US2365415A - Scull for boats - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1944. KRUS-E 2,365,415

S CULL FOR BOATS Filed May 8, 1944 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,365,415 a SCULL FOR BOATS Edward H. Kruse, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,551

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a scull for propelling boats in which a flexible blade, attached to an oar shaft having swivel support in connection with a boat to be propelled is employed.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable maneuvering appliance that is readily attachable to an ordinary rowboat by which to propel the boat forward or backward and effect steerage thereof during propulsion.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device so as to permit folding of parts thereof to conserve space during transport and storage thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means readily accessible to the operator when the device is mounted on a boat by which to efiect reversal of the propeller blade and to lock the blade in selected positions of adjustment.

And a further object of the invention is to provide means of adjustment in connection with the operating shaft and its support by which to sustain the operating shaft in selected positions of inclination relative to the boat while mounted I thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a structure in which the invention is incorporated, parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the operating shaft and the propeller blade in normal position while idle;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the operating shaft and the propeller blade while flexed during travel in one direction;

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary top plan view of the operating shaft and the propeller blade while flexed during travel in the opposite direction;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view upon an enlarged scale in section on the line a::r of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing a fragmentary cross-section of Fig. 5, on the line yy thereof and v Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a cross-sectionof Fig. 5 on the line z-z thereof. v

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a bracket 8 made in a form adapted to rest astride the stern 9 of a boat, there being provided a clamp-screw I0 and binding nut H by which to clamp the bracket in place. A swivel.

head I2 ismounted on the bracket and is secured thereto by its stem l3 so as to have turning movement upon a vertical axis in the bracket. A teeter-bar I4 is mounted upon the swivel head with which it is secured by means of a fulcrum pin l5 to'permit tilting movement of the teeterbar about the horizontal axis of the pin. An adjusting bolt I6 is threaded in the teeter-bar and is disposed so that its lower end bears upon a ledge I! that projects rearwardly from the swivel head. By turning of the bolt tilting movement of the teeter-bar in one direction is limited thus to sustain the bar in selected positions of ad- J'ustment.

Lateral swinging movement of the teeter-bar about the axis of the swivel head is imparted by means of an operating handle I8 which has a bifurcated member I9 that is connected to the teeter-bar by a transversely disposed hinge pin 20 and rests, when in operating position, upon a projecting lip 2| on the forward end of the teeter-bar. The operating handle is adapted to be folded over onto the rear portion of the teeterbar out of the way of the operator when the device is out of use.

A tubular operating shaft 22 i secured to the teeter-bar I4 so as to extend rearwardly in longitudinal alinement therewith, the rear end portion of the shaft being bent downwardly to depend substantially in a vertical plane. Upon the pendent end portion 23 of the shaft is mounted a flexible propeller blade 24, preferably formed of rubber,- which has a tubular head 25 that encompasses the pendent portion of the shaft loosely so as to permit turning and axial movement thereon. The lower end of the tubular head of the blade hassecured thereon a dog 26 through which the lower end of the shaft loosely extends, there being secured on the terminal end of the shaft a lock member 2! having an external flange 28 provided with opposite radial notches peller attached thereto are moved upwardly thus to vclear the lugs from the notches 29 in the by manipulation of the adjusting bolt [6.

- the other.

lock member and permit turning of the dog and the blade upon the shaft.

Upon the shaft 23 is concentrically disposed a compression spring 34 that is confined between a disk 35 on the shaft and a ball bearing 36 seated concentrically in the upper end of the tubular head 25 of the blade. The spring urges the blade head and its dog downwardly into engagement with the lock member 21.

Mean are, provided. for disengaging the dog from the lock member thus to permit turning of the propeller blade from one to another of its operating positions. For this purpose there is conveniently arranged a lock lever 3'! which is secured to the teeter-bar I4 by a hinge pivot 38, and is connected with the cross-bar 32 by a pullwire 39 that extends from the lock lever irito the operating shaft through an opening 40 therein, the arrangement being such as to cause lengthwise travel of the wire in the shaft upon operation of the lock lever, in opposition to. retraint of the spring 34, wherefore to release the dog from engagement with thelock member thus to permit turning of "the blade on th shaft from one position of. adjustment to another.

In utilizing the invention, the appliance is mounted upon an ordinary'l'owboat by clamping the bracket astride the stern structure 9 thereof so the operating shaft extends rearwardly from the boat and the propeller blade is submerged in the water to a suitable depth as predetermined The propeller blade 24 .is then adjusted so as to extend rearwardly or forwardly from it support on the operating shaft, according to the direction in which the boat is to be propelled. Movement of the propeller blade from one of its operating positions to the other is conveniently accomplished by manipulation of the lock lever 3'! so as to release the dog from engagement with the lock member 2;! and then, While thus released,

swaying the operating shaft laterally to and fro by manipulation of the operating handle l8. The propeller blade, owing to resistance of the water, trails in the path of movement. of the pendent operating shaft and is turned thereon from its initial position, and upon reverse lateral sway of the operating shaft :is caused to swerve toward its opposite operating position, which is induced by resistance of the water to the travel of the blade. In this manner, the operator, while seated in the boat, by simply manipulating the lock lever 31 and the operating, handle i8, is enabled to effect adjustment of the propeller blade into either one or the other ofv its operating positions, according to the direction of travel desired;

A feature of the invention is that the structure permits flexure of the propeller blade 24 as it is alternately moved broadside against opposing walls of water; In the present instance the tubular head of the blade, at its lower end, is restrained from turning movement on the operating shaft by the dog when locked, while the upper end of the tubular head is unrestrained from having torsional movement about the shaft, the ball bearing 36 being provided to permit lagging of the upper portion of the propeller blade when the blade is in action in either one direction or Thus i assured presentation of the active faces of the propeller blade against the opposing walls of the "surrounding water, advantageou'sly flexed to induce propulsion.

