounted a watertight drum-type float 31, preferably cylindrical in configuration, and adapted to rotate about the axle as desired.

Suitably secured to the top plate 30 are a pair of spaced apertured lugs 40 suitably bolted, as by means of bolts M, or the like, to the top 30. The lugs ll] support the extremities of a transverse stub axle 42 which is fixedly secured to a rack 43 which extends upwardly between the members l8 of the frame, and is adapted to mesh with the pinion 22. A transverse guide strip 44 {see Fig. 3?) extending between the members [8 serves to hold the rack 43 in related assembly with the pinion 22. It may here be pointed out that the association of the rack' with the stub axle 42 permits limited play in a longitudinal direction of the related elements, While the lugs 40 are spaced apart a suificient distance to provide a relatively limited amount of lateral play.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable.

It will be readily understood that during the normal operation of the water craft carrying the devices, it being noted that in the 'prerer-red embodiment of the invention one or more of the floats. should be positioned oppositely on either side of the craft, the drum float is lifted to the position disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, and normaliy clears the water level.

However, in the event that the craft is grounded, or itis desired for any other reason to reduce the draft thereof, it will be readily apparent: that rotation .of-the crank 25 by means of the handle 26 will, through the rack and pinion arrangement previously described, cause a lowering of the drum float housing and its associated floats 3?, and as soon as the drum float is immersed in the water, correspondingly occasions a relative increase in the buoyancy of the craft and a subsequent lessening of its draft, thus enabling the vessel to navigate shoal water, or reduce its draft to such an extent as to permit the vessel to be i e-floated if the same goes aground.

Obviously, if desired, when the drums are fully lowered, the boat may be towed out on land, the drums serving as wheels therefor.

Similarly, when raised, the drums act as sponshown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as '1 illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

L In an auxiliary float device for water craft, the combination of a frame secured to the side of craft, :a housing vertically movable in said frame, said housing comprising a chamber having closed ends, sides and top but open at the bottom, a drum float carried by said housing adjacent said open bottom and extending therethIongl-l, and means for raising and lowering said housing.

"2. In an auxiliary float device for water craft, a guide frame secured to the side of said craft, a housing vertically movable in said frame, said housing comprising an inverted substantially cupshaped member havingan open bottom and closed sides, ends and top, a drum float, means journalling said drum float in said sides of said housing adjacent said open bottom, a portion of said drum extending below said housing through the open bot-torn thereof, and means forra'ising and lowering said housing.

CHARLES L. WOODS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 449,092 Turver Mar.. 24, 1391 935,198 Fletcher Sept- 28, 1909 2,219,647 Degallier Oct. 29;, 1940 2,309,947 Gibbs et al Feb. 2. 1943

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