Improvements in Aerial Machines and Anchoring Devices therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Aerial Machines and Anchoring Devices therefor.
I, LOUIS ETIENNE ROZE, of 6, Cité Bergère, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Gentleman, 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:-
The object of this invention is the construction of an aeronautic apparatus based
upon the principle termed the "heavier than air principle" in contradistinction
to the principle which consists in giving to the balloon a weight less than that of
the air displaced, and in fact my aeronautic apparatus presents the double charac-
teristic of being provided on the one hand with balloons inflated with a gas which
is lighter than air, and seeing that, even in spite of this partial lightening, it has
still a total weight greater than, or at least equal to, that of the air displaced, of
being provided, on the other hand with rotating helices which produce its ascent.
I have endeavoured to realise this object, more especially with a view to diminish-
ing the resistance of the air, increasing the stability of the system, and finally
obviating the dangers caused by the movements of contraction and expansion of
the internal gas under the influence of the surrounding temperature.
My improved aerial machine is constituted by the assemblage of two cigar-
shaped aerostats supporting between them the car, the parachute, and also the
machines actuating several lifting screws having vertical axes and two propelling
screws having horizontal axes.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, a portion of one of the aerostats
being omitted enables the frame supporting the car, the engines and the parachute
to be seen.
Figure is a perspective view of the interior of one of the aerostats the front
portion of the envelope of which is omitted.
Figure 3 is a section taken at right angles to the axis of the aerostat at the
middle points of the same.
Figure 4 shews the form of screw employed.
Figure 5 is a view of the parachute, and
Egure 6 show views in detail of the anchor.

page_text: The aerostats are formed with a rigid frame or carcass upon which is applied
an external envelope consisting of an impermeable but light substance; aluminium
for example. The carcass is formed by two sets of curved rigid parts; the longi-
tudinal parts m following the meridian curves of the aerostat the others n being
in the form of circles in accordance with the parallels of the surface.
The
These parts vary in number proportionately to the size of each apparatus.
Within the rigid external envelope of each aerostat is a novel flexible envelope
which is contracted and expanded according to the variations in the volume of
gas therein the said envelope being constituted in the following manner.
interior of the aerostát is divided into a certain number of compartments or cham-
bers by means of light partitions. These partitions are discs perpendicular to
the axis of the aerostat, having the form of light wheels provided with rigid rims
and spokes, the half situated above the equatorial plane of the aerostat being the
only portion covered by a varnished impermeable tissue.
Such discs as these, of suitable number considering the length of the aerostat
are represented in Figure 2 at r r to the number of 5.
It is by means of these discs and in each of these chambers that is fixed a flexible
internal envelope; this envelope is formed by means of large pieces of impermeable
fabric, the edges of which are fixed, on the one hand to the external envelope follow-
ing the meridian line of the aerostat situated in an equatorial plane, and on the other
hand to two discs bounding a chamber along their horizontal diameters.
The pieces of fabric thus fixed within each chamber have a development sufficient
to extend to the external envelope of the aerostat, that is to say against the half
of this envelope situated above the equatorial plane or against the half situated
beneath.
The two aerostats are placed in communication by means of rigid tubes opening
within the upper envelope of each of them. Three of these tubes are. shown
marked (Figure 3).
'I increase the strength of these tubes by forming each of them of two gutters
the flanges of which are riveted upon a plate of suitable thickness; this plate
thus effectively, divides each tube into two, and after the entrance of the tube into
an aerostat is continued to a partition and fixed against. it at. t t.
"Before introducing gas into the aerostats, they should first of all be exhausted
of all the air which they contain; for this purpose a collecting pipe T (Figure 2)
is fixed to the interior of, the envelope and along its highest meridian, this pipe
is provided, with several. holes within each of the chambers of the aerostat. It is
placed in communication with a pump which draws the air contained in the aerostat
through a suction pipe T which issues from the envelope about the lower-third of
its height, passes, along the frame work of a disc or partition and opens into
the collecting pipe T.
It is at this moment that the double envelopes of the lower portion of the tight
chambers act, these envelopes being raised by the surrounding air, adhere to the
upper surface of the aerostats and enable a vacuum to be obtained between these
two envelopes.
When the rarefaction thus obtained is judged to be sufficient, a gas, lighter than
atmospheric air is admitted, hydrogen gas for example, and the double envelopes
of the chambers re-descend progressively and resume their original position in
proportion as the gas is introduced: When the operation. of filling is terminated,
the aperture of the suction tube T being closed, the gas circulates by way of the
holes in the collecting pipe T in the different chambers of one aerostat and through
the tubest from one aerostat to the other. The suction tube T is closed by means
of a valve opening of itself under the influence of too great an internal pressure.
The external envelope opens to the outer air by means of an opening, situated
at about one third of its height. Owing to the construction of the aerostat as
above described, it follows that, without any necessity for throwing out ballast or
allowing gas to escape, an instantaneous and automatic compensation takes place
for each variation of volume of the internal gas. In fact, should this latter con-

page_text: tract, the atmospheric pressure is exerted through the aperture o beneath the
pieces of fabric which constitute the internal envelope and raises them until tlië
pressure of the hydrogen is equalled. If the gas then expands, it presses in its
turn upon this internal envelope which allows it every facility for again assuming
its original volume. In case an excess of internal pressure takes place, the valve
upon the suction tube T" opens automatically.
As each of the parts or diaphragms of the movable envelope may be of consider
able weight in apparatus of large size, I may provide for facilitating the movement
of these parts by balancing each of them by means of a movable counter-weight
in a tube perpendicular to the partition r; the cord of this counter-weight would
pass over a small pulley and be attached to a rod arranged at the lower portion'
of the movable diaphragm.
The two aerostats support a frame by means of cross-pieces a which pass com-
pletely through each aerostat. This frame A extends somewhat beyond the lower
portion of the aerostat in order to serve as a support S for the apparatus when in
a position of repose or when brought to earth. Then, above the lower third of
the frame, is fixed the car B3 which is boat-shaped and is covered in order to
protect the aeronauts from the rush of air.
I arrange the engines C above the car and connect them with this latter by,
means of a short ladder, thereby raising somewhat the centre of gravity of the deal
weight of the apparatus, and so that the engines may not become immersed when
descending at sea or damaged upon a too-rapid descent to earth.
A roof having a sharp slope covers the engines and cuts the air when the
apparatus is in motion. I attach great importance to supporting the frame by
means of two supports bb attached to the aerostats; these supports; owing to the
ascending force of the aerostats effectually compensate any tendency to flexion in
the members of the frame.
The engines actuate the lifting screws P and the propelling screws PA
these screws are left handed two-armed screws as shewn in Figure 4 and the
dimensions of which may be varied according to the dimensions of the apparatus.
The lifting screws Pare arranged, in equal numbers, upon each side of the
median plane of circular sections; four, six or more according to the size of the
apparatus. I may also arrange a screw the axis of which is on this median
plane itself, and thus have an unequal number; three, five and so on.
I employ two propelling screws P, one in front and the other at the rear of
the apparatus, both mounted upon the same axis.
In balloons as hitherto constructed, the rudder is arranged at some distance from
the propelling screw. I have succeeded in considerably increasing its steering
action by placing it actually in the region in which the air is displaced by the
propeller: I therefore arrange the rudder G behind the rear propeller.
Either above or below the lifting screws 1', I arrange the parachute H which 'is*
represented in detail in Figure 5.
1
To the frame supported by the two aerostats is suspended a frame' M' which"
occupies the whole of the space comprised between the walls of the balloons. This
frame, the inclination of which is variable as hereinafter explained, supports™
rectangular blades of canvas f f firmly attached to transverse rods fixed to the
said frame; these rods are fixed in a similar manner to a second frame N which
like the first frame M is movable and light. It is arranged parallel with the first
and is of the same dimensions.
This arrangement forms a kind of Venetian blind, the canvas blades of which
have an inclination varying with the force of the wind. During the ascent, the
blades remain vertical; whilst the apparatus is travelling through the air they
assume an obliquity which depends upon the pressure exerted upon them by the
wind; during the descent they are raised by the air and, so to speak, stuck together
in such a manner as to form a vast plane surface which prevents a rapid and vertical,
descent. The two frames M and N may be actuated from the car, by means of
cords and pulleys, in such a manner as to cause the blades to assume the desired

page_text: degree of inclination and so guide the descent. This parachute arrangement thus
enables the apparatus to glide, thus realising the flight of a bird.
It also permits, in case of accident to the lifting screws, or in case it is desired
to expend the whole force of the engines in propulsion, of employing the apparatus
as an aeroplane by imparting to the blades an inclination of about 30° from
front to rear.
Finally the blades, previously inclined in a suitable manner, act very efficiently
as wings so as to assist in the propulsion of the balloon, owing to the position which
they occupy in the air displaced and agitated by the screws.
I have devised an anchoring device which I have illustrated in Figure 6 of the 1
drawing. It is capable of implanting itself with considerable force in the ground
so as to retain the aerial apparatus in question or balloons generally in a certain
and secure manner at the desired place, and also so as to provide a point of support
which enables the ground to be reached by merely pulling upon the cord of the
anchor.
This anchor consists of a tube of sheet steel terminating in a strong steel point ⟫
which enters the hardest ground by virtue of its momentum, the anchor always
falling point downwards owing to the weight of such point. The upper portion
of the tube, on the contrary, is flared so that the anchor may not completely enter
the ground. Within this tube is capable of sliding a central rod u, which is
provided with an eye where it issues from the tube through which passes the anchor
cord. To the lower portion of this rod u are jointed upon an axis common to them
both, two slightly curved arms y y. Ordinarily, the extremities of these two
arms are opposite two apertures zz formed in the steel tube. The anchor having
been thrown from the balloon falls point downwards and embeds itself firmly in
the ground; then as the balloon instantly pulls upon the rod u through the cord,
this rod is caused to rise thereby forcing the arins y y to issue from the tube through
the apertures z z. The hold thus obtained will stop the balloon with certainty.
In order to remove the anchor from the ground, it is only necessary to exert
some force upon the rod u so as to cause the arms y y to re-enter the tube and then
to pull upon the anchor by means of the rings provided upon the tube for that
purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an aerostat having a rigid external envelope, the arrangement of an internal
flexible semi-envelope which, according as the internal gas expands or contracts,
affords it a greater or smaller space without any loss of such gas, this internal
envelope being constituted by parts or diaphragms of impermeable fabric fixed in
the equatorial plane of the system, on the one hand to the external envelope and
on the other hand to partitions which divide the aerostat into transverse
compartments.
2. In the system of two aerostats which constitutes my aerial apparatus, the
employment as lifting and propelling screws, of screws having two arms of a special
left-hand form, as described above and represented in the accompanying drawing.
3. In the aerial apparatus described in Claims 1 and 2, at the upper portion,
either above or below the lifting screws, the arrangement of a parachute provided
with blades capable of automatically varying in inclination owing to the force of
the wind or by means of tackle operated from the car, permitting of descent in any
desired direction whilst gliding upon the air, or of temporarily converting the
apparatus into an aeroplane by inclining the blades at a suitable angle, or finally
of assisting in the propulsion of the apparatus by acting in the manner of wings
in the current of air formed by the screws.
4. In a general manner, any arrangement of car supported between two aerostats
by means of a frame resting in any manner between these latter.
5. An anchor or grapnel for anchoring the aerial apparatus, such anchor entering

page_text: the ground deeply and then automatically attaching itself by means of two arms
in the surrounding sub-soil, as above described.
6. The arrangement of the motor or motors in a plane situated above the car,
substantially as described above and indicated by way of example in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of October 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.