IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VESSELS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VESSELS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION."
A communication from abroad by Carl Wolfgang Petersen, of San Francisco,
California United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Ollice of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firin of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VESSELS
FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION." A communication from abroad by Carl Wolfgang
Petersen of San Francisco, California United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in ships or vessels for aerial navigation
and comprises the following features vis,
An air-ship formed of a guiding and reefable lifting vessel or vessels whereby
the ship may beat or tack regularly in the air in vertical inclinations.
Providing the frame or car of the lifting vessel with a tank or tanks for
containing volatile liquid and a retort for converting said liquid into gas.
A feed-pipe in the neck or bottom of the lifting vessel and a safety-valve for
automatically relieving the vessel of undue pressure.
A novel rudder for the air-ship.
Coupling a series of air ships thus forming a train or line.
An air ship having an indicator of the downward or upward drift and inclination
of the ship.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a lifting vessel or
inflatable bag which may be of any desired form provided it is capable of being
reefed and thereby made to possess a variable lifting capacity. It may be of an
elongated spheroidal form, and instead of being provided with the usual top valve
for permitting the escape of the lifting medium; it is wholly closed at the apex and
Price S11

page_text: strongly reinforced for obtaining a firm connection thereat, with a recfing line
which passes downward through the neck of the vessel to a point convenient for
the navigator or operator. The value of this improvement will be obvious when
it is considered that with the usual top valve the upward escape of gas is
accompanied by an upward flow of atmospheric air through the usual open neck
below, so that when the valve is thereafter closed, the chamber contains a mixture
of air and gas, and the proportion of air is increased more or less at each opening of
the valve.
With my improvement, as the reefing is proceeded with from time to time, the
gas is forced downward and outward without permitting the entrance of air, and
therefore the lifting capacity of the balloon can be much longer maintained than
when the discharge of gas is accomplished by a practically corresponding induction
of air. The downward discharge of gas as a result of reefing, also wholly obviates
the liability of an upward collapse, common to balloons having the top valve and
open neck.
The neck of the balloon or gas vessel is provided with a rigid diaphragm of
wood or other suitable material through which passes the gas-supply-pipe
hereinafter described, and the reefing line, the former having a permanent gas tight
joint with said diaphragm and the latter a packed joint which will permit. the
proper movements of the line and yet affords a reasonable tight joint around it.
In said diaphragm there may also be an outlet guarded by a safety-valve which is
preferably adjustable and is automatically opened by the internal pressure of gas,
when so far increased by the reefing operation as to render the discharge of gas
desirable. A valve line may be provided by which said valve may be opened for
permitting the gas to be discharged more freely during the reefing operation
whenever desirable. The method of, and appliances for, reefing may obviously be
widely varied, and in some cases it will be preferable that the netting be drawn
toward the horizontal sail by means of lines attached to the netting near its crown
and working through blocks or eyes connected with the frame of the sail and
extending to the boat or car separately or united, and arranged to be worked
by hand, or by a windlass therein. Separate reefing lines above the hori-
zontal sail to be hereinafter referred to, may however obviously be dispensed
with and a requisite number of the suspending lines of the netting be employed
for reefing purposes.
The car is preferably constructed in the form of a boat, not only because of its
utility when a forced descent occurs on water, but also because it is longer than it
is wide, so that by shifting weights or shifting the positions of the navigators
either end may be depressed or elevated when in the air.
Between the car and the gas-vessel or balloon there is a circular guiding sail
which is adjustable from a horizontal plane to any desired angle; this sail may
Le fixed with relation to the car so that it will occupy a corresponding position, but
it may, as an equivalent arrangement, be suspended from the balloon and be capable
of angular adjustments independently of the car, by means of blocks and ropes and
in this case rigid bars or rods may be provided at each side of the boat, to which at
their upper ends the frame or hoop of the guiding sail will be pivoted after the
manner of trunnions. For properly uniting the balloon with the parts carried
by it, the usual netting should be employed and the suspending cords may be
variously arranged with reference to the car and the sail, giving due consideration
to security and convenience.
At opposite points fore and aft of the guiding sail, I employ vertical rudders
which are adjustable to any requisite angle. These are novel in that they are
circular or partly circular in form, are axially connected to the frame of the guiding
sail, and each is diametrically stiffened and worked by lines or guys extending
from the periphery of the rudder at various points, through, and secured to, eyes at
opposite ends of the pivoted brace which is set parallel with the large sail, and
lines being extended downward and rearward to the car so as to be readily
accessible to the navigator.

