JPH04287790A - Surface/underwater bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a handy surface/underwater bicycle allowing to enjoy a surface or underwater walk. CONSTITUTION:A surface/underwater bicycle has a transparent bowl-shaped main body section 12 opened at the bottom section, floats 14, 16 to keep the balance of the main body section 12, a pedal 30 giving the propelling force to the main body section 12, a crank system 34, a propeller 18, and a lifting means constituted of connecting bars 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, expansion bars 46, 48 and shrinking system sections 46a, 48a to float the main body section 12 on the water or submerge it under the water by utilizing the buoyancy of the main body section 12.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water and underwater bicycle capable of being propelled on and under water.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Among marine leisure activities that have made remarkable progress in recent years, there are water bicycles that travel (propel) on the surface of the water. Water bicycles have the advantage of being low cost and easy to operate.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the diversification of leisure activities in recent years, there is a demand for walking not only on water but also under water. Small submarines are now available to meet these demands. However, submarines have a complicated structure and high cost;
As a casual leisure activity, there is not necessarily a great need to be able to dive as deep underwater as a submarine.

0004

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle for both water and water use, which allows the user to easily enjoy walking on water and in water at low cost.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transparent bowl-shaped main body with an open bottom, a float means for maintaining the balance of the main body, and a propulsion force applied to the main body. Utilizing the propulsion means that gives
The main body is provided with a lifting means for floating the main body above the water surface and submerging it in water.

[0006]

[Function] In the water/water bicycle of the present invention constructed as described above, the main body is shaped like a bowl with an open bottom, so that a certain level of buoyancy is obtained by the air inside the main body. Moreover, the pressure of the air prevents water from entering the main body. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the amount of water (buoyancy) of the main body by setting the weight of the main body. and,
By utilizing the buoyancy of the main body and causing the main body to float and submerge in water using a lifting means, it is possible to easily walk on or under water.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows the water/water bicycle according to the embodiment as seen from the front, Figure 2 shows the bicycle as seen from the side, and Figure 3 shows the same as seen from the top.
(details omitted) are shown respectively. The basic structure of the water/underwater bicycle 10 according to the embodiment includes a hemispherical main body 12 with an open bottom, two floats 14 and 16 for balancing the main body 12, and a main body 12.
There is a propeller (screw) 18 for propelling the.

[0008] The main body portion 12 is molded from transparent reinforced plastic, and is provided with a main body frame 22 inside to increase strength. A sealed door 23 for an operator to enter and exit is formed in a part of the circumferential surface of the main body 12. Further, a chair 26 whose upper, left and right sides, and rear portions are supported by a fixed frame 24 is provided approximately at the center of the interior of the main body 12, and a handle 28 and pedals 30 are arranged in front of the chair 26, respectively. . And chair 2
When an operator sitting on the steering wheel 6 alternately depresses the pedals 30, the propeller 18 is rotated by a well-known crank mechanism 34, and the direction of the rudder 32 is changed by rotating the handle 28. In order to minimize resistance when stepping on the pedal 30, the pedal 30 is arranged at a relatively high position so as not to be submerged in water even when the main body 12 is underwater. Note that the shape of the main body portion 12 is not limited to a hemispherical shape, and may be any other shape as long as it maintains a certain level of buoyancy and airtightness. In addition, a simple oxygen supply device (not shown) may be installed inside or outside the main body 12, depending on the need (long-term diving), taking into consideration the time of submersion underwater and the amount of oxygen in the main body 12. ).

The floats 14 and 16 have a hollow structure or are formed of a material with low specific gravity, and are arranged at symmetrical positions on the main body 12. Joints 36, 38, 40, 42 are provided at the tops of both ends of the floats 14, 16, respectively, and are linked to a joint 44 that suspends the top of the main body 12 by connecting bars 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a. There is. Also, between floats 14 and 16,
Connected by telescopic bars 46, 48, the bars 46,
It can be expanded and contracted by expansion and contraction mechanism parts 46a and 48a arranged in the center of 48. Telescopic mechanism parts 46a, 48
The telescopic bars 46 and 48 are extended and contracted by a screw mechanism, and are driven manually or by electric power such as a motor. Then, from the state of FIG. 1, the telescopic bar 46,
By contracting 48, the main body part 1 is retracted as shown in FIG.
2 is designed to float above the water surface.

