IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND PROPELLING THE HUMAN BODY ON AND THROUGH WATER
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joshua Nickerson Rowe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1878.
JOSHUA NICKERSON ROWE, of Rockland, in the State of Maine, United States
of America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR SUPPORTING AND PROPELLING THE HUMAN BODY ON AND THROUGH WATER."
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for supporting and propelling
the human body on and through water, such improved apparatus being applicable
for bathers, for saving life at sea, for naval purposes, also for use in torpedo
warfare.
.
An apparatus constructed according to my Invention consists of a twin or duplex
parallel pontoon made in water-tight compartments, by preference in six parts,
which can be fixed together.
The twin pontoons are separated and held apart by suitable stays, and are of
sufficient buoyancy to support the body of a human being, together with any
additional weights that may be required, such as provisions, torpedo shells and
tools, or other gear.
Between the pontoons and at or about the centre thereof there is fixed a diagonal
rest, being a plate, board, or its equivalent, extending from pontoon to pontoon.
This rest being a plate, board, or its equivalent is by preference covered with
flannel or its equivalent, or padded or. provided with an air cushion, and is made
to receive the lower part of the chest of the bather or occupant who uses the
apparatus. In front of this diagonal rest, being a plate, board, or its equivalent,
and extending diagonally downwards, there is fixed a hollow tube supported by
stays from the pontoons at its lower end, and provided with an adjustable moveable
foot rest at its lower end, which foot rest has attached to it a blade or fin, which
acts as a rudder, and is under control of the moveable foot rest, which can be
adjusted to suit different heights or lengths of persons.
In front of the diagonal plate, board, or its equivalent, and across the pontoons,
there is a horizontal shaft, provided at its outer extremities with crank handles,

page_text: and connected in the centre by means of bevel wheel gearing or its equivalent to
a diagonal shaft (which passes through the diagonal tube before referred to), which
drives and carries at its lower extremity a screw propeller, the thrust of which is
taken by the end of the hollow tube.
In operation the bather or occupant of the apparatus lays with the lower part 5
of the chest upon the diagonal plate, board, or its equivalent with the feet on the
foot rest in connection with the diagonal tube and guiding arrangement. The
hands of the occupant grasp and work the crank handles of the horizontal shaft,
and thereby impart motion to the screw propeller and propel the apparatus.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joshua Nickerson Rowe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1878.
JOSHUA NICKERSON ROWE, of Rockland, in the State of Maine, United States
of America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR SUPPORTING AND PROPELLING THE HUMAN BODY ON AND THROUGH WATER."
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for supporting and propelling
the human body on and through water, such improved apparatus being applicable
for bathers, for saving life at sea, for naval purposes, also for use in torpedo
warfare.
An apparatus constructed according to my Invention consists of a twin or duplex
parallel pontoon made in water-tight compartments, by preference in six parts,
which can be fixed together.
The twin pontoons are separated and held apart by suitable stays, and are of
sufficient buoyancy to support the body of a human being, together with any
additional weights that may be required, such as provisions, torpedo shells and
tools, or other gear.
Between the pontoons and at or about the centre thereof there is fixed a diagonal
rest, being a plate, board, or its equivalent, extending from pontoon to pontoon.
This rest being a plate, board, or its equivalent is by preference covered with
flannel or its equivalent, or padded or provided with an air cushion, and is made
to receive the lower part of the chest of the bather or occupant who uses the
apparatus. In front of this diagonal rest, being a plate, board, or its equivalent,
and extending diagonally downwards, there is fixed a hollow tube supported by
stays from the pontoons at its lower end, and provided with an adjustable moveable
foot rest at its lower end, which foot rest has attached to it a blade or fin, which
acts as a rudder, and is under control of the moveable foot rest, which can be
adjusted to suit different heights or lengths of persons.
In front of the diagonal plate, board, or its equivalent, and across the pontoons,
there is a horizontal shaft, provided at its outer extremities with crank handles,

page_text: and connected in the centre by means of bevel wheel gearing or its equivalent to
a diagonal shaft (which passes through the diagonal tube before referred to), which
drives and carries at its lower extremity a screw propeller, the thrust of which is
taken by the end of the hollow tube.
In operation the bather or occupant of the apparatus lays with the lower part
of the chest upon the diagonal plate; board, or its equivalent with the feet on the
foot rest in connection with the diagonal tube and guiding arrangement. The
hands of the occupant grasp and work the crank handles of the horizontal shaft,
and thereby impart motion to the screw propeller and propel the apparatus.