Patent GB-190716967-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Dirigible Aerostatic Devices.
Inventor: SCHIAVONE MARIO
Filed: 1907-07-24
Granted: 1908-04-30
Abstract: 16,967. Schiavone, M. July 24. Aerial machines with aerostats; aerostats; propelling; steering and balancing; framework.- The aerial machine consists of two or m o r e elongatedaerostats rigidly connected together and formed with a central cylindrical portion with ogival-shaped ends, parts of which are detachable. Each aerostat 1, Fig. 1, has an aluminium casing 2 formed of a number of convex rings 3 secured together by internal flanges. The end of the aerostat is formed of a detachable casing 6, Fig. 28, secured by flanged rings to a ring 7 of the aerostat. The outer frame of the aerostat consists of longitudinal tubes 20 and hoops 27 coupled together by plates. The ends of the rods 20, Fig. 17, are connected together by a ring 22 which is secured to a hollow spindle 12 passing through the end section 6. The aerostats are coupled by rods 28, Fig. 6, and ties 29 and a central platform 35, Fig. 1, and two end platforms 34 are provided for supporting the motors driving the screw propellers 31. The propeller shafts are carried by stays 30, Fig. 6, connecting the aerostats and are placed so that their longitudinal axis is coincident with the axis of resistance of the machine. A cap 14 is secured to the end of the detachable portion 6. The platform 35 carries an air-compressor and reservoir for supplying air through pipes 17, Fig. 17, to four end chambers 41, Fig. 28, of the aerostats formed by a diaphragm 40 shaped like the end of the aerostat. The end of the diaphragm is formed with a detachable part 50, and is secured to the shell between the two rings 3, 7, Fig. 24, by flanged rings 44, 45 to obtain an air-tight joint. By pumping or exhausting air from the end chambers, the density of the hydrogen in the body of the aerostat can be varied for ascending or descending, and by varying the amount of air in each of the chambers the balance of the machine can be adjusted for steering in any direction. In order to fill the shell with hydrogen, a detachable lining or bag of a similar shape is placad inside the shell and inflated with air and afterwards withdrawn while hydrogen is being passed into the shell. The lining 57 is formed with a truncated end closed by a silk disk 63, Fig. 27, which is attached to the rear diaphragm 40 after the cap 50 has been removed. The lining is then placed evenly in the shell and the neck 65, Fig. 15, project3 through an opening 24 in the casing. The covers 64 of valves 26 are removed, and a heavy cable 67 passed through the two end valves and through loops secured to the top of the lining. A cord 60, Fig. 17, is attached to the inside of the front end of the lining and reaches to the rear end. Air is admitted to inflate the lining through the neck 65, the air in the casing being driven out through the valves 26. When the lining fills the casing, the cable 67, which serves to render the inflation uniform, is withdrawn, and the valves 24, 26 are closed. Hydrogen is then admitted through a pipe secured to the apex of the part 50 of the bow diaphragm, and the disk 63 is slit to allow the bag 57 to be withdrawn, by the cord 60, through the end of the diaphragm 40 as the filling proceeds. When the shell is filled, a cord 58, Fig. 27, is tied round the diaphragm 40, and the lining is detached from the end of the diaphragm and the cap 50 replaced. The caps 6 are then replaced and the couplings 70, Fig. 17, of the airsupply tubes 17 secured. If desired, the lining 57 may be retained inside the aerostat and inflated with hydrogen.