AN AERIAL VELOCIPEDE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, RICHARD GEORGE OWEN of N° 40, Warwick Road, Earls Court, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "AN AERIAL VELOCIPEDE" to be as follows :-
This machine is designed to assist in solving the problem of aerial navigation for
human beings.
It consists of three main parts, viz;
1. The motive or actuating mechanism.
2. The lifting, sustaining and impelling apparatus.
3. The frame, connecting parts 1 and 2 and containing the riders yoke and seat.
(1.) The motive power of my machine (when used for aerial travelling) is
derived from the powerful muscles of the riders' lower limbs as in a tricycle,
which the frame of my machine resembles in its general construction.
The rider exerts his power by pedalling a cranked axle, at each end of which is
a pair of bevelled spur wheels, or other suitable mechanism, by which the motion is
transmitted at right angles to two or more upright hollow steel shafts, or one of
the shafts may be cranked so as to allow the rider to pedal direct on the shaft,
while he is lying in a recumbent position, the power being transmitted to the other
shaft in the ordinary way.
•
The shafts although normally vertical are yet capable of being inclined in the
direction the machine is desired to travel, by the inclination of the riders body.
(2.) On the summit of the above upright shafts is placed,-
The lifting and impelling apparatus, consisting of two light but powerful
revolving fans each about six feet in diameter, and so attached to the said shafts
as to revolve with them.
These fans are similar in form to those sometimes used for exhausting air in
ventilating shafts, being constructed of a number of similar blades of thin steel or
other suitable material, set to a suitable angle and with flat or slightly curved
ends, and being bound together at their extremities, and elsewhere, by steel wires
so as to be sufficiently rigid for the purpose.

page_text: (3.) The foregoing parts 1 and 2 are connected by a frame, a light rigid
structure of hollow steel tubes, with stay wires where required, and furnished
with seats for the rider or riders.
An essential and novel part of this frame is a kind of yoke or shoulder bearing,
by means of which the shoulders of the rider being placed against or under the
yoke, an important base is obtained whereby the immense thrusting power of a
man's body can be fully utilised to propel the machine. I look upon the advantage
thus gained as very important.
My machine is I am satisfied, characterised by extreme simplicity, and great
mechanical efficiency, and I desire to place on record, that in it, I take advantage
of the hollow steel tubing as now manufactured for bicycles by means of which
I am able to obtain a rigid machine of extreme lightness and great strength, and
by the arrangements described I ensure that a man can employ his greatest
strength to the best mechanical advantage, in impelling the machine, and thus
exemplify practically the only rational theory of aerial navigation for human
beings.
I prefer to use no special steering-gear because a slight inclination of the riders
body, will I anticipate, by shifting the centre of gravity cause the machine to
travel in any direction required, but I claim power to add any such steering
apparatus as may hereafter be thought desirable.
I, RICHARD GEORGE OWEN of No 40 Warwick Road, Earl's Court, West
Kensington in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 Machine is designed to effect aerial navigation for human beings by
employing to the fullest extent the muscular power of the human body and
especially by utilizing with every possible advantage, the well-known enormous
strength of the back and lower limbs.
Whilst aiming primarily at accomplishing its object by muscular power furthered
and assisted by the best mechanical contrivances for the application and develop-
ment of bodily strength, it is also comtemplated to call in the aid of some suitable

page_text: motor such as a compressed air engine or any kind of stored or accumulated power
which can be effectively utilized for such a purpose.
My Aerial Machine consists of 3 main parts viz :—
1. The motive or actuating mechanism.
2. The lifting, sustaining and impelling apparatus.
3. The frame which connects parts 1 and 2 and contains the yoke and standing
place of the Rider.
1. The motive power of my Machine being intended to be drawn chiefly from
the powerful muscles of the legs as in a Tricycle, it becomes necessary to adopt
the best means of employing and applying their force. To effect this the method
employed in the Tricycle namely pedalling is obviously necessary. The Rider
therefore exerts his power by pedalling a horizontal cranked axle, (or a pair of
cranks which communicate their motion to such an axle,) at the end of which
axle are bevelled spur wheels or some other suitable mechanical device, for
conveying the power with the least possible friction to two vertical shafts at
right angles to the said axle.
These two shafts revolve in opposite directions, and are fitted with a ratchet and
pawl to prevent reverse action. The above axle and shafts (and indeed the whole
of the frame so far as possible) will be constructed of thin hollow steel tubes so as
to combine great lightness with considerable strength.
The shafts although normally vertical, are yet capable of being inclined in the
direction the Machine is desired to travel, at the will of the Rider, and by the
inclination of his body.
2. The lifting and impelling apparatus is mounted on the two vertical shafts
before mentioned, and consists of two light but powerful revolving fans, each about
6 feet in diameter, and so attached to the said shafts as to revolve with them.
These fans resemble those used for exhausting air in ventilating shafts and
similar purposes being constructed of a number of rays or blades of light material
impervious to air. The blades have curved or bent ends and are adjustable as
regards their inclination at the will of the Rider.
They are preferably made of thin sheet steel or of a light steel frame covered
with silk, or other suitable material. Their extremities are tied or bound together
by steel, wires or tubes, and stays of similar material are employed to cause regidity
against aerial resistance, or contact with other substances.
For various weights the number of fans may be varied as found desirable, only
one pair being used in some cases, or the number increased to three or four pair if
required. These fans might overlap if found necessary.
It is important to observe that in every pair one revolves in a reverse direction
to its fellow in order to ensure the stability of the machine.
3. The foregoing parts 1 and 2 are connected by a light rigid frame constructed
of hollow steel tubes, and strengthened where necessary by stay wires.
An essential part of this frame, is a kind of yoke, or shoulder bearing or shoulder
straps placed above the seat in such a way that the shoulders of the rider being
placed beneath and against the yoke or straps an important base is obtained
whereby the immense thrusting power of the human body can be utilized to propel
the Machine. This shoulder bearing is very important as a bearing or support by
means of which when starting the Machine, great force can be brought to bear
upon the fans so as to cause them to revolve rapidly in a brief space of time.
I do not deem it necessary to devise a special steering gear because that may not
be necessary as I anticipate it can be dispensed with by inclining the Machine in
the direction in which it is desired to travel.
This inclination of the Machine may be effected by altering the position of the
body and thus shifting the centre of gravity or in any other way.
I claim however the right to add any such steering apparatus as may hereafter
be thought desirable.

page_text: In case a motor is added to the machine it would be placed in a small car or
platform underneath the driving axle and its weight carried or neutralised by
means of a balloon.
The motor would drive a pulley from which a strap would convey the power to
another pulley on the driving axle, or the power can be conveyed to the revolving
fans in any other suitable way.
In the accompanying drawings:—
C. C. show the two vertical shafts.
D. is the yoke.
E. is the cranked axle.
F. F. are the bevelled spur wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An Aerial Machine for one or more persons constructed of light taper steel
tubes and driven after the manner of a Tricycle but with a special yoke or
shoulder strap arrangement so as to employ to the best advantage the great
strength which the Human body possesses in the back and lower limbs as herein
described.
2. The employment in an Aerial Machine of fans driven in pairs each fan
revolving in an opposite direction to its fellow, so as to prevent the Machine itself
rotating, as herein explained and setforth.
3. The combination of the above machine with a compressed air Engine, or any
other suitable motor as herein described and setforth.