US2394011A - Boat propulsion apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1946. H. H. RAuLERsoN l BOAT I ROPULSION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet v 1.

jI-NVENTR. H A! IPM/595ml Feb. 5, 1946. H. H. RAuLERsoN f 2,394,011'

BOAT PRoPULSIoN APPARATUS .Filed Jan. 13, 1945 2 sheetsshee't 2 5l A v 52 l r INVENTOR. HH. nuz Emsa/v Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE 2,394,011 f BOAT PRoPULsIoN APPARATUS v Hardy H. Raulerson, Iiong Beach, Calif. Application` January 13, 1945, Serial No. 572,655

9 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to a boat propulsion apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for providing rotary driving motion from a pivoted member.

A more specific object of ther invention is to provide a boat propelling apparatus including a pivoted operating arm and novel means connecting the arm to a propeller for driving a boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat propelling apparatus including a pivoted operating member and wherein means is provided which is operative during a portion of the movement of the member to simultaneously drive a propeller and energize a spring device which latter serves to drive the propeller during another portion of the movement of the operating member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel drive mechanism for a boat propeller.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat propelling apparatus including novel means .for driving and feathering a propeller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a boat propulsion apparatus embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section partly in side elevation view, and taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig.' 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the propeller pitch changing device taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the propeller taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the propeller hub and the pitch changing mechanism as enclosed therein and taken on line 5--5, Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 1'l, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 7, and

Referring to the drawings .by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a boat propulsion apparatus which is indicated generally as at III). AS shown, the device includes a frame -having end walls II, side walls I2, and a bottom I3. Journaled in suitable bearings I4 on the side walls I2, I provide a shaft I5 which 55.l bers has an operatingv handle IB 4rigidly `secured thereto. A crank arm I1 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft I5 of a link i8. The other end of the link I8 is attached to a crankv I9 which is fixed on a shaft 20. lThe shaft 20 has a bevel gear 2I thereon which drives a pinion gear 22 on Ja hollow shaft 23. The shaft 23 passes through a hole 24 in the adjacent end wall II and has a propeller indicated generally at 24' mounted thereon.

A spur gear 2-5 attached to the shaft 2:0- is adapted to drive a smaller spur gear 26 which yhas a crank arm 21 thereon. One end of a cable 28 is attached to the *crankv` arm 21 and runs over and has the other end attached to a segmental pulley 29 mounted on a shaft 30, journaled in the side walls I2 of the frame I0.

An eccentric cam pulley 3|, also mounted ron the shaft 30 supports another cable 32 which has its inner end attached to one end of a tension spring 33, the other end of the spring being fixed to a cable 34 which is fastened as at 35 to the lower end of a pitchA changing lever 36 mounted on a shaft 31l which is rotatably supported in bearing 31 on the side walls I2 of the frame.

A pair of arms 38 are attached at one end to the shaft 31 as at 39, and have their other'ends attached to clamps 40 at 4I. The clamps 46 are fixed tothe outer race A of a bearing 42.y The inner race B of the bearing is fixed to a sleeve 43, which is slidably supported on the shaft 23, and upon movement of the lever 36 and the arms 38, a rod 44, enclosed within the hollow shaft 23, may be moved back and forth through a connection between the sleeve 43 and the rod 44, con-y 46 in the' pin 45 that Slides in a Slot sisting of a This structure is clearly shown in shaft 23. Fig. '7.

'I'he propeller 24' a rear streamlined. portion 52,A which includes a hub 50., having portion 5I, and a forward threadedly engages the rear end of the shaft 23 as at 53. Reaction blades 54 and 55 are mounted on the portion 52, and have inwardly extending shafts 56` whichv are held in alignment by a sleeve 51. Outward of the sleeve 51, I provide S- shaped crank arms 58 and 59 which may be attached to links 60 and 6I which are pivotally pinned to the rearward end of the rod 44 as at 62. The cranks 58 and 59 are held against rotation by means of pins 63 and 64 which also serve to retain the shafts 56 in position. Packing glands may be provided for the blades as shown at 65 and for the mem- 5I and 52 as shown at 61.

and is attached to one end Vsuch shifting of the lever To hold the lever 36 in adjusted position, I provide a toothed. rack 10 (Fig. 3) which is engaged .by a dog l'II pivoted at 12 tothe lever 36 Y and urged to seated position by a spring 13.

The gear 26 is one-halfA the diameter of the gear 25 so that a ratio of 2: 1 is provided.