Variations from the particular construction above disclosed may be resorted to by the exercise of skill in the art, without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, and the following claims are intended to be inclusive of such variations.

What I claim is:

1. A scull for propelling a boat, a bracket detachably secured to the stern of a boat, a swivel head mounted on said bracket for movement about a vertical axis, a teeter-bar fulcrumed on said head for movement about a horizontal axis, a tubular operating shaft secured to and extending'frorn the teeter-bar rearwardlyin axial alinement therewith, the rear end portion of said shaft extending pendently, a flexible propeller blade having a tubular head encompassing the pendent portion of said shaft loosely to permit turning and axial movement relative thereto, a lock member secured on the terminal end of said shaft, .a dog secured about the lower end of said head having engagement with said lock member in selected relative positions, a spring acting on said head to-sustain engagementof the dog with said lock member, a mechanism having a lock lever on said teeter-bar, and a cross bar engaged with said dog connectedly attached to said lock lever to control locking engagement of said dog with said member, and an operating handle connected with said teeter-bar wherefore to manually impart movement to said operating shaft.

2. In a sculling attachment for a boat, a bracket attachable to. the stern of a boat, an operating shaft having means in connection with said bracket to support said shaft and permit vertical tilting and lateral sway of the shaft relative to the bracket, said shaft having va pendent rear portion, a flexible propeller blade provided with a tubular head that encompasses the pendent portion of said shaft loosely to permit turning and axial movement thereon, means in connection with said head and the shaft to lock said blade in opposite operative positions selectively on said shaft, av lock lever and means in connection with said lever and the blade structure to control locking engagementthereof with said shaft, and a handle in connection with the operating shaft 'for imparting movement thereto.

3. In a boat sculling apparatus, a bracket attachable to the stern of a boat, an operating shaft having means in connection with said bracket to support said shaft and permit vertical tilting and lateral sway'thereof relative to the bracket, said shaft having a pendent rear portion, a flexible propellerfblade provided with a tubular head that l'oosely'encompasses the pendent portion of said shaft, locking means in connection with the lower end of said head and the shaft to secure the blade to'the shaft .in opposite operative positions selectively, and a lock lever provided with a connection with said locking means for controlling same.

4. In a boat sculling apparatus, a bracket attachable to the stern of a boat, an operating shaft having means in connection with said bracket for support thereon and to'perrm't'vertica'l tilting and lateral sway of the shaft relative to the to said shaft adjacent said dog adapted to have engagement with said dog to secure said blade in opposite operating positions selectively on the I shaft, and means including a lock lever and a connection between said lever and the dog to control engagement of said dog with said lock member.

5. In a boat sculling apparatus, a bracket attachable to the stern of a boat, a swivel head mounted on said bracket for movement about a vertical axis, an operating shaft pivoted on said head for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, said shaft having a pendent rear portion, a flexible propeller mounted movably on said pendent portion, and means in connection with said propeller and shaft for locking said propeller in opposite operating positions selectively relative to said shaft.

6. In a boat propellin apparatus, a bracket attachable to a boat, an operating shaft mounted in connection with said bracket for vertical tilting and lateral swaying movement relative thereto, a flexible propeller blade having a tubular head disposed loosely on the rear end portion of said shaft for axial and turning movement thereon, a dog on one end of said head, a lock member on said shaft with which said dog has engagement in opposite operating positions selectively, a spring acting to hold said dog in locked position, and a mechanism, having engagement with said dog, provided with a lock lever and a connection therebetween, wherefore to unlock the dog in opposition to said spring and permit turn ing of the propeller blade from one operating position to another.

7. In a. boat propelling apparatus, a bracket attachable to a boat, an operating shaft mounted in connection with said bracket for vertical tilting and lateral swaying movement relative thereto, a flexible propeller blade having a head through which one end portion of said shaft loosely extends, and means in connection with one end of said head and the shaft to prevent relative turning movement thereof, the remaining portion of said head being free to have movement about said shaft to permit lagging thereof as the blade is flexed upon swaying movement of the shaft in either direction.

8. In a boat propelling apparatus, a bracket attachable to a boat, an operating shaft mounted in connection with said bracket for vertical tilting and lateral swaying movement relative thereto, and a flexible propeller blade having a head one end ofwhich is secured to said shaft and the remaining portion thereof being free to have lagging movement about the shaftupon flexure of the blade as the shaft is swayed in either 25 direction.

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