Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-22

also become widely known on the Pa
cific coast for the commercial success
of some of his inventions, has patents
covering HOO claims, and if others
now pending are allowed be will have
altogether $500 claims on his airship.
Some of these are so revolutionary that
the patent office was unable to ind
anything previously filed at all APP
preaching the fundamental principle
involved Ten claims is the average
number covering a patent.
This principle is in effect the placing
of the propeller in front of the planes
and utilizing the air it sets in motion
by sending it directly against the in
clined aeroplanes. To the patent Of
fee this appeared to be a good deal
like lifting up by ones bootstraps and
objection was made accordingly. But
when Prof Zerbe made a detailed ex-
PLANTATION the patent office reversed it,
self
This principle of using the horizontal
column of air set in motion by the pro-
peler, which Prof. Zerhe states has a
greater dynamic force than the pull of
the propeller on its shaft, thus doubling
the force the inventor says lis grinding
with the water that has passed the
Wheel In addition he has placed his
twelve sets of planes in a steplike
formation transversely across the
frame OF the dlISlllps dpOliShllB dhy
need to depend upon the bird flight
principle to get into space or maintain
an equilibrium. Prof. Zerbe claims
that no runway or other means of Sc
curing Roadway at the start is neces-
sary with his invention, and that he
can go into the air with no other run
ming start than that which the machine
will take from its own motor.
Four Methods of Control
The operator has four independent
methods of control which are worked
by a steering wheel and two levers in
front of him. AS equipped the airsh1p
alone, carrying one man, weighs ABOUT
$50 pounds. Wilbur Wrights aeroplane
weighs, including his weight, 1850
IF an aeroplane one foot square. in
clined at an angle of 10 degrees and
moving horizontally through the air
at the rate of 80 feet per second, says
Prof Zerbe in explaining the main
principle he utilizes, lis so affected by
the air pressure that the lifting force
is approximately one pound, II Is oo-
yious that the pressure is the same
upwardly against the aeroplane If the
latter is at rest and the air itself moves
past the aeroplane at the same speed.
Repeated experiments show that
the best type of propeller or lifting
wheel will not raise vertically more
than 20 pounds per horse power de-
veloped. II, however, the aeroplane
is once in horizontal translation one
horse power will readily hold up or
maintain zoo pounds. 1t is obvious that
when the airship is once in flight
comparatively small proportion only OF
the available energy will be required.
When the airship is at rest all the
power of the enginry is necessary TO
initiate flight, thus showing hat there
is a vast difference in the application
of energy when an airship is at rest
and when 1t is in motion.
To Produce Column of Air
eff a speed of thirty feet per second
through air or a column Of air moving
at the rate of thirty feet per second,
under the conditions named, will raise
one pound the first practical consid-
GRAFTON is to find means of producing
a column of air artihcially against an
inclined aeroplane or aeroplanes at
rest. and thus initially effecting a lift
ing force, so that the full power of the
enginry will be utilized at the launch
ing as well as during flight.
'If a propeller is so disposed as to
move forward on a horizontal shaft
there are two dynamic forces, the first
being the pull Of the propeller on It's
shaft and the second being the rear
wardly projected column of air dis
placed and set in motion by the pro-
peller. If the forward thrust or pull
OF the propeller on its shaft is one
pound, then the air displaced thereby
and moving rearwardly is also one
pound. The first-the pull of the pro-
peller shafts the only force that has
ever been utilized by inventors, engin-
GERS or scientific men in this art.
The permanent pulleys and chain
for transmitting power to the propeller
will be placed this week and a trial
will be made for flight. The start will
be made at Bimini baths, where the
machine is on exhibition.