Improvements in and connected with Navigable Balloons.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Navigable Balloons.
We, ARMAND LE COMPAGNON, Engineer, ZÉLIE VVE FAUCILLON (née
Bachelet) Gentlewoman, GEORGES JOSEPH PROSPER DUBOIS, Engineer, and
EMILE ÁLEIDE ROYAUX, Mechanic, all of 17 Boulevard Rochechouart, Paris, in
the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a new or improved construction of balloon by which
certain advantages are obtained.
In order that the said invention may be fully understood we shall proceed to
describe the same with reference to the several figures on the annexed sheet of
drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding figures.
Our navigable balloon consists of
1st. A framework containing the balloon proper which enables the whole
apparatus to move steadily through the air.
2nd. The propeller, wings, screw blades or any other motive system, fixed to the
sides of the framework and producing an action in the opposite direction to that
due to the resistance of the air.
3rd. Diverse arrangements for creating the propelling motion and for steering
both vertically and horizontally.
4th. The motor and the connecting gear between it and the propelling
apparatus.
FRAMEWORK AND BALLOON PROPER.
The main part of the apparatus is composed of two horizontal cylindrical frames
with cigar shaped ends fixed together at their bases. The framework is composed
of four ribs A, A, B and C of equal strength, of T, I, U or rectangular section of
plate or lattice work braced like lattice girders by means of the steel ties t which
are fixed at one end to the brackets and at the other to different points on the rib
and are provided with tightening screws, which ties while they ensure a perfect
rigidity in a vertical direction, yet furnish the necessary elasticity to resist shocks or
sudden strains. The ties above the apparatus come into action when it is empty,
those below when it is inflated with gas.
These four ribs are fixed to the ends of the vertical and horizontal diameters of
a central circular structure which contains the mechanism for transmitting the
motion as also that for supporting the car. (Figures 1, 2 and 4). This central
structure is composed of two parallel hoops C, C made rigid by means of lattice
cross bracing, and fastened together on their circumferences by ordinary bracing
and further strengthened inside by stays built like ladders which at the same time
are used for carrying the mechanism for transmitting the motion. To one of these
stays E the car N is suspended by means of a vertical shaft D pivoted at C or hung
by an universal joint which allows it to always maintain a vertical position.
(Figures 1 and 2).
Tie rods t' serve to connect the central structure to different points of the upper
and lower ribs. Other ties t connect the horizontal brackets to different points of
the lateral ribs. These tie rods ensure the perfect horizontal and lateral rigidity of
the whole system.
The relative position of the ribs is maintained by means of plain boops of the
same diameter as the hoops C, C. The cigar shaped ends are formed by sloping
the four ribs in to one point the shape being fixed by means of hoops of suitable

page_text: diameters. The object of the cigar shaped end is to offer less resistance to the air.
The number of ribs can be increased according to the dimensions of the balloon.
The main part of the framework the car and the mechanism for transmitting
motion may be made of any suitable rigid and light material we should recommend
however the use of alternate strips of wood and metal fastened together. Wood
gives the greatest rigidity for a given weight and the metal ensures the necessary
strength and elasticity.
A casing of a suitable light, strong and durable material completely covers the
framework and is varnished with some waterproof composition. This casing forms
a rigid and smooth surface the shape of which is not altered by any increase or
decrease in volume of the gas contained in the balloon proper which is placed inside
the framework and adapts its shape to that of the latter.
The balloon is made of silk, gold-beater's skin or any similar suitable material
and is introduced inside the framework through openings designed for this purpose
and which can be closed when the balloon has been inflated. It is made of two
halves symmetrically placed on cach side of the central structure and com-
municating with each other by means of a tube underneath which is provided
with a valve which latter is either automatic or can be worked by hand from
the car.
This valve is to prevent the gas from accumulating in either of the balloons when
the apparatus is in a sloping position. It can be constructed of a simple counter-
balanced flap or as we have shown it by a flap C³ traversed by a cast iron pipe
surrounded at each end by a solenoid S.
The current can flow in either direction and work the valve the circuit being
closed either by means of a commutator or automatically by means of a small
pendulum which makes a contact when the balloon is inclined (Figure 5).
In order to ensure the proper inflation and equilibrium of a balloon of large
dimension, it can be formed of several small balloons communicating by means of
tubes which can be or not be provided with valves and joined by easily detachable
couplings.
The car forms a light rectangular structure with rectangular ends in front and
behind, the whole being covered with some suitable glazed material, so as to offer
the least resistance to the air and fastened perfectly rigidly to the shaft hanging
from the central structure. The stability of the car is insured by the ropes e
connecting the rim of the car with the point of suspension of the shaft.
PROPELLING APPARATUS.
The propelling apparatus is composed of a series of wings placed symmetrically
on each side of the balloon and fixed to the ribs A, A¹. The forward end of the
framework of these wings passes through openings provided in the said ribs opposite
the central structure and is jointed to the rib by means of sockets and pivots in
such a way as always to move in a vertical plane.
The wings are constructed of a flexible framework of bamboo cane or any other
suitable material and have a curve determined from experiments. which is main-

page_text: motion the skin of the wing on account of its flexibility and the resistance of the
air undergoes a longitudinal and transverse deformation which produce the following
effect.
Firstly. The force produced by the pressure on the air a force which at every
point is perpendicular to the surface of the wing is decomposed into two forces, one
parallel to the axis of the balloon and tending to move it in the direction of this
axis, the other at right angles to this axis and alternately acting upwards and
downwards. But as the successive pairs of wings beat in contrary directions, and
as these components at right angles to the axis are equal and in opposite directions
for the two pairs of wings they counterbalance each other, and only the component
parallel to the axis produces any effect and propels the balloon forward (see
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4).
Secondly. The forward pair of wings in their descent produce at the same time
as the compression of the underlying strata of the air, a downward current in the
strata above it. The pair of wings following are at the same time performing an
upward motion and strike on the strata to which a downward motion has been
imparted by the first pair of wings and they thus obtain a much firmer point of
support and consequently a greater propelling force than if they beat on calm air.
The same effect is produced by the opposite motion. The eddies which are so
harmful in the case of a screw propeller are thus in this case actually made use of
and serve to increase the efficiency of the wing.
Thirdly. The longitudinal deformation of the wing tends to divert the strata of
the air from the balloon and thus creates a void into which the hind part of the
balloon is drawn. The result obtained is a figure of 8 motion of the point of the
wing, a motion which has been observed in the case of insects since a considerable
time, although in the latter also the joint of the wing moves in a plane rigidly
perpendicular to the axis of the body.
STEERING GEAR.
The ropes starting from the undersides of the hoops of the casing are tied
together at the points f, f to a single rope which is wound on a drum or hand
winch T fixed to the vertical shaft. The object of this crows-foot arrangement and
of the windlass, which arrangement and windlass we shall call the vertical rudder
is to produce the inclination of the balloon in a vertical plane which causes
the whole apparatus to rise or fall obliquely; the balloon in this case behaving as a
kite in which the tension of the string is replaced by the propelling force. In order
to increase this effect we reserve to ourselves the right of providing the framework
with horizontal fins, which when in the oblique position would offer the necessary
point of support and resistance to the air. The horizontal ties t would strengthen
these fins formed by covering the framework composed of the said ties with some
glazed material.
Another windlass t works the two steering ropes of a horizontal rudder G
composed of a frame braced by ties and covered with a glazed material. This
rudder being placed at the back end of the balloon acts exactly like the rudder of
a ship.
MOTORS AND TRANSMITTING GEAR.
The wings may be worked by any suitable motor we however reserve to ourselves
the right of using for this purpose a gas engine with all the dead weight removed
and burning gas supplied from the balloon itself. In order to compensate for the
loss of ascentional force which this system would produce the motor would work a
small pump which would remove from a ballast tank a proportional quantity of
water. This water could be usefully employed either for cooling the cylinders of
the motor or for injecting spray into the cylinders at the moment of the explosion
of the inflammable compound. This would increase the efficiency of the motor and
produce a noteworthy saving of gas.

page_text: The intermediate gearing for transmitting the motion is composed of ordinary
pulleys fixed to the stays of the central structure and transmitting to the vertical
connecting rods and through them to the wings a number of strokes varying with
the surface of the wings the resistance to be overcome the power of the motor and
the speed to be obtained. To ensure a regular beat of the wings we connect the
pins of the front pair of cranks by coupling rods of steel wire and do the same with
the back pair. In order to vary the amplitude of the beats of the wings we provide
slots in which the crank pins can be shifted so as to alter their course.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. A cigar pointed cylindrical framework constructed as above described covered
by a casing and containing the balloon and supporting the car by means of a shaft
the whole constituting an absolutely rigid and indeformable structure except as
regards the voluntary inclination in every direction of the balloon itself relatively
to the shaft carrying the car.
2. The use of propellers having the form of and acting as do the wings of the
orthoptera and which are jointed to the sides of the balloon substantially as set
forth.
3. The method of causing ascension or descension without the loss of ballast or
gas by causing the vertical inclination of the balloon relatively to the car sub-
tantially as set forth.
4. The use of a gas engine carried by the balloon and burning gas therefrom and
compensating the loss of ascending power by a corresponding consumption of water
utilized in the engine substantially as set forth.
5. The casing outside the framework so constructed as to diminish in a note-
worthy degree the resistance to motion and the deformation of the apparatus
substantially as set forth.
6. The whole system of ties as above described ensuring perfect rigidity and
allowing of the formation of horizontal fins to ensure the stability of horizontal
motion or to help ascending or descending motion.
Dated this 9th day of December 1891.
ARMAND LE COMPAGNON.
ZELIE, VEUVE FAUCILLON, née BACHELET.
GEORGES JOSEPH PROSPER DUBOIS.
EMILE ALEIDE ROYAUX.
DT