page_text: The rudder may be wholly below the guiding sail and pivoted between an arm
extending from the guiding sail and an arm extending from the boat or car, but it.
is provided as before described with a pivoted brace, and lines or gays which
firmly brace the rudder and extend to the car for steering purposes. I do not
wish to confine myself to the brace, as the manner of attachment of the rudder
and of operating the same may be varied to suit circumstances. The guiding sail
and the rudder should be made of strong light textile fabric, distended by means
of hoops and other frame work. They may be of two separate thicknesses of
tight material, so that said sail and rudders, or either, will constitute a gas vessel or
chamber which will be inflated with the lifting medium; light flexible conducting
tubes being connected therewith for conveying the gas supply thereto.
gas-
Although an air-ship embodying some of the features of this Invention may be
successfully worked with heated air, I prefer to use the usual hydrogen gases, and
in view of maintaining the gas in this balloon without the undue mixing of air
therewith as herein before explained, I am enable to easily compensate for the
necessary loss of gas, because said loss is comparatively small, and I therefore employ
an apparatus for making fixed gas from the lighter varieties of liquid hydrocarbon,
such for instance as that generally known as gasoline.
The
In the car I provide one or more air-tight tanks connected to each other by a
system of pipes, provided with suitable cocks, and communicating with a retort so
that either tank may be relied upon to supply gasoline to said retort. The retort
may be variously constructed; the coil form may be employed. Each tank is
provided with an air-pump or one air-pump with a system of pipes, connecting with
cach tank may be relied upon for attaining such atmospheric pressure within the
tanks as will secure the proper delivery of gasoline to the retort. Extending from
the upper coil of the retort upward into the neck of the gas vessel is a pipe. A bulb
is provided in said pipe just above the retort, and beneath a cock in said pipe, from
which a gas burner or heater is supplied with gas for operating the retort.
entire retort is enclosed within a suitable jacket the requisite vent-openings being
well guarded by fine wire gauze. in working this gas generating apparatus the
cock above the bulb is closed, a small quantity of gasoline allowed to enter from
either tank and a hand-lamp is placed so that some portion of the coil will be
sufficiently heated to vaporize the gasoline in the retort, whereupon it passes to the
heating burner which is then lighted, and as soon as the retort has been properly
heated a proper continuous supply of gasoline is fed thereto by opening the proper
cock, and the cock above the bulb is thereafter opened partially to permit the
discharge of gas upward into the balloon, it being only necessary that sufficient
pressure be maintained in the bulb to supply the heating burner. The upper portion
of the pipe being open into the interior of the gas vessel enables me to place in said
pipe, above the cock, a manometer for indicating the pressure of gas within the gas
vessel or balloon.
Various other arrangements of retort and burner may be employed.
If mechanical propelling apparatus is desired, it may be operated by a gas-engine
supplied from the retort instead of from the balloon, as has heretofore been proposed
by others, with a screw propeller; but one rudder would be necessary.
It will be obvious that the particular forms of the gas vessel, the sails, the
rudders, and the car may be widely varied and that the details of construction of
the various parts, and the manner of their connection can be obviously changed to
an almost indefinite degree, without materially departing from my Invention, and it
is obvious that an air-ship involving one or more of the novel features of my
Invention may be made of any desired size according to the special ends in view
in each case, and that a lifting medium other than gas of the character described
may be employed.
It will be seen that the characteristic feature of my air-ship is its completo
adaptability to beat or tack in the air, similar to a ship on the water, the latter
making its angular courses in a horizontal plane and my ship inaking similar courses
in a vertical plane.

page_text: These reefable lifting vessels may be constructed in the form of double guiding
sails or guiding balloons, the main point in both instances being to obtain a large
surface by which the ship may ride upon the air and show very little resistance to
the wind or weather and at the same time render them capable of being reefed so
as to obtain a varied lifting capacity.
In some cases the reefable balloon or vessel, in combination with a single or
double guiding sail, may be used; then again the vessel may be dispensed with and
there may be used only double guiding sails with flat top and bottom surfaces which
servo both as sails and balloon, and a guiding sail or sails may be added to the same.
In other cases, two reefable balloons and two or more non-reefable guiding sails may
be employed in combination. The lifting vessel may serve both as sail and balloon,
and the sail may serve both as balloon and sail. The shape may be circular or
partly circular.
A series of air-ships may be coupled together, thus forming a train or line of
ships each of which may be supplied with appurtenances herein before mentioned.
