US2711708A - Portable power paddle wheel unit for row type boats - Google Patents

Description

' Jne 28, 1955 L.. 'rHoARNBuRG 2,711,708

PORTABLE POWER PADD WHEEL UNIT Fox Eow TYPE BoATs EueaAprn 2s, 1952 United States Patent() PORTABLE POWER PADDLE WHEEL UNIT FOR ROW TYPE BOATS l The present invention appertains to improvements in power means for boats and more particularly to an outboard type motor unit.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable power driven paddle wheel unit for row type boats which can be easily disposed in place and controlled readily by the boat user.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such a unit involving bicycle type handle bars for more readily controlling the steering of the boat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unit of the character stated wherein the parts are of simple construction and capable of being replaced in the event defects occur, without difficulty and much expense.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paddle wheel propulsion unit for boats that has no deeper dip in the water than the draft of the boat that it operates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paddle wheel unit that is motor driven and which will walk itself over snags, stones and other objects.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the unit, shown attached to the rear of a row type boat, the boat being shown fragmentarily and in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the steering means.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the structure shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that reference character A denotes a conventional row boat or outboard motor type boat having a vertical rear wall B.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a frame generally referred to by numeral 5, this frame including a top portion 6, a depending rear portion 7 and a bottom portion 8. Upon the bottom portion 8 is a base 9 upon which an internal combustion engine 10 is mounted, this engine having a drive shaft 11 on which is a pulley 12. This pulley may be a multiple step pulley.

A strut 13 connects the upper portion 6 of the frame with the rear portion 7 and bridging the rear portion 7 and the strut 13 is a socket 14.

A tube 15 extends vertically between the forward portion of the upper and lower portions 6, 8 of the frame and through this is disposed a shaft 16. The shaft 16 extends through the forward portion of the frame part 8 and also through the forward portion of the frame portion 6, the lower portion having a nut 17 to bear against the lower portion of the frame portion 8, while the upper portion of theV shaft 16 has a nut 17a for ice clamping a riser 6a on the forward portion of the frame portion 6 against the upper end of the tube 15.

Numeral 18 denotes `a handle bar type or steering control, which is swingably connected on a vertical plane, as at 19 to arms 20 and these arms 20 are positively connected to the riser 6a and to the end that when the handle bar 18 is swung to the left or to the right, the entire frame 5 will be moved accordingly. This is accomplished by a leg 18a depending through the swingable barrel 19, which is engageable with a quadrant gear t 19a secured to the tube 15, as shown in Figure 5. The

A pair of arcuate arms 26 project rearwardly from` the plate 23 and have openings for receiving a wing nut or the like to engage into the tube 15 to hold the unit at any desired elevation depending upon what depth of dip is desired of the impeller or paddle wheel which can now be referred to by numeral 27.

Numeral 28 denotes a fork having a shank 29 fitted into the socket 14 and held in Vplace by set screws or the like 30. The rear portions of the arms of this fork 28 are curved downwardly and rearwardly as denoted by numeral 31 and the rear ends of these arms 31 are provided with bearings 32 for receiving the end portions of the shaft 33.

A barrel 34 is located on the shaft 33 between the arms 31 and on this is the paddle wheel 27, which is made up of a disk structure 35, the peripheral portion of which is provided with a plurality of paddles 36. It is preferable that the disk have a rim of channeled constructions such as is denoted by numeral 3'7 and to this are welded a plurality of W-shaped brackets 33 to which the said paddles 36 are secured.

In cooperation with one arm 31 of the yoke 2S is a bracket 39 for supporting a shaft 40 on which is a multiple stepped pulley 41. A belt 42 is trained from this pulley 41 to the pulley 12 on the motor drive shaft 11. The inner end of the shaft 40 is provided with a small sprocket over which a chain 43 is disposed and this chain is trained over a larger sprocket wheel 44 on the tube 34, the latter being located on the shaft 33.

It can now be seen, that with the clamp 24 securing the unit in place on the stern wall B of the boat A, the propulsion unit will be in position for use and by adjusting the frame 5 and the tube 15 with respect to the arms 26, the proper depth of dip of the wheel 27 can be obtained.

When the motor 10 is started by conventional means (not shown) drive, by way of the belt 42, pulley 41, chain 43 and sprocket 44 will cause rotation of the paddle wheel 27 and propulsion of the boat will take place.

Obviously this paddle wheel will crawl over snags, stones and other objects, but the main point is that the paddle wheel will not require any more draft than the boat itself, therefore there is little chance of the paddle wheel striking any obstacles if the bottom of the boat does not first strike. There is no necessity for an underwater exhaust for the engine, due to the outside disposition of the engine with respect to the boat.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specic terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In an apparatus of the character stated, a frame, a clamp for attachment to the stern portion of a boat, a pivotal connection between the frame and the clamp to permit vertical movement ofthe frame, said clamp being provided with a depending portion, adjusting means between the lower portion of the frame and the depend# ing portion of the clamp, a yoke projecting forwardly from the upper portion 0f the frame, a steering arm providedewith a depending leg, a barrel through which the leg depends and to which the leg is affixed, said barrel being swingably mounted in the yoke for movement in a vertical plane, a propulsion wheel mounted on the rearward portion of the frame, power means mounted within the frame, and drive means between the power means and the propulsion wheel, the forward portion of the frame being provided with a tooth segmental structure between the teeth of which is engageable the depending leg of the steering arm.

France Apr. 4, 1951

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