Man and wind powered aquatic vehicle

• US 5,845,593 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orville J. Birkestrand
• Original Assignee: Orville J. Birkestrand
• Inventors: Birkestrand, Orville J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/659,445
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 416/7, 416/84, 416/85, 440/95-98, 440/21, 440/26-31, 29/508-511, 29/516, 29/517, 114/352-354, 114/39.1, 114/90, 114/91, 114/93, 114/301, 114/305
• US Class Current: 114/39.11
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/14 using outboard floating members
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/38 characterised solely by flotation properties, e.g. drums
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 16/12 using hand levers, cranks, pedals, or the like, e.g. water cycles, boats propelled by boat-mounted pedal cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2016/202 specially adapted or arranged for being actuated by the feet of the user, e.g. using bicycle-like pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/04 using sails or like wind-catching surfaces sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing B63H8/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines

Abstract

A non sinkable, easily re-rightable aquatic vehicle has a lightweight body with a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and contains a seat for supporting a pilot. A pair of front sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body and a pair of rear sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear thereof. A first flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body and a second flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body. Each said flotation track includes an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave and a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads connected to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves. A pedal drive is mounted to the body for producing an output torque which is coupled to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance the tracks in order to propel the vehicle and brakes are provided to steer and stop the vehicle. A mast and sail may also be mounted to the body in such a way that the mast can be tilted in any direction and rotated about its axis to operate the vehicle under sail with maximum ease and efficiency.

Claims

1. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot;

a seat supported by said body adjacent to the bottom thereof;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front sheave and a rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, said drive means including a pedal crank releasably mounted to the body in front of said seat, and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle, said coupling means including a chain drive for coupling torque from the pedal crank to said at least one of the sheave on each side of the body.

2. The vehicle defined in claim 1 and further including means for selectively braking at least one of the sheaves on each side of the body so as to retard or stop the advance of one or both of said flotation tracks in, order to steer or stop the vehicle.

3. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said lower series of flotation treads of both said flotation tracks are buoyant enough by themselves to maintain the bottom of the body above the water.

4. The aquatic vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the coupling means include means for varying the torque coupled to said one sheave on each side of the body.

5. The vehicle defined in claim 1 and further including means for braking at least one of the sheaves on each side of the body.

6. The vehicle defined in claim 5 wherein the coupling means include a differential so that when said at least one sheave on one side of the body is braked, the said at least one sheave on the other side of the body accelerates.

7. The vehicle defined in claim 1 and further including means for releasing each tread from the band to which it is connected.

9. The vehicle defined in claim 6 wherein the frame members are tubes having hollow ends, and the coupling means comprise a multiplicity of connectors each of which has a plurality of branches telescoped snugly into the ends of the tubes to which it is coupled, each branch having a groove extending around its perimeter which mates with an internal bead formed in the tube coupled to that branch.

10. The vehicle defined in claim 7 wherein the frame members and coupling means are of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, magnesium, carbon fiber and plastic.

8. An aquatic vehicle comprising a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and containing a pilot, said body including a frame composed of a multiplicity of frame members and coupling means for coupling the frame members together end to end so that some of the frame members form a pair of spaced-apart mirror-image frame side sections and others of the frame members constitute cross members which connect the side sections together at corresponding points around the perimeters of said side sections;

a seat supported by said body adjacent to the bottom thereof;

a pair of front sheaves rotatable mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatable mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front sheave and a rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

11. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot;

a seat supported by said body adjacent to the bottom thereof;

a pair of front sheaves rotatable mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatable mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body, each sheave comprising a pair of circular rims each rim having a peripheral groove, a series of crossbars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, said crossbars being spaced an equal distance apart around said rims, a hub having opposite sides and being situated between said rims, and a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said crossbars are maintained under compression and said spokes are maintained in tension to preserve the circularity of said rims;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front sheave and a rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque; and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

12. The vehicle defined in claim 11 wherein the endless band of each flotation track comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart endless cables engaged in the grooves of the pair of rims comprising each sheave about which that band is engaged.

13. The vehicle defined in claim 12 wherein each flotation tread comprises a buoyant, generally rectangular flotation body having longitudinal corners and which spans the pair of cables comprising the endless band connected to that tread so that when that tread enters and leaves the water, a corner of the body is presented to the water surface.

14. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a tubular frame having a front, rear, a bottom and opposite sides and defining an enclosure;

seat means mounted to the frame within the enclosure for supporting a pilot;

an endless flotation track mounted to each side of the frame, each flotation track being movable along a circulation path;

drive means supported by said frame for moving each flotation track along the corresponding circulation path;

an elongated mast having an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends;

a sail attached to said mast;

means for movably mounting the mast to the frame so that the mast has a cone-shape locus of motion around an erect position wherein the mast extends up more or less perpendicular to the bottom of the frame, and

fixing means for selectively fixing the position of the mast within said locus of motion.

15. The vehicle defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of the mast and sail is buoyant so that said at least one of the mast and sail renders the vehicle unstable when inverted and functions as an outrigger to cause the vehicle, when capsized, to float on one of said flotation tracks.

16. The vehicle defined in claim 15 wherein the mast is hollow and partially filled with a flotation material.

17. The vehicle defined in claim 15 wherein said sail includes a luff pocket encircling said mast.

18. A vehicle defined in claim 17 wherein said luff pocket is partially filled with flotation material.

19. The vehicle defined in claim 14 wherein said mounting means include a ball mounted to the mast so that the center of the ball is located on the longitudinal axis of the mast and a socket mounted to said frame and rotatably receiving the ball so that the ball and mast can be tilted in all directions relative to the frame and be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the mast, and the fixing means comprise one or more cables, each cable having a first end connected to the lower end of the mast and a plurality of separate tie off means for tying off each of said one or more cables so as to selectively fix the distance between the lower end of the mast and each of said plurality of separate tie off means.

20. The vehicle defined in claim 19 wherein the socket is pivotally mounted to the frame so that the socket can be pivoted between a first position wherein the mast is upstanding and a second position wherein the mast is laid down on the frame more or less parallel to the frame bottom, and means for releasably locking the socket in said first position.

21. The vehicle defined in claim 14 wherein the mast is hollow, and further including a halyard extending within the mast, a releasable halyard clutch mounted inside the mast at the top thereof and engaging said halyard, and releasing means connected to the halyard clutch for releasing the clutching action of the halyard clutch so that the halyard can be moved along within the mast.

22. The vehicle defined in claim 21 wherein the halyard clutch comprises a tubular slide mounted within the mast, a tubular slider slidably positioned within the slide, a flexible tube having one end connected to said slide and its opposite end connected to said slider, said halyard extending through said slide, slider and flexible tube so that when the halyard moves in a first direction within the mast, the flexible tube functions as a grip to stop such movement, and wherein said releasing means comprise means for moving the slider toward said one end of the flexible tube so as to relax the flexible tube lengthwise and increase its cross sectional area so that the flexible tube does not grip the halyard.

23. The vehicle defined in claim 21 and further including a downhaul assembly mounted within the lower end of the mast.

24. The vehicle defined in claim 14 wherein said vehicle also includes a pair of laterally extending front axles releasably mounted to the opposite sides of said frame near the front thereof, each front axle having an outer end, a transverse rear axle, mounting means for movably mounting the rear axle to said frame near the rear thereof, said rear axle having opposite ends, a pair of first sheaves rotatably mounted to the outer ends of the front axles, a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to the opposite ends of the rear axle, said pair of flotation tracks being engaged around the front and rear sheaves on opposite sides of the frame, said rear axle being movable between a first position wherein the front and rear sheaves are spaced apart sufficiently to tension the flotation tracks and a second position wherein the front and rear sheaves are closer together so that said flotation tracks are loosened and removable from the associated sheaves, and means for releasably locking said rear axle in said first position.

25. The vehicle defined in claim 24 wherein said rear axle is pivoted to said frame so that said first position of the axle is a stable over-center position which maintains said flotation tracks under tension.

26. A flotation track for an aquatic vehicle comprising

a pair of sheaves,

means for rotatably mounting said sheaves in spaced-apart relation, each sheave including a pair of circular rims, each rim having a peripheral groove, a series of crossbars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, said crossbars being spaced an equal distance apart around said rims, a hub having opposite sides and being situated between said rims, and a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said crossbars are maintained in compression and said spokes are maintained in tension to preserve the circularity of said rims,

a first endless non-extensible cable engaged in the grooves of corresponding first rims of said pair of sheaves,

a second endless non-extensible cable engaged in the grooves of corresponding second rims of said pair of sheaves,

a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads, and

means for connecting said treads to said first and second cables at corresponding spaced-apart locations along said first and second cables so as to form an endless series of spaced-apart flotation treads which advance around said pair of sheaves when said pair of sheaves is rotated.

