Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
We, HEINRICH ROSSBACH, of 3, Quirenstrasse, Koln, Germany, Architect and
Civil Engineer, and JOHANN RONIG, Innkeeper, 127, Siegbergerstrasse, Koln-
Deutz, Germany, 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 the construction of a water velocipede, for
sporting and such like purposes, in the shape of a fish and which, in a special
manner, is propelled through the water with a certain speed by means of the
muscular energy of the driver.
On the annexed drawings: :-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the water velocipede as it appears when in
the water.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan whilst Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a section taken through the driving cylinders and drawn to an
enlarged scale.
In the water velocipede A two upright pressure cylinders a, a, are arranged
symmetrically with the longitudinal axis of the vessel (see Figs. 1 and 2) and
these cylinders are provided with leather packed pistons which are alternately
moved up and down by the driver treading upon the treadles b, b, secured to
their piston rods. The cylinders are filled with a working fluid, for instance
water, oil, air, or such like, which at each descent of the treadle is forced
through flexible pipes c, c¹, c², c³, to different cylinders; for instance, through
the pipes c, c', to a horizontal cylinder d, called the reciprocating cylinder, and
through the pipe 2 to a motor cylinder (see also Fig. 4). The pipe c³ con-
nects the motor cylinder with the second pressure cylinder a¹.
The piston rods of the pressure cylinders are coupled so that they are forced
to work conjointly, by means of an appropriate apparatus, for instance, a pivotted
two-armed lever D) (Fig. 4) with the result that the pistons move with equal
speed, that is to say, should the one be depressed at a certain rate of speed the
other will be bound to ascend with the same velocity, consequently the back
pressure cannot interfere with the proper action of the pistons.
Connected with the reciprocating cylinder (which can move to and fro upon
the fixed piston rod f) by means of a link g, is the propeller shaft h whose outer
end is provided with the fish-tail propeller i. On the shaft h is fitted a friction
disc which runs on the curved rail 7 and is pressed downwards by means of a
weight m. This weight m is slidably fitted upon the shaft h and serves to secure
frictional adherence between the disc and the rail and, at the same time, to
counterbalance the weight of the propeller i. Whenever the cylinder d slides
to or fro upon its piston rod the propeller, at the outside of the vessel, is caused
to make a similar side stroke (equal to the angle a) and with the point g¹ as the
centre of movement. E is an india rubber cover which prevents water
gaining access through the propeller shaft bearing to the interior of the vessel.
The reciprocating cylinder d is supported by rollers #, ¹, which run upon the

page_text: which
rail o.
Arranged at each end of the fixed piston rod f of the reciprocating
cylinder are spring buffers 2, (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4). These buffers cushion
the cylinder in its movements to and fro and thereby prevents jars and shocks.
Coupled to the piston rod of the cylinder e is the connecting rod
drives the crank shaft r. This shaft, at its lower end, carries a heavy fly wheel s
which whilst partially serving as ballast, is mainly used for assuring the
stability of the water-velocipede and of acting at the same time, as a governor.
By means of a hand lever C (Fig. 4), or other suitable form of brake, the fly
wheels can, at any time, be suddenly stopped or slowly checked in its speed.
B, B, (Figs. 1 and 3) are ballast weights.
The person who directs the water velocipede seats himself on the seat t so
that he can conveniently lay hold of the steering wheel u. By means of the
steering mechanism u, v, w (Fig. 1) a steering blade x, shaped like a fin of a fish
and arranged outside of the vessel, can be turned upon its axle y, y' (Fig. 1)
either to the left or right of the keel line, to the extent of 45, and in this
manner the steering of the water velocipede can be easily and quickly effected.
The water velocipede is operated in the following manner :-
All the cylinders and connecting pipes are filled with a pressure fluid, such
as, for instance, water, and when the left treadle 6 is depressed by the driver
the water in the cylinder a, is caused to run through the pipe c to one end of
the reciprocating cylinder d with the result that the latter is moved on its
piston rod towards the left (see Fig. 4); at the same time the pressure,water
passes through the pipe to the cylinder e and moves the piston therein with
the result that the crank shaft is operated by the connecting rod g and the
wheels is caused to revolve. The fluid at the back of the piston of the cylinder a
passes through the pipe and unites at the bottom of the cylinder a¹, with the
water entering from the cylinder d, through the pipe c', and forces up the piston
of the cylinder a¹. As soon as the piston of the cylinder a has reached the end
of its down stroke the piston of the cylinder a' has reached the end of its up
stroke. The treadle b¹ is now depressed with the result that the hereinbefore
described action is reversed.
It will thus be seen that by alternately depressing the treadles b, b', the
cylinder d is caused to travel from side to side on its piston rod and actuate,
in conjunction with the friction disc k, the propeller in a peculiar manner
which combines a horizontal stroke to the extent of the angle a and a turning
movement round its axis through about 90°. Owing to this peculiar combined
action of the propeller the vessel is propelled forward with great velocity in a
manner similar to the propulsion of a fish by means of its tail. The action of
the propeller is practically the same as that produced when sculling a boat
through the water by means of an oar.
As the fly wheels of the shaft r is rotated by means of its driving cylinder a
(the piston of which reciprocates backwards and forwards) it will be seen that
should anything occur which would tend to upset the vessel the gyratory force
of the wheels would tend to maintain the vessel in a state of stable equilibrium,
for, as will be readily understood, the rotating wheel s, whenever subjected to a
disturbing influence will actively resist such influence and in this manner assist
in maintaining the vessel in a state of stable equilibrium.
The weight of the fly wheel is such that its static momentum, when the
equilibrium is disturbed, is greater than or equal to the momentum of the
weight of the driver, when pedalling and grasping the steering wheel, under
such disturbed condition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. A water velocipede characterized by an arrangement of cylinders (a, a¹, d, e,)
filled with pressure fluid and which are connected together by means of flexible

page_text: pipe connections (c, c¹, c³, c³) in such manner that when the pistons of the two
working cylinders (a, a¹) are alternately operated by means of treadles (b, b¹)
the reciprocating cylinder (d) is caused to slide to and fro upon its fixed hori-
zontal piston rod (f) with the result that a shaft (h), connected to the recipro-
cating cylinder by means of a joint (g) and provided with a propeller (i) at its
outer end, is caused to make horizontal side strokes, and, at the same time,
owing to the action of the friction disc (k), a turning movement round its axis;
and, further, by means of the reciprocating piston of a driving cylinder (e)
actuating the connecting rod (9) and crank shaft (r) a fly wheel (s) is rotated,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. In a water velocipede such as claimed in Claim 1, the use of a heavy fly
wheel (s) at the bottom of the vessel for the purpose of increasing the stability
of the vessel by its weight and by the forces of gyration, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a water velocipede such as claimed in Claim 1, a fin steering arrange-
ment consisting of a blade (r) arranged below the keel of the vessel and which
can be turned from side to side through an angle of 45° by means of appropriate
operating mechanism (u, v, w), substantially, as herein before described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of January 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.