Submarine patent, 1897. Artwork of a submarine invented by American naval engineer Simon Lake. This submarine was designed to move across the seabed using wheels. It also featured a periscope, escape hatch and conning tower. A screw propeller was powered by compressed air. Lake (1866-1945) was a prolific designer of submarines and his designs were built for the US Navy during the First World War and also for marine salvage operations after the war.