The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-01-29
BALLOON TO CROSS THE SAHARA
Novel Devices to be Used BY French
War Department.

The Engineer describes type OF bal
loon that has been ordered BY the
French war department for the purpose
OF an attempt to cross the Sahara. The
balloon In to be unmounted, its sole live
occupants being six pigeons, which are
to be conveyed In the lower .c1mpart-
ment Of minute car. The ballast will
be water, carried In Q tank suspended
by wire ropes below the car. This tank
will be divided into compartments by
perforated diaphragms, the lowest re-
ceiving brass conical valve exactly in
closing an orifice by means Of which the
water Is allowed to flow out. The valve
is attached spring connected with the
end being hooked on to q brass cylinder
which works in q cylindrical channel
bored vertically through the center Of
tht valve. The lower end Of the cylin-
der will be fattened. and to Il will be
sestached brass, wire II meters In
length, bearing q steel bail Weighing
20 kilos. the effect Of which will be to
keep the valve closed and prevent the
escape Of water. The total weight OF
the water whes the tank II full II q lit
tie over 13 kilos, and; when the weight
OF the valves Its attachments. the brass
wires, etc. are slided, the spring will be
supporting q waight Of slightly over II
kilos. As its power Of resistance, how
ever, equals 20 kilbs, II follows that
when the weight Of the steel ball II re-
moved, as. for instance. when II touches
the ground, the valve will open and the
water be permitted to how, and the bal
loon will again ascend.
On the other hand, even after the loss
Of q portion of the water pressing on the
valve, II would still remain closed AZ
long as the steel ball II suspended from
II. The upper division of the car IL to
be provided with q Photographic cam
err acting somewhat after the manner
OF cinematograph.G Gnd capable Of TAX
ing photographs at the rate OF one each
quarter Of an hour. II will be directed
toward the guide rope at an angle Of 4S
degrees below the horizon. The car is
also to carry o bygrometer, registering
barometer and thermometer, and also
maximum and minimum thermometers.
All these instruments. including the
camera, are to be capable of working
for Ave days after the departure Of the
balloon. The lower division OF the car
will be furnished With n supply Of water
and grain for the pigeons. and on three
sides other than the one In which the
door Is placed mirrors will bo fixed with
the glass outward, Arrangements are
made for the escape or the pigeons when
the balloon comes tO;the ground. There
will be n small internal air balloon.
with an air capacity 6f 6ss cubic meters.
while the voldine oHthe balloon itself
will be about 1000. cubic meters. A bal
loon Of SO cubic meters will accompany
the larger one. and also So Japanese
paper pilot balloons Of 800 or 400 lIters
capacity, ballasted By tiny uncorked
bottle filled with water enough TO en-
able them to rise easily. The two larger
balloons will be named and bear. In
scriptions in French, English and Ara
bic, offering rewards for their save con-
veyance to q French post. The balloon
Is to be composed Of varnished cambric.
IL will be minated with Illuminating
rns. II viii carry sail. It's total
weight n not 10 sxeeed ITO ktIos, inclu-
sive Of IT'S entire equipment