IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AIDING PERSONS IN SWIMMING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No 28 Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR AIDING PERSONS IN SWIMMING. A communication from
abroad by Johann Anton Andrée of Esens Ostfriesland in the German
Einpire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1882.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AIDING PERSONS IN
'SWIMMING" [A communication from abroad by Johann Anton Andrée of Esens
Ostfriesland in the German Empire.]
This invention relates to apparatus whereby the body of the swimmer is
sustained above water while at the same time means are provided for effecting his
propulsion in addition to that afforded by the usual swimming motion of his limbs.
For this purpose a float, consisting by preference of a hollow or box like support,
of a configuration to fit the back of the swimmer is secured by means of straps
passed round the shoulders and body. The end of the float presented in the
direction of propulsion, is provided with a pointed projection, acting as cutwater,
so as to offer the least possible resistance to its motion through the water. The
surface of the float fitting against the back is by preference padded or provided
with a waterproof air cushion. On the under side of the float are two projecting
arms or brackets carrying a horizontal shaft on which is fixed a gut pulley and a
series of flat propeller blades or vanes that are pivotted to the shaft in such a
manner that they can assume two opposite angular positions relatively to the
shaft which positions they are caused alternately to assume according as the shaft
is rotated in one direction or the other, the surface of the blade being for this
purpose made considerably greater on one side of the axial line of the pivot than
the other. By this means, in whatever direction the shaft is rotated, the blades
always assume such a position as by their rotation to propel the float in one and

page_text: the same direction. For imparting a periodically reversed rotary motion to the
shaft, an endless gut passing round its pulley passes first up over guide pullies fixed
at the front end of the float and thence horizontally backward and round a guide
pulley at the rear end of the float. To the opposite parts of such horizontal
portion of the gut are attached cords extending to the feet of the swimmer to
which they are connected by suitable straps or other fastenings, so that the
swimmer in performing a treading motion with his feet will by means of such
cords impart a to and fro motion to the endless band which in its turn will effect
the rotation of the propeller shaft alternately in opposite directions. To afford a
greater length of motion for the endless cord than the length of the float would
allow this is, according to another modification provided at its rear end with a
projecting arm, the outer end of which carries the before mentioned guide pulley
round which the gut passes. The float is by preference made of a forked or horse
shoe form, the two limbs forming the rear end, in which case they are connected
by cross bars which serve both to strengthen the float and to carry the rear guide
pulley, or the arm carrying the same when this is used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th August 1882.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AIDING PERSONS IN
SWIMMING" A communication from abroad by Johann Anton Andrée of Esens,
Ostfriesland in the German Empire.
The
This invention relates to apparatus whereby the body of the swimmer is
sustained above water while at the same time means are provided for effecting his
propulsion in addition to that afforded by the usual swimming motion of his limbs.
For this purpose a float consisting by preference of a hollow or box-like support,
of a configuration to fit the back of the swimmer is secured by means of straps
passed round the shoulders and body. The end of the float presented in the
direction of propulsion is provided with a pointed projection acting as cut water so
as to offer the least possible resistance to its motion through the water.
surface of the float fitting against the back is by preference padded or provided
with a waterproof air cushion. On the under side of the float are two projecting
arms or brackets carrying a horizontal shaft on which is fixed a gut pulley and a
series of flat propeller blades or vanes that are pivotted to the shaft in such a
manner that they can assume two opposite angular positions relatively to the shaft,
which positions they are caused alternately to assume according as the shaft is
rotated in one direction or the other, the surface of the blade being for this
purpose made considerably greater on one side of the axial line of the pivot than
the other. By this means, in whatever direction the shaft is rotated the blades
always assume such a position as by their rotation to propel the float in one and
the same direction. For imparting a periodically reversed rotary motion to the
shaft, an endless gut passing round its pulley passes first up over guide pullies
fixed at the front end of the float and thence horizontally backward and round a
guide pulley at the rear end of the float. To the opposite parts of such horizontal
portion of the gut are attached cords extending to the feet of the swimmer to
which they are connected by suitable straps or other fastenings so that the
swimmer on performing a treading motion with his feet will by means of such
cords impart a to and fro motion to the endless band which in its turn will effect
the rotation of the propeller shaft alternately in opposite directions. To afford a
greater length of motion for the endless cord than the length of the float would
allow, this is, according to another modification provided at its rear end with a
projecting arm, the outer end of which carries the before mentioned guide pulley
round which the gut passes. The float is by preference made of a forked or horse
shoe form, the two limbs forming the rear end, in which case they are connected
by cross bars which serve both to strengthen the float and to carry the rear guide
pulley or the arm carrying the same when this is used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 shews a plan of the before described apparatus, Fig. 2 shews a plan of the
underside, Fig. 3 shews the mode of applying the same; Fig. 4 shews an underside
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page_text: fixed the propeller i, constructed in a similar manner to that described in the
Specification to Letters Patent granted to me dated 30th November 1881 No. 5245
(being a communication from the said J. A. Andrée) that is to say, the vanes or
blades i are pivotted on pins m on the boss n of the shaft so as to turn thereon in
either direction to an extent limited by stops o, the distance apart of which is such
that the blades can turn through about 90°, being at each extreme position inclined
about 45° to the plane of rotation. The blades are automatically brought into
either opposite position according as the shaft is rotated in one direction or the
other, by forming the area on the one side of the axial line of their pivot considerably
greater than that on the other side as described in the said prior Specification, and
it will be seen that by this arrangement, in whatever direction the shaft g is turned
the blades will always assume a position for propelling the support in one and the
same direction. In operating with this apparatus the shaft g is turned, alternately
in opposite directions by a treading action of the feet of the swimmer; for this
purpose an endless gut h is passed round the pulley p on the shaft and over guide
pulliest in brackets v to the pulley r carried by the bar 8 which at the same time
serves to strengthen the ends of the float. To the gut h are attached at x x two
.cords y y¹ provided at their ends with stirrup shaped straps z by which they are
attached to the feet of the operator as shewn. The cords y y¹ should be of such a
length as to allow the gut h the greatest possible extent of travel alternately in
opposite directions when the legs of the operator are alternately extended and drawn
up, thereby causing the propeller to make the maximum number of revolutions
alternately in opposite directions at each such movement of the legs, the speed
being increased according as the movement of the legs takes place more rapidly.
For guiding the cords, loops may be attached to the bars through which the cords
pass.
In the modified arrangement shewn at Fig. 4 two cross bars 8¹s are employed,
in loops on which is held the bar 63 projecting some distance beyond the float and
carrying at its end the gut pulley r. By this means the length of the gut his
increased and a greater length of travel can consequently be obtained. uu' are
loops on the bar through which the cords y y¹ are passed.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim:
First. The combination of the hollow support or float a with a propeller i having
pivotted blades and rotated alternately in contrary directions by the action
of the feet of the swiminer by means of suitable mechanism, substantially
as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Second. The combination of the float a with propeller i having pivotted blades,
endless gut h, pullies p and r and cords y y' for imparting rotation to
the propeller alternately in contrary directions substantially as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Third. The construction of hollow float a with cutwater c at the front end and
forked at the rear end, substantially as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
Fourth. In combination with the float a the cushion d for the body to rest upon
as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Denton Abel have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
CHA. D. ADEL. (L.S.)