USRE5000E - Improvement in combined coupling and steering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

W. FRICKQ Improvement in Combined Coupling and Steering App.

N0. 5,000. ReissuedJu!y23,1872.

In veniivr Wifnesses UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM FRIOK, OF MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES H. FRIGK.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED COUPLING AND STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 82,614, dated September 29, 1868; reissue No. 5,000, date July 23, 1872.

' invention consists in the combination in a train of boats of a flexible connection, which, at the same time, maintains a space between the boats for the free flow of the current between the stern of one and the bow of the next in series, and a steering mechanism acting from one boat upon the other, so that by the action of the steersman stationed upon one boat the boats in train may be deflected. My invention further consists in peculiarities of construction of the steering mechanism, to be hereinafter particularly designated.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of two boats coupled together, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

A A are two boats, having convex bows and stems, so as to admit of their being separately navigated. The decks are overhung, but the overhangs are cut away, so that the concavity of one shall fit into the convexity of the other, forming a bearing, upon which the boats, when coupled together, may turn one against the other. The boats, when coupled together, should not have their hulls in contact, but have a water-space left between them, as shown in Fig. 1. The boats, as I have shown them, are connected by a coupling-bar, composed of two pieces, B B hinged together. The part B is permanently pivoted to one of the boats, A, and the part B is attached to the other boat A by means of the standards 0 O, which are firmly bolted to the deck thereof, between which the bar B is .placed in such mannerthat while the crosshead B bears against one set of the standards the bar B placed between them, shall bear against them all, so that it may act thereon as a lever to turn the boat in the manner to be described. The bar B passes through a slot in the cross-head B, which slides thereon. The cross-head B is rigidly attached to the end of the bar B and springs B are placed on pins attached to one of the cross-heads, and projecting through holes in the other, so that when in tow the strain on the line may be relieved, in case of sudden jerks, by the compression of the spring. The spring may be of India rubber, as shown, or spiral, or in any other convenient form. This arrangement is especially necessary when a number of boats are in tow of a tug on wide sheets of water. The jointin the bar B B allows of free vertical oscillation in ridingthe swells, and, as thebarB turns freely on its own axis between the standards, the free rocking of boats from side to side is permitted,while they are perfectly controlled in their relative alignment by the bar. I have shown in the drawing stern-posts attached to the boat A for the purpose of attachin g thereto a rudder, but this is only a precaution against circumstances which might require the shipping of a rudder.

The boats act one as a rudder for the other, and are controlled in the following manner: D is the wheel, constructed in the ordinary manner of ships wheels. D is the axle, around which is coiled the tiller-rope E,which unwinds on one side as it is wound up on the other. The rope is passed over sheaves F F on each side of the deck, and thence around the sheaves G G, and thence around sheaves in the ends of the arm B rigidly attached on each side of the bar B, and then the ends securely fastened to the posts-H H. As the wheel is turned in one direction, the rope on that side being wound around the axle D, the

strain of the tiller-rope will be brought to bear on the arm B of the bar B, which, acting as a lever whose fulcrum is one boat and the resistance on the other, will cause the two boats to deflect from a right line, the bow of one being inclined to the right, and that of the other to the left.

I am aware thatboats have been heretofore proposed to be coupled by a flexible connection, serving also to maintain a constant water-space between them, but without means for steering the boats in train, one from another. I am also aware that means have been ,heretofore proposed for steering boats in train, one from another; but in such cases no waterspace was provided between the boats, and, asia consequence, the diificulties of steering the boats were greatly increased by the current from one setting against the side of the next in series. I believe myself to be the first to combine the two systems, thereby relieving the intercommunicatin g steering apparatus from undue strain, and afiording the means for conveniently and economically steering boats in train.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with boats, of the coupling and steering mechanism, substantially as herein described, whereby the boats are maintained at afixed distance apart so as to permit the free flow of the currents between the hulls when turning a curve, and said boats are steered one from another, as set forth.

bar, standards, and cross-heads 0 (l, connect ed by springs 13*, arranged to operate substam tially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the wheel, the tillerrope, and the hinged bar connecting the two boats, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the foregoing specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ERICK.

Witnesses:

Tnos. W. FRICK, GEO. W. SALSMAN.

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