Patent GB-190225934-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Captive Balloons.
Inventor: HERVE HENRI ALPHONSE
Filed: 1902-11-25
Granted: 1903-10-15
Abstract: 25,934. HervÚ, H. A. Nov. 25. AÙrostats.-Relates to captive balloons for military and scientific purposes. The balloon is designed for use under greater wind pressure, or at a greater altitude for a given wind pressure, than is possible in the case of other balloons, and at the same time with less tractive effort. The balloon consists of a buoyant body a, Fig. 1, a system of cords for suspending a car L, and an independent system of cords for attaching the traction rope B. The buoyant body consists of a main cigar-shaped body portion having its greatest section towards the front, an approximately-cylindrical rearward extension d for steadying the balloon laterally, and auxiliary cylindrical chambers f, f<1> or surfaces carried by the extension d for increasing its effect. The part d is designed to support itself and the parts attached to it, but not to add materially to the buoyancy of the balloon as a whole. The part d may have two auxiliary chambers f, f<1>, secured, one above and one below, by cords adjusted to maintain contact. The upper chamber f may be connected to the main body a at g so as to be filled with gas. The lower chamber f<1> may be similarly connected at g<1>, or may be filled with air at the pressure due to the wind, being placed in communication with the external air either direct or through a displacer chamber a<3> within the buoyant body a. The chamber a<3> may be connected with the external air by an injector nozzle, and also by an automatic discharge valve for regulating the pressure. Instead of the two chambers f, f<1>, four similar chambers may be disposed round the body d, as shown in end view in Fig. 3, and be arranged to support sail-like surfaces M, M. Vertical triangular sails m, Fig. 1, are connected by their upper edges to the sides of the body d, and are braced together at their apices, which are also connected to the suspension rigging by cords o. These cords may be crossed and connected at the point of crossing. Each sail is formed of three triangular pieces, the seams bisecting the angles, and each piece is cut with the weft parallel to its outer edge. Distributing- cords n are fitted at the point of attachment of the cord o. In a modification, each of the sails m is made hollow and its two surfaces are kept apart by a central strut. Instead of using the chambers f, f<1>,a sail j, Fig. 4, may be connected to each side of the body d along a line j<1>, j<2>, and be held distended by a spar k. The car L, Fig. 1, is suspended from a cross-frame z by three cords A at each corner arranged as shown in plan in Fig. 10, and the cross-frame z, which is formed as shown in Fig. 9, is suspended from the sides of the buoyant body a by four cords 1, 2, 3, 4 on each side. The upper branched ends of these cords are looped round pins v, Fig. 8, connected by straps w to a strip of fabric t, which is sewn by two wavy lines of stitching x to the envelope of the body a. The fabric t is cut on the bias, and is strengthened at the edge by a straight piece of fabric t<1>. The strips t on the two sides of the body a may be connected by encircling-bands. The frame z, Fig. 1, may also be suspended by an additional system of cords which cross one another from side to side, or by such a system alone. The towing-cable B is connected to the sides of the body a by two sets of ropes or pulleys G, G<2>, and two triangular pieces of fabric C. The ropes are connected to the edge of the fabric C in the same way as the suspension ropes are connected to the body a. The fabric C is cut with the warp in the mean direction of the towing-cable. The towing-system is preferably arranged inside the suspension system, but may be arranged outside. A bar L<1> is fixed to the front of the car to protect the hands of the occupants from the towing-cable.