IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGABLE BALLOONS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Paul Haenlein at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st April
1865.
I, PAUL HAENLEIN, of No. 18, Woburn Place, Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Engirzer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGABLE BALLOONS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the mode or means of aerostation,
and to, improvements in the construction of balloons or aerostats, but more
particularly to the application of the gas engine for the propulsion and loeo-
motion of balloons or aerostats of any form, design, and construction.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood I append to this
Provisional Specification a Sheet of Drawings having figures and letters
marked thereon, to which reference will herein-after be made.
My improvements may be briefly enumerated as follows:-
I. I propose to give to the balloon or aerostat containing the buoyant gases
the form or shape of a paraboloid, elypsoid, hyperboloid, or some form
approaching those figures; the advantages arising from the adoption of such
forms depending on the lesser resistance opposed to bodies so shaped by the
liquid or air in which they move. In order that the buoyant body or aerostat
may retain the above described form, I propose to construct a skeleton or
framework, either of wood, or whalebone, steel, or any other suitable material,
which will be covered by the varnished or otherwise prepared silk or suitable
material. In the Drawing one form of my balloon is represented in Figure I.

page_text: C, C, C, C, is the body of the balloon; 9, 9, is the framework; and r, r, r,
is the net work.
II. I propose in order to place the balloon more efficiently under the control
of the aeronaut to apply to it either one or more rudders or steering vanes,
constructed likewise of a light skeleton frame, covered with silk or other
material.
In the Drawing, R is the rudder; at m is a doubled armed lever piece to the
ends of which are fastened cords or lines n, which are led over rollers o, and
thence down into the car K, so as to be within reach of the person or persons
in charge of the aerostat; P is the screw for horizontal propulsion mounted
on the shaft Q, which, by means of pulleys and driving bands x, w, or cog
wheels is connected with the shaft W of the engine. Instead of using one
screw at the front or face of the balloon two or more may be used by placing
the same at the sides of the frame or girdle 9, 9, and by connecting them in that
case also by means of pulleys and driving bands or cog wheels with the crank
shaft W of the engine. The car K is suspended from and rigidly fixed to the
framework or girdle g, g, by means of the bracing struts and ties s and t. Below
the car is placed a smaller screw p, for regulating the altitude of the balloon,
and which is likewise worked by the gas engine.
III. I propose to apply the gas engine to the 'propulsion both horizontally
and perpendicularly of balloons either of the forms hitherto used or of those
described above. The parts of the engine I propose to construct of cast steel
and of hollow forms so as to combine lightness with great strength.
Z
Figure II. in the Drawing represents a sectional plan of one of the cylinders y
with the principal working parts of the gas engine, shewing their peculiar hollow
construction. The power caused by elasticity of the gases is transferred by
the piston and piston rod to the cross head A, working on the guide rods B, B.
The alternate retrograde motion of the piston is changed into rotative
motion by the connecting links E, E, and transferred to the crank shaft W,
whence the power is transmitted to the screw propellers; H, H, are the
eccentrics mounted on the shaft W, and which work the valves of the engine,
which are similar to those of the ordinary gas engine. 'The engine may either
be worked by the common coal gas or by pure hydrogen, or by some combina-
tion 'affording a 'similar propulsive power.
IV. I propose to derive the gas for the propulsion of the aerostat directly from
'the latter, and to compensate for the space rendered vacant by the abstrac-
tion of gas by supplying a corresponding quantity of common atmospheric air,
which is 'forced either by the action of bellows or air pump worked either by
hand or by the engine into a smaller or compensating balloon V, placed inside

page_text: the larger balloon or aerostat C. I propose to equalize any difference in
weight thus arising by discharging a corresponding quantity of ballast, which
may either be water or some other suitable matter.
V. The propeller I propose to make of the helical form, but do not
absolutely confine myself to the screw, inasmuch as paddles or some combination
would answer the same purpose. I propose to adopt two or more propellers
for horizontal and vertical propulsion. For this purpose I propose to fix the
perpendicular propeller below the platform or car containing the engine and
aeronaut and the propeller for horizontal propulsion at the front part or face
of the balloon or aerostat.