I provide an indicator of down and upward drift and an indicator of inclination
of the air-ship, also an indicating scale or dial properly mounted on the boat and
adapted to be seen by the navigator from any part of the inside of the boat.
shaft or flag-staff passes through, and rotates in, a sleeve fitted to the centre of the
dial; a flag or vane is rigidly secured to the shaft. On the inner end of said shaft
is a finger or index directly opposite to the flag and exactly balancing the latter,
appearing on the face of the dial and indicator.
A
I provide a vertical weighted lever which is connected to the rotatable sleeve,
the latter being provided at its inner end with a nut in which are two holes hori-
zontally opposite to each other for the reception of two fingers which are secured
to said nut in the holes thereof.
As the weighted lever always holds a vertical position in whatever angle the ship
and the dial may be, fingers aro compelled always to indicate truly, or hold a position
which correctly indicates, the real horizon, on account of the weighted lever being
capable of holding its vertical position and capable of revolving the sleeve in the
dial and indicating scale.
The marks or lines on the indicating scale show the real position of the lifting
vessels, the sails, and the boat, and how much inclination it differs from the real line
of the horizontal as indicated by the fingers.
When the air-ship ascends, the force or speed of the same causes a certain amount
of pressure with its resistance-surfaces against the air, and as the said pressure is
also acting upon the surface of the flag, the rotary shaft is thereby caused to revolve
in the sleeve and dial so that the index points towards the direction in which the
air-ship is truly proceeding against the air:
My indicator may be constructed in one body, or it may be made, if desired, of
two independent bodies, one to indicate the vertical drifts and the other the true
vertical angle of inclination.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd July 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
VESSELS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION."
A communication from abroad by Carl
Wolfgang Petersen, of San Francisco, California, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in ships or vessels for aërial navigation
and comprises the following features, vis. :-
An air-ship formed of a guiding and reefable lifting vessel or vessels, whereby
the ship may beat or tack regularly, at inclinations which cause it to ascend or
descend in the air.
Providing the frame or car of the lifting vessel with a tank or tanks for con-
taining volatile liquid, and a retort for converting the said liquid into gras.
A feed pipe in the neck or bottom of the lifting vessel and a safety valve for
automatically relieving the said vessel of undue pressure.
A novel rudder for the said air-ship.
Coupling a series of air-ships together thus forming a train or line.
An air-ship having an indicator of the downward or upward drift and inclination
of the ship.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is an end view of an air-ship embodying the said Invention, the same
being shewn as proceeding upward and forward.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same as proceeding downward and forward.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the car or body of the ship and its
appurtenances.
Figure 4 shows a modification in the method of mounting the rudder.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view showing a train or line of ships.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the midship part of the boat or car,
carrying the indicator of the drift and inclination of the ship.
Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section thereof.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are views of some of the several forms in which the
ship may be constructed.
A represents the lifting vessel or inflatable bag which may be of any desired
form provided it is capable of being reefed and thereby made to possess a variable
lifting capacity. The one shown is of an elongated spheroidal form and, instead of
being provided with the usual top valve for permitting the escape of the lifting
medium, it is wholly closed, at the apex and strongly reinforced for obtaining a
firm connection thereat, with a reefing line a which passes downward through the
neck of the vessel to a point convenient for the navigator or operator. The value
of this improvement will be obvious when it is considered that with the usual top
valve, the upward escape of gas is accompanied by an upward flow of atmospheric
air through the usual open neck below, so that when the valve is thereafter closed,
the chamber contains a mixture of air and gas, and the proportion of air is increased
more or less at each opening of the valve.
With this improvement, as the reefing is proceeded with from time to time, the
gas is forced downward and outward without permitting the entrance of air, and
therefore the lifting capacity of the balloon can be much longer maintained than
when the discharge of gas is accompanied by a practically corresponding admission
of air. The downward discharge of gas as a result of reefing also wholly obviates

page_text: the liability of an upward collapse, common to balloons having the top valve and
open neck.
The neck of the balloon or gas-vessel is provided with a rigid diaphragm, of
wood or other suitable material, through which passes the gas-supply-pipe herein-
after described, and the reefing line a, the former having a permanent gas-tight
joint with the said diaphragm, and the latter a packed joint which will permit the
proper movements of the line and yet afford a reasonably tight joint around it.
In the said diaphragm there may also be an outlet guarded by a safety valve a¹
which is preferably adjustable and is automatically opened by the internal pressure
of gas, when so far increased by the reefing operation as to render the discharge of
gas desirable. A valve-line may be provided by which the said valve may be
opened for permitting the gas to be discharged more freely during the reefing
operation whenever desirable.
