Improvements in Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1896
Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Leff, 1st ed., 1897-Accepted, 13th mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
We, JACOB WARLDE. Engineer, of 24 Broad Street, Golden Square, London,
and JOHN FREDERICK CARL ABELSPIES, Engineer of 18, Tyndale Place, Islington,
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 apparatus to be used in connection with
aerial navigation, and has for its object to provide an arrangement which can be
raised, lowered, or guided in any direction in a simple and effective manner.
The
The apparatus is especially intended for use in connection with balloons, for the
purpose of steering them, but may be employed alone or in any other manner.
apparatus consists of a light frame, which may be constructed from aluminium or
other strong and light material or combination of materials such as steel, bamboo
cane carrying a number of revolving planes. These planes while turning with the
main axle are ench carried on the spindle and are adapted to turn independently of
the main revolution, so as to present their faces at varying angles to the atmosphere.
The axle carrying these planes is preferably fitted at the upper end of the main
frame or framework of the apparatus and is revolved, by means of simple mechanism
such as bevel gearing or chains, from cranks actuated by foot after the manner of a
cycle, or from a motor of any suitable construction.
According to a convenient arrangement three planes of circular form are employed
at each side carried on a light triangular or other frame fixed to the axle. The
ends of the supporting arm are provided with bearings carrying the spindles
belonging to the planes. On the end of each spindle a small chain wheel is fitted,
and a chain provided with means for adjustment passes from this wheel to another
wheel preferably of about half the diameter of the first carried on a sleeve placed
loosely on the axle. Each sleeve is thus provided with three toothed wheels
connected to the corresponding wheels on the planes. This sleeve does not revolve
with the axle, but is held in a fixed position by means of a lever placed at the lower
portion of the framework and connected to the sleeve by means of a chain wheel-
on the latter, a chain passing over the same and connections attached to the lever on
each side of the pivot. On altering the position of the lever the sleeve is turned
on the axle causing the planes to turn through a portion of a circle by means of the
chain connections. The planes on each side can thus be separately adjusted two
revers being employed. The levers can be held in any required position by means
of a notched plate and spring stop engaging in any one of the notches. The planes
can thus be instantly turned to any required angle and held in that position. It is
not necessary to turn the planes through more than about a quarter of a circle, this
angle giving all the required change of action to enable the device to be steered
in any direction.
On the axle being revolved carrying the planes with it, the latter will be caused
to turn through a half revolution for each revolution of the shaft, this motion being
regulated by the proportionate sizes of the chain wheels upon the sleeve and spindle
of the planes. Owing to this motion the surface of all the planes will press against
the atmosphere in the same direction, one plane being always fully in operation, the
others cutting the air as they pass through it instead of presenting their faces at a

page_text: large angle to the. direction of motion around the axle. The pressure of the
atmosphere while the planes are being turned causes the separate revolving action to
take place more easily as it assists the planes to turn in the required direction.
When the planes are in one position the faces are caused to press against the
atmosphere in a downward direction as they revolve, thus giving a lifting action
sufficient to raise the apparatus when sufficient speed is given. On altering the
position of the lever at each side the faces are caused to press backwards giving a
motion in the forward direction. The lever can again be altered to give a downward
pressure to the apparatus, or to cause it to move backwards. All these motions
can be given without changing the driving mechanism, the axle always revolving in
the same direction. The apparatus can also be caused to turn around its vertical
axis, or to take up a slanting position by changing the directions of the planes at
each side so that they do not correspond thus enabling the apparatus to be guided
in any manner which may be desired. As applied to balloons the apparatus may be
fitted between the car and the lower end of the bag, the planes extending at each
side or otherwise, and the apparatus being driven by means of foot or other power
from the car. Owing to this arrangement the balloon can be made of just sufficient
size to balance the weight of the car and apparatus, and the latter can then be used
to raise the balloon from the ground and to steer it in any direction, bringing it to the
ground when required.
