IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1883. Communicated
to him from abroad by Eugene F. Falconnet of Nashville, Tennessee, United
States of America, Civil Engineer,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS AND APPARATUS
FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION." [A communication to him from abroad by Eugene F.
Falconnet of Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, Civil Engineer,]
This invention relates to improvements in vessels, for aerial navigation to be
actuated, handled, and steered by machinery arranged within the said vessel by
means of screw propellers on the sides, as well as screws fore and aft or aft only at
the option of the builder, the forward screw being for steering purposes. The said
invention consists partly in constructing a metal frame, properly and substantially
secured at the several intersections thereof, in the form of two cones, the larger
ends of which abut against each other; or in the form of a cylinder terminating
fore and aft in sharp conical ends; observing as to the height and base of the
cones the proportion of say between three to one and six to one, and in enclosing
the whole, excepting that portion of the cabin which protrudes below, within a
casing of thin metal, silk, linen, canvas, or other suitable material that can be
rendered impervious to gas, air, and fire, and water proof by paint or other proper
compound. It further consists in intersecting the conical ends and central cylinder
by transverse as well as by longitudinal horizontal partitions, of material made
impervious to gas, by which the body of the vessel is divided into gas chambers or
cells and engine, store, machinery, and freight compartments, thus reducing the
size of the gas compartments within safe limits, and affording facilities for inflating
and exhausting the gas space or any subsection thereof as occasion may require,
and at the same time providing living and business rooms separated from the gas
space by gas tight partitions and supporting the same by trussed flooring. It
further consists in constructing a cabin partly within and partly protruding below
the lower part of the hull of the vessels-Also in adjusting the shafts, which carry
the fore and aft screws, in brackets secured on the under side and without the
front and rear portion of the hull. Also in adjusting on revolving cylinders

page_text: passing from within, through the sides of the vessel, revolving screws for raising,
lowering, steering, and propelling, and in arranging within the said vessel,
machinery for actuating in their several planes the side and fore and after screws
all as hereinafter described
According to the said Invention the general outline or form of the vessel is that
of two long cones the larger ends of which abut against each other; or that of a
cylinder, terminating fore and aft in elongated cones; or tapering fore and aft from
one common centre; this cylinder and the cones may be of any desired diameter
and length. I do not confine myself to any definite proportions, but I prefer that
the height of the cone should be from three to six times the diameter of the base,
according to whether the vessel be required for heavy work, or rapid flight; the
same proportion should also be observed in relation to the cylinders. These
proportions when carefully observed will give sufficient gas space to enable the
vessel to readily acquire equilibrium, or a floating condition, with ascertained
weights, and also, a longitudinal form easily handled and controlled, by the
mechanical appliances arranged within the vessel for actuating the side,. and
fore and aft screws used for raising, lowering, propelling, and steering the said
vessel.
The vessel is constructed on one general frame of metal, (preferably of steel
tubing although channelled or T shaped bars may be used) consisting of a top
chord extending from the extreme bow to the extreme stern, passing over the top
of the vessel and forming its upper outline-This chord is secured by its ends in
nodes fore and aft, and strengthened in its upper centre, by an extra double braced
trussing and is stayed, supported, and braced by stanchions, ties, and braces The
keelson or bottom chord which is of the same general shape, is secured by its ends
in the nodes fore and aft, and passes from stem to stern down under, or on, the
lower line of the vessel opposed to the top chord forming the true bottom line thereof.
The bottom chord is strengthened near the centre by a double braced trussing,
and is otherwise supported by stanchions braces, ties and girders. Extending
longitudinally through the centre of the vessel, with the ends secured in the nodes
fore and aft lying below the top chord, is a third chord which serves as the central
longitudinal bracing of the vessel-Other chords of the same general shape as the
top and bottom chords are secured by the ends in the nodes fore and aft, and
pass along the sides of the vessel, on a plane with the central chord; these side
chords limit the diameter of the vessel, and I hereinafter term them gunwales.
Running parallel and between the said side chords or gunwales is a similar set of
chords, secured by their ends to the central chord; these inner chords I hereinafter
term thwarts. The frame thus formed is strengthened both longitudinally and
laterally by suitable braces, trusses, and girders
Below the central chord, with the ends secured in the upward angles fore and
aft of the bottom chord, and passing longitudinally through the vessel, is another
chord. This chord forms the base of the gas-space and the roof of the engine and
freight rooms, and is secured to the stanchions, braces, and cross girders. The
said chord is also braced and arranged to sustain the weight of the propulsive
machinery
In the form of vessel having the extended cylinder, the lower chord of the cones
has an extension which continues down under the vessel to a point below and
immediately under the centre of the vessel, and forms a brace or chord, this chord
is the bottom supporting chord of the cabin, and is hereinafter termed the false
keelson Intersecting and secured by the ends to the false keelson is a light braced
double trussing, which forms the supporting base for the cabin floor. Passing
perpendicularly from the ridge chord (and intersecting the central chord) to the
keelson chord, at intervals from stem to stern, of the vessel is a series of stanchions
or posts, which sustain the vertical diameter of the vessel. Through the central
part of the vessel these stanchions are continued down to, and intersect, the false
keelson, they also intersect the various chords, girders, braces, and ties in their
course, to which they are secured, and they may be of tubes channel or T iron,