The method of and appliances for reefing may obviously be widely varied, and in
some cases it will be preferable that the netting be drawn toward the horizontal
sail by means of lines attached to the netting near its crown, and working through
blocks or eyes connected with the frame of the sail and extending to the boat or
car, separately or united, and arranged to be worked by hand or by a windlass
therein. Separate reefing lines above the horizontal sail to be hereinafter referred
to, may however, obviously be dispensed with and a requisite number of the
suspending lines of the netting be employed for reefing purposes.
B represents the car which is preferably constructed in the form of a boat as
shown, not only because of its utility when a forced descent occurs on water, but
also because it is longer than it is wide, so that by shifting weights, or by shifting
the positions of the navigators, either end may be depressed or elevated when in
the air. Between the car and the gas-vessel or balloon is a circular guiding sail C
which is adjustable from a horizontal plane to any desired angle. As shown, this
sail may be fixed with relation to the car, so that it will occupy a corresponding
position, but it may, as an equivalent arrangement, be suspended from the balloon
and be capable of angular adjustment independently of the car by means of blocks
and ropes, and, in this case, rigid bars or rods may be provided at cach side of the
boat, to which at their upper ends, the frame or hoop of the guiding sail will be
pivotted after the manner of trunnions, as may be more plainly seen in Figure S.
For properly uniting the balloon with the parts carried by it, the usual netting
should be employed and the suspending cords may be variously arranged with
reference to the car and the sail, giving due consideration to security and conve-
nience. A sail substantially as shewn, in combination with a balloon provided with
means for reefing it and thereby reducing its lifting capacity, is novel and of great
practical value.
At opposite points fore and aft of the guiding sail C I provide vertical rudders D
which are adjustable to any requisite angle. These are novel in that they are
circular or partly circular in form, are axially connected to the frame of the
guiding sail C and each is diametrically stiffened and worked by lines or guys b
extending from the periphery of the rudder at various points, through, and secured
to, eyes cat opposite ends of the pivoted brace d which is set parallel with the
large sail C the said lines being extended downward and rearward to the car so as
to be readily accessible to the navigator. In Figure 4 the rudder D is shown
wholly below the guiding sail and pivoted between an arm d¹ extending from the
guiding sail and an arm d extending from the boat or car, but it is provided as
before described with the pivoted brace and lines or guys b which firmly brace
the rudder and extend to the car for steering purposes. I do not wish to confine
myself to the brace d as the manner of attaching the rudder and of operating the
same may be varied to suit circumstances. The guiding sail C and the rudder D
should be made of strong light textile fabric, distended by means of hoops and
other framework. They may be formed of two separate thicknesses of gas-tight
material. so that the said sail and rudders, or either, will constitute a gas-vessel or

page_text: chamber which may be inflated with the lifting medium, light flexible conducting
tubes being connected therewith for conveying the gas-supply thereto.
Although an air-ship embodying some of the features of this Invention may be
successfully worked with heated air, I prefer to use the usual hydrogen gases, and,
by maintaining the gas in this balloon without the undue mixing of air therewith,
as hereinbefore explained, I am enabled to easily compensate for the necessary loss
of gas, because the said loss is comparatively small, and I therefore employ an
apparatus for making fixed gas from the lighter varieties of liquid hydro-carbon,
such, for instance, as that generally known as gasoline."
16
In the car, I provide one or more air-tight tanks e connected to each other by a
system of pipes, provided with suitable cocks, and communicating with a retort f
so that either tank may be relied upon to supply gasoline to the said retort. The
retort may be variously constructed, but for the sake of illustration the coil form
is shown. Each tank is provided with an air-pump g, or one air-pump, with a
system of pipes connecting with each tank, may be relied upon for attaining such
atmospheric pressure within the tanks as will secure the proper delivery of gasoline
to the retort. Extending from the upper coil of the retort upward, into the neck
of the gas vessel is a pipe h. A bulb i is provided in the said pipe just above the
retort, and beneath a cock in the said pipe, from which a gas-burner or heater K
is supplied with gas for operating the retort. The entire retort is enclosed within
a suitable jacket the requisite vent openings being well guarded by fine wire gauze.