As shown, the shaft I has an arm 15 depending therefrom. One `endof a spring 16 is secured to this arm 15 while the other end of the spring is secured to the'adjacent end wall Y II.

be driven through the rod I 8 and thecrank I9,Y

to drive the propeller 24,'. The construction of the gears 25 and 26, the pulleys 29'and 3I-and the spring 33 is such that approximately half the energy at the lever I6 is transferred to the spring and the other half is put into the propeller. This energy in the spring is returned Yto thejdrive shaft at the extreme forward and back positions Y ofthe lever I6. This will cause a counterbalancing effect to make for ease in operating the mechanism. Y

The pitch of the blades may be varied` by moving the rod 44 whereupon the arms 66 and 6I will cause the crank arms 58 and 59 to rotate the shafts56 and in turn the blades 54 and 55, to any predetermined position.

'I'he movement of the lever 36 to adiustvthe propeller pitch also simultaneously reduces or increases the tension on the spring 33 depending upon the direction of movement of the rod.' This prevents a sudden change in the amount of power required to operate the lever I6 when the pitch of the propeller 24 is altered. Y n

In Yoperation the propeller24 is Varranged at the rear of the boat and the handle I6V moves to the left in Fig. 2 when pulled by the operator Yand moves to the right in Fig. 2 when pushed by the operator. During the pulling of this' handle I6 the pull of the spring 16 is increased and this increased pull is given up when the drive shaft, manual means for rotating said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, means for driving said propeller shaft from said drive shaft, a second shaft, means operated by the drive shaftforoscillating the second shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a spiral working surface, v

a flexible member anchored tosaid cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member havin-g one end connected to said flexible member, means to anchor the other end of said resilient member, and a propeller on said propeller shaft.

2. A `propulsion apparatus including a drive Y.

shaft, manual means for rotating said drive shaft, a propellershaft, means for driving said propeller shaft from said drive shaft, crank means, means to drive the crank means at twice the speed of thedrive shaft, a second shaft, a cam member onv said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a spiral working surface, a flexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surfaceY of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, means to anchor the other end of said resilient member, a pulley on said second shaft, and a second flexible member having one end connected to the pulley and the other end connected to said crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank means being such that when the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion of the cam most remote fromV its axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft. 3. A boat propulsion apparatus including a drive shaft, manual means for rotating said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, means for driving said handle I 6 is pushed forwardly. It is a well recogf Vnized fact that a person can pull a lever moreV readily than he can push it and the spring 1,6 tends to Vcompensate for thisV difference.

The tension of the spring Handspring 33 when the lever 36 is vertical, as shown in Fig. 2, is even. Thus the pull of theV cable 34 on Y the llower end of the lever 36Y is largely taken When the lever 36 is shiftedl` Yforwardly or backwardly to change the pitch, the

up by the spring 11.

balance between the springs 33 and 11 permits to be easily accomplished.

an even flow of power lat the point -ofv traction; As a result there is no pulsating load and4 there are no points of dead center and therefore the efliciency of the operatoris increased. With my construction an action similar to that of aA ily wheel is produced with an even flow of power to the drive shaft and this constant flow of power` to the drive shaft increases the efficiency.

Havingy thus described'my invention and the present preferred embodiments thereof, I desire tok emphasize the fact that many Vmodifications mayberesorted to in by a `lust interpretation of the following claims. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1.'A boat propulsion a Y manner limited only apparatus including a With theeccentric action describedV I secure '60 propeller shaft from said drive shaft, crank means, means to drive thecrank means at twice the speed of the drive shaft, a second shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam mem@ ber including a cam portion having a spiralworking surface, a ilexiblemember'anchored to saidcam member and'engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, a shiftable anchor member, means to connect theY other end of said resilient member to said anchormember, a pulley on said second shaft, a second flexibleY memberhaving one end connected to the pulley and the other end connected to lsaid crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank meansV being such that when the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion of theV cam most remote from its axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft, and a propeller on said propeller shaft.

4. A boat propulsion apparatus including a manually operable actuating member, a drive shaft remote from the actuating member, means driven by said member for rotating said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, means on said drive shaft for driving said propeller shaft, crank means, means to drive the crank means at twice the speed of the drive shaft, a second shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a spiral working surface,` a flexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, a pivotedY arm,

shaft, a second flexible member having one end connected to the pulley and the other -end connected to said crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank means being such that when the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible memberoperatively engages the portion of 'the cam most remote from its axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft, and a propeller on said propeller shaft.

5. A boat propulsion apparatus including a pivoted operating lever, a vdrive shaft remote `from the lever, meansdriven by said klever for rotating said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, means on said drive shaft for driving said propeller shaft, crank means, means to drive the crank means at twice the speed of the drive shaft, a second shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a spiral working surface, a flexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, a pivoted arm, means to connect the other end of said resilient member to said arm, a pulley on said second shaft, a second flexible member having one end 'connected to the pulley and the other end connected to said crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank means being such that when the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion of the cam most remote fromits axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft, and a propeller on said propeller shaft.

