IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING AEROSTATION
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1864.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex. and No. 28. St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING AEROSTATION," (a communica-
tion to me from abroad by Ferdinand Charles Honore Philippe d'Esterno, of
Paris, France, Gentleman,) to be as follows:-
In his communication to me the Inventor makes the following state-
ment:
"Having studied for many years the peculiar structure of birds of all kinds,
I have applied myself to the Invention of an apparatus which should imitate
P

page_text: as nearly as possible their different movements in order to obtain the direction
(or management) of aerial flight."
"It is this apparatus which forms the object of the present application for
Letters Patent for 14 years, and in order to explain perfectly the principle or
essential basis of the Invention, it appears to me useful to demonstrate what
I will call the theory of the flight of birds."
"For that purpose will enter into some explanations which will, I hope,
set forth the problem of which proposed to myself the solution by effecting
movements analogous to those which birds produce whether in what may
be called their rowing or flapping flight or in their sailing or skimming flight."
"There are three distinct parts in the act of flying, namely, the equilibrium,
the direction, and the impulse."
The equilibrium is preserved by the extended surface of the wings being
kept always in a position nearly parallel to the horizon, and is assisted at times
by the power which birds have of altering the position of their centre of
gravity."
"The direction is given by altering the relative positions of the wings or
tail, or of both, and also by changing the position of the centre of gravity. And
"The impulse is given principally by the beating or rowing motion of
the wings on the air."
"In the sailing flight, which only takes place when there is wind, the flight
is effected by the action of the latter upon the extended wings and tail, assisted
and governed by alteration of the positions and inclination of the same, and
also by the occasional displacement of the centre of gravity."
The ordinary flight of birds is composed of seven movements, easy to define
and easy to imitate."
As regards the wings,-1stly, up and down movement; 2ndly, forward
and backward movement; 3rdly, torsion or twisting movement, which com-
bined the preceding produces diagonal motion.
As regards the tail,-4thly, up and down movement; 5thly, lateral move-
ment; 6thly, torsion or twisting movement..
As regards the centre of gravity,-7thly, the possibility of displacing the
centre of gravity in any direction required.
"These are the seven movements which I have endeavoured to reproduce,
and which constitute the essential principle of my improved apparatus."
"The apparatus consists principally of two wings, a tail, and a car, in which
the person sits, and these parts are so arranged and constructed as to be
capable of the seven movements above described."
"The two wings are connected to the car by an articulated joint capable of

page_text: moving in any direction so as to allow of their assuming any angle of inclination
with regard to the horizon, and also to beat the air; they also work on a kind
of circular slide, so as to move forwards or backwards. by which arrangement
I obtain the 1st, 2nd and 3rd movements above named."
"The tail is also fixed to the car by an articulated joint so as to be capable
of having the 4th. 5th, and 6th movements above named."
The wings and tail are made of a frame. rigid in the principal parts
where rigidity is required, but composed of a flexible material such as whale-
bone where flexibility is required. and the whole covered with strong silk or
other suitable woven fabric."
"As regards the displacement of the centre of gravity or 7th movement.
the seat upon which the person sits is mounted upon slides so as to afford him
facility for altering the position of the centre of gravity when required, so as
to preserve the equilibrium of the apparatus under all circumstances.
"I may observe in conclusion that I do not consider it necessary to describe
at present the different arrangements of mechanism which can evidently be
applied to this apparatus to put it in action, but I may state that the requisite
power may be either obtained by manual labor, or by an engine driven by
steam or gas, the principle of the Invention consisting in the construction of
the apparatus as above described, so as to be capable of receiving the seven
distinct movements above enumerated."
SPECIFICATION
in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. in the 27th year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Davies, Her special license that I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Davies. my executors. administrators, or assigns, should at any

page_text: time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING AEROSTATION," a communication to me
from abroad by Ferdinand Charles Honore Philippe d'Esterno, of Paris,
France, Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Davies, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say:--
In his communication to me the Inventor makes the following state-
ment:-
Having studied for many years the particular structure of birds of all
kinds, I have applied myself to the Invention of an apparatus which should
imitate as nearly as possible their different movements in order to obtain the
direction (or management) of aerial flight.
It is this apparatus (which I call "aeronautical") which forms the subject
of the above in part recited Letters Patent, and which appears able to realize
all the conditions of the theory or principles of the flight of birds, which
comprehends the three distinct following parts, namely, equilibrium, direction,
and impulse.
"That which essentially constitutes flight is the possession of a very thin
and extended blade, which cuts the air in the direction of its larger surface,
always turned towards the centre of the earth in order to resist the force of
gravitation.
"The equilibrium is preserved by the extended surface of the wings being
kept always in a position nearly parallel to the horizon, and is assisted at
times by the power which birds have of altering the position of their centre of
gravity.
"The direction is given by altering the relative positions of the wings and
tail, or of both, and also by changing the position of the centre of gravity. And,