Dated this 30th day of April 1896
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
We, JACOB WAELDE, Engineer, of 24, Broad Street, Golden Square, London
and JOHN FREDERICK CARL ABELSPIES, Engineer of 18, Tyndale Place, Islington,
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 apparatus to be used in connection
with aerial navigation, and has for its object to provide an arrangement which can
be raised, lowered, or guided in any direction in a simple and effective manner.
The apparatus is especially intended for use in connection with balloons for the
purpose of steering them but may be employed alone or in any other manner.
The apparatus consists of a light frame, which may be constructed from aluminium
or other strong and light material or combination of materials such as steel, bamboo,
and cane, carrying a number of revolving planes. These planes while turning
with the main axle are each carried on the spindle and are adapted to turn
independently of the main revolution, so as to present their faces at varying angles
to the atmosphere. The axle carrying the planes is preferably fitted at the upper
end of the main frame or framework of the apparatus and is revolved by means of
simple mechanism such as bevel gearing or chains, from cranks actuated by foot
after the manner of a cycle, or from a motor of any suitable construction.
According to a convenient arrangement three planes of circular form are employed
at each side carried on a light triangular or other frame fixed to the axle. The
ends of the supporting arm are provided with bearings carrying the spindles
belonging to the planes. On the end of each spindle a small chain wheel is fitted,
and a chain provided with means for adjustment passes from this wheel to another
wheel preferably of about half the diameter of the first carried on a sleeve placed

page_text: loosely on the axle. Each sleeve is thus provided with three toothed wheels
connected to the corresponding wheels on the planes. This sleeve does not revolve
with the axle, but is held in a fixed position by means of a lever placed at the lower
portion of the framework and connected to the sleeve by means of a chain on the
latter, a chain passing over the same and over connections attached to the lever on
each side of the pivot. On altering the position of the lever the sleeve is turned
on the axle causing the planes to turn through a portion of a circle by means of the
chain connection. The planes on each side can thus be separately adjusted two
levers being employed. The lever can be held in any required position by means of
a notched plate and spring stop engaging in any one of the notches. The planes
can thus be instantly turned to any required angle and held in that position. It is
not necessary to turn the planes through more than about a quarter of a circle,
this angle giving all the required change of action to enable the device to be steered
in any direction.
On the axle being revolved carrying the planes with it, the latter will be caused
to turn through a half revolution for each revolution of the shaft, this motion being
regulated by the proportionate sizes of the chain wheels upon the sleeve and spindle
of the planes. Owing to this notion the surface of all the planes will be against
the atmosphere in the same direction, one plane being always fully in operation, the
others cutting the air as they pass through it, instead of presenting their faces at a
large angle to the direction of motion around the axle. The pressure of the
atmosphere while the planes are being turned causes the separate revolving action to
take place more easily as it assists the planes to turn in the required direction.
When the planes are in one position the faces are caused to press against the
atmosphere in a downward direction as they revolve thus giving a lifting motion
sufficient to raise the apparatus when sufficient speed is given. On altering the
position of the lever at each side the faces are caused to press backwards giving a
motion in the forward direction. The lever can again be altered to give a downward
pressure to the apparatus, or to cause it to move backwards. All these motions
can be given without changing the driving mechanism the axle always revolving
in the same direction. The apparatus can also be caused to turn around its vertical
axis or to take up slanting position by changing the direction of the planes at each
side so that they do not correspond thus enabling the apparatus to be guided in any
manner which may be desired."
As applied to balloons, the apparatus may be fitted between the car and the lower
end of the bag, the planes extending at each side of the apparatus being driven by
band, foot, or other power from the car. Owing to this arrangement the balloon
may be made of sufficient size to balance the weight of the car and apparatus, and
the latter can then serve to raise the balloon from the ground and to steer it in
any direction, bringing it to the ground when desired.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus shown in connection
with a balloon,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the arrangement and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 4 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2 and
Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing the varying positions of the planes.