In working this gas generating apparatus, the cock i' above the bulb i is closed, a
small quantity of gasoline is allowed to enter from either tank, and a hand lamp is
placed so that some portion of the coil will be sufficiently heated to vaporize the
gasoline in the retort, whereupon it passes to the heating burner K, and is there
lighted, and, as soon as the retort has been properly heated, a continuous supply of
gasoline is fed thereto by opening the proper cock, and the cock above the bulb is
thereafter opened partially to permit the discharge of gas upward into the balloon,
it being only necessary that sufficient pressure be maintained in the bulb i to
supply the heating burner. The upper portion of the pipe being open into the
interior of the gas-vessel enables me to place in the said pipe above the cock i a
manometer for indicating the pressure of gas within the gas-vessel or balloon.
Various other arrangements of retort and burner may be employed.
If mechanical propelling apparatus is desired, it may be operated by a gas-engine,
supplied from the retort instead of from the balloon, as has heretofore been proposed
by others, by means of a screw propeller; but one rudder would be necessary.
An air-ship constructed and equipped as described, is operated as follows, that is
to say. For the initial ascent the balloon is preferably charged with street gas,
or from some other cheap source of supply. The car is evenly weighted so that it
will be lifted in a horizontal position, and the rudders are set truly vertical. In
ascending the direction will be vertical except as modified by prevailing wind; and
as soon as the requisite speed in rising is obtained, the navigator and such weights
as are needed, are located at that end of the boat which is opposite to the direction
desired so as to present the proper inclination of the upper surface of the sail C,
which causes the ship to advance while rising. If the sail C be pivotted at the
sides, as heretofore indicated; it can be set at the desired angle without changing
the position of the car. As soon as the desired altitude is attained, the position of
the sail is reversed and the reefing line or lines drawn downward carrying with it
or them the upper portion or crown of the balloon and forcing more or less gas
from the vessel, and, as soon as the balloon commences its descent, the advancing
movement is continued downwardly at a speed more rapid than was before obtained
during the upward movement. The gas generating apparatus having meantime
been started, is worked up to its most efficient pressure as will be indicated by the
nanometer connected to the bulb i or by the character of the flame at the burner,
and before the desired downward tack or course is terminated, the fresh gas is
admitted to the balloon and being in a more or less heated condition from the
retort, it warms the gas already in the vessel A, thereby increasing its lifting power,

page_text: as well as by the fresh supply, whereupon the inclination of the sail C is again
changed and the reefing line slowly slackened and then the air-ship in ascending
continues advancing in the same general direction as before. The rudder can be
set in an obvious manner for changing direction to the right hand or to the
left.
The novel combination of a lifting vessel having the capability of reefing, with the
guiding sail is of value whether they be used in connection with gas generating
apparatus or not, because of the economic discharge of gas for descending without
an undue admission of air. The gas generating apparatus acting on highly volatile
hydro-carbons, the reefable balloon, and the guiding sail constitute a specially valuable
and novel combination of elements. The liquid hydro-carbon serves as ballast
which is gradually transformed from ballast to a lifting medium, and a sufficient
quantity can be carried to furnish gas in volume equal to or greater than the
maximum capacity of the balloon. If, however, additional sand ballast be carried,
it may be advantageously discharged at times for supplementing the ascents and
economizing the use of the hydro-carbons. It will be obvious that the particular
forms of the gas-vessel, the sails, the rudders and the car may be widely varied,
and that the details of construction of the various parts, and the manner of their
connection can be changed to an almost indefinite degree, without materially
departing from the said Invention, and it is obvious that an air-ship involving one
or more of the novel features of the said Invention may be made of any desired
size according to the special ends in view in each case, and that a lifting medium
other than gas of the character described may be employed.
It will be seen that the characteristic feature of this air-ship is its complete
adaptability to beat or tack in the air similar to a ship on the water, the latter
making its angular courses in a horizontal plane, and the said air-ship making
similar courses in a vertical plane.
These reefable lifting vessels may be constructed in the form of double guiding
sails or guiding balloons, the main point, in both instances, being to obtain a large
surface by which the ship may ride upon the air and show very little resistance to
the wind or weather, and at the same time render them capable of being reefed so
as to obtain a varied lifting capacity.
In some instances the reefable balloon or vessel, in combination with a single or
double guiding sail, may be used, then again the vessel may be dispensed with
and there may be used only double guiding sails with flat top and bottom surfaces
which serve both as sails and balloon, and a guiding sail or sails may be added to
the same.
In other cases, two reefable balloons and two or more non-reefable
guiding sails may be employed in combination. The lifting vessel may serve both
as sail and balloon, and the sail may serve both as balloon and sail. The shape may
be circular or partly circular.
In Figure 5 is shewn a series of air-ships E coupled together, thus forming a
train or line of ships each of which may be supplied with appurtenances herein before
mentioned.
