IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL BALLOONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of 67,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL BALLOONS." A communication from abroad by
Count Antoine Apraxine, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Primerose Howard
Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May
1878.
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL BALLOONS." A
communication from abroad by Count Antoine Apraxine, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction or arrangement of
aërial balloons with a view to facilitate the working and control of the same, and
to permit of dispensing either wholly or partially with the discharge of ballast or
gas during the ascensions or descents.
Figures 1, 2, of the accompanying Drawing represent in elevation and plan one
of the forms of the improved aërostat.
In these Figures à is an annular balloon of impervious tissue, to which is
suspended the car b. c is a second balloon of any convenient form, the attachment
cords d, d, of which, descending through the central space e of the balloon u, are
connected with a hook or other suspension mechanism secured to the car, and so
arranged as to set these cords free at the will of the aëronaut, thus rendering tho
balloons independent of each other.
It should here be remarked that although I give preference to the annular form
of the lower balloon a, this form may be replaced by any other, provided a central

page_text: space be reserved for the passage of the attachment cords or other appliances, and
of the cable hereafter mentioned.
gis a cable of any required strength secured to the cords d, d, of the upper
balloon c, and descending from thence to the ground through the bar b. h is a
halliard having twice the length of the cable g. This halliard is coiled in the
car b, and its free extremity, after passing through the pulley i, secured like the
cable g to the cordage of the balloon c, is connected with the car by a ring or hook
fixed near the suspension piece f
The lower balloon a should (with the exception hereafter stated) be heavier than
air, that is to say, that its ascensional force should be more than counterbalanced
by the weight of its load after deduction of the weight of, say half, the length of
the halliard h.
The upper balloon c should have sufficient ascensional power to support the
weight of the cable g and other adjuncts, plus the power required to determine the
ascension and maintainment in the air of the lower balloon a, when loaded to
the desired extent.
The arrangement above described can be employed either as a stationary balloon
or as a free balloon with limited vertical range.
When employed as a stationary or captive balloon it may be worked in several
different ways, as for instance,-
1stly. The two balloons a, c, being coupled at the suspension piece fare allowed
to ascend together to the height corresponding with the length or weight of the
cable g, the free end of which remains on the ground. When about to descend,
the aeronaut disengages from the hook the attachments of the upper balloon c,
and the lower balloon a being thus freed from the ascensional power of the latter
returns to the ground along the cable g, its descending movement being regulated,
slowed, or checked at will by direct action of the hand on the cable g or by tractions
on the halliard h.
2dly. The coupled balloons on attaining the desired elevation may be brought
back together by hauling in from the ground the cable g, and thus neutralizing the
ascensional force of the upper balloon c, so as to allow the lower balloon a to
descend by its own weight.
3dly. The upper balloon c may be allowed to rise alone to the end of its cable g,
and the ascent of the lower balloon a be effected by the aeronaut hauling on this
cable or on the halliard h.
For free ascensions to a limited height the coupled balloons may be allowed to
rise to the clevation corresponding with the weight of the cable g, which point
being attained the free length of the latter is hauled into the car. The aerostat
will then remain more or less in equilibrium at that point, and its descent may be
effected when required by liberating the upper balloon c and paying out through
the car the cable g.
0
The following modifications may, if so desired, be introduced into the arrange-
ment of the balloons :-
1stly. The cable g and the halliard h may be replaced by a single line coiled in
the car, and passing by its free end through a pulley fixed at the bottom of the
latter, and from thence prolonged and secured to the attachment cords of the upper
balloon. In this case the upper balloon c is allowed to rise alone to the desired
height, and the lower balloon a being loaded as nearly as possible to the point of
equilibrium its ascent is effected by the acronaut hauling in the line, which may
be recoiled in the car or allowed to pass freely through the bottom of the latter.
2dly. For captive or stationary ascensions the balloon a, instead of being loaded
beyond its power of ascent, may be underloaded, so as to allow of its rising along
the cable g without the aid of the upper balloon c, which remains stationary in the
air. In this case its descent is effected by hauling from the ground on a separate
line with which it is supplied.
Although the above description is confined to an elementary type of aerostat,
comprising two balloons only, it will be understood that this system may be

page_text: modified or extended according to circumstances. Thus, for instance, the number
of balloons a, c, may be increased; their form, dimensions, and general details may
be varied, the cable g may be made tubular to permit of replacing escapes of gas
from the upper balloon without necessitating its return to the ground, and the
central open space c of the lower balloon a may be arranged as a chamber for the
reception of such general apparatus and appliances as it may be desired to carry.
It will further be understood that in such aërostats ballast will, as a rule, only
require to be used as a means of adjusting the load in the car, and that the
necessity of discharging gas during the ascensions will only occur in exceptional
cases.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th November 1878.
A
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL BALLOONS."
communication from abroad by Count Antoine Apraxine, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction or arrangement of
aerial balloons with a view to facilitate the working and control of the same, and
to permit of dispensing either wholly or partially with the discharge of ballast or
gas during the ascensions or descents.
Figures 1, 2, of the accompanying Drawings represent in elevation and plan one
of the forms of the improved aërostat.
In those Figures a is an annular balloon of impervious tissue, to which is
suspended the car b. c is a second balloon of any convenient form, the attachment
cords d, d, of which descending through the central space e of the balloon a are
connected with a hook or other suspension mechanism secured to the car, and so
arranged as to set these cords free at the will of the aeronaut, thus rendering the
balloons independent of each other.
It should here be remarked that although I give preference to the annular form
of the lower balloon a this form may be replaced by any other, provided a central
space be reserved for the passage of the attachment cords or other appliances, and
of the cable hereafter mentioned.
g is a cable of any required strength secured to the cords d, d, of the upper
balloon c, and descending from thence to the ground through the car b. h is a
halliard having twice the length of the cable g. This halliard is coiled in the
car b, and its free extremity after passing through the pulley i, secured like the
cable g to the cordage of the balloon c, is connected with the car by a ring or hook
fixed near the suspending piece f.

page_text: The lower balloon a should, with the exception hereafter stated, be heavier than
air, that is to say, that its ascensional force should be more than counterbalanced
by the weight of its load after deduction of the weight of, say half, the length of
the halliard h.
The upper balloon c should have sufficient ascensional power to support the
weight of the cable g and other adjuncts, plus the power required to determine the
-ascension and maintainment in the air of the lower balloon a when loaded to the
.desired extent.
The arrangement above described can be employed either as a stationary balloon
or as a free balloon with limited vertical range.
When employed as a stationary or captive balloon it may be worked in several
different ways, as for instance,-
1stly. The two balloons a, c, being coupled at the suspension piece fare allowed
to ascend together to the height corresponding with the length or weight of the
cable g, the free end of which remains on the ground. When about to descend,
the aeronaut disengages from the hook of the attachments of the upper balloon c,
and the lower balloon a, being thus freed from the ascensional power of the latter,
returns to the ground along the cable g, its descending movement being regulated,
slowed, or checked at will by direct action of the hand on the cable g, or by
tractions on the halliard 7.
2dly. The coupled balloons on attaining the desired elevation may be brought
back together by hauling in from the ground the cable g, and thus neutralizing the
ascensional force of the upper balloon c, so as to allow the lower balloon a to
descend by its own weight.
3dly. The upper balloon c may be allowed to rise alone to the end of its cable g,
and the ascent of the lower balloon a be effected by the aeronaut hauling on this
cable or on the halliard h.
For free ascensions to a limited height the coupled balloons may be allowed to
rise to the elevation corresponding with the weight of the cable g, which point
The aerostat
being attained the free length of the latter is hauled into the car.
will then remain more or less in equilibrium at that point, and its descent may be
effected when required by liberating the upper balloon c and paying out through
the car the cable g.
The following modifications may, if so desired, be introduced into the arrange-
ment of the balloons:-
1stly. The cable g and the halliard may be replaced by a single line coiled in
the car, and passing by its free end through a pulley fixed at the bottom of the
latter, and from thence prolonged and secured to the attachment cords of the upper
balloon. In this caso the upper balloon c is allowed to rise alone to the desired
height, and the lower balloon a being loaded as nearly as possible to the point of
equilibrium its ascent is effected by the neronaut hauling in the line, which may
be recoiled in the car or allowed to pass freely through the bottom of the latter.
2dly. For captive or stationary ascensions the balloon u, instead of being loaded
beyond its power of ascent, may be under loaded, so as to allow of its rising along
the cable without the aid of the upper balloon c, which remains stationary in the
air. In this case its descent is effected by hauling from the ground on a separate
line with which it is supplied.
Although the above description is confined to an elementary type of aerostat,
comprising two balloons only, it will be understood that this system may be
modified or extended according to circumstances. Thus, for instance, the number
of balloons a, c, may be increased, their form, dimensions, and general details may
be varied, the cable g may be made tubular to permit of replacing escapes of gas
from the upper balloon without necessitating its return to the ground, and the
central open space e of the lower balloon a may be arranged as a chamber for the
reception of such general apparatus and appliances as it may be desired to carry.
It will further be understood that in such aerostats ballast will, as a rule, only

page_text: require to be used as a means of adjusting tho load in the car, and that the necessity
of discharging gas during the ascensions will only occur in exceptional cases.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that I claim,―
1stly. An aerostat composed of at least two balloons, as in a, c, separable at will,
the one a being heavier than air, and the other c having power sufficient to deter-
mine the ascension of the latter, and to support the weight of a cable, as in g, tho
whole arranged and operated substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth,
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
2dly. A captive or stationary aerostat composed of the same elements, but in
which the lower balloon a is rendered lighter than air, so as to ascend along the
cable g without the aid of the upper balloon c, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
E PH VATICHAN
10)