Swimming Machine for Torpedo Warfare.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 27th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
Swimming Machine for Torpedo Warfare.
We ROBERT WILLIAM RUNDLE of 19, Tavistock Place, Tavistock Square in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, and THOMAS ALLEN of Park Villa, Wood
Green, in the said County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for SWIMMING MACHINE FOR TORPEDO WARFARE to be as follows:-
In our appliance which is specially devised for surface and submarine swimming
we provide a machine with a main beam of metal fitted fore and aft with reservoirs
for storing air for submarine consumption.
To the main beam is also attached the driving and pinion gear wheels actuated
by compressed air from the reservoirs afore mentioned. The reservoirs are filled by
an air pump attached to driving wheels, which are worked by the propeller shafts.
A man in a close fitting watertight diving suit, with diver's head piece fitted, into
which air is admitted when needed, accompanies the machine, air being supplied to
him from the air chambers, which are connected by flexible tubes to the head piece of
the diving dress. He can move either under the water or can rise to the surface for
the purpose of storing a fresh supply of air.
The machine can be propelled by the action of screw or paddle, to any given object
without being observed, or the operator can dive or swim aided only by the action of
his own limbs, air being supplied from the reservoirs aforesaid.
ROBERT WM. RUNDLE.
THOMAS ALLEN.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Swimming Machine for Torpedo Warfare.
We ROBERT WILLIAM RUNDLE, Engineer of 7 Offord Road, Caledonian Road, N.
and THOMAS ALLEN, Gentleman of Park Villa, Wood Green, N. in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our Invention is constructed of metal and consists of two water-tight compartments;
one fore and one at the stern, which are termed air chambers; and are connected
together by means of strong tee iron back bone, on which is fixed two curved padded
stays, the front one is supplied with two eyelets through which the operator's arms are
inserted;
the back stay being supplied with straps to fit round the operator's loins;
beneath the back-bone is constructed a pump to supply the fresh air to the chambers,
from which the operator obtains his supply when under water, as the supply pipe is
fixed to the portion of the head gear of the diving dress opposite the operator's mouth.
The pump is worked by the operator, by means of a large driving cog-wheel, which he
revolves by the handle, this driving wheel also works a small cog wheel, which is
fixed on the shaft with a propellor at the stern. On the front part the shaft is cranked
with a link or bar attached to the sucker of the pump so that the pump and propellor
always work together.
The operator is fitted with a close-fitting water-tight driving dress, with head gear
attached, into which air is admitted, when required, from the air-chambers which is
connected by flexible tubes to the head gear of the diving dress.
The operator can either swim under water for a considerable distance and period of
time, after storing air, or he can swim on the surface and float as long as he pleases.
When under water he can also rise to the surface, when required, for the purpose
of storing a fresh supply of air.
The machine may be propelled silently underneath the surface of the water by serew
or paddle to any given object without being observed or causing air bubbles and the
operator can dive or rise to the surface by the action of his own limbs only, or by a
rudder or rudders attached to the bow of the machine, air being supplied as herein
described.
By this machine explosive matter may be taken unobserved to any given object, and
the operator, having attached a submarine mine or Torpedo, can silently retire.
This machine may be constructed with any size water-tight air chambers and thus
be made so buoyant that it would be impossible for the machine to sink, and when
used by a man or woman cast upon the waters, he or she can float for any period of
time, or propel himself or herself to land or to any passing ship.
But to make our Invention better understood, we will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. I. Represents the side elevation of the machine.
Fig. II. The plan of the top surface of the machine.

page_text: Fig. III. Gives a view of the stern and propellor.
Like letters give like parts.
A, The stern water-tight air compartment.
B, The fore or bow water-tight air compartment.
C, The propeller or screw.
D, The propellor or screw guard.
E, The back curved stay to which the operator is strapped.
F, The front curved padded stay with two eyelets for the operator's arms to pass
through.
G, The propellor shaft.
H, The fee iron back bone which connects the two water-tight compartments and
other portions together.
J, The air tube connecting the two chambers together.
K, The small cog wheel on the propellor shaft.
L, The large driving cog wheel.
MÍ, The flexible tube through which fresh air passes to the pump.
N, The flexible tube to supply operator from air chamber.
O, The link or bar to work the sucker of the pump.
P, The Pump.
Q, Eyelets on front stay for operator's arms to pass through.
R, Handle on the driving wheel.
VA gauge.
W, The flexible tube to allow the vitiated air to pass away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim the following as new and
novel-
First. The combination of the machine to permit the operator to be strapped to the
curved stays E and F, to work the driving wheel L, by the handle R, to work the
small cog wheel K, on the propellor shaft G, which works the pump P, and the
propellor C, herein substantially described and according to the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the water-tight air chamber A, and the water-tight
air chamber B, working together to supply the operator with air by the connecting
tube N, and also to buoy up the operator at will, as herein substantially described
and according to the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. The Combination of the whole machine constructed in any shape, on the
principles herein described, to act as a surface or submarine machine, herein substanti-
ally described and according to the accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim the following as new and
novel :-
First. The combination of the machine to permit the operator to be strapped to the
curved stays E and F, to work the driving wheel L, by the handle R, to work the
small cog wheel K, on the propellor shaft G, which works the pump P, and the
propellor C, herein substantially described and according to the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the water-tight air chamber A, and the water-tight
air chamber B, working together to supply the operator with air by the connecting
tube N, and also to buoy up the operator at will, as herein substantially described
and according to the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. The Combination of the whole machine constructed in any shape, on the
principles herein described, to act as a surface or submarine machine, herein substanti-
ally described and according to the accompanying drawings.
ROBERT WM. RUNDLE.
THOMAS ALLEN,
Applicants.