Improvement in Water Velocipedes, Hydrocycles, Pleasure Boats, or other Vessels, and Means for Propelling the same.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1-93-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Water Velocipedes, Hydrocycles, Pleasure Boats,
or other Vessels, and Means for Propelling the same.
I, THOMAS HOLDEN TAYLOR of 7 Kimberley Street Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Photographer 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:-
My invention consists principally, of the application in hydrocycles, water
velocipedes or pleasure boats, or other vessels of impellers, which revolve in a
horizontal plane, and entirely below the water; by means of which more speed is
obtained with the same driving power, than with existing methods, also a neater
appearance than if ordinary paddles be employed, and greater facility for stopping
or reversing, than screw propellers afford.
These wheel impellers may be used in any description of boat, or ship, and in
connection with any kind of motive power.
The water velocipede or hydrocycle is shewn in accompanying drawings, in
which,
Fig. 1. is a side elevation showing one of the impellers, the pedals, the bevil
gearing, seat and pillar, handle bars, centreboard, and chains for working
rudder, etc.
Fig. 2. is a plan of same, showing pedals, bevil gearing, handle bars, and chains
shown dotted for working rudder.
Fig. 3. is a plan through the impeller chambers, which are formed in the lower
part of the water velocipede, hydrocycle, boat, or vessel, the upper part of the
water velocipede or hydrocycle being shown dotted in the plan.
°
The figure shows, how the impellers are placed in these chambers, and the small
chambers marked Q are the chambers in which the forks in connection with the
centreboard works.
In this arrangement the impellers are alternate, one on each side.
Fig. 4. is a side elevation, of an alternative arrangement.
in
Fig. 5. is a plan of same, being drawn so that one half is shown as a deck
plan, and the other half shown as a plan through the impeller chambers;
this arrangement the impellers are opposite one another, one on each side.
Fig. 6. is a longitudinal section of the arrangement shown in Figs. 4. and 5, but
the general structure, as shown, is also applicable to arrangement shown in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fig. 7. is a cross section of arrangement shown in Figs. 4. and 5. but the
general structure-shown in Fig. 7.-is also applicable to arrangement shown in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
The driving wheels or impellers, C. revolve horizontally in recesses formed in
the water velocipede, hydrocycle, boat, or vessel, and are entirely below the water,
and the impellers, are so placed in these recesses, that slightly less than one half, is
exposed, outside the boat, that is, only so much as is of use for driving purposes,
and they are made to revolve in the water velocipede or hydrocycle, shown by
means of pedals U, which are connected to the impellers by means of bevil gearing,
which latter may be covered by a guard, to prevent the person using the water
velocipede or hydrocycle, from being injured by the wheels.
The side elevation Fig. 1. shows the seat pillar D, and adjustable seat E, & the
adjustable handle bars F.
The handle bars pillar works through a tubular upright support, G. which is
strengthened as shown by a stay, H.

page_text: To the bottom end of the handle bars pillar, is fixed, a horizontal rod, which
works in the upper compartment of the boat, J, and to which are attached chains
(Figs. 2. and 5.) for working rudder. The centreboard K, is hinged to the lower
compartment of the boat, and is raised against the bottom of same, (see Fig. 7.) on
either side as may be required, by means of chains, which are connected as shown,
to rods, which slide up and down the seat pillar, L, Fig. 1. to which are fixed small
horizontal plates, V, which on being pressed down, raise the centreboard; when
either of these rods are down, they are kept in position by a catch, M, which is
made to turn round the seat pillar and can thus be used for whichever rod is pressed
down. Small spring covers, N, on the centreboard, one on each side, press the chains
against its side when it is down, and thus prevent the chains, from fouling weeds, etc.
These covers which are hinged, half way down the centreboard, will open full
out, and fall back against grooves, O, in the centreboard, when the same is raised
against the lower part of the boat, so as not to prevent it from being raised. The
centreboard is fixed when in use, by steel forks P, which slide up and down, in
close fitting chambers, formed in the boat, Q. These forks can be raised or lowered
by means of chains, which are connected to, a rod and plate, R, which slides up and
down the support pillar, to the handle bars, G, when these forks are lowered, the
centreboard is fixed in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner, the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The water velocipede, or hydrocycle, as described, and the impellers; which
revolve horizontally in recessed chambers formed in the lower part of the water
velocipede, hydrocycle, boat, or vessel, and which are entirely below the water.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of November Eighteen hundred and ninety-
threa
THOMAS HOLDEN TAYLOR,
7, Kimberley Street, Liverpool, County Lancaster.