US724217A - Centerboard. - Google Patents

Description

uni-724,217. PATENTED MAR. 31, 19pa-.. A. P. STOKES."

GENTERBOARD.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 20, 1902.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2 K0 MODEL.

Ansofz Phelasfiblz egllzv enfor Wil /leases.

" Mi; A11 5.

THE Mauls PETERS 00.. PHOTO'LIYHD WASHINGTON, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

ANSON PHELPS STOKES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CENTERBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 724,217, dated March 31, 1903. Application filedOctolier 20, 1902. Serial No. 127,921. (No model.)

York, county and State of New York, have in- L vented certain new and useful Improvements in Oenterboards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the of the centerboard shifted as desired. To

same.

My invention relates to centerboards for: sailing vessels, and has for its object to prol vide means and mechanism for manipulating such devices with ease, safety, and precision.

I am aware that many attempts have been made heretofore to accomplish this end; but

.ple, those caused by rough weather or heavy -seaswere also liable to break some of the operative parts of the same, while the comm'o-n device of lowering and raising the centerboard by means of a rope has been found inefficient and unsafe where large or metal centerboards are used. My invention, how- 'ever, is simple in construction, having few members, and is such that the parts may be made of any desired strength. At the same 1 time it is easily manipulated and the opera- I tor has complete control of the centerboard.

\ from the outside.

at all times.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing an embodimentof my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line-2 2, :Fig. 3.; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the centerboard in raised position.

Throughout the various figures, 1 indicates the centerboard-trunk, in which the centerboard 2, preferably of bronze, is pivoted at 3. On the pivoted or forward end of the centerboard is a segmental rack 4., out through the the segmental rack are two pinions 6 7, suit-.

ably journaled, bearing bevelgears 8 9, which latter mesh with similar gears 10 on Sudj den strains on the mechanismas, for exam- 1 vertical shafts 11 12, having hand-wheels 13 14 on their upper ends. The shafts or rods are preferably of bronze and so arranged that they may be raised or lowered, thus throwing 'the bevel-gears into or out of engagement. volving the same-by means of hand-wheels the pinions will be rotated and the position and pressure on the inner sides of the trunk are avoided, and the lower part of centerboard when down is more securely held in place. In order to further brace or strengthen the ceuterboard, the pinions may be provided with flanges 17, of any desired strength, extending down over the segmental rack to hold the same. A grooved block 18 may also .be used for the same purpose, placed between the pinions, with the rack moving in the groove. The axle is placed in position by driving it through the keel and centerboard By mounting the centerboard firmly on an axle or shaft which itself rotates in suitable bearings, most of the strain caused by lateral pressure on the centerboard, which strain in the old forms was supported by the trunk and much of it by the weakest part of the sides of the trunk, is in my invention transformed into a vertical strain on the axle, which is carried by the keel and the strong adjacent parts-that is, pressure on the centerboard is changed largely to vertical pressure on the axle. This axle arrangement by making it possible to lower the centerboard much farther than in the old forms permits a shorter centerboard to ,be'used to obtain the same or greater exposed surface. It thus makes a better pivot for the vesselto go about on and permits a shorter opening in By lowering the shafts and rethe bottom to be used, and this opening can be made very narrow by screwing thereon a plate having a narrow slot in which the centerboard works.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved centerboard possesses certain advantages over those heretofore used, such as ease of manipulation, avoidance of pressure and wear on the trunk, and strength of construotion. The weight of the strengtheningpieces tends to balance the centerboard, and the strain on the hoisting apparatus is less and is more uniform. The construction is safer, stronger, better placed, and exposes a larger surface below the vessel than the old type, and it permits the more convenient use of centerboards, and especially metal centerboards, with large vessels. The arrangement of the operating devices at the side of the trunk instead of in line therewith presents an additional advantage in that it permits a central passage from cabin to gallery, &c., without the interference of a pipe for the centerboard pennant or rope.

While the form shown and described I regard as a convenient embodiment, it will be clear that the same is capable of many variations without exceeding the limits of my invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a centerboard of one or more strengthening-pieces secured on the same at its pivoted end, whereby the cen terboard is to some extent balanced and a strong connection afforded with the shaft on which the same is mounted, as set forth.

2. The combination with a centerboard of a segmental rack, on the pivoted or forward end, one or more flanged pinions meshing with said rack and means for rotating said pinions, whereby the centerboard may be raised or lowered, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with a centerboard, of a segmental rack, on the pivoted or forward end, one or more pinions meshing with said rack, gearing for causing said pinions to 1'0- tate and means for actuating said gearing whereby the centerboard may be raised or lowered, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination with a centerboard of a segmental rack, one or more pinions meshing with said rack, bevel-gears on said pinions, bevel-gears meshing with the first-mentioned gears, and means for rotating the lastinentioned gears whereby the centerboard may be raised or lowered.

5. The combination with a centerboard, of a segmental rack, one or more pinions meshing with said rack, bevel-gears on said pinions, rotatable shafts bearing bevel-gears engaging the first-mentioned gears, and means for rotating said shafts, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination with a centerboard, of a segmental rack, one or more pinions meshing with said rack, bevel-gears on said pinions, rotatable shafts bearing bevel-gears engaging the first-mentioned gears, and handwheels on said shafts for rotating the same, as and-for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with a centerboard, having a segmental rack, one or more pinions meshing with said rack, and means for rotating said pinions whereby the centerboard may be raised or lowered, of a grooved block adjacent to said pinions receiving the segmental rack, as and for the purposes set forth.

ANSON PHELPS STOKES.

Witnesses:

GEORGE CHAMBERLAIN, J OHN A. BLooM.

Images