A NEW MACHINE TO TRAVEL ALONG A LINE ATTACHED TA KITE OR ANY HIGH POINT, AND CARRYING UP AND DROPPING ANY MATERIAL PLACED THEREON, THE MACHINE RETURNING TO THE HAND
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Josiah John Snow at the Office of
the Commisioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1876.
JOSIAH JOHN SNOW, residing at Lovejoy Cottage, St. Peters, Thanet, in the
County of Kent. "A NEW MACHINE TO TRAVEL ALONG A LINE ATTACHED TA
KITE OR ANY HIGH POINT, AND CARRYING UP AND DROPPING ANY MATERIAL PLACED
THEREON, THE MACHINE RETURNING TO THE HAND."
It consists of a machine which is to be placed upon the string of a kite or line
attached to any high point, and along which it is to be allowed to travel, carrying
with it any material or body, the said machine with or without its load to be
propelled by the force of the wind acting upon it. A self-acting arrangement of
the parts permits of the releasement of the load upon the arrival of the machine at
its point of destination, and the said machine returns along the string or line by
gravitating force to its starting point. The uses of the Invention are various,
dispersion of papers from great elevations, throwing a line over high erections, or
from a vessel at sea to shore, and for signaling, are among some of the practical
uses to which the machine may be applied. As a toy its power to interest is of
too varied a characte to particularize, especially when employed as a pyrotechnic
auxiliary.
any
In
The Invention consists of a short tube several inches in length of suitable
material, preferably of metal, both ends being trumpet mouthed; upon this tube is
fixed a collapsible parachute, which when open presents its concavity to the wind.
The force of an elastic double action spring inserted in the parachute gives the
necessary rigidity to the latter, and prevents its collapsing all the time that
freedom of motion is allowed and its passage up the line remains unckecked.
this condition its outward journey is accomplished. Upon its experiencing a check
the wind will cause the parachute to collapse backwards or turn inside out, and in
this state it will remain.held by the aforesaid double action spring. A comparatively
small surface now being exposed to the action of the wind, and a small ballast
weight rendered available by being attached to the forepart of the tube assisting
the Invention returns by the power of gravity to its original starting point.
A projecting ridge of support to the expanded parachute is placed in front
thereof which serves the double purpose of keeping the said parachute open, and
also of carrying "the drop" which is a stout wire working on its turned end like a
hinge, the other end being thrust through a hole pierced in the body of the

page_text: parachute when opened. The body to be raised and dropped is so placed upon this
wire that upon the end of the latter escaping from its support in the body of the
parachute (which takes place when the collapse occurs), the said body will easily
slide off and become wholly detached, the Drawing annexed forming part of this
my Provisional Specification, and the letters thereon with the references to the
different parts of the machine, as will be seen, fully illustrate my Invention.