Steerable and retractable paddle-wheel mechanism for propelling a boat

A paddle-wheel propulsion and steering mechanism (1) attachable to a boat (2), wherein the paddle-wheel propulsion and steering mechanism (1) comprises:

• a first frame structure (3) comprising a frame (5) and an adapter (7) connected to the frame (5), wherein the adapter (7) has telescopic design so that the first frame structure (3) may be attachable to the boats (2) of different configurations, and wherein the first frame structure (3) is positioned generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the boat (2);
• a second frame structure (30) attached to and positioned generally transversely to the first frame structure (3);
• a propulsion mechanism (9) comprising:
• a central drive shaft (11) connected to the frame structure (3) by means of at least two bearing flanges (13), wherein the central drive shaft (11) on each end thereof comprises a threaded portion (11A) and a splines portion (11B);
• a central flange mount (10) mounted onto the central drive shaft (11) and configured to fix a driven sprocket (10A) thereto;
• a drive unit (12) connected to the central drive shaft (11) and configured to rotate the central drive shaft (11);
• two alignment shafts (15), wherein one end of each alignment shaft (15) is screwed into the one end of the central drive shaft (11);
• two side drive shafts (17), wherein each side drive shaft (17) is mounted to the frame structure (3) by means of at least two bearing flanges (13) and wherein each side drive shaft (17) is hollow so that it accommodates the alignment shaft (15) so that the side drive shaft (17) may rotate independently of the alignment shaft (15);
• a clutch mechanism (19) configured to operatively connect the central drive shaft (11) to each of side drive shafts (17);
• two drive shaft sprocket flanges (16) with a sprocket (16A) on each drive shaft sprocket flange (16), wherein each drive shaft sprocket flange (16) is fixed to the another end of the side drive shaft (17) transferring rotation of the side drive shaft (17) to the drive shaft sprocket flange (16) with the sprocket (16A);
• a support bearing (14) positioned at the another end of each alignment shaft (15) to support thereof;
• two side upward-downward moving mechanism tubes (74), wherein each side upward-downward moving mechanism tube (74) is supported onto the respective side drive shaft (17) by means of bearings (77) positioned on each end of the side upward-downward moving mechanism tube (74) and the side drive shaft (17);
• two side paddle-wheel transmission mechanisms (20), wherein each side paddle-wheel transmission mechanism (20) comprises:
• an arm (22) with one end fixed to the respective side upward-downward moving mechanism tube (74);
• a paddle wheel (24) comprising at least six paddles (26) set around the periphery of the paddle wheel (24);
• a paddle wheel sprocket (28) fixed to the paddle wheel (24) by means of bolts (27) and operatively connected to the sprocket (16A) of the drive shaft sprocket flange (16) so that the rotation of the sprocket (16A) of the drive shaft sprocket flange (16) is transferred to the paddle wheel sprocket (28) and further to the paddle wheel (24);
• a paddle-wheel upward-downward moving mechanism (40) comprising:
• a shaft (42) of the paddle-wheel upward-downward moving mechanism (40), wherein the shaft (42) is connected to the frame structure (3) by means of at least two bearing flanges (13) and arranged parallel to the central drive shaft (11);
• two flange mounts (44) with a sprocket (44A) on each flange mount (44), wherein each flange mount (44) with a sprocket (44A) is fixed on each end of the shaft (42) of the paddle-wheel upward-downward moving mechanism (40), wherein each flange mount (44) with the sprocket (44A) is connected to a respective sprocket (45A) mounted onto the flange (45) of the side upward-downward moving mechanism tube (74) by means of a chain so that the side upward-downward moving mechanism tube (74) can be rotated by the rotation of the a shaft (42) of the paddle-wheel upward-downward moving mechanism (40);
• a yoke (48) fixed to the shaft (42) of the paddle-wheel upward-downward moving mechanism (40);
• and
• a steering mechanism (80) comprising:
• a main steering shaft (81) connected to the second frame structure (30) via at least two flange bearings (13), wherein the main steering shaft (81) comprises one end and another end equipped with a fork (83) of the main steering shaft (81);
• a steering lever (82) fixed to another end of the main steering shaft (81);
• two steering rods (84), wherein one end of each steering rod (84) is connected to the fork (83) of the main steering shaft (81) and another end of each steering rod (84) is connected to the guide sleeve (94), wherein the steering lever (82) is fixed to another end of the main steering shaft (81) so that the up or down movement of the steering lever (82) is transferred to the main steering shaft (81) as a rotation thereof and rotation of the main steering shaft (81) via the fork (83) of the main steering shaft (81) is transferred as a linear movement to the respective steering lever (82), where the respective steering lever (82) controls the guide sleeve (94) in order to engage or disengage the clutch mechanism (19).