In Figure 6 is shewn the indicator of downward and upward drift and an indicator
of the inclination of the air-ship. 0° 0° represent the horizontal position line and
L the vertical position line of the ship, M represents an indicating scale or dial
properly mounted on the boat and adapted to be seen by the navigator from any
part of the inside of the boat. N represents a shaft or flag staff which passes
through and rotates in a sleeve P fitted to the centre of the dial M; Q represents
a flag or vane which is rigidly secured to the shaft N. On the inner end of the
said shaft is a finger or index R, directly opposite to the flag and exactly balancing
the latter, and appearing on the face of the dial and indicator. S represents a
vertical weighted lever which is connected at right angles therewith to the rotatable
sleeve P, the latter being provided at its inner end with a nut P in which are two
holes horizontally opposite to each other for the reception of two fingers T T' which
are screwed to the said nut P' in the holes thereof. As the weighted lever S always
maintains a vertical position in whatever angle the ship and the dial M may be,
い

page_text: the fingers T T are compelled always to indicate truly or maintain a position which
correctly indicates the real horizon, on account of the weighted lever S being
capable of maintaining its vertical position and capable of revolving the sleeve P
in the dial and indicating scale M. The marks or lines 0° 0° on the indicating
scale M shew the real position of the lifting vessels, the sails, and the boat, and how
much inclination it differs from the real line of the horizontal as indicated by the
fingers T, T
When the air-ship ascends, the force or speed of the same causes a certain amount
of pressure with its resisting surfaces against the air, and as the said pressure is
also acting upon the surface of the flag Q, the rotary shaft N is thereby caused to
revolve in the sleeve P and dial M so that the index R points towards the direction
in which the air-ship is truly proceeding against the air.
As shown in Figure 6, when the ship is proceeding forward and downward, the
horizontal or position line 0° 0° of the air-ship has an angle of inclination of
20 degrees beyond the real horizontal indicated by the two fingers T, T. The
number of degrees between the position line 0° 0° of the ship shown in the
indicating scale and the real horizontal indicated by the fingers T T is the true
number of degrees of inclination in which the air-ship is elevated. To be capable
of observing the true inclination of an air-ship which beats and tacks in the air is
of great value to the navigator in charge, but there is a more important and
valuable point as regards the navigation of air-ships sailing at great speed, and that
is the capability of observing the true amount of drift that the air-ship makes when
sailing forward and upward or downward in the air; or in other words, the
capability or observing the real and true direction of inclination in which the
air-ship is proceeding forward, and this is the object of my drift indicator as
described.
By the least movement of the air-ship through the air the flag Q causes the
shaft N to revolve in the sleeve P and to move the index R towards that direction
in which the air-ship is truly proceeding forward in the air, and indicates also upon
the dial M the true amount of drift that the ship makes, and the number of degrees.
between the index R, and the position line 0° 0° upon the indicating scale M is the
true amount of drift that the air-ship makes while sailing. The drift indicator has
another valuable feature viz.; that the navigator is able to elevate his air-ship, or
guide the sails, or lifting vessels of the ship at such an angle of inclination that the
position line 0° 0° and the index R correctly correspond with each other and thus
the ship may be navigated without any vertical drift at all.
This indicator may be constructed in one body as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, or
it may be made, if desired, of two independent bodies, one to indicate the vertical
drifts and the other the true vertical angle of inclination, and both may be placed
in various other positions than shown.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same 1 wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The guiding and reefable lifting vessel or vessels constructed and operating
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. An air-ship having the lifting vessel or vessels and means for reefing the
saine, and a guiding sail or sails, whereby the ship may beat or tack regularly at
inclinations which cause it to ascend or descend in the air, substantially as set
forth.
Third. The combination, with the lifting vessel or vessels, of the car or boat
having the tank or tanks for containing volatile liquid and a retort for converting
the said liquid into gas, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with a lifting vessel, of the feed pipe in the neck or
bottom thereof, and a safety valve for automatically relieving the lifting vessel of
undue pressure, with or without a manometer, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Fifth. An air-ship having the vertical circular or partly circular rudder or rudders

page_text: pivotally connected to its frame or to the frame of its sail, or both, the said rudder
being provided with steering lines extending to the
car, all substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. A series of air-ships coupled together to form a train or line, substantially
as set forth.
Seventh. In an air-ship the indicator of the downward or upward drift of the
said ship, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. In an air-ship, the indicator of the inclination of the said ship, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof 1 the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this First day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)