AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR USE AS RECREATION AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PAENT to Robert Henry Battersby, Esquire, of Lakefield, Crossakeel,
Co Meath, Ireland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR USE AS RECREATION
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 10th May 1878, and dated the 10th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Henry Battersby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1877.
ROBERT HENRY BATTERSBY, Esquire, of Lakefield, Crossakeel, Co. Meath, Ireland.
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND WHICH IS ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR USE AS RECREATION AND OTHER PURPOSES.'
My said Invention has for its object the production of an apparatus which can
be readily and safely propelled through the water in a convenient and simple
manner, and to carry out this object I employ an apparatus of suitable construction,
preferably in the form of a horse, which I inflate with air, gas, or other suitable
matter to produce the necessary floating buoyancy, and in order to prevent rolling
or capsizing I weight the limbs of the said apparatus (the horse). To this apparatus
I may attach paddles or a screw which I cause to be operated by suitablo mechanism
constructed in the internal portion thereof, and this mechanism I set in motion by
a system of levers manipulated by the person who sits on and works the apparatus,
or I may operate the said mechanism by treadles worked by the feet of the rider
of the apparatus. I may also cause the apparatus to be propelled by sails.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of an
Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Robert Henry Battersby in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th June 1878
ROBERT HENRY BATTERSBY, Esquiro, of Lakefield, Crossakeel, Co Meath, Ireland.
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AND WHICH IS ALSO 5
APPLICABLE FOR USE AS RECREATION AND OTHER PURPOSES"
My said Invention has for its object the production of an apparatus which can
be readily and safely propelled through the water in a convenient and simple
manner, and to carry out this object I employ an apparatus of suitable construction,
preferably in the form of a horse, which I inflate with air, gas, or other suitable 1
matter, to produce the necessary floating buoyancy, and in order to prevent rolling
or capsizing I weight the limbs or lower portion of said apparatus (the horse). To
this apparatus I may attach paddles or a screw propellor, which I cause to be
operated by suitable mechanism set in motion by levers or handles, manipulated by
the person who sits on and works the apparatus, or I may, if found desirable, 1
operate the said mechanism by treadles worked by the feet of the rider of the
apparatus. I may also cause the apparatus to be propelled by sails.
In order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed
to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the apparatus, in the form which I prefer to 2
construct same, and showing one method by which I propose to work and propell
same through the water.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing another method.
Fig 3 is a plan of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 illustrates 2
a third method by which I may work my said Invention with the assistance of
sails.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
A, A, is a piece of timber about six feet long, and nine inches deep, and eighteen
inches broad, the lower surface of which is flat, and the upper surface rounded off to 3
resemble the back of a horse; a saddle piece is formed in the centre with stirrup
straps and stirrups suspended therefrom; H is a head and neck piece of wood secured
to the body piece to give the apparatus the appearance of a horse, B, B, are pieces
of wood triangular in section, and tapering towards the lower extremities, which
are affixed to the front and rear ends of the body piece by means of bolts and clasps 3.
in such a manner that a cutting edge will be offered to the front and rear ends of
the apparatus. The lower ends of these triangular pieces are connected by a hori-
zontal plate of iron c, c, which I call the keel of the apparatus; this keel piece
serves as ballast, and prevents the horse from rolling or capsizing, and the weight
of said keel may be increased or decreased at pleasure; & is a transverse axle 4
rotating in bearings secured to the upper surface of the body piece; at the ends of
this axle are keyed the paddles f, f, which are caused to revolve by operating the
crank handle, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and thus motion is imparted to the apparatus;
e shows the rudder, at the top of which is secured a short cross piece, at the ends of
which are attached cords 8, and these cords are secured to a second cross piece, 4
which latter rests in a suitable bracket in the front of the rider, and may be used as
required to steer the apparatus.
Figs. 2, 4, and 6 show the manner in which I propose to work my said Invention
by means of a screw propellor and sails; is a horizontal shaft rotating in brackets
secured to the keel piece, and carrying the screw propellor; i is a vertical axle, 5
which may be operated by lever handles and pair of bevel wheels, as in Figs. 2 and 4,
or hand wheel and bevel wheels, as in Fig. 6, or the top pair of bevel wheels may
be dispensed with and a lever handle or hand wheel applied direct to the top of the
vertical axle, and turned in a horizontal manner. The masts may be inserted in

page_text: apertures made for the purpose, and sails attached thereto, as seen in Fig. 6; in this
figure the hand wheel is worked by one hand, while the other is left free to operate the
sails; p, p, are air bags of canvas, india-rubber, gutta percha, copper, or other
suitable material, and are secured to the lower part of the body piece with leather
straps, or in other convenient manner. By means of these air bags the buoyancy
of the apparatus may be augmented or diminished at pleasure, and thus its capacity
to carry different weights may be regulated to suit circumstances.
The rider of the apparatus is supposed to be clothed in trousers of india-rubber or
other waterproof material tightly strapped round the waist and wrists, and in cases
of using the apparatus in rough or heavy sea the rider may be strapped to the
body piece in a secure and convenient manner.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
may be put into practice, I would have it understood that what I claim to be new
and useful, is the method of constructing and operating apparatus as herein described
and illustrated, for the purpose specified
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Henry Battersby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 10th day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
0 Witness,
J. A. FAHIE,
Patent Office,
Nassau Street,
Dublin.
ROBERT HENRY BATTERSBY. (L.S.)