27. The flotation track for an aquatic vehicle defined in claim 26 wherein the connecting means include means for releasing each tread from said first and second cables.

28. The flotation track for an aquatic vehicle defined in claim 26 wherein the connecting means include a pair of bridles encircling each tread and means for securing each bridle to said first and second cables.

29. A flotation tread for an aquatic vehicle comprising

a hollow elongated flotation body having four sides and four longitudinal corners and a pair of opposite ends;

a pair of perimeter constrictions at spaced-apart locations along the body and means for inflating the flotation body to increase its buoyancy.

30. The flotation tread defined in claim 29 and further including an elongated driving rib projecting from one side of the flotation body.

31. The flotation tread defined in claim 30 and further including a longitudinal pushing rib projecting from the opposite side of said flotation body.

32. The flotation tread for an aquatic vehicle defined in claim 29 and further including a pair of cables, and securing means for releasably securing said flotation body to said pair of cables.

33. The flotation tread for an aquatic vehicle defined in claim 32 wherein said securing means include a pair of bridles encircling said flotation body at said pair of constrictions, said bridles being connected to different ones of said pair of cables.

34. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque;

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle;

a mast;

mounting means for movably mounting the mast to the body so that the mast has a cone-shaped locus of motion around an erect position wherein the mast extends up more or less perpendicular to the bottom of the body, and

means for selectively fixing the position of the mast within the locus of motion.

35. The vehicle defined in claim 34 wherein the mast can also be moved to a stowed position wherein the mast is laid down on the body more or less parallel to the bottom of the body.

36. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot, said body including a frame composed of a multiplicity of frame members and coupling means for coupling the frame members together end to end so that some of the frame members form a pair of spaced-apart mirror-image frame side sections and others of the frame members constitute cross members which connect the side sections together at corresponding points around the perimeters of the side sections and a flexible skin covering the frame side sections and cross members to minimize aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and to protectively enclose the pilot thereof;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending around between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

37. The vehicle defined in claim 36 wherein at least portions of the skin at the top and sides of the body are of a material that is transparent to visible light.

38. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body, each sheave including a pair of similar circular rims each rim having a peripheral groove, a series of crossbars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, said crossbars being spaced an equal distance apart around said rims, a hub having opposite sides and a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said spokes are maintained in tension to preserve the circularity of said rims;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave and being composed of a pair of laterally spaced apart endless cables engaged in the grooves of the pair of rims comprising each sheave about which that band is engaged, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves, each flotation tread comprising a flotation body connected by a said connecting means to the pair of cables comprising the endless band associated with that tread, and a driving rib which projects from said body and is shaped and arranged to engage in the spaces between the crossbars of the sheaves engaged by the endless band associated with that tread when the corresponding flotation track is advanced;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

39. The vehicle defined in claim 38 wherein the connecting means comprise a multiplicity of attachment lugs mounted to each cable of said pair of cables at corresponding spaced-apart locations therealong, said attachment lugs being shaped and arranged to seat in the rim grooves of the associated sheaves so that the lugs do not slip relative to said associated sheaves when the flotation track is advanced, a pair of bridles tightly encircling each flotation tread, and fixing means for fixing the corresponding attachment lugs on said cable pair to the bridle pairs encircling different ones of said flotation treads.

40. The vehicle defined in claim 39 and further including a multiplicity of drive lugs mounted to each cable so as to alternate with the attachment lugs on that cable.

41. The vehicle defined in claim 39 wherein each said flotation tread is releasable from its associated pair of bridles.

42. The vehicle defined in claim 41 wherein each bridle comprises first and second bridle segments and means for releasably securing said segments together.

43. The vehicle defined in claim 41 wherein the flotation body of each flotation tread is at least partially collapsible so that the flotation tread can be disengaged from the associated pair of bridles.

44. The vehicle defined in claim 43 wherein each said flotation body is fluid-tight and inflatable/deflatable through a valve mounted in a wall of said flotation body.

