US1252430A

US1252430A - Rowing-vehicle.

Info

Publication number: US1252430A
Application number: US17134717A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Gruenberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-05-28
Filing date: 1917-05-28
Publication date: 1918-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1935-01-08

Description

G. J. GRUENBERG.

ROWING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION man mvza. 1911. 1,252,439, Patented Jan. 8,1918.

. 4 sums-sum I- G. J. GRUENBERG.

' ROWING VEHICLE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY28,19II.

Patented Jan. 8 1918.

lygiagyzlgaO' v sHBETS-SHEBT 2 G. J. GRUENBERG. ROWING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, [917.

1,252,480, Patented Jan. 8,1918.

4 SHEETS-811 321 3.

G. J. GRUENBERG.

ROWING VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 19:7-

l,252,4:30, I Patented Jan. 8,191.8.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

GEORGEJ. GR'UENBERG, OF NEW'YOEK, N. Y.

ROWING-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, i918.

Application filedMay 28-, 1917. Serial No. 171,347.

residing at New York city,in the county of Bronx, State of New York, haveinvented.

certain new and useful Improvements in Rowmg-Vehrcles; and I. do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make-and use the same; This invention relates to hand propelled land vehicles and more articularl aims to 7 I T X Y provide a polycycle, preferaol-y a tricycle,

arranged to be propelled by levers operatively connected to the driving wheels of the vehicle.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide land vehicles equipped with driving levers.

for operation by the occupant of the vehicle to propel the. same. In some cases. these levers have been pivoted intermediate. their ends, so that they could be rocked back and forth in a manner suggesting the use of a pair of oars. All these previous arrangements, however, are subject to the seriousdisadvantage that the occupant of the. vehicle can not steer the vehicle. as well as propel it by using the oars provided, and therefore can not handle the vehicle in simulation of the actual handling: of a boat by means of its oars.

The present. invention involves the provision of a land vehicle in which the: hand operated propelling means includes a pair of cars pivoted intermediate their ends preferably for universal movement and operatively connected to the driving wheels of the vehicle in such a way that the oars mayv be used to steer the vehicle as well as propel it in a manner practically equivalent to that employed in propelling and steering a row The arrangement is such that when the two oars are operated with strokes of even force, the vehicle will travel straight.

ahead, but when a harder stroke isgiverr to one oar, the vehicle will. swerve to the right orleft depending on Whichoar is. subjected to. the harder stroke so. that the behavior of the vehicle will resemble-that of' a. row boat. when a harder pull is given to. a particular oar. This result is preferably attained. by

placing the operator forward of" the pivotal point of the vehicle about which it is steered.

The operator is seated on a support carried by a forward longitudinal frame the rear end of which is pivoted to the middle of a rear frame or axle arranged transverse to the vehicle and carrying driving wheels at its opposite ends. The vehicle has an idler wheel at its forward end. The one are mounted in oar-locks or the like secured to the rear frame, and the cars are operatively connected to the two driving wheels on the axle, with the'oar handles disposed. in front of the operators seat. According to thisconstruction, an operator onthe' seat may, by giving one car a harder stroke than the other, rotate the axle relative to the longitudinal frame on which he is seated, to cause the vehicle to swerve to the right or left;

As it is desirable to mount the oars so that they may be swung forward and backward together, it is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby different perip'he eral velocities of the two driving wheel's, operated by the two oars may occur, with: out throwing the movements of. the two oars out of agreement. It will be understood that when the vehicle is being steered to make a turn, due to a harder pull on one oarthan the other, the offside wheel will make several revolutions more than the inside wheel, depending on the sharpness of the turn. This object is preferably attained by providing a rotary device comprising two shafts arranged end to end, with each shaft operatively connected to one of the oars. The two shafts are coupled to hold them to rotation as one unit, thus positively holding the cars to stroke. The coupling between the two shafts is such, however that if one shaft is subjected to a greater turning force than the other due to a harder pull. or push on the oar operati-vely connected thereto, the shafts will have relative movement axially. Each shaft carries one element of aclut'chthe other element of which, is carried by. one of the two driving wheels, the driving, wheels being otherwise. loosely journaled 0n the vehicle, and. theparts being so. constructed that a harder stroke. on one oar than on the other causes one of' the, shafts: to have movement relative to, the.

other to. unclutch one of" the two driving the desired turn is easily made. In the same way, an inadvertent harder stroke on one oar than the other will cause the vehicle to swerve to the right or left to warn the operator that he is not pulling evenly on both oars. The oars are so constructed that when a turn has been made, the vehicle may be sent straight ahead in the new direction by giving one of the oars a harder stroke than the other and then giving both oars even strokes.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that the effective propelling and steering strokes of the cars are exerted when the oar handles are pulled, with the oars operating against resistance from the rear of the vehicle, similar to the resistance of the water to an oar blade when propelling and steering a boat by pulls on the oar handle. At the same time, however, it will probably be desirable to have the operator of the present vehicle face forward, especially where the vehicle is adapted for propulsion at high speed, and therefore the arrangement will also preferably be such as to permit the operator to face forward while pulling on the oar handles to propeland steer the vehicle by causing'the oars to operate against resistance from the rear of the vehicle.

The invention is advantageously carried out by providing three frames, in which case the vehicle may comprise a rear frame arranged transverse to the machine and carrying the driving wheels at opposite ends, an intermediate frame on which the operator may be seated, and a front frame carrying the idler wheel, the intermediate frame pivotally connecting the front and rear frames. Operative connections are provided between the front and rear frames whereby, when the rear frame turns relative to the frame on which the operator is seated, in response to uneven strokes of the oars, the front frame is simultaneously turned, in theproper. direction, to multiply the steering effect and to permit steering of the vehicle without throwing the operators seat too farout of position relative to the fields of operation of the oar handles. In this connection, it will be understood, however, that the invention may also be carried out by providing two frames instead of three, in which case the vehicle will comprise merely the transverse rear frame carrying the two driving wheels, and a front frame on which the operator is seated when pivoted to the rear frame and carrying the front wheel of the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a vehicle constructed in accordance with the invention, means under the control of the operator whereby at will the various frames may be locked against relative movement, so that when desired the vehicle may be limited to a fixed line of travel, or whereby the various frames may be yieldingly held against relative movement to prevent too free steering response to variations in the strokes of the oars.

The invention will be clearly understood, and the above and various other objects thereof fully.) appreciated, by an examination of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments, of which drawings a Figure 1 shows a three frame vehicle, in side elevation; Fig. 2 shows the vehicle in top plan; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, showing parts of the rear frame and the right hand driving wheel; Fig. 5

shows parts of the left hand driving wheel and the operative connections between {the wheel and its oar;rFig. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the parts adjacent to the pivotal connection between the front and intermediate frames, partially in section,

observed from the front; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view, partially In section, showing an oar and its plvotal mounting;

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in which the oars may be used to actuate the operative connections between the cars and the driving wheels, to steer the vehicle as well as propel it; Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, but showing a two frame vehicle; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, showing the parts adjacent to the pivotal connection between the front and rear frames, observed from the rear. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, there is illustrated a three frame vehicle comprising a front frame 14, an intermediate frame 15, and a rear frame 16. The front frame is formed at its front end into a depending fork within which the front wheel 17 of the vehicle is journaledr The rear end of the front frame is vertically chambered, as indicated at 18 in Fig. 6, this chamber coacting with balls 19 and a sleeve 20 to provide a ball bearing at the point where the downturned front end of the intermediate frame 15 is pivotally connected to the front frame. A screw cap 21 closes the top of the chamber 18 and overlies a dust collar 22 formed on the downturned front end of the intermediate frame.

The rear end of the intermediate frame is formed by a casting 23 provided with a depending pivot shaft 24 received in a ball bearing provided in a vertical chamber 25, bored in a casting 26 forming the central portion of the rear frame 16. A screw cap 27 closes the top of the chamber 25 and overlies a dust collar 28 on the pivot shaft 24:.

The frame 16 is extendedbeyond the casting 26 on opposite sides by means of a pair of Sleeves 29 t e e sed??? wh h fixed in. seekets formed in; the; casting Zfi- The driving heels 31 are loose on the slee es 29; the wheels. being restrained against axial movement by collars 3:2 and brackets 33 fixed on, the sleeve. As indicated most clearly in Figs; 2' and 5}, the brackets? extend. toward the front. of the machine, and have jlournaled thereon at their; front ends. a sprocket wheel 34 and a plurality of sprocket wheels; 35 of different diameters, arranged to rotate together. The outer sides of the hubs: ofthe driving wheels 31. are formed as; pluralities of sprocket wheels 3.6,of different diameters. In the case of each driving wheel 31, the diameters of the sprocket wheels 35. and 36, are preferably such that. a sprocket chain 37 of a. fixed length may be. used to operatively connect any sprocket wheel 35. with a sprocket. wheel 36. in line therewith, so that the speed ratio between the, two sprocket wheels joined by. the chain may" be readily varied.

In the case of each driving wheel 31,. the sprocket wheel 34 isconnected; by a sprocket chain 38.- toa sprocket wheel 39 loose on the sleeve- 29. This sprocket wheel 39 is restrained; against axial movement by means of the bracket 33 and. a collar 40. The

sprocket wheel 35% carries, clutch teeth 41 normally engaging clutch teeth formedon a clutch disk 42 The clutch disk is loose on the sleeve 29; but; isengaged by the outer end of a shaft 43. which passes through the sleeve. 29-; The shaft 43 near its inner end has fixed thereon a. collar: device 44, the outer end ofj'whichacts-as a. stop; to prevent. the. shaft. 43. from ever moving; outward sufficient to; permit the clutch disk 42 to. be displaced from the sleeve; 29... An. expansible. spring 45.is. arranged between the inner end of the socket 30 and an annular flange. 44 on, the collar device, and tends to. draw the. shaft 43 toward the: center-of the; ma,-

; chine to. hold the disk 42: clutched to the sprocket, wheel 39., so; that rotation of the. disk 42. will cause rotation of the; driving wheel. 31 through sprocket wheels and sprocket chains,

Themeans forrotating the clutch disks 42. comprises a. pairof] cars 46 pivotally. mounted onthe vehicle so that the handles 46. ofj-the oarsmay be operated." by an o.ccu-.

pant. of a. seat 47: on the. intermediate frame- 15; The; can andclutQh-disk 4210a each side hem d-line ar operr tively' connected y ans of a. mme tlns r .4.8,. hich h s rward. pivoted. teth outer end. of the. ca by a. ba nd: socks 10il1fi'4195. the rearend of. thacennecting od: bei g; f rke n p vot d. o. pi oit et; rom. a. sleeve. 51 loose. on.- a pin. 52 eccentric; on the; clutch h Ea hoarsintermediat .it ends: is pro-- vidlerl'. ith. an ad" stable ball; member 53.

.f r-ming; r art t bah. pivotal mounting for the car, the socket member of which mounting is carried by an can lock 54 supported on the forward end of an arm 55 anchored at its rear on the. casting 16. Each oar lock is adjustable. on the arm 55, laterally of the vehicle, by means of a screw 56, the threads of which screw coact with threaded depending portions of the oar lock.

A foot rest 56 for an occupant of the seat 47 is carried by a bracket 56 secured to the lower front end of the intermediate frame 15.

The two shafts 43 are made fast at their outer ends to the clutch disk 42 so that; each clutch disk and its shaft rotate as one unit. The two shafts 43 are locked together for rotation as one unit, by means of complementary cam members 57 secured to the inner ends of the shafts 43. By this means the two oars may be permanently set to be simulation of the handling of a row boat.

When the strokes of the cars are of even force, the perpendicular relation between the frame on which the seat 47'is mounted and ever, will swing the rear frame 16 to the broken line position of Fig. 8, causing the machine to. turn to the right; and in the case of a harder push on the right oar than on the left, the vehicle will in the same manner be caused to turn to the left. Also, a harder pull on the left car thanon the right car will swing the rear frame to the broken line position of Fig; 9, causing the vehicle to turn to the left; and in the case of a harder pull on the right. car than on the left the vehicle will in the same manner be caused to turn to the right. The manner of steering the vehicle is thus exactly like that employedv in steering a row boat, with the, exception that in the case of the vehicle the rower faces forward.

In. order that the; driving wheels 31 may" rotate at diiferent speeds, as is necessarywhen the vehicle isturned or swervesto the right or left, without. throwing the: two cars out of stroke, means should be provided whereby a. harder stroke on one car than on the. other has: the effect of operativelfy disconnecting one of the wheels from its oar which thewheels. 3 1 are rotatedby op oration- 65, illustrated a two ,frame vehicle. comprising of the oars through clutch disks 42 secured to the outer ends of the two axially movable shafts 43 which are yieldingly held against relative rotation by the cam members 57 and the springs 45. By means of this construction, when the rear frame 16 starts to turn relative to the intermediate frame 15, thereby causing the offside wheel 31 and consequently its shaft 43 to rotate at a faster rate than the inside wheel and its shaft 43, the wedge elements on one of the cam members 57 ride up on the wedge elements on the other cam member. This causes one of the shafts 43 to have axial movement against its spring 45 and until the outer end of its collar device 44 abuts against the casting 16, sufficient to disconnect its clutch disk 42 from the sprocket wheel 39 on that side of the vehicle. As shown clearly in Figs. '8 and 9, the offside wheel 31 is the one which is disconnected from its clutch disk 42, due to the fact that the lateral thrust of the connecting rod 48 on the inside of the turn is always greater than that of the ouside rod.

In order to turn the front frame 14 relative to the intermediate frame 15 to multiply the steering effect when the rear frame 16 turns relative to the intermediate frame, operative connections are provided between the three frames comprising a bevel gear 58 fast on the casting 26 of the rear frame. A bevel gear 59 fast on the rear end of a shaft 60, journaled in hangers '6], depending from the intermediate frame 15, meshes with the bevel gear 58. The front end of the shaft 60 has fixed thereon a bevel gear 62 which meshes with a bevel gear 63 fast on the front frame 14.

In order that the

frames

14, 15 and 16 may be held against relative movement, for coasting or other straight ahead travel, or to prevent too free a response to the rear frame 16 to unevenness of stroke, as would be desirable in the case of a novice on the seat 47, the following means are provided. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, a brake drum 64 is secured to the front frame 14, within the upper part of the fork. The brake drum is adapted to coact with a brake block 65 fixed between the upper ends of a pair of links 66 the lower ends of which are loose on foot-rest 56. -The links are joined by a pedal-plate 67. A leaf spring 68 normally holds the pedal-plate so disposed that the block 65 is loose on the drum 64. It will be understood that when the operator presses his footon the pedal-plate, the brake block isforced against the brake drum to lock the

frames

14 and 15 against relative movement, which locks the train of bevel gears against operation and thereby holds the

frames

15 and 16 against relative movement and so holds the vehicle to a fixed course.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, there is a front frame7O and'a rear frame 16. The front frame is formed at its front end into a depending fork within which the front wheel 17 of the vehicle is journaled. This front frame also carries the operators seat 47 and a foot rest 72 for the operator, the foot rest being extended on opposite sides of the vehicle in line with the hub of the front wheel 17. The rear end of the front frame is formed by a casting'23, as in the case of the vehicle of Fig. 1. The depending pivot shaft 24 of this casting is received 1n :1 ball hearing as indicated at 73 formed in a cha'mber bored in a casting 74 which casting 74 forms the central portion of the rear frame 16. This central casting is like the central casting 26 of the rear frame 16 of the vehicle of Fig. 1, with=the exception that no provision is made in the present casting for fixing a bevel gear like the bevel gear 58 of Fig. 1 on the casting, but-instead a key and key-way are provided as indicated at 75 so that a brake drum 76 may be carried by the central casting. r

The rear frame 16 comprises the central casting 74, and a pair of oppositely offset sleeves 29, the inner ends of which are fixed in sockets 30 formed in the casting 74, ex-

actly as the sleeves 29 are connected to the casting 26 to form the vehicle of Fig. l.

The driving wheels 31 are loosely rear frame 16 of the journaled on the rear frame 16, being restrained against axial -movement thereon by collars 32 and brackets 33 as 1n the case of the ClIlV- ing wheels of the vehicle of Fig. 1. Each of the brackets 33, however, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 11, has journaled thereon' at its front end, in addition to the sprocket wheel 34, merely a single sprocket wheel 35 for rotation with the sprocket wheel 34, and accordingly the outer side of the hub of each driving wheel 31 is formed merely as a single sprocket wheel 36 in line.

ends of arms 55, to rotate the clutch disks 42 by means of the connecting rods 48i The disks 42 are clutched to the sprocket wheels 39, when the oars 46 are operated with strokes'of even force, by means of the springs 45 which draw the shafts 43 in toward the center of the machine. Nhen a harder push;

orpull is exerted onone oar than on the other, the lateralthrust of the rod 48 connected to the bar given the harder stroke, I causes a relatlvemovement between the rear frame 16 and the frame of the vehicle which carries the operators seat 4C7. When the vehicle commences to turn in response to this relative movement of the frame 16, the'tendency of the offside driving wheel 31 to rotate at a higher speed than the inside wheel, acts through the shafts 43 to cause the cam members 57 on the inner ends of the shafts 43 to separate, and thereby to unclutch one of the clutch disks 42 from its sprocket wheel 39 and so operatively disconnect one of the driving wheels 31 from the oar on its side of the vehicle and from the other wheel.

In order that the frame 16 may be held against a turning movement relative to the front frame when desired, to hold the vehicle on a predetermined course or to prevent too free a response of the rear frame 16 to unevenness of stroke, the following means are provided. The brakedrum 76 secured on the central casting 74 of the rear frame, is embraced by a brake band 77 one end of which is anchored to a bracket 78 depending from the casting 23 which forms the rear end of the front frame. Ihe other end of the brake band is connected by a rod 79 to a pedal 80 pivoted on'the foot rest 72 and disposed to hold the brake band loose on the brake drum by means of a leaf spring 81.

I claim:

1. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted "together, a support for an operator on one of the frames, a pair of driving wheels journaled on the other frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the latter frame and movable on their pivots by an operator on the support, and operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels; substantially as described.

2. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of forward and rear frames pivoted together, a pair of driving wheels journaled on the rear frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, and operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels, the oars having handles operable in fields of operation ahead of the rear frame; substantially as described.

3. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of an axle, wheels on opposite ends of the axle, a longitudinal frame the rear end of which is pivoted to the axle intermediate its ends, a wheel at the front end of the vehicle, a seat on the frame forward of the axle, and means for rotating the wheels on the axle comprising a pair of pivotally mounted oars and operative connections between the oars and the wheels on the axle, the oars being operable by an occupant of the seat; substantially as described.

4. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a seat 011 one frame, a plurality of driving wheels on the other frame, and mechanism for rotatingthe drivingwheels comprising oar locks on one of the frames, oars in the locks operable by an occupantof the seat, and operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels whereby the oars may be manipulated byan'occupant of the seat to propel and steer the vehicle; substantially as described.

5. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a plurality of supporting wheels for the vehicle including a pair of driving wheels at opposite sides of the vehicle, a seat on one of the frames, a pair of'oars pivotally mounted on the other frame and operative connections between the ears and the driving wheels whereby an occu ant of the seat may steer and propel the veliicle by moving the oars on their pivots; substantially as described.

6. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination'of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a seat on one frame, a plurality of wheels journaled on the other frame at opposite sides of the vehicle, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle at opposite sides thereof, and operative connections between the oars and wheels including pitmen pivoted to the outer ends of the oars; substantially as described.

7., In an o-a'r propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a support for an operator on one of the frames, a pair of wheels journaled on the other frame, 'a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vel1icle,'a pair of rotary elements each normally clutched to one of the Wheels, operative connections between the oars and the rotary elements whereby the oars may be operated to drive the wheels to propel and steer the vehicle for turning, and means for unclutching oneof the rotary elements from a wheelto facilitate turning of the vehicle; substantially as described.

8. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a seat for the operator on one of the frames, a pair of wheels journaled on the other frame, a pair of cars pivotally mounted on the latter frame, operative connections between the oars and the wheels whereby the oars may be moved on their pivots to propel and steer the vehicle, and means for disconnecting one of the wheels from an oar when the vehicle is turned to permit the oars to be moved in unison with the wheels rotating at different peripheral speeds; substantially as described.

9. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a support for an operator on one of the frames, a pair of Wheels loosely journaled on the other frame at opposite sides of the vehicle, clutch elements carried by the wheels, complementary clutch elements for each wheel j'onrnaled on the vehicle, the

complementary clutch elements being arranged for rotation as one unit and being normally clutched to the wheels but being relatively movable to unclutch one of the wheels, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, operative connections between the oars and the complementary clutch elements whereby the oars may be moved on their pivots to rotate the complementary clutch elementsand the wheels, and means carried by the complementary clutch elements whereby when one oar is moved with greater force than the other, the tendency of the two. complementary clutch elements to rotate at different speeds will move one of said elements relative to the other to unclutch one of the wheels; substantially as described.

10. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a support for an operator on one of the frames, a pair of wheels journaled on the other frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, and operative connections between the oars and the wheels whereby the oars may be moved on their pivots to propel and steerthe vehicle for turning, normally .inoperative means for holding the 'two frames for straight ahead travel and means for rendering the holding means operative substantially as described.

11. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of an intermediate frame and two end frames pivoted together, an idler wheel on one of the end frames, a pair of driving wheels .on the other end frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels whereby the oars may be moved on their pivots to propel the vehicle by rotating'the driving wheels and to steer the vehicle by turning one of the end frames relative to the intermediate frame, and operative connections between the two end frames for simultaneously turning the other end frame. relative to the intermediate frame to multiply the steering efiect; substantially as described.

12. In anoar propelled vehicle, the com bination of front, intermediate and rear frames pivoted together, the front and intermediate frames extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and the rear frame being arranged transverse to the vehicle, an idler wheel on the front end of the front frame, a pair of driving wheels on the rear frame at opposite sides of .the vehicle, a seat for an operator on the intermediate frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the rear frame. with their handles arranged adjacent to the seat, operative .connections between the oars and the driving wheels whereby an operator on the seat may move the oars on their pivotsto propel the vehicle and steer the vehicle by turning the rear frame relative to the intermediate frame, and gearing carried by the three frames whereby when the rear frame is turned relative to the intermediate frame to steer the vehicle in one direction, the front frame is moved relative to the intermediate frame to impart an additional steering effect in that direction; substantially as described.

13. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of an axle having a pair of wheels journaled thereon at opposite ends, an intermediate frame extending longitudinally of the machine and pivoted at its rear end to the axle intermediate the ends of the axle, a front frame extending longitudinally of the machine and pivoted at itsrear end to the front end of the intermediate frame, an idler wheel on the front end 'of the front frame,a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, operative connections between the oars and the Wheels on the axle whereby the oars ma be moved on their pivots to propel the vehicleand steer the same by turning the axle relative to the intermediate frame, and operative connections between the front frame and the axle for causing the axle and front frame to turn simultaneously relative to the intermediate fItlIDQCOHlPl'lS- ing a bevel gear fixed on the axle, a pair' of bevel gears journaled on the intermediate frame and connected for rotation together in the same direction, one of these bevel gears meshing directly with the bevel gear fixed on the axle, and a bevel gear fixed on the front frame meshing directly with the other bevel gear on the intermediate frame; substantially as described.

14. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of an intermediate frame and two end frames pivoted together, an idler wheel on one of the end frames, a pair of driving wheels on the other end frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted, on the vehicle, operative connections between the oars and the driving wheelsv whereby the cars may be moved on their pivots to propel the vehicle by rotating the driving wheels and to steer the 7 means for holding the frames for straight ahead travel, and means for rendering the holding means operative; substantially as described.

15. In an oarpropelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a seat on one frame, a plurality of driving wheels on the other frame, and mechanism for rotating the driving wheel comprising adjustable oar locks onrone of the frames, oars universally pivoted in the locks operable by an occupant of the seat,

1,252,430 I i?v and operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels whereby the oars may be manipulated by an occupant of the seat to propel and steer the vehicle; substantially as described.

16. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a support on one of the frames for an operator, a plurality of driving wheels on the other frame, a pair of oars, supporting means for the oars by which they may be adj ustably pivoted on the vehicle for movement in several planes, and operative connections between the oars and the driving wheels whereby the oars may be moved to propel and steer the vehicle; substantially as described.

17. In a vehicle, the combination of front, intermediate and rear frames pivoted together, supporting wheels for the vehicle journaled on the front and rear frames, means for steering the vehicle by causing relative movement between the rear and intermediate frames, and operative connections between the front and rear frames whereby when relative movement occurs between the rear and intermediate frames tosteer the vehicle in a given direction, relative movement occurs between the front and intermediate frames to impart an additional steering effect in the same direction; substantially as described.

18. In an oar propelled vehicle, the combination of a plurality of frames pivoted together, a seat on one frame, rotary devices on the other frame, a pair of oars pivotally mounted on the vehicle, and connecting rods between the oars and the rotary devices, the rods being pivoted to the rotary devices at points off their centers; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE J. GRUENBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.