WAR AND COMMERCIAL AEROSTATIC HOT AIR BALLOONS.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier, Civil Engineer,
of 19, College Avenue, County of Middlesex, Homerton, for the
Invention of "WAR AND COMMERCIAL AEROSTATIC HOT AIR BALLOONS.”.
Sealed the 2nd October 1874 and dated the 2nd April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Sebastien
Anacharsis Ménier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 2nd April 1874.
I, JEAN SEBASTIEN ANACHARSIS MÉNIER, Civil Engineer, of 19,
College Avenue, County of Middlesex, Homerton, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "WAR AND COMMERICAL AEROSTATIC HOT
AIR BALLOONS," to be as follows:-
The conveyance of aerostatic hot air balloons, whatever might bo'
the system employed for their inflation, is executed with the aid of a
special carriage, the employment of which serves,—
I. As a repository for the balloon, the net, the car, the heating
apparatus, and other necessary apparels. The body of the carriage being

page_text: disposta
Such a way to De easily removed from the calfing
necessary and to form a safe packing case.
II. As a dead weight or as a point of bold for the balloon during the
captive ascensions.
་
III. As a manoeuvring platform for the filling and emptying of the
balloon.
IV. As a working table for the reparation, the putting in order, and
the folding of the balloon after each ascension.
From which the result is that the balloon can be filled with hot
air at any place whatsoever where the carriage which carries it can be
spread out.
That result is obtained by the aid of an improved system of
burning liquid fuels without causing the slightest danger of fire, although
producing an intense heat in the car of the balloon, which, penetrating
into the balloon itself, creates a regular circulation of the air, which J
joined to the natural radiation assures the regularity of the functions of
the fire.
The object in view by this Invention is to render practicable the
aerostatic observations, let them be military, commercial, or of any other
kind, on a point whatever of the earth with little expenses, and witlı 2
out no other encumbrances than a carriage carrying the combustible
and other apparels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménicr in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 2nd October 1874..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, ‘I, JEAN'
SEBASTIEN ANACHARSIS MÉNIER; Civil Engineer, of 19, College Avenue,
County of Middlesex; Homerton, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year..of 3
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty."

page_text: seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier,
Her special license that I, tlic said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménior,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier, my executors, administrators,:
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no, others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "WAR AND COMMERCIAL AEROSTATIC HOT
AIR BALLOONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,. the said
Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and
arrangements of acrostatic hot air balloon which I designato tho
"Ménière" applicable to military and commercial purposes; also to tho
mode of and apparatus for inflating and maintaining inflated such
balloon in an expeditious manner and in any desired locality..
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I sliall
now proceed particularly to describe the same; and for-that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
2
Figure 1 of the Drawings represent a vertical section of one arrange
hient of the "Ménière" balloon mounted on its special carriage for
5 transport; Figure 2 represents also in vertical section a modified
arrangement of the" Ménière" balloon; Figure 3 is a horizontal section
of the car and furnace corresponding to. Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical

page_text: detail section on an enlarged scale of one form of furnace intended to be
used for inflating and maintaining inflated the "Ménière" balloon;
Figure 5 is a corresponding horizontal section of the same; Figure 6 is
a vertical section of a modified form of furnace; Figure 7 is a corre-
sponding horizontal scċtion of the same, and Figure 8, a still larger
sectional detail of a portion of the furnace. In all these Figures the
same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: other end as shown in detail at Figure 9; the said ropes being passed
through holes in the circumference of the circular plate B of the heating
apparatus and through corresponding holes in the edge of the lower
opening of the balloon, an interval or aperture being left all round
equal at least to the area of the interior section of the chimney.
Preparatory to inflation the chimney is first set up and the upper opening
is drawn or lifted clear of the chimney, and closed by tying it together
with the upper part of the.net.
In the event of the heating apparatus being, placed in the car itself as
shown in Figure 2, the upper opening may be dispensed with. The
lower aperture then is no longer fastened to the heating apparatus, but
is attached to a wooden or iron ring C, Figure 2, which surrounds and is
held at a convenient distance from the chimney by chains D, D, and
from the which ring the car is suspended by the chains or ropes E, E.
The net (which is shown in dotted lines in. Figures 1 and 2) when
made with meshes of uniform size is constructed with cords of different
dimensions, proportionate to the effort to be produced in its different
parts. The 'net is connected with the licating apparatus when the latter
is placed in the interior of the balloon as shown in Figure 1, by a series
of short looped ropes through the loops a of which are passed the cross
pieces of wood 6 shown in Figure 9. In the arrangement shown in
Figure 2. the net is tied directly to the ring 0.