page_text: and either single or in clusters and strengthened, stayed, stiffened, and tied by rods,
braces, or cables, within or among them, as well as being securely joined to the
several intersecting chords, girders, braces, and the like.
Passing transversely through the vessel on a plane with and secured to the
gunwales, thwarts, central chord, stanchions, or posts braces ties, and stays at
intervals from stem to stern is a series of cross girders or chords, which brace,
strengthen, and support the lateral diameter of the vessel. Below is another series
of cross girders or chords adjusted horizontally across the vessel at intervals from
stem to stern. These chords strengthen and support the lower lateral diameter of
the vessel and furnish at the same time a support for the lower base of the gas
space, and a ceiling for the engine, machinery, and store rooms.
Below the said cross girders or chords is a quadrangular, horizontally adjusted,
braced double truss, involving the entire floor of the engine, store, freight and
machinery compartments, which truss also serves as a ceiling for the cabin below-
The said double truss is secured fore and aft to the lower chords of the cones and
assists in supporting the same. The several parts are securely united and sub-
stantially fastened at their several intersections, The gas space of the vessel is
divided longitudinally into sections and again into cells or subsections, by lateral
gas tight bulkheads, so that each section is separate from another, and an accident
occurring to one cannot materially injure another or reduce the quantity of gas
required for buoyancy. The said bulkheads are secured to the outside envelope,
the girders, stanchions and braces, and each one is provided with a manhole, a
supply pipe, and an exhaust pipe with a stop cock, and the whole is arranged for
expeditiously and effectively inflating or exhausting the gas space as a whole or
for emptying or refilling any of the cells or chambers as occasion may demand
The envelope or exterior cover, of the vessel may be of thin metal, rivetted and
brazed together, or secured in any other suitable manner to make it both gas tight
and fire proof, or it may be of silk, linen, canvas, or other suitable material (having
sufficient tensile strength to sustain the pressure and strain) made gas tight and
fire proof by paint or other proper compound. The whole being then overlaid with
a substantial netting. That part of the envelope, enclosing the engine store,
freight, and machinery rooms, as well as the upper portion of the cabin is provided
with windows, ventilators, and doors, and with dead eyes for the passage of chains,
cables, or the like. In the lower part of the cabin is a trap or well for the passage
of an elevator car supported by cables arranged on a suitable drum within the
vessel
Passing up through the gas space and out through the top part of the envelope
from the furnaces within the vessel, is a space or well for the passage of the smoke
stack steam pipes exhaust pipes, and foul air escape pipes, the whole being sur-
rounded by a gas tight and fire proof and heat repellant wall.
Passing from the interior, out through the sides of the vessel on a plane with
the trussing by which they are supported in suitable bearings, and opposite to each
other, are revolving cylinders one, two or more being on each side. These
cylinders are extended sufficiently beyond the side of the vessel to give free
play to the revolving screws, journalled therein. Journalled in the outer end of
the said revolving cylinders with the axle at right angles thereto, is a propeller
screw used for raising lowering and propelling the vessel The said cylinders are
made hollow for the passage of belting or shafting from the actuating machinery
within the vessel to the screws, and the screws are revolved on their axes by means
of belting or shafting and gear wheels, or by other suitable means, and the position
of the screws is changed by revolving the cylinders by machinery within the
vessel
Passing out through a point in the stern of the vessel on a plane with the lower
trussing, is a revolving cylinder journalled in bearings secured in the said
trussing, the wall of the vessel being secured on the lower side of the said
conc. The said revolving cylinder carries a steering and propelling screw.
position of this screw is changed by a revolving bed adjusted on the outer end
The

page_text: of the said cylinder and it is revolved by internally arranged machinery connected
therewith by shafting. The forward steering screw is adjusted and actuated in
the same manner as the after screw, though the forward screw may be dispensed
with. Arranged within the vessel below the gas space proper is a motive or
propulsive power, connected by suitable means with the several revolving cylinders,
and externally adjusted screws, for separately or simultaneously revolving and
changing the position of the same, as well as for actuating the screws for raising
lowering, steering or propelling the vessel
-
The cabin occupies the extreme lower part of the vessel and is constructed in a
metal frame extending as low down as the lowest point of the false keelson by
which it is stayed and partly supported. The fore and after part of the cabin is
made sharp to avoid resistance and these ends extend below the said false keelson
The floor of the cabin is sustained by a braced double truss; which is secured to
the foot of the stanchions, extending down below the keelson which passes through
the interior of the cabin, so that the cabin extends from within the hull of the
vessel to the lower trussing The outer casing of the cabin may be of any light
material and may be made as graceful and ornate as the upper cabin of a vessel;
the walls of the cabin, which protrude below the hull of the vessel proper, are
provided with windows, doors, and other means for ventilating and lighting; and
the inner portion of the cabin is divided into saloons and state rooms; from various
portions of the cabin I protrude bow windows or points of observation constructed
in such a manner as to give an unobstructed view upward, downward, or in any
direction