Improvements in Water-velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th. Aug., 1898 -Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
Improvements in Water-velocipedes.
I, 'ANDREAS RASMUSSEN, of Cobram, in the Colony of Victoria, Coachbuilder, 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:
The object of this invention is to provide a water velocipede in which the
weight shall be supported by the use of three hollow floats, one of which floats
constituting a steering wheel, the same also assisting the rider to maintain his
balance and the other two floats constituting screw propellers which work simul-
taneously and support most of the rider's weight but the weight they support
will be more or less according to whether he sits upright.or leans forward. The
invention is shown in the drawings herewith, in which the propeller floats are of
equal but opposite screw pitch i.e. one right handed and one left handed and
rotate in the direction of arrows 7, 7, in Figures 1, 2 and 3.when the velocipede
is. being driven forward.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my wide with part of the frame,broken
away: Figure 2.is a rear elevation partly in section on the lines 9, 9 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing the three floats as they appear from the front.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the bevel gearing used, also the bearings
at one end of each propeller shaft, and Figure 5 is a vertical section of the bearings
at the other end of each propeller. Figure 6 is a rear elevation of part of the
frame. .A.is .the steering float of hollow sheet metal or other suitable material
and of any desired form and size so as to be adapted to revolve only partly
submerged in the water. This float is controlled by the handles B as in steering
an ordinary bicycle. The velocipede may be constructed for any number of
persons but will be sufficiently explained from the drawings which show a veloci-
pede for one rider, who sits upon a saddle C and actuates the pedals D, which drive
bevel gears of suitable kind.
Two sets of bevel wheels are used one set for each pedal as shown by the
wheels E, F, G, and H, bevel wheels F and G being fast upon a spindle J within
diverging casings J and J2 respectively, whilst a bevel wheel H is fixed upon
each propeller shaft near the fore end K (Figure 4) of each shaft. Each propeller
shaft is provided with fore and rear lengths which are separable from the main
or intermediate part, the latter part K, L (vide Figure 2) being constructed of
air tight tubing stayed within the floats as desired. The fore parts of the shafts
are as.marked.K, and the rear parts are as marked K' and each part works in ball
bearings as next explained. At the extreme end of K are provided ball bearings
with cone M and on the other side of bevel wheel H, on the same shaft are also
ball bearings with cone N on the said shaft. The shafts K8 at the other end are

page_text: also provided with ball bearings with cones R and S the latter at the extreme end
as in Figure 5. Cups O complete the various ball races of this velocipede and
are adjusted by screwing. They secure the balls in place, or the balls and the
gear wheels as the case may be."
Two watertight stuffing boxes P are also formed at each end of the shafts K, K³
by means of packing secured within screw caps Q.
The tubular central shafts K' L' are connected to the respective end shafting K
and K by suitable means which will allow of easy disconnection, because not only
will it often be advisable to pack the velocipede into a smaller space when not
in use, but it will often be necessary to substitute larger or smaller floats, or floats
of different pitch or floats varying in other points of detail, according to the use
to which the velocipede is to be put. By reason of cups 0 being provided at each
extremity of the shaft the end thrusts of the propellers. are suitably sustained.
The hollow propeller floats shown by the letters T and U are screw shaped
exteriorly, so as to act as propellers when revolved by forward pedalling, whilst
back pedalling will give the velocipede a reverse movement. The floats will be
of such size as to be almost wholly but not quite submerged except at the ends
which are pointed. so, as to be entirely submerged at all times. And it is provided
that the pedals are fixed to their spindle so as to work in unison so that the speed
of rotation of each propeller: float will be equal to that of the other. Both of said
floats are equally distant one on each side of the longitudinal central plane.of.the
frames, so that the centre of gravity is in a plane midway between their axes.
There are clips V at the back of the frame within which the casings W which
-surround the shafts K2 L2 are securely gripped, but from which the said casings
may be withdrawn when the floats T and U are to be disconnected from the frame.
The casings surrounding the fore shafts K are marked X. Into each of these
casings the cups of the ball races are screwed as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to propeller floats closely placed,
but may have them at any desired distance apart which can easily be effected by
a modification of the bevel gearing. X is a plug closing an aperture in the
casing through which the bevel wheel G is passed when being fitted into place.
The fronts of the lower ends of the casings J1 J2 are covered by another shield 'Y
which has a sharp V shaped front edge Y¹ to act as a cut water.
In carrying this velocipede upon land it may be conveniently propelled by any
person who stands at the rear and uses the casings W as handles, raising the
propellers clear of the ground and allowing float A to act as the wheel of a wheel-
barrow. Z is a stout rubber band sprung on to the sharp edge around wheel A.
This band serves as a protector against stones on land which might injure the
fragile shell of the wheel, and as a fender in the water preserving the velocipede
from concussion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a water velocipede the combination of a frame, a hollow front wheel
which serves as a float, and is adapted to rotate partly submerged in the water,
handles for steering the velocipede by means of said front wheel, and two other
hollow floats attached to the said frame, having screw shaped exteriors to act as
propellers and means to rotate the said propellers simultaneously and equally
substantially as set forth.
2. In a water velocipede the combination with pedals 1) of two sets of bevel
gears E F G and gear wheels H upon shafts K to which shaft are connected hollow
propeller floats having right and left handed screw shaped exteriors substantially
as set forth.
3. In a water velocipede the combination of a propeller float having a shaft K¹
or L' fastened thereto a shaft K2 secured separably to one end of the same, and a
shaft K secured separably to the other end, two cones R and S upon shaft K³, two

page_text: cones N and M upon shaft K, and ball race cups 0 screwed into the casings W
and X of the shafts K and K substantially as set forth.
4. In a water velocipede the general arrangement and combination of the whole
of the parts herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of August 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.