The propeller 18 is connected to the pedal 3 as described above.
The propeller 18 is rotated by the action of a crank mechanism 34 based on the operation of the main body 12, and is arranged below the main body 12 so that the propeller 18 remains underwater even when the main body 12 rises above the water. There is. As a result, a constant propulsion force can be obtained even when the main body portion 12 is on water. Note that the drive mechanism for the propeller 18 is not limited to the crank mechanism 34 as described above.

[0011] In addition, the water/underwater bicycle 10 configured as described above is constructed by comprehensively calculating the buoyancy of the entire body, and in a state where the floats 14 and 16 are opened to the left and right, that is, the float 14 is
, 16 itself is not subject to any downward load and is floating due to the buoyancy of the main body 12 itself, and the line of sight of the person inside the main body 12 is below the water surface as shown in FIG.
2 sinks by about 70%).

Next, the operation and function of the water/water bicycle 10 constructed as described above will be explained. The water/submersible bicycle 10 is normally floated on the water surface in a sea or lake as shown in FIG. 4, and when in use, the operator opens the closed door 23 and enters the main body 12. When the operator sitting on the chair 26 depresses the left and right pedals 30 alternately, the propeller 18 rotates and the bicycle 10 moves forward. After that, when diving underwater, by operating a switch (not shown), the telescopic bar 46,
Extend 48. When the telescopic bars 46 and 48 are extended, the floats 14 and 16 expand to the left and right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the main body 12 sinks into the water due to its own weight. Then, the operator observes the water through the transparent wall of the main body 12,
Furthermore, you can observe the water from your feet.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of a water/water bicycle 60 according to another embodiment of the present invention. This water/underwater bicycle 60 differs from the above-mentioned embodiments in that it is an application of a general bicycle, and the bicycle 62 in the main body 12 is
When an operator sitting on a saddle 64 operates a handle 66, the direction of the rudder 32 is changed, and when the operator depresses a pedal 68, the rear propeller 18 rotates.

[0014] In the above embodiment, the driving source is obtained mostly by a mechanical structure, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use a prime mover, a motor, or the like. Further, although the above-mentioned water and underwater bicycle 10 is used for leisure purposes, it can also be used for fishing purposes such as collecting abalone. Furthermore, a design change will allow it to run on land such as a sandy beach.

[0015]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the water and water bicycle according to the present invention includes a transparent bowl-shaped main body with an open bottom, a float means for maintaining the balance of the main body,
It is composed of a propulsion means that provides propulsion to the main body, and an elevating means that uses the buoyancy of the main body to levitate the main body above and below the water surface and submerge it, making it easy to move above and below water at low cost. This has the effect of allowing you to enjoy walking.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,60 Bicycle for both water and water use
26 Chair 12 Main body
28
Handle 14, 16 float
30 Pedal 18 Propeller
32
Rudder 22 frame
34
Crank mechanism 24 Fixed frame 36, 36, 40, 42, 44 Joint 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a Connection bar 46, 48 Telescopic bar 46a, 48a Telescopic mechanism part 62
bicycle 62
68 Pedal 64 Saddle
66
handle 66

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transparent main body formed into a bowl shape with an open bottom, into which an operator can enter, and which is placed on or in water; a float means for maintaining the balance of the main body; A bicycle for both water and underwater use, comprising: a propulsion device that applies a propulsion force to a main body portion; and a lifting device that uses the buoyancy of the main body portion to float the main body portion above and submerge the water surface. 2. The float means are arranged at predetermined intervals at symmetrical positions with respect to the main body, and the elevating means raises and lowers the main body by changing the spacing between the float means. The water and water bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: