US919134A

US919134A - Water-cycle.

Info

Publication number: US919134A
Application number: US39463607A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Crepeau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1907-09-26
Filing date: 1907-09-26
Publication date: 1909-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1926-04-20

Description

W. GREPEAU. WATER OYULB. ,urmourox rum-n s231226, 1s'o1.

'Patented' Apr. 20, 1909.

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WIT Nif-EEE UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CREPEAU, OF SCOTIA, NEW YORK.

WATER-CYCLE To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CREPEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scotia, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVater-Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements and consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, andthe reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Similar' characters refer to similar parts in the several 'ligures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a central longitudinal section of a boat, showing the operating mechanisms in elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gear-inclosing case and the gear-shafts erected in the bottom of the boat, the other parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the gear-inclosing case taken on the broken line 3-3in Fig 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section taken on the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, with a portion of the case removed, showing the inclosed gears and the base shown partly in section. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the steering mechanism. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the part shown in Fig. 6, seen in the direction of the arrow. The fragmentary figures, 2 to 7 both inclusive, are made upon an enlarged scale.

The boat-body, 1, is shown for convenience of illustration made in one piece of material provided with the floor, 2, from which is erected a cycle-frame, 3, similar to the ordinary tandem bicylce-frame. This frame is provided with bearings for the pedalshafts, 4 and 5, upon which are secured the pedals, 6 and 7, respectively, the upper portion of the frame being provided with two seats, 8 and 9, and with the steering bar 10. Then two sets of pedals and two seats are employed, the pedal-shafts are each provided with a sprocket-wheel, 12, and such wheels are connected by a sprocket-chain 13.

The propeller screw, 20, is fixed upon a shaft, 21 rotary in suitable bearings, 22, in the rear end of the boat-body, which bearings are provided with a stuffing-box, 23, which may be made in any known manner. The

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led September 26, 1907.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 394,636.

inner end of the shaft, 21, is rotary in bearings, 24,secured to the bottom of the boat, as shown in Fig. 1.

The pedal-shaft, 5, is provided with a beveled gear-wheel, 30, fixed thereon, as by the key 31. This gear-wheel meshes with the beveled pinion, 32, fixed upon the shaft, 33, which shaft is connected with the propellershaft, 21, by means of a link, 34, having a universal joint-connection at one end with the gear-shaft, and at its other end with the pro peller-sl aft. The universalj oints may be of any known form of construction, but are shown in the well known form of two yokes pivoted together, as by pivots 35 and 36.

The gear connections, 30 and 32, are inclosed within a case, 40, shown in section in Fig. 3. The case comprises the body-section, 41, and the cover-section, 42, secured thereto by screws 43. The two sections of the `case provide the bearings for the pedalshaft, 5, passing therethrough. The gear 30, is inclosed between the two sections of the case, as shown, and the bearing for the shaft, 33, is located between the section, 41, and the bearing-box section, 44, secured to the case-section. The two case-sections and. box-section are so fastened together as to forni a tight chamber for the gearing; and, by inserting an oil cup, 45, having an eXteriorly screw-threaded stem, 47, in the rim of the boat-section of the case, and which is provided with a screw-threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded stem, oil can be sup lied in the ordinary manner of using oil-fee ing cu s to kee the gear-inclosed chamber supp 'ed with oil, which serves tolubricate the gearing as well as the bearings of the gear-shafts. The shaft, 33, is provided with a balance-wheel 49. By connecting the driving-shaft, 33, with the propeller-shaft, 21, by universal joint-connection, as shown, I am able to erect the frame which supports the pedal-shafts and driving gear u on the bottom of the boat, while placing t e propeller-shaft on a much lower level, necessary to wholly submerge the propeller beneath the water-line indicated by the lines 50.

As a means for steering the boat, I have provided the rudder, 51, projecting from the rudder-post, 52, which is capable of a rocking movement in the bearing 53. The rudderpost is provided with a lever, 54, and operatmg cab es, 55, extending along the respective sides of the boat in the usual well known manner, which cables are Wound upon a Windlass, 56, so that a rotary movement of the Windlass in one direction will steer the boat to the right, and in the opposite direction Will steer the boat to the left.

As a means for communicating rotary movements to the Windlass, l. provide tiro sets of mechanisms, one set consisting of a hand-Wheel, 57, fixed upon the shaft, 58, rotary in a bearing, 59, and secured by a universal oint, 60, to the Windlass or drum. This Wheel, 57, is accessible to an operator standing at the bow of the boat. The other set of steering mechanism comprises the handle-bar, 10, accessible from seat, S, such handle-bar beine secured to the shaft, 61, capable of rocking movements in the bearing, 67, secured to the frame rlhe lower end of the rock-shaft, 61, is connected to a horizontal rock-shaft, 63, by means of a link, 64, connected at one end to the shaft, 61, by means of a universal-joint, 65, and at its opposite end to the shaft, 63, by means of a universal-joint 66. rThe forward end of the rock-shaft, 63, is provided with the gear segment, 70, fixed thereon and adapted to mesh with the iinion, 7 1 fixed upon the shaft 72, rotary in earings 73, Fixed upon the other end of the shaft, 72, is the sprocket- Wheel, 74, connected by a sprocket-chain, 75, with the sprocket-Wheel, 76, fixed upon the journal, 77, of the windlass 56. I am thus able to provide duplicate steering mechanisms, one set of steering mechanism being accessible from the forward pedal seat, from which seat the operator of one set of pedals can steer the boat, and the other set of steering mechanism being accessible to the helmsman standing` in the bow of the boat, the universal joint-connection between the upright rock-shaft, 6i, and the horizontal rock-shaft, 63, permittingl the connections between the steering handle-bar and the vrindlass to be carried along the bottom of the boat, Where it Will not interfere with. the convenience of passengers on the boat.

By having the pedal-shafts and drivingshaft located at a comparatively high level, room is afforded for the revolution of the pedals above the floor of the boat, and by having the driving-shaft at the same level and extended in a horizontal plane, room is afforded for securing the drive-wheel to such shaft, and 1t 1s posslble to rotate the Wheel 1n a vertlcal plane Without the gyroy scopic effect Which would be reduced if the shaft Was placed in an inc ined position, Which effect would reduce greater Wear u )on the bearings. And) by having the pro e er shaft parallel With the driving-shaft, but at a lower level, the screiv will be Wholly submerged in the Water and the force of Aits thrust Will be directly in line With the travel of the boa-t.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ism l. ln a Water-cycle, the combination With a boat-body, of a propeller-shaft rotary in suitable bearings and projecting through one end of the boat-body at a level below the water-line; a pedal actuated driving-shaft located at a levelabove the level of the propeller-shaft and approximately parallel therewith; an inclined link connected at its upper end by a universabjoint Ywith the driving shaft, and connected at its loiver end With the propeller-shaft by a universal-joint; and a fly-Wheel 'fixed on the driving-shaft.

In a `.rater-cycle, the combination with a boat-body; and the propeller-shaft through one end of the body g of a pedal-shaft, a driv ing-shaft; a connection between the driving shaft and propeller-shaft; gear-connections between the pedal-shaft and driving-shaft; a gear-inclosing case comprising a body section, a cover section and a bearing-box section, the three sections being detachably secured together to form a tightly-inclosing case, the body and. cover sections being provided With bearings for the pedal-shaft, and. the box section and the body section being provided With bearings for the driving-shaft 5 and means for supplying the case-chamber with oil.

3. ln a Water-cycle, the combination with a pedal-operated propeller and a rudder; of a frame erected Within the boat provided With bearings for the pedal-shaft; a seat mounted upon the frame; duplicate steering mechanisms comprising a handle-bar in front of the seat and the steering .vieel in the bow of the beat; and operating connections between such bar and Wheel and the rudder.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of September, 1907.

WM. CREPEAU.

lli/'witnesses Gno. A. Mosnnn, E. M. ORniLLY.