US668516A - Water-cycle. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. l9, l90l.

a. A. HI'AIGENA.

WATER CYCLE.

vApplication filed Jan. 6, 1900.)

(No Model.)

TOLITHQ. WASNINGTO WATENT WATER-CYC LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 668,516, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed January 6. 1900. Serial No. 602. (No model.)

To aid whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE ADAM HAGENA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved water-cycle, or more especially a means for propelling a vessel by means of foot-power, the object being to provide a simple and efficient means by which a number of persons may be employed for the purpose of propelling the vessel through the water; and with this object in view the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combination and arrangement, all of which will befully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the hull of a boat, the driving mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the main features of the power mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. tis a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a boat or vessel, which may be of any suitable size. A series of upright tubes B are arranged centrally within the hull and longitudinally one behind the other, said tubes being connected adjacent to their upper ends by the upper horizontal tube C, said tube extending some distance beyond the rear upright B for a purpose hereinafter described.

A seat E is arranged upon the tube or bar O to the rear of each upright post B, and a handle-bar F is attached to the upper end of each upright, the front handle-bars being connectcd to asteeringhead F, carrying a sprocket wheel F operating upon the sprocket-chain F which travels in the tube 0 and operates the sprocket F mounted upon the upper end of the rotary shaft F, the rear end of the tube 0 being expanded, as shown at O, and the forward end is enlarged, as shown at 0 By this means the boat can be readily steered by the person occupying the front seat.

Any form of propelling mechanism may be used, but the following is preferred.

G represents the propeller, mounted upon the rear end of the propeller-shaft H, which isjournaled in suit-able bearing-brackets I, arranged in the bottom of the boat, said shaft also passing through each upright post B. The propeller-shaft H has a series of sprockets K mounted thereon, said sprockets being driven by a sprocket-chain L, which receives its motion from a sprocket-wheel M, mounted upon a shaft N, said shaft being journaled between the front and rear uprights B and turning in horizontal tubes D, connected to each of the said uprights and also to the bracetubes D, extending from the upper tube 0 to the horizontal tube D and having a crank-hanger 0 arranged at the juncture. In the said crank-hanger is journaled a crankshaft P, driven by the pedals P, each crankshaft having the bevel-gear R mounted thereon and meshing with the bevel-gear S, which is rigidly connected to the shaft N, so that it will be readily understood that the operator, sitting upon the seat E, working the crankshaft P by means of a pedal, will impart a rotary motion to the shaft N and through the medium of the sprocket-chain L will drive the propeller-shaft H, and inasmuch as there are a series of drive-shafts and gear connections it will be readily understood that a nu mber of persons can be employed at one time for the purpose of rotating the propeller-shaft and force the boat forwardly through the water. In case it is desired to reverse the motion of the boat it can be accomplished by reversing the motion of the pedal. By having the steering-chain passing through the upper tube 0 all danger of interfering with the operator is avoided, and by having the propeller-shaft and the mechanism connected therewith at a point below the crank-pedal all danger of interfering with the said propellershaft is also avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a boat or vessel, of the frame having an upper horizontal tube carrying seats, the rudder arranged at the rear of the boat or vessel and having a sprocket steering-chain arranged in the upper horizontal tube and passing around the sprocket upon the rudder, and a sprocket carried by the steering-head within the front upright 15 tube, all arranged and adapted to be operated, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE ADAM HAGENA.

Witnesses:

JosEPH SCHROEDER, HENRY SHELLEY.

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