Improvements in Apparatus for Propelling, Steering, and Controlling Aeronautical Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Propelling, Steering, and Controlling
Aeronautical Machines.
We JAMES JONES of No. 5 Cyril Road, Small Heath, near the City of
Birmingham, Contractor, and CHARLES FRANCIS JONES, of the same address,
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates mainly to that class of aeronautical machines which are
raised and supported in the air by vessels filled with gas after the manner of
balloons, and consists of new or improved devices for propelling steering and
controlling such machines.
In accordance with our invention the car of the machine is made of light tubular
metallic or other framing and preferably rectangular in shape. Below the level
of the floor of the car we rigidly attach to the front framing a tubular metallic
stem passing horizontally under the car and projecting much beyond the rear end
of the car. Upon the front portion of the stem is mounted a hollow spindle
surrounding the stem, and fitted at the ends with ball bearings or other antifriction
bushes running freely on the said stem. This hollow spindle projects somewhat
beyond the rear of the car and at this point is itself' mounted in a ball bearing or
other bush attached to the framing of the car.
On the rear end of the hollow spindle we fix a wheel like hub with two, three
or more sockets from which a corresponding number of tubular arms of metal or
cane project radially. These arms taper towards their ends and are bent rearwards
in a curved shape, the extremities being secured in this position by wire or other
cords or ties to a metallic ring revolving freely between collars fixed in a suitable
position on the rear end of the central stem.
The arms carry a corresponding number of sheets of canvass or other material,
the outer margins of which are held in position by adjustable cords or ties to the
revolving ring on central stem, so that when in notion the sheets assume a
concave shape at an angle to the axis, and act as forward propellers to the machine.
For steering purposes we further hinge or pivot to the rear end of the central
stem a long tubular arm preferably of metal or cane, and forming a prolongation
of the said stem. This arm carries a vane or sail of canvass or other material to
act as a rudder and is capable of a motion sideways as follows. Near the hinged end
of the arm we fix a short cross bar projecting on each side and to the ends of
this we attach two wire or other cords which converge towards the central tubular
stem and pass through openings with guides in the sides thereof, then along the
inside of stem emerging through similar openings in the said stern underneath the
car, and at this point connected with a steering wheel or equivalent device fixed
inside the car.
The area of the propeller is of large proportions comparatively, and the currents
of air from its action impinge forcibly upon the rudder, much increasing its
efficiency.
We prefer further to attach to the front portion of the car an aereo-plane of
light canvass or other material on suitable framing and so hinged or connected
with the car as to be easily raised or deflected from the inside at suitable angles
to, control the ascending or descending of the machine.

page_text: The hollow spindle. to which the propeller is fixed may be rotated at the desired
velocity by hand or foot power with chain or other gearing to operating devices
inside the car or we may otherwise utilize gas, electric, or other motors for the
propelling power.
Dated this 25th day of June 1896
Improvements in Apparatus for Propelling, Steering, and Controlling
Aeronautical Machines.
We JAMES JONES of No. 5 Cyril Road Small Heath near the City of
Birmingham Contractor and CHARLES FRANCIS JONES of the same address
Mechanic 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 mainly to that class of aeronautical machines which are
raised and supported in the air by vessels filled with gas after the manner of
balloons and consists of new or improved devices for propelling steering and
controlling such machines.
In accordance with our invention the car of the machine is made of light tubular
metallic or other framing and preferably rectangular in shape. Below the level of
the floor of the car we rigidly attach to the front framing a tubular metallic stem
passing horizontally under the car and projecting much beyond the rear end of the
Upon the front portion of the stem is mounted a hollow spindle surrounding
the stem and fitted at the ends with ball bearings or other anti-friction bushes
running freely on the said stem. This hollow spindle projects somewhat beyond
the rear of the car and at this point is itself mounted in a ball bearing or other
bush attached to the framing of the car. On the rear end of the hollow spindle
we fix a wheel like hub with two, three, or more sockets from which a corresponding
number of tubulur arms of metal or cane project radially. These arms taper
towards their ends and are bent rearwards in a curved shape the extremities being
secured in this position by wire or other cords or ties to a metallic ring revolving
freely between collars fixed in a suitable position on the rear end of the central
stem. The arms carry a corresponding number of sheets of canvas or other
material the outer margins of which are held in position by adjustable cords or ties
to the revolving ring on central stem so that when in motion the sheets assume a
concave shape at an angle to the axis and act as forward propellers to the machine.
For steering purposes we further hinge or pivot to the rear end of the central stem
a long tubular arm preferably of metal or cane and forming a prolongation of the
said stem. This arm carries a vane or sail of canvas or other material to act as
a rudder and is capable of a motion sideways as follows, Near the hinged end of
the arm we fix a short cross bar projecting on each side and to the end of this we
attach two wire or other cords which converge towards the central tubular stem
and pass through openings with guides in the sides thereof then along the inside of
stem emerging through similar openings in the said stem underneath the car and at
this point connected with a steering wheel or equivalent device fixed inside
the car.
The area of the propeller is of large proportion comparatively and the currents
of air from its action impinge forcibly upon the rudder much increasing its
efficiency.

page_text: We prefer further to attach to the front portion of the car an aerio-plane of
light canvas or other material on suitable framing and so hinged or connected
with the car as to be easily raised or deflected from the inside at suitable angles to-
control the ascending or descending of the machine.
The hollow spindle to which the propeller is fixed may be rotated at the desired:
velocity by hand or foot power with chain or other gearing to operating device=
inside the car or we may otherwise utilise gas, electric or other motors for the
propelling power.
In the two accompanying drawings to be hereinafter referred to :-
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus partly in section.
Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2 shew the details of a portion of the steering gear to a
larger scale.
The same letters of reference apply to corresponding parts in all the figure.
In Figure 1 Sheet 1, A. is the lower portion of the gas vessel or balloon, the.
latter being of any suitable shape but preferably of the elongated cylindrical type
with rounded or pointed ends. B is the car the framework of which is constructed
of light metal or other tubes b b so connected as to give rigidity to the bearings of
the machinery. This tubular or other framework may be lined with basket work
or enclosed in any usual or suitable manner. C is a tubular stem preferably of.
steel or other metal rigidly attached at c to the framing of the car. Upon this we
mount the hollow spindle D fitted at the ends with ball bearings or other anti-
friction bushes as shewn at d d. The rear end of this hollow spindle is fitted to
run within a ball bearing or other bush attached by suitable bracket or flange to
the framing of the car as shewn at d 2. Upon this is mounted and keyed a light
metallic hub E with radial sockets e e as shewn in which we fix or carry the radial
arms F of the propeller G. These we make by preference of bamboo cane of
suitable strength or they may be of steel tubes or of other metal tapering towards
the ends and bent into the position shewn and thus secured by the wire ropes or
other cords ff attached by suitable lashings or shackles or hooks to the ring H..
This latter we mount to revolve freely in the position shewn between the collars h h
attached to the central stem C and it may be fitted to run upon ball or roller-
bearings if preferred. Upon the propeller arms F we rig or set up sheets of
canvas or other material I the sides and extremities of which are secured in the
position shewn by the adjustable stays or cords ii also attached similarly to the
ring H.
We further mount a steering arm K made of cane or light tapered metal
tubing to the rear and of the central stem C to which it is hinged or pivotted as
shewn at kk and carrying a sail or vane N of canvas or other material lightly
framed or corded in any usual manner and of suitable proportions as shewn in the
figure. This arm is operated with a sideway motion by the crossbar or quadrant L.
the ends of which are coupled to wire or other ropes or light chains 11 passing into
and along the central stem C through openings c2 c2 as shewn on a larger
scale in Figures 2 and 3, the ropes or chains being connected with a steering
wheel or other equivalent device as shewn at M and attached in a convenient
position to the framing of the car. The openings c2 c2 in the central stem.
may be fitted with guide rollers 12 12 or other devices to prevent undue friction
or fouling of the ropes or chains as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. The steering arm K
when in an extreme position for steering at an angle with the wind currents is shewn,
in the same figures in dotted lines k 2 k 2 and the controlling ropes or chains by the
dotted lines 13 13. The extent of deviation is readily controlled by the steering.
wheels or other devices M. The steering arm is supported by the stays nn attached
to a ring O fixed on the central stem C as shewn.
In the application of our invention we may employ any suitable form of driving-
gear to the propeller spindle D operated by manual power or by electric or other
motors. In Figure 1 we shew the apparatus as propelled by pedal gearing after-
the manner of velocipedes, P P being the driving spindles pp the pedals and p2p 3
the chain wheels fixed respectively upon the driving spindle P and propeller
spindle D and geared with the chains p 4 p 4.

page_text: In case a motor is used we prefer to fix it within an extension of the car B as
shewn at b2b2 and it may be connected by means of any convenient gearing to
the hollow spindle D. The space b262 may be also used for ballast or for
balancing the car or other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The combination in propelling and steering apparatus for balloons or other
aeronautical machines of a propeller G operated by a hollow spindle D mounted
upon a tubular central stem upon which is hinged or pivotted a steering arm K
carrying a rudder sail or vane N in the axial direction of the currents from the
propeller substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and set
forth.
2. The devices for steering balloons or other aeronautical machines by which a
steering wheel and drum M or other equivalent device fixed inside the car is made
to operate the rudder sail or vane N by means of ropes or chains 11 passing through
a hollow central stem C substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and set forth..
3. The construction of apparatus for propelling balloons or other aeronautical
machines with pedalling machinery, ball bearings, and chain or other gearing
substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of March 1897.
JAMES JONES.
CHARLES FRANCIS JONES.