IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF KITES TO THE SAVING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM SHIPWRECK, AND TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward James Cordner, of Derramore, in the
County of Down, Ireland, Clerk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPLICATION OF KITES TO THE SAVING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM
SHIPWRECK, AND TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd February 1860, and dated the 4th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward James Cordner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th August 1859.
I, EDWARD JAMES CORDNER, of Derramore, in the County of Down,
Ireland, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF KITES TO THE SAVING OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY FROM SHIPWRECK, AND TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in applying to the saving of life and property from
shipwreck and to other purposes a set or succession of kites, or several
combined sets of kites, so arranged and combined that the power exerted by
the several kites of a set shall be exerted at one point, or upon a single line,
rope, or chain. I prefer carrying my Invention into effect by employing kites
constructed so as to fly and produce their effect without tails or other like
appendages, the string or line of the first or uppermost kite being attached to

page_text: the adjacent kite, and the string or line of this to that next adjacent, and so
on throughout a series of as many kites as may be required for any particular
purpose. By these means a lifting or hauling power of any required amount
may be obtained in a breeze, gale, or other sufficiently strong current of wind.
It is manifest that such a power may be applied to various useful purposes in
accomplishing which weights have to be raised or transported. The primary
object which I have in view is that of raising and transporting to the shore by
these means a light car or basket from a stranded vessel on a lee shore. In the
car or basket one person, or even several persons might be conveyed safely to
land, and by suitably arranging the kites, cars, & their appendages, and
furnishing them with hauling lines and other appliances, a continuous com-
munication may be established with the shore for the safe landing of persons
and property. I do not, however, limit the application of my Invention to this
purpose, as it will be equally applicable as a mode of. applying power to the
propulsion of vessels, either in conjunction with or without sails or other
propellers, and to various other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward James Cordner in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th February 1860:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JAMES CORDNER, of Derramore, in the County of Down, Ireland, Clerk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward James Cordner, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
James Cordner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward James Cordner, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF KITES TO THE SAVING OF LIFE AND PRO-
PERTY FROM SHIPWRECK AND TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward James Cordner, my executors or administrators,

page_text: .
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward James Cordner, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements consist in applying to the saving of life and property from
shipwreck and to other purposes a set or succession of kites, or several
combined sets of kites so arranged and combined that the power exerted by
the several kites of a set shall be exerted at one point, or upon a single line,
rope; or chain. I prefer carrying my. Invention into effect by employing kites
constructed so as to fly and produce their effect without tails or other like
appendages, the string or line of the first' or uppermost kite being attached to
the adjacent kite, and the string or line of this to that next adjacent, and so
on throughout a series of as many kites as may be required for any particular
purpose. By these means a lifting or hauling power of any required amount
may be obtained in a breeze, gale, or other sufficiently strong current of wind.
It is manifest that such a power may be applied to various useful purposes, in
accomplishing which weights have to be raised or transported. The primary
object which I have in view is that of raising' and transporting to the shore by
these means a light car or basket from a stranded vessel on'a lee shore. In
a car or basket one person or even several persons might be conveyed safely
to land, and by suitably arranging the kites, cars, and their appendages, and
furnishing them with hauling lines and other appliances, a continuous com-
munication may be established with the shore for the safe landing of persons
and property.. The operation will be as follows:-When a vessel has struck,
which in almost every case is on a lee shore, a common size kite is elevated
in the usual way on board the ship. When a sufficient quantity of cord is
veered out to enable the kite to remain suspended in the atmosphere, the
end of the cord on board is attached in a peculiar manner to the back of
another and larger kite, this second kite is then suffered to ascend, and the
end of its suspending rope is attached in a similar manner to the back of a
third and still larger kite, and this process is repeated till any amount of
elevating and tractive power has been obtained, the size of each succeeding
kite being limited by convenience. When a sufficient power of elevation and
traction has been attained, a light boat of basketwork or other material,

page_text: cargo
capable of containing one or more persons, is attached to the suspending rope
of the last kite, more rope is then veered, away and the light boat with its
will eventually reach the land without any chance of its being submerged
in the sea, no matter how great may be; the elevation of the waves. The boat
is suspended from the kite line by a pulley or block in the bow, and another
in the stern, and when it has reached the shore the person it contains descends,
and retaining in his hands a light rope attached to the bow he suffers the boat
gradually to return to the ship, which it will be sure to do in consequence of
the elevation of the kite line from the diminished, weight which it has to
support, but which result is also secured by a rope attached to the stern of the
boat, the, end of which has been retained by those on board the shipwrecked
vessel, and can be hauled, on by them when necessary. Another cargo is now
placed in the boat and the person on shore hauls on the rope which he has
retained, and soon brings. the second freight to land. In this way all the
passengers, crew, and cargo may be saved. The kites are generally of a
hexagonal, shape covered with calico, linen, or other material, and are so con
structed as to pack into convenient sized boxes.
This Invention is also applicable to various other purposes, such as the
propulsion of vessels in conjunction with sails or steam, to the raising of
sunken ships, or indeed to almost any purpose where a nearly unlimited power
of traction or elevation is required.
1.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward James Cordner, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.