IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE- WITH
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Arthur Pearse, of Downend, near Bristol, in the
County of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL
NAVIGATION, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH."
Sealed tho 31st October 1879, and dated the 5th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Arthur Pearse at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1879.
EDWARD ARTHUR PEARSE, of Downend, near Bristol, in the County of Gloucester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention has reference to improvements in the navigation of the air, and
in the machinery or apparatus employed for the purpose.
The said improvements consist in constructing a cylinder of thin sheet copper of
any suitable size, varying according to the weight it is intended to lift. I make its
ends conical, and its diameter should always be one half of its length, exclusive of
its coned ends.
I strengthen the cylinder externally with light stays of suitable metal fixed
longitudinally, so as to obtain the greatest amount of strength with the least amount
of weight. Around the cylinder are fitted light bands of iron, to each of which on
the lower side are fitted nuts and bolts on either side with wide head downwards,
each fitting into a narrow tube containing a spiral spring. To the upper part of
the centre bands I fix light uprights with a wire stretcher from the outer bands to
further increase the strength. In the centre of the cylinder, transversely, I fit a
light partition of copper or iron, advantageously the former. Both halves of the
cylinder contain a bag of silk, india rubber, or other suitable material of the same
shape as half the cylinder.
Attached to the bands around the cylinder by means of rods is a light frame-
work of suitable dimensions, each end of which is curled up like the front of a
sleigh. Upright flat-headed rods reach from the framework to which they are
fixed to the interior of the tubes containing the spiral springs, and fitting therein,

page_text: and thereby break the force of concussion or momentum on alighting. The frame-
work is mounted on two light steel runners, about five feet or thereabouts in height,
50 as to be raised well off the ground, and these runners may be strengthened by
cross stays.
In the centre of the framework is the car or compartment for passengers, &c.,
suitably fitted, and brought to a point in front like the bow of a boat. Beneath
the centre of the floor of the car, and extending along the framework, I fix longi-
tudinally a tube of about four inches diameter, and varying in length according to
the size of the car and framework. Within this tube is a threaded screw, upon
which is a balance weight which works backwards and forwards by turning a wheel
inside the car, so that by shifting the weight, the head and stern of the machine
are raised and depressed.
Across the roof of the car, and projecting each side, I fix another tube containing
a balance weight similar to the one above described, and worked in the same
manner, so that either side of the machine may be raised or depressed.
At the front of the passenger compartment above mentioned, I fix two legs (one
on either side) of suitable material, which work up and down by means of turning
a handle inside the car, so that by turning the handle in one direction, the legs are
thrust out, and so raise the fore part of the apparatus; and by turning it in the
opposite direction, the legs are drawn up, and the fore part of the apparatus con-
sequently lowered.
In the interior of the car I fix a gas or any other suitable engine which drives a
pair of paddle wheels, or a screw or propeller may be used in lieu of paddle
wheels.
To work the machine, hydrogen gas is pumped or otherwise forced into the
mouths of the bags at the conical ends of the cylinder, the air within the cylinder
suitable part
escaping through stopcocks, which may be conveniently fitted to any
of each half of the cylinder. When the bags are quite full the cylinder is closed, so
that, should gas escape through the bags, it would be kept within the cylinder.
The apparatus is now almost, although not perfectly, buoyant. In starting, the
cross weight should be on an even balance in the centre. The longitudinal weight
should be thrown back to the rear, and the legs thrust outwards, so that the
apparatus would rest entirely on the two legs and the hinder part of the runners,
and the head be pointed upwards.
The engine is then started at full speed, and the paddles or propeller would work
quickly, causing the apparatus to rise at an angle. A sufficient height having
been gained, the longitudinal weight may be brought forward to keep the apparatus
level.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Arthur Pearse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th November 1879.
_EDWARD ARTHUR PEARSE, of Downend, near Bristol, in the County of Gloucester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention has reference to improvements in the navigation of the air, and
in the machinery or apparatus employed for the purpose.
The said improvements consist in constructing a cylinder of thin sheet copper of
any suitable size, varying according to the weight it is intended to lift. I make
its ends conical, and its diameter should always be one half of its length or there-
abouts, exclusive of its coned ends.
I strengthen the cylinder externally with light stays of suitable metal, advan-
tageously tee shaped, fixed longitudinally, so as to obtain the greatest amount of
strength with the least amount of weight. The stays are continued to the point of
either conical end where they all unite.
"
Around the cylinder are fitted light bands of iron or steel, to each of which on
the lower side are fitted nuts and bolts on either side, with wide head downwards,
each fitting into a narrow tube containing a spiral spring, or a chog" may be
bolted to each band, in which fits the head of a threaded screw, the point of the
latter fitting into and being securely bolted in the tube aforesaid. To the upper
part of the centre bands I fix light uprights with a wire stretcher from the outer
bands to further increase the strength. The cylinder is bolted to the bands so as to
keep it in shape, and the bolt holes soldered so that the cylinder may be gas-tight.
The cylinder contains a bag of india-rubber, cloth, or silk (advantageously the
former), and made to exactly fit the inside of the cylinder when inflated.
At one conical end of the cylinder I fix a stop-cock for letting gas into the bag,
and at the other a stop-cock to let the atmospheric air in the cylinder escape as the
bag becomes inflated. Over the upper half of the cylinder netting may be stretched
to assist in bearing up the weight of the car by spreading it more equally over the
surface of the copper.
Attached to the bands around the cylinder by means of rods is a light frame-work
of suitable dimensions, each end of which is curled up like the front of a sleigh.
Upright flatheaded rods reach from the frame-work to which they are fixed to the
interior of the tubes containing the spiral springs and fitting therein, and thereby
break the force of concussion or momentum on alighting.
The frame-work is mounted on two light steel runners, about five feet or there-
abouts in height, so as to be raised well off the ground, and these runners may be
strengthened by cross stays.
In the centre of the frame-work is the car or compartment for passengers, &c.,
suitably fitted and brought to a point in front, like the bow of a boat.
Beneath the centre of the floor of the car and extending also along the frame-
work, I fix longitudinally a tube of about four inches or more in diameter, and
varying in length according to the size of the car and frame-work. Within this
tube is a balance weight which works back wards and forwards by turning a wheel
inside the car, so that by shifting the weight, the head and stern of the machine
are raised and depressed.
Inside the car I fix two spirit levels, one longitudinally, the other transversely,
so that the driver could see when the machine was going on a level course.
In front of the passenger compartment above mentioned, I fix two legs, one on
either side, of suitable material which work up and down by working a pair of
handles inside the car, so that by working in one direction, the legs are thrust out
and so raise the fore-part of the apparatus, and by working in the opposite direction,
the legs are drawn up, and the fore part of the apparatus consequently lowered.

page_text: In the interior of the car I fix two small gas-engines, each to drive one screw or
propeller side by side in the rear of the machine. Each screw consists of two
broad blades of either metal, or a metal frame with stout india rubber cloth
stretched over and fixed to a steel shaft at an acute angle to its axis. In pursuing
a straight course, both screws are worked at equal speed, but in turning, one is
worked and the other either stopped or reversed. The engines would burn either
coal, gas, or gasolin as fuel, which would be carried in suitable receptacles.
To work the machine, hydrogen gas is inserted into the bag inside the copper
cylinder, the air within escaping through the stop-cock at the other end. When
the bag is quite full the cylinder is closed, so that should gas leak or escape through
the bag, it would be retained by the outer copper casing. When ready for starting,
the machine should be almost, but not perfectly buoyant.
In starting, the longitudinal weight should be thrown to the rear, and the legs
thrust out so that the apparatus would rest entirely on the two legs, and the hinder
part of the runners and the head be pointed upwards. Both engines are then
started at full speed, and the screws work quickly, causing the apparatus to rise at
an angle. A sufficient height having been gained, the longitudinal weight may be
brought forward, and the driver could ascertain by means of his spirit levels when
he was pursuing a straight course.
The accompanying Drawings show several views of a machine or apparatus
arranged and constructed in accordance with my Invention, and I will now describe
the manner of performing or carrying the same into practice.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in each Figure.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a perspective view on a larger
scale of frame-work and car; Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4, a joint of stays and
bands; Fig. 5, a side view partly in section of the balance-weight and apparatus
for adjusting same; Fig. 6, the connection of the spring cylinder with the bands
above and the rods below; Fig. 7, a ground plan of car; Fig. 8, a front view of
fan; Fig. 9, a side view of the same; Fig. 10, an end elevation partly in section of
the "
"risers,"
," "riser" screws, and ratchet handles; Fig. 11, a view in detail of worm
and screw for working "riser."
a (Fig. 1) is the copper cylinder containing the bag for holding gas; a¹, a,³
being the stop-cocks respectively for admitting the gas, and allowing the atmo-
spheric air to escape; b, b, are the longitudinal stays, and c, c, the bands for
strengthening the cylinder; d, d, the joints connecting the same; e, e, the netting
stretched over the upper half of the cylinder; ff, the uprights for straining the
wire f' at the top of the cylinder; g, g, are the cylinders containing the spiral
springs g (see Fig. 6); h, the passenger car; i, the screw or propeller on the shaft
"
², the crank, and is the upright to support the shaft; j, the tube containing the
longitudinal balance weight 1 (see Fig. 5); k, the case containing the leg or "riser
(see Fig. 10) to be thrust out before putting the machine in motion; 1, the rods
bolted to the lower ends of the tubes g, g, for supporting the car and framework ;
and m, the runners raising the frame-work off the ground.
Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the frame-work and passenger car h, and the
rods and runners 1, l, and m, m.
The end elevation (Fig. 3) shows the relative positions of the screws or pro-
pellers i, i, and the crank 2, and piston-rod i
Fig. 4 shows in detail the manner of securing the bands to the stays at their
joints by clamps or bolts d³, d¹.
Fig. 5 shows the method of and apparatus for adjusting the balance weight j'. A
cord 2 is fixed to each end of the weight, and passes round pullies 3,3, fixed at
either end of the tube j. Above the tube is fixed a grooved wheel round the
periphery of which the cord passes one or more times. The wheel ** is worked
by the handle j', and when turned to the left or right, winds up the cord on one
side, unwinding it simultaneously on the other, and so moves the weight ³ in the
desired direction.
Fig. 6 is a section of the tube or cylinder g, holding the spiral spring g¹, and

page_text: shews the means adopted for connecting the said tube or cylinder with the
cylinder a.
A "chog" n is bolted to the band c at n¹, n². A semi-spherical headed screw o is
passed through the "chog "and into the tube or cylinder containing the spiral spring,
where it is secured by a nut o'. 1, the flat-headed rod connecting the frame-work
to the lower end of the tube g.
חד
1
adopt.
B
Fig. 10 is an end elevation partly in section, shewing the legs or risers k¹, kl, and
the method of working the same by means of two ratchet handles k³, k³, placed side
by side.
"
Fig. 11 shows the worm and pinion for actuating the risers k¹.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to carrying out
the Invention precisely in the manner above described and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings, as it is evident the same may be inodified without departing
from the nature of my Invention, but what I claim is,—
Firstly. The improved arrangement and construction of the buoyant gas cylinder
a, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The improved arrangement and application of stays and bands b, c, to
strengthen and "stiffen" the gas cylