IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR AERONAUTIC APPARATUS
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
November 1863.-A communication from abroad by Eugene Godard, of
Rue St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire of France.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR AERONAUTIC APPARATUS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that description of aeronautic apparatus known as
the Montgolfier, but some of the improvements hereafter referred to are
applicable to gas balloons.
In the improved balloon a calorifère or air-heating apparatus is placed in
the car, and in this calorifère is burned straw or light dry wood, the flame
from which will heat the air which is admitted to the interior of the balloon
through suitable valves. The air-heating apparatus consists of a cylindrical
vessel made of sheet iron and surrounded by outer casings through which air
may circulate, so as to prevent the radiation of heat from inconveniencing the
aeronauts; through the spaces formed by these surrounding envelopes is made
a fire door communicating with the interior of the calorifère. The combustible
matter is supported while burning on a perforated sheet of iron or a trellis-
work of iron bars, and below this is an ash-pan which is suspended by chains,
so that it may be raised and lowered as may be required, and by that means to
some extent regulate the admission of air. Below the perforated plate which

page_text: supports the fuel is a perforated truncated cone through which air passes to
the burning fuel. A door is made in the lower part of the apparatus for the
purpose of obtaining access to the interior. Above the fire-place is another
perforated truncated cone, but inverted; through this the heated vapours pass
up from the fire into a vertical cylindrical chamber which communicates at its
upper end with the interior of the balloon. This cylindrical chamber is pro-
vided with a valve for regulating the draught, and also another valve or
disc made of wire gauze for the purpose of arresting any sparks that may be
carried up the cylindrical vessel, and preventing them from passing into the
interior of the balloon. The balloon itself is formed of any suitable flexible
material, but it need not be varnished. In order, however, to prevent it from
being damaged, it is provided all over with a number of strong straps, which
are sewed on or otherwise attached and cross each other, so as to divide the
surface into a large number of lozenge-shaped pieces, like an immense net. A
valve is placed at the top of the balloon for the purpose of allowing the escape
of the gas or heated air when desired, but as it may sometimes be necessary
to allow the gas or heated air to escape more quickly, a rope provided with a
suitable cutting instrument is adapted to the upper part of the balloon, and is
so arranged that the aeronaut in the car may by pulling the rope draw down
the cutting instrument and rend the balloon from top to bottom.
Another improvement consists in the employment of an elastic rope for the
anchor. A part of the anchor rope is made elastic by being formed either of
coiled springs or india-rubber, but the elastic part is secured from too great
strain by combining therewith an ordinary rope which will take the strain
when the elastic part is stretched to the utmost.
Another improvement consists in adapting to the inflated balloon a para
chute, which, when the balloon descends, will open and check its downward
movement. This parachute is adapted to about the equator or largest diameter
of the inflated part. It will be understood that some of these latter improve-
ments are equally applicable to gas balloons as to the improved Montgolfier
herein described.