Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-18

a Novelty In Balloons

ONE Winch IT Is CLAIMED CAN BE d.
RECrED AT WILL.
When the members of the Military Ser
vice institution entered the museum build
ing on Governors Island on Thursday at
ternoon, they found two wires stretched
across the musenm hall in front OF the
stage. Resting on them. near the south
window, was an elliptical object about 80
inches long, covered with black material.
and with projecting points in front and
behind. Small wheels attached to frame
work kept it upon the wires. Its resem-
blance to q crushed umbrella on play
truck was striking. A blackboard on the
platform displayed several designs. one Of
them a very fattering outline OF the UNI
brella-like contrivance, The drawing
was intended to illustrate the principles OF
a dirigible balloon, or a balloon that can
be directed without any connection with
the earth. The design on wheels was a
model of dirigible balloon not wholly in
dependent of the earth, and operated
along wires by electric power. When the
party had assembled, Gen. Russell Thay-
er of Philadelphia, stepped upon The plat
form and began to explain the workings
of these balloons in paper entitled ''Di-
rigible Balloons tor War Purposes"
Gen. Thayer said that little real prog
ress had been made in balloons for 100
years until, in November last, Capt. Re-
nard assembled from Mendon, France.
sailed in the air in nine-mile breeze for
three quarters of an hour. and landed
safely where he had started. The balloon
had been scientifically constructed, and it
turned out to be what it had been in theo-
ry. Gen. Thayer has applied Renard's
principles and devices of his own to the
balloons that he explained on Thursday.
1.-The motor which / have DEVISED" he
said, consists essentially of high speed
air compressor, coupled directly to q
specially designed carbonic acid gas en-
CINE and reservoir. into which the COM
pressed air is forced until the required
pressure per square inch is obtained. The
rear end of this reservoir is so arranged
that at given intervals the confined energy
is suddenly released, thus producing
powerful motive thrust forward. The
amount of power thus rendered available
is dependent upon the discharge. By the
use Of the carbonic acid gas engine we
have no coal or water and we avoid all
danger from fire. Another form of mo-
ter consists of powerful blower drawing
in air from forward, effecting the continu-
GUS discharge of a large volume through
nozzle pointing sternward, by this means
developing powerful continuous force
acting forward. If hollow truncated
cone be placed over the nozzle and the
air be discharged through it. outside air
is drawn in through the annular opening.
and, mixing with the jet, has velocity i'm
parted to it. In experiments made with
water and using five such cones it was
found that the forward thrust of the mo-
tor was increased at once so per cent.
"The dirigible balloon. consists of two
portions The buoyant part, which cor
responds to the hull of a water ship, is
made of superposed tissues of strong silk
and rubber, and the shape is that of a cir
cular spindle, in which the long horizontal
axis is three and two-thirds the length of
the diameter amidships. This structure
is filled with hydrogen gas, and is per-
tectlv rigid. No yielding can take place
in this as in the ordinary form of balloon,
and broad bands should preferably be used
to netting to support the deck. The deck
of the ship upon which the machinery is
placed is below the buoyant part of the
structure. and is firmly supported and
braced. Opposite the centre of the ship
is a lower deck. completely inclosed and
separated from the rest of the structure.
From the motor the pipe leads all or part
OF the energy utilized in the production of
motion to the stern of the ship. and is
there terminated by a nozzle fitted on a
ball and socket joint. The arrangement
permits the nozzle to be moved in any
direction at pleasure, and by movement
of the nozzle from the wheel the ship
may be steered in any direction, thus
avoiding the necessity for a rudder."
Gen. Thayer's assistant touched the bat
terry and ran the model across the hall on
wires. Gen. Thayer said he would have
brought the model of the independent bal
loon from Philadelphia only it was 80 feet
long and 10 feet in diameter, and might
make trouble in small room. He quoted
figures to show that the independent bal
loon encountered a proportionately de-
creased resistance as in increased in size,
and that theorists therefore thought an
ideal balloon should be 5000 feet long.
The size approved by the Ordinance Board
for tests was 367 feet long and 100 feet in
diameter. 1t could carry So tons, or a
good-sized locomotive. Such balloon
could lay large city or a fleet under tri-
butte by dropping dynamite bombs down
from the sky. The electric balloon, con.
structed on the same plan. ought to be bal
lasted so as to keep it on the wires. Tele-
graph wires would be strong enough to
carry such balloon, but cables would be
better because they could convey more
electricity. The wires could be run on
supports stout enough only to hold the
wires. Such balloons could be propelled
20 miles an hour against 40 as present
maximum in calm weather for the indie
pendent balloons. They would be useful
IN carrying men and supplies from the
rear of an army to the front at short no.
tee Gen Thaver SAWS he has nrnved nv