page_text: "The impulse is given principally by the beating or rowing motion of the
wings on the air.
"In the sailing flight, which only takes place when there is wind, the flight
is effected by the action of the latter upon the extended wings and tail assisted
and governed by alteration of the positions and inclination of the same. and
also by the occasional displacement of the centre of gravity.
"The ordinary flight of birds is composed of seven movements, easy to
define and easy to imitate.
As regards the wings,-Firstly, up and down movement; Secondly, forward
and backward movement; Thirdly, forsion or twisting movement, which
combined with the preceding produces diagonal motion.
As regards the tail.-Fourthly, up and down movement;
movement; Sixthly, torsion or twisting movement.
Fifthly, lateral
As regards the centre of gravity, Seventhly, the possibility of displacing
the centre of gravity in any direction required.
"These are the seven movements which I have endeavoured to reproduce,
and which constitute the essential principle of my improved apparatus."
"The apparatus consists principally of two wings, a tail, and a car in which
the person sits or stands, and these parts are so arranged and constructed as
to be capable of the seven movements above described.
The two wings are connected to the car by an articulated joint capable of
moving in any direction, so as to allow of their assuming any angle of inclina-
tion with regard to the horizon and also to beat the air; they also work on a
kind of circular slide so as to move forwards or backwards, by which arrange-
ment I obtain the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements above named.
The tail is also fixed to the car by an articulated joint. so as to be capable
of having the 4th, 5th, and 6th movements above named.
"The wings and tail are made of a frame rigid in the principal parts where
rigidity is required, but composed of a flexible material, such as whalebone,
where flexibility is required, and the whole covered with strong silk or other
suitable woven fabric.
As regards the displacement of the centre of gravity, or 7th movement,
the seat upon which the person sits is mounted upon slides so as to afford him
facility for altering the position of the centre of gravity, when required, so as
to preserve the equilibrium of the apparatus under all circumstances; or if
the person be not seated he can, by standing more or less forwards, displace
the centre of gravity as required.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "Improved
Apparatus for Facilitating Aerostation," I will now proceed to describe

page_text: more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be
distinctly understood. I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that
is to say:
This apparatus which has for its object the reproduction of the flight of
birds (at least as far as relates to the sailing flight). is composed of a car.
wherein a man can sit or stand, two wings, and a tail or rudder. These
organs are intended to perform (by the aid of mechanism put in action by the
man) the following movements:-
1stly, the wings two movements, that is to say, an angular movement or
flapping, and a simultaneous inclination round an axis parallel to the longest
measurement or spread of the wings.
2ndly, the tail, a universal oscillating movement produced by three
mechanical motions, that is to say, an oscillating movement of the longi-
tudinal axis in the plane of the tail, an oscillating rotatory movement of this
axis round itself, and an oscillating movement of the said axis in a plano
perpendicular to that of the tail.
The different arrangements of mechanism combined in order to obtain thesc
various movements will, nevertheless. be found always independent of cach
other, that is to say, that each of the movements can always be executed in
whatever position the various organs may have been left by a preceding
manoeuvre.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure represents a transverse and vertical section taken through about
the middle of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a vertical section in the opposite
direction; Figure 3 is a plan view of the same, and Figure 4 is a perspective
view of the whole apparatus.
CONSTRUCTION AND MECHANISM OF THE WINGS.
Each wing has for its base (which may be called the bony structure) two
rods forming a triangle with the axis on which the flapping oscillation takes
place. The rod A (which forms the hypothenuse) is constructed of a hollow
rod of iron composed of several parts, with sockets a brazed at right angles
thereto, in which are fitted a certain number of light though solid rods b
which sustain the cloth or canvas of which the wing is formed. The second
rod B (which forms the perpendicular side of the triangle is of the same

