Speaking of paddlewheels vs. propellers...

Ok, this is a bit off-topic, but...

Isn't it interesting that the snowmobile industry went to paddles rather than propellers?

What? You say you didn't know the snowmobile industry experimented with propellers (screws)?

Check this out: 1926 Fordson snow tractor
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=568_1233111054

With modern technology, I'd think something similar but much more durable/efficient could be built that would have great application for snow/ice rescues, including out on the lakes, etc. Seems like it would be more efficient than an airboat.

Or to go one step further - how about a pontoon boat with rotating screws for pontoons? It would be semi-amphibious, and great on thin ice. For those of you who enjoy ice-fishing, you know how tempting thin ice can be...

 

It's an impressive machine. I suppose that it lost out to the tracked snow cats.

 

It looks quite DOABLE to me, but I don't see it ever having the efficiency of a track/belt. Also, a drum-design like that, would seem (to me, at least) to require a LOT more space than a track/belt with equivalent traction/grip.
The big advantage I could see for a drum-propulsion "screw" device like this would be for amphibious craft. There, since you need the flotation anywise, it might be "just the ticket." But, then again, it looks like Tom beat me to that observation.

 

That was ingenious.
Though much more cumbersome and mechanically complex respect to snowmobiles.
I always find these old documentary-style commercials so affascinating. Really another world compared to nowadays 15-seconds clips which, if you pay attention, say absolutely nothing about the product.

 

What we did not mention is that the tractor is a standard Fordson and can be changed from summer to winter use and back again. That is a big advantage to a farmer.

 

These sorts of drives are used for mud farming these days.
http://www.totaltailings.com/main/page_photo_gallery.html

There are military versions like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uynmApjhWI&feature=related

You can get this toy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yIkxN-2BLM

There was a converted snow plough that crossed the arctic:
http://www.icechallenger.com/icechallenger/

There is another thread that covers these drive but I could not find that.

Rick W

 

It's already been done in a more modern version, and was a market failure. Looked like one of those little six-wheeled swamp buggies, but with a screw thing on either side, like the old thing in the vid. Each screw was controlled independently forward and backwards, like the tracks on a tank. Great for mud and snow, so-so for water -- no good at all on dry ground, and even worse on pavement -- unless you didn't mind going sideways.

 

for snow, the ground would need to be pretty level side to side. I don't see what would keep it from sliding down the hill sideways.
also, you need "outies" on the screws, not "innies" for traction.