page_text: i
in Figure 2 the. chimney, is shown of a telescopic form and the
heating apparatus is placed in the car itself. Inside the chimney at its
lower part there is placed a lining consisting of an iron plate I with an
annular space between it and the interior of the chimney.
In Figure 1, the base of the chimney is rivetted to the circular plate B,
to the circumference of which are tied the balloon fabric and netting,
and from which the car is suspended by the ropes E. In both arrange-
ments the furnace G is placed a few inches higher than the base of the
chimney. It is composed,-
Firstly. Of an annular gutter or trough c (see Figure 8) open at its
top, and to which are fixed four small pipes d, d, (Figs. 3, 5, and 7), by
which the fuel is introduced therein.
Secondly. Of a hollow annular burner e (Figure 8) placed in the
opening of the annular gutter. The said burner is by preference
furnished at its interior with an asbestos wick, but if désired the wick
may be dispensed with and the liquid fuel inside the burner transformed
directly into vapour or gas. The lower part of this burner is left open
and the upper part is perforated as shown for the emission of the said
vapour or gas where it is consumed.
:
Thirdly. Of two annular concentric asbestos wicks f, f; (Figure 8) :
placed outside and inside the annular burner e. These wicks.completely
close the opening left in the top of the annular gutter, after the burner ë
has been placed therein, so that the liquid fuel entering the gutter is
isolated from the surrounding atmosphere.
Fourthly. Of a holder of open wire gauze g so disposed as to insure
the regularity of the distribution of the liquid fuel to all the parts of the
wicks, and to prevent obstruction of the feed pipes d, d, by the entrance
therein of pieces of asbestos..
Fifthly. Of the chimney herein-before referred to. If desired the
burner e may be in the form of a cross (see Figures 6 and 7).
The regular supply of the furnace with liquid fuel is effected in the
following manner :-When the said furnace is situate inside the car (see
Figures 2 and 3), the tanks h, h, of liquid fuel are placed outside the car
and are connected with the furnace by a straight pipe i, i, resting on the
floor of the car and properly protected, such pipes. being joined to the:
branch pipes of the furnace by conical union. joints. These pipes

page_text: or are furnished each with a tap, graduated or not. The said tanks h, h,
should be water jacketted all round. They are completely closed and on
the top there is a vent pipe k for the escape of the vapour which pipo
extends to the entrance of the chimney. When the furnace is situate
inside the balloon as in Figure 1, the supply of the fuel is effected in tho
following manner :-
Firstly. Two tanks 1, 2, are connected to the exterior of the base of
the chimney, or they may be connected to the circular plato B.
Secondly. To each of these tanks 7, 1, are connected two pipes m, m,
fitted with taps and connected with the feed pipes d of the furnace.
Thirdly. Each of these tanks 1, 1, is fitted with a supply pipe n, n,
connected with the liquid fuel holders o, o, with which are combined
force pumps. The said tanks 1, 1, are also fitted with overflow pipes p, p,
leading to a receiver q. If desired the tanks I, I, may be dispensed with
and the liquid fuel forced directly by the force pumps into the furnacq
feed pipes d..
When
The car L which may be constructed of iron or of wickerwork and
iron is by preference round. In all cases it is formed at its centre with
à circular opening corresponding to the base of the chimney, and the
floor is made as rigid as possible. It is provided with running wheels M
and shaft or pole for horses for facility of management, which shaft or
pole may be used as a grapnel. In all cases the furnace is prepared for
lighting by simply opening the supply cocks in the feed pipes, where-
upon the liquid gains access to all parts of the furnace.
thoroughly saturated the small annular wicks f, f, are ignited, and by.
their heat they vaporise the liquid fuel with which the principal asbestos
wick is saturated, which vapour issues from the perforations and burns
with an intense flame. The cold air enters through the open base of the
chimney and by passing in contact with the flame and with the heated
sides of the chimney becomes highly heated, and on entering the balloon
produces a constant circulation of ascending currents of hot air in the
centre, and of descending currents of cooler air towards the interior,
which air escapes through the mouth of the balloon to be replaced by a
fresh supply of hot air.
The operation of inflation may be conducted in two ways, that is to
say, the balloon may be suspended over the mouth of the chimney
during the period of inflation by a long pole or other convenient support;

page_text: or the body of the balloon may be allowed to rest upon the ground with
its mouth supported over the top of the chimney. As the balloon fills
it gradually riscs and ultimately supports itself.
The special carriage N shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, in which
I pack the car and the balloon with all its appurtenaces is to be mounted
on wheels arranged and constructed in a similar manner to the wheels of
ordinary artillery wagons. The bottom of the special carriage is fitted
with a pair of rails for the wheels of the car to run upon, and one end of
the said carriage is made to fold down and form an incline with rails
upon it for the facility of running the car into the special carriage. The
said carriage is moored to the ground at its four corners by chains and
anchors of any suitable form. It is further provided with a windlass or
crab O for unwinding or winding the steel or other rope by which the
balloon is held captive. There is also provided inside the said carriage
a folding frame or support of sufficient length when extended for holding
up
the top of the balloon whilst it is being inflated......
The car is provided also with a steel wire rope for the purpose of
maintaining the balloon captive.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use for military and commercial-purposes of
a hot air balloon in which the air is heated by the combustion in a
suitable furnace of liquid fuel as herein-before described.
Second. The use of a special carriage for containing and transporting
a hot air balloon and its appurtenances in readiness for inflation, and
carrying all the appliances requisite for the inflation and manoevring of
the said balloon as herein-before described.
Third. The inflation of hot air balloons by the combustion in a suitable
furnace used in connection therewith of liquid fuel as herein-before
described.
Fourth. The application and use to and in the construction of hot air
balloons of linen or other textile fabric rendered incombustible by any
known means.

page_text: Fifth. The peculiar construction and arrangement of burner or furnaco
supplied with liquid fuel wherein such fuel is partly burned in the form
of gas or vapour, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Sixth. The application and use of asbestos wicks in burners or furnaces
employed for the inflation of hot air balloons.
Seventh. The general combination and arrangement of feed pipes and
cisterns or holders in conjunction or not with a force pump, for supplying
the furnace or burner of a hot air balloon with liquid fuel, substantially
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Sebastien Anacharsis Ménier,
have hereunto set my hand and scal, this First day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
JEAN SEBASTIEN ANACHARSIS MÉNIER. (L.S.)
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER,
14, Southampton Buildings,
London.