45. The vehicle defined in claim 43 wherein the flotation body of each flotation tread is hollow, and further including an opening in a wall of said body for filling said body with flotation material and means for closing said opening.

46. The vehicle defined in claim 38 and further including a pushing rib projecting from a second side of said body opposite said first side thereof.

47. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot, said body including a seat adjacent to the bottom of said body;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body;

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body, each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, said drive means including a pedal crank and crank mounting means for mounting the pedal crank to said body in front of said seat, and

coupling means including a chain drive for coupling said output torque from said pedal crank to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

48. The vehicle defined in claim 47 wherein said coupling means further include a differential mechanism connected between the chain drive and said at least one of the sheaves on each side of the body so that if one of said flotation tracks is slowed by braking, the other flotation track speeds up proportionally.

49. The vehicle defined in claim 48 and further including braking means for slowing or stopping the advance of one or both of said flotation tracks in order to steer or stop the vehicle.

50. The vehicle defined in claim 48 wherein said chain drive includes a front derailleur connected to said pedal crank and a rear derailleur coupled to said at least one of said sheaves on each side of the vehicle.

51. The vehicle defined in claim 47 wherein said crank mounting means comprise first and second telescoping members, means for mounting the first member to said body, means for mounting the pedal crank to said second member and means for releasably fixing the relative position of said first and second members.

52. A flotation track for an aquatic vehicle comprising

a pair of sheaves;

means for rotatably mounting said sheaves in spaced-apart relation, each sheave including a pair of circular rims, each rim having a peripheral groove, a series of similar crossbars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, said crossbars being spaced in equal distance apart around said rims, a hub having opposite sides, and a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said spokes are maintained in tension to preserve the circularity of said rims;

a first endless non-extensible cable engaged in the grooves of corresponding first rims of the front and rear sheaves;

a second endless non-extensible cable engaged in the grooves in corresponding second rims of the front and rear sheaves;

a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads, each flotation tread comprising a flotation body and a longitudinal driving rib which projects from said body between said pair of cables and is shaped and arranged to engage in the spaces between the crossbars of said sheaves, and

means for connecting said treads to said first and second cables at corresponding spaced-apart locations along said first and second cables so as to form an endless series of spaced-apart flotation treads which advance around said pair of sheaves when said sheaves are rotated.

53. The flotation track defined in claim 52 wherein the connecting means comprise a multiplicity of relatively soft attachment lugs mounted to each cable of said pair of cables at corresponding spaced-apart locations therealong, said attachment lugs being shaped and arranged to seat in the grooves of the associated rims so that the lugs do not slip relative to the associated sheaves when the sheaves are rotated, a pair of bridles tightly encircling each flotation tread, and pairs of fixing means for fixing the corresponding attachment lugs on said cable pair to the bridle pairs encircling different ones of said flotation treads.

54. The flotation track defined in claim 53 wherein the flotation body of each flotation tread includes a pair of peripheral constrictions spaced apart along its length for receiving the pair of bridles associated with that flotation tread.

55. The flotation track defined in claim 53 wherein the flotation body of each flotation tread is at least partially collapsible so that the flotation tread can be disengaged from the associated pair of bridles.

56. The flotation track defined in claim 52 and further including a pushing rib projecting from the flotation body of each flotation tread in a direction opposite to the direction of the driving rib of that flotation tread.

57. The flotation tread defined in claim 56 wherein the flotation body of each flotation tread is fluid-tight and inflatable/deflatable through a valve mounted in a wall of said flotation body.

58. The flotation track defined in claim 52 wherein the flotation body of each flotation track is generally rectangular with longitudinal corners and spans the pair of cables to which it is connected so that when that tread enters and leaves the water, a corner of the body is presented to the water surface.

59. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for containing a pilot;

a seat supported by said body adjacent to the bottom thereof;

a pair of front sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body;

a pair of rear sheaves rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear of the body,

a first flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body;

a second flotation track engaged around and extending between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body each said flotation track including an endless band engaged around a front sheave and a rear sheave, a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads and connecting means for connecting the treads to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves, said connecting means including a bridle engaged around each tread and means for securing each bridle to the associated band;

drive means mounted to said body for producing an output torque, and

coupling means for coupling said torque to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance said tracks in order to propel the vehicle.

60. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a flotation body having opposite sides;

seating means in the body for supporting a pilot;

an elongated mast having an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends;

mounting means for movably mounting the mast to the body so that the mast has a cone-shape locus of motion around an erect position wherein the mast extends up more or less perpendicular to the body, said mounting means including a socket fixed to said body and a ball mounted to said mast above the lower end thereof, said ball being swivally received in said socket, and

fixing means attached to the mast below said ball for selectively fixing the position of the mast within said locus of motion.

61. The vehicle defined in claim 60 wherein the mast is buoyant so that said mast renders the vehicle unstable when inverted and functions as an outrigger to cause the vehicle, when capsized, to float on one of said sides.

62. The vehicle defined in claim 60 and further comprising a sail attached to the mast.

63. The vehicle defined in claim 62 wherein the locus of motion includes a position wherein the mast sets the sail so that when the vehicle is in motion, the wind exerts a force on the sail which tends to lift the vehicle out of the water.

64. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a flotation body having opposite sides;

seating means in the body for supporting a pilot;

an elongated mast having an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends;

mounting means for movably mounting the mast to the body so that the mast has a cone-shaped locus of motion around an erect position wherein the mast extends more or less perpendicular to the body;

fixing means for selectively fixing the position of the mast within said locus of motion;

a halyard extending within the mast;

a releasable halyard clutch mounted inside the mast at the top thereof and engaging said halyard, and

releasing means connected to the halyard clutch for releasing the clutching action of the halyard clutch so that the halyard can be moved along within the mast.

65. The vehicle defined in claim 64 wherein the halyard clutch comprises

a tubular slide mounted within the mast;

a tubular slider slidably positioned within the slide;

a flexible tube having one end connected to said slide and its opposite end connected to said slider, said halyard extending through said slide, slider and flexible tube so that when the halyard moves in a first direction within the mast, the flexible tube functions as a Chinese finger grip to stop such movement, and wherein the said releasing means comprise means for moving the slider toward said one end of the flexible tube so as to relax the flexible tube lengthwise and increase its cross sectional area so that the flexible tube does not grip the halyard.

66. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a flotation body;

seating means in the body for supporting a pilot;

an elongated mast having an upper end and a lower end;

mounting means including a gimbal for mounting the mast to the body so that the mast can be swung between an erect position wherein the mast extends up more or less perpendicular to the body and a stowed position wherein the mast is more or less parallel to the body, and

fixing means for fixing the mast in said erect position.

67. The vehicle defined in claim 66 wherein the mast is shaped as an air foil so that it functions as a sail.

68. A flotation sheave for an aquatic vehicle comprising

a pair of circular rims, each rim having a peripheral groove;

a series of cross bars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, said crossbars being spaced an equal distance apart around said rims;

a hub having opposite sides and being situated between said rims, and

a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said crossbars are maintained in compression and said spokes are maintained in tension to preserve the circularity of said sheave.

69. The flotation sheave defined in claim 68 and further including

a pair of cables engaged around the pair of rims;

a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads, and

connecting means for connecting the treads to the cables at spaced apart locations therealong.

70. The flotation sheave defined in claim 69 wherein each flotation tread comprises a flotation body and a longitudinal driving rib which projects from said body between said pair of cables and is shaped and arranged to engage in a space between the crossbars of said sheave.

71. The flotation sheave defined in claim 68 and further including an axle having one end secured to said hub, said hub and said axle having a common axis, and

support means for supporting the axle for rotation about said axis.

72. The sheave defined in claim 71 and further including means for releasably connecting the support means to an aquatic vehicle.

73. An aquatic vehicle comprising

a body having a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and for supporting a load;

a pair of moveable flotation tracks mounted to opposite sides of the body, each flotation track including

a pair of sheaves, each sheave including a pair of circular rims, a series of crossbars connected between said rims so that said rims are collinear, a hub having opposite sides and being situated between said rims, and

a multiplicity of spokes connecting the opposite sides of said hub to said rims so that said crossbars are maintained under compression and said spokes are maintained to tension to preserve the circularity of said rims,

an endless band engaged around said sheaves, and

a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads secured to said band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads, the lower series of flotation treads of each track extending below the body and having a buoyancy such that they float the vehicle so that the body and the load are supported above the water with the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity being close to the bottom of the vehicle, and

drive means in said body for selectively moving either or both of said tracks.