The planes A, six of which are shown, three at each side of the apparatus are
supported on the radial arms B placed at equal angles apart and fixed on the rotating
spindle C. These planes are not fixed to the radial arms or frame B but are carried
on the spindles a which extend across their centres. These spindles are carried in
bearings b at the extremities of the arms B. The inner end of each spindle projects
at the other side of the arm, where it is provided with the chain wheel b' by means of
which the planes are revolved on their axes. The chain or band D passes from
this chain wheel to another one E carried on a loose sleeve e placed on the central
shaft C. The wheels E for the three planes at each side of the apparatus are placed
side by side on the sleeve, the arrangement for each sleeve being the same. The

page_text: sleeve and small wheels can thus. be rotated independently of the shaft, the rotation
of the latter causing the whole arrangement of planes to turn as the arms B are
fixed to it. To rotate the shaft the central sprocket wheel c is fitted to it over which
the chain F passes, the latter being connected to the driving mechanism G, which
in the arrangement shown is somewhat similar to that of a cycle, seats g being
provided and cranks g'. The mechanism may however be of any other convenient
construction. As the central shaft revolves carrying with it the planes the sleeve e
which is stationary relative to the shaft causes the planes A to turn on their axes as
shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by the arrows. Owing to the relative size of the wheels b¹
and E, the planes are caused to turn on their axes a half revolution for every
complete revolution of the axle. This causes each plane to return to the same angle
with relation to the axle at each complete revolution so that the planes situated at
the top will always face in the same direction, and so on for every other position of
the revolution. This causes the whole apparatus to travel in a
given direction
depending upon the angle to which the faces are turned, Figs. 5 and 6 showing two
characteristic positions, Fig. 5 showing the position for the planes which would
cause the apparatus to move downwardly, Fig. 6 on the contrary showing the planes
situated so as to give a force acting upwardly.
To adjust the relative position of the planes the sleeve e is turned, this turning all
the planes simultaneously without relation to the motion given on turning the axle.
To turn the sleeve e the chains H are employed passing over the wheels e' one at
the inner end of each sleeve, and the lower wheels by means of which the arrange
ment is actuated. The wheels h are turned by means of the handle or lever J
provided with the spring stop; which can engage in notches in the plate j' to fix
the lever in any desired position. The two levers are independent of each other so
that the planes at each side may be adjusted to a different angle to those at the other
cansing the whole apparatus to twist.
The complete apparatus may be fixed to the balloon K shown in Fig. 1 or may
be used in any other manner for the purpose of aerial navigation.
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) An improved apparatus for aerial navigation, the combination with a series of
planes supported on a revolving shaft and carried by independently turning spindles,
of connections from the said spindles causing each plane to turn half a revolution
for each revolution of the shaft, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2) In an improved apparatus for aerial navigation, the combination with a series
of planes supported by radial frames on a revolving shaft and separate spindles to
which the planes are attached, of connections from the said spindles to a sleeve
loosely fitted on the axle, and adapted to be held in fixed position causing the
planes to turn round their axes half a revolution for every revolution of the shaft,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) In an improved apparatus for aerial navigation, the combination with a series
of planes, a central revolving axle and radial frames or arms on the said axle
supporting the planes, of a spindle attached to each plane and carried in bearings in
the france, a sleeve loosely fitted on the axle, means for adjusting this sleeve and
holding it in position and chain connections from the sleeve to the spindles causing
the planes to turn a half revolution for every revolution of the axle substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
(4) In an improved apparatus for aerial navigation, the combination with two
sets of planes one at each side of the apparatus and an axle carrying the said planes
by means of suitable frames, of a spindle carrying each plane and supported in
bearings in the frame, a sleeve loosely placed on the axle, chain connections from
the said sleeve to the spindles, a lever and stop for adjusting the position of the
spindle and planes, and a chain or other connection from the said lever to the sleeve,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.

page_text: (5) The improved apparatus for use in aerial navigation, comprising a double set
of planes rotating around a central axis and adapted to revolve round their own axis,
and means for operating and adjusting the said planes so as to steer in any direction,
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the-
purposes specified.
Dated this 1st day of February 1897
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.