page_text: nature as the latter rods (b) and is connected to the hypothenuse A by a
junction piece ( composed also of hollow sockets brazed together. These two
principal rods A and B are united at their opposite extremities to two socket
pieces c mounted on a hollow iron rod D (the base of the triangle) which
forms a part of a rectangular frame D. D, E, E, the front part of which is
hinged to the upper part of the framework of the car, consequently before
speaking further of the movement of this frame, which forms the base of the
wings, it will be seen that each of the latter (represented by the triangle
A, B. D.) can oscillate round its own axis D whatever may be the position of
the frame. To this end the mechanism which produces this oscillatory
movement is exclusively dependent upon the rectangular frame and follows its
motion in all directions. This mechanism has for its base four supports
F, F, and F, F', connected to the two rods D, D, and which carry two
pulleys and a double roller e, the axis of which is provided with a wheel G
furnished with handles. These two pulleys d, which are respectively connected
each to one of the two wings, serve as fulcra to the cords H and H', the two
extremities of which are attached to the hypothenuse A, and which make
several turns (in order to give adhesion and prevent their slipping on the
roller e fixed on the axle of the wheel G. Hence and in consequence of one
of the two cords (the cord H) being crossed in passing round the roller c,
whilst the other is not, according as the hand wheel G is turned to the right
or left, the two rings will be raised or depressed together, describing an arc
of a circle around the two axes D, D, as their centres. Such is the mechanism
which produces the first movement of the wings, and as it is only attached to
the frame D, D, E, E, it is always ready to act whatever may be the position
occupied by the latter, which depends upon the second movement of the wings
of which the following is a description:-
The frame D, D, E, E, is mounted by two trunnions on two sockets
fixed on the framework of the car. At the other extremity (where it can be
raised by causing it to describe an arc of a circle on the two trunnious as a
centre) it carries four rings h, to which are attached the extremities of two
cords I passing round pulleys in the manner hereafter explained. Two of
these pulleys are mounted on a revolving axis, which is carried in two
supports fixed to the framing of the car; the two corresponding pulleys i¹
are carried on a second axis j', which has its support attached to the same
framing. Now if (contrary to the Drawings where they are not so shown),
these latter pulleys are made sufficiently wide for each of the cords I to
make several turns round them to prevent their slipping (as in the mechanisni
previously described), on turning the axis ; on itself, the frame D, D, E, E,

page_text: will be made to rise or fall by giving to it the requisite oscillating move-
ment, the effect of which is (comformably to the end proposed) to cause the two
axes of the flapping motion to oscillate together. A rotating movement round
itself is effectually given to this axis j' by the aid of a mechanism consisting
of two pulleys and surrounded by a crossed cord J, one of these pulleys
being mounted on the axis j' itself, and the other on the axis carrying the
hand wheel K. This part of the mechanism completes the movement of the
wings, the play of which is governed by the manoeuvring of the two wheels G
and K, one in front and the other at the left hand of the conductor who
stands upright in the car.
CONSTRUCTION AND MECHANISM OF THE TAIL.
The tail (the construction of which is similar to that of the wings) has for
its commencement a root or ball joint L, to which is connected the axle m,
which is itself mounted in a double strap or socket n of a spherical form
embracing the ball, and fixed to the framing of the car; this ball joint being
by its nature fitted to lend itself to all the movements which the tail is
required to perform, it suffices to show how, by the aid of mechanism inter-
posed between it and the hand of the conductor it can be made to roll in
every direction in the strap or socket which embraces it. For this purpose
the ball L being of one piece with a cross piece M the latter forms part of
an articulated rectangular frame composed besides of two side rods N, and of
another cross piece M' belonging to a second ball L' similar to the former,
and mounted like it in a spherical strap or socket n', having a fulcrum
moveable vertically in the manner hereafter explained. Moreover this second
hall carries a short fixed axle m¹ and a cross piece with two handles O.
Now if we consider for an instant the support of the second ball as fixed
we shall find that the following movements can be produced by acting on the
handles O-1stly, the ball can be made to turn round its axis perpendicular
to the plane of the rectangular frame, a movement which the articulated
frame M, M, N, N, causes the principal ball L to repeat, that is to say,
an oscillatory movement of the tail in its own plane; 2ndly, the ball L' can
be turned round an axis comprehended in the plane of the articulated frame,
which movement is repeated by the principal ball, that is, a rotation of the
axis m of the tail round itself.
There now remains only to be described the movement by the aid of which
the tail is raised or depressed. This movement merely requires the power to
depress or raise at will the second ball L, and consequently to cause the
whole of the frame M, M', N, N, to describe an arc of a circle around the

page_text: geometrical axis of the cross piece M. For this purpose the strap or socket n¹
is connected to a quick threaded screw o, having for a screw nut the boss of a
hand wheel P, which is held between two supports, which only allow it to
turn round its own axis. It is only requisite to turn this hand wheel in one
direction or the other to cause the raising or depressing of the ball L, and
hus to make the frame describe the required arc of a circle.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)