6. A boat propulsion apparatus including a piv oted operating lever, a drive shaft remote from the lever, means driven by said lever for rotating said drive Shaft, a propeller shaft, means on said drive shaft for driving said propellerl shaft, crank means, means to drive the crank means at twice the speed of the drive shaft, a second shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a working surface, a flexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, a pivoted arm,

means to connect the other 'end of said resilient member to said arm, a pulley on said second shaft, a second flexible member having one end connected to the pulley and the other end connected to said crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank means being such that when the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion of the cam most remote from its axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft, a propeller on said propeller shaft, said propeller including a hollow hub portion having feathering reaction blades independently rotatable thereon, means to feather each blade, and means connecting said feathering means to said pivote-d arm.

'1. A boat propulsion apparatus including a pivoted operating lever, a drive shaft remote from the lever, means driven by said lever for rotating said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, means on said drive shaft for driving said propeller shaft, -a gear secured on said 'drive shaft, another gear driven by said first gear, said other gear being of one-half the diameter of the first gear, crank means driven by said other gear, a second shaft remote from said first shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including pivoted to the rod a cam vportion having a spiral working surface', a flexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, 1a resilient'me'mber havingl one end connected to said flexible member, a pivoted arm, lmeans Ito connect the other end of said resilient member fto said arm, a pulley on said second sh-aft, a-second flexible member having one end connected to the pulley andthe other end connected to said crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said crank means being such that rwhen the crank means is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively-engages the portion of the cam most remote from its axis and approaches its axis as the crank means recedes from the second shaft, a propeller on said propeller shaft, said propeller including a hollow hub portion having feathering reaction blades independently rotatable thereon, means to feather each blade, and means connecting said feathering means to said pivoted arm.

8. A boat propulsion apparatus including a pivoted operating lever, a drive shaft remote from the lever, crank means driven by said lever for rotating said drive shaft, a gear on said drivek a spiral working surface, afiexible member anchored to said cam member and engaging the working surface of said cam, a resilient member having one end connected to said flexible member, a pivoted arm, means to connect the other end of said resilient member to said arm, a segmental pulley on said second shaft, a second flexible member disposed in said pulley groove and having one end connected to the pulley and the other end connected to said other crank means, the relation of said cam working surface and said other crank means being such that when the othercrankmeans is nearest to the second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion of the cam most remote from its axis and approaches its axis as the other crank means recedes from the second shaft, a propeller on said propeller shaft, said propeller including a hollow hub portion having a pair of axially aligned blade shafts thereon, a feathering reaction blade mounted on each blade shaft, a crank arm on each blade shaft, said propeller shaft being hollow, a rod being mounted to move in said hollow propeller shaft, a pair of links and pivoted to the crank arms, and means connecting said rod to said pivoted arm.

9. A boat propulsion apparatus including a pivoted operating lever, la drive shaft remote from the lever, crank means driven by said lever for rotating said drive shaft, a gear on said drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a gear on said propeller shaft and meshing with said first gear, a-third gear secured on said drive shaft, a fourth gear driven by said third gear, said fourth gear being of one-half the diameter of the third gear, other crank means driven by said fourth gear, a second shaft remote from said first shaft, a cam member on said second shaft, said cam member including a cam portion having a spiral working surface diminishing towards its axis, a flexible flexible member, a pivoted arm, means to connect the other end of said resilient member to said arm, a segmental Ygrooved pulley on said second shaft, a secondv exible member disposed in said pulley groove andV havingV one end connected to the pulleyw and having the other end connected to rsaid other crank means, the relation of said cam'working surface and said other crank means being suchfthat'when the other crank means is nearest tothe second shaft the second flexible member operatively engages the portion o1 the vcam most remote from its axis and approaches its axisas the other crank means recedes from Vthe second shaft, a propeller on said Y propeller shaft, said propeller including a hollow hub portion having a. pair of axially. aligned blade shafts thereon, a feathering reaction blade mounted on each blade shaft, a crank yarm on each blade shaft, said propeller shaft being hollow, a rod being mounted to move in Vsaid hollow propeller shaft, a pair of links pivoted to the rod and pivoted'to the crank arms, a bearing disposed aboutV said propeller shaft, links connecting the outer elements of said bearing to said pivoted arm shaft, a sleeve on said propeller shaft and con- Y nected to the inner element of said bearing, said shaft having opposed slots therein, and a pin connecting said rod and said sleeve and extending through said slots.

HARDY H. RAULERSON.

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