The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-03
TO NAVIGATE THE AIR.
GgORGIANS NEARING THE sOLU-
TION OF AERIAL NAVIGATION.

!
TON OF AERIAL NAVIGATION.
Mr.. GIRnilnat's and DR.. Battsys lnveu-
ton Exciting Interest in the Scientific
World-An early Test of Mr.. GlRnil-
llat's Machine to be Made The Pecu-
liar Principle Upon Which DR.. Bat
tey's Invention Depends.
The subject Of aerial navigation is just
now receiving attention from class OF
mon who will either insure its success or
demonstrate its failure for all time. Two
wel-known Georglans, both former
residents Of Savannah, Mr.. Gignilist.
who is now at work perfecting
his invention in Hartford, Conn, and DIR.
S. B. Battey Of New York, whose invention
has excited a wide interest among scientific
men who have made air navigation a study,
are devoting their energies toward solu-
ton Of the problem, which they declare is
entirely within the domain of scientific
achievement.
THE WORLDS INVENTORS AT WORK.
Within the last few years the subject has
| received the serious attention of able men
| both in the scientific and literary world.
Prof. Langley of the Smithsonian Institu-
| ton, is one of the firmest believers in the
| ultimate success of cir navigation Octave
| Chanute, president of the American Insti-
| tute of Civil Engineers; Maxim, the we'll
known inventor, and Trauve OF France, all
of whom have studied closely and written
much on the subject, are the strongest
believers in its possibilities.
Mr.. Gignilliat's invention has excited
| wide interest, anu tho result of his expert
| ments, which will shortly be given TO the
| world through a test of the invention, It is
/ kalf arroI hHy nh hay
been directly interested with the inventor
| will be success. The company of Savan-
nahians which Is backing Mr.. Gignllliat he's
confidence in the elimination Of his efforts.
DIR. BATTEY's INVENTION.
DR.. Battey Is also former Savannahian,
brother OF Mr. f. c. Battey. His tnven-
| ton depends upon peculiar principle for
propulsion, embracing motive force which
| is practically without weight. The weight
necessary to gain lifting power and propul-
sions has heretofore been the great difficulty
in the way of success in airship building.
DR.. Battey'5 ship ia a cigar-shaped float
made OF al aluminium frame, with an en-
veope Of the same light, tough, gns-proof,
| waterproof and rust-proof material. At
tached to this aud dependent from 1t is the
platform or car containing the motor, the
| steering apparatus aud the stores for sub
sisteuce, etc. At each side of the float there
is plane which is pivoted on horizontal
axis extending at right angles to the axis of
the float, the object of these wings or side
planes being to guide the machine up or
down according to the inclination which
they are given. Suitable rope or chain
gear connected with the steering apparatus
renders this a matter of ease, promptness
and certainty.
DRIVEN BY EXPLOSIONS.
Extending from the rear of the float
there is en- arm which is hinged SO as to
have motion in the horizontal plane, this
motion being controlled by a rope or chain
extending over suitable pulleys TO the car,
and there operated by tlller or wheel, as
with a sailing vessel or steamboat. At the
rear end OF this backward extending hinged
arm is a cup of hemispherical or other
suitable form, with its open mouth extend
ing resrward, In this, at a suitable dis
lance from its bottom (which constitutes
the forward side as it is placed) there are
expelled al suitable and regular intervals,
controlled from he car, number Of
charges of an explosive, generating large
amount Of gas at high pressure.
The issuance Of these combustion gases
(Which may, in fact, be III a steady stream
as in a case of a rocket produces a reaction
against the air, which sustains the feat and
causes the forward motion OF the whole ma
chine.
THE STEERING PRINCIPLE.
A suitable air cushion back of the ex-
|
. | IL the cup points directly rear ward the ap-
psratus will move straight ahead il it in
clines to one side or the other In e. o hori-
zontal plane the machine will follow such
course as would tend 20 bring the backward
projecting arm in right line. IN other
words, this cup, with it5 jets of gas issuing
raarward under enormous pressure, consti-
} utes ct onco both the motive force and the
; rudder OF the new airship.
The charges Of explosive are fed auto
matically 20 the proper point in the cup,
dropping as they are released from the tube
i'll which they are contained on a shallow
cup or basin, which is made by the contact
TO complete an electric circuit which fires
the charge, each pellet or charge complet-
ing the circuit for its own explosion or dis
charge and at once breaking the electric
circuit.
| MADE OF ALUMINIUM
rhe thrust Of the explosion chamber Is
carried by an aluminium tube extending
lie; gthwise through the axis OF the float,
aud thus distributed throughout the en-
tire length Of the apparatus. The hori-
zOntal axis on which the side Yanes turn ex-
tends through the transvei Sc center of the
float, and is ar aluminium tube crossing
and braced to the lenRthwise axial tube or
backbone. The car is "lined OFF" fore and
possible resistance to motion, and Is sus-
pended by aluminium wires and cords from
the entire length of the float.
; $50 MILES AN HOUR.
II is believed by the inventor that with q
machine made on these lines, that is, one
which possesses a minimum of weight
owing to the absence Of machinery with a
maximum of power due to the nature of the
force employed and the manner Of using it,
that speed of 250 miles an hour is within
the range Of its possibilities.
There have teen thousands Of airships OF
! ali shapes and sizes and depending upon all
sorts OF principles, from the flying machine
of Darius Green to the most complicated
piece Of mechanism, and the patent office at
Washington Is full of models, but to MIR.
Gignilliat and DR.. Battey tho world ia now
! looking for a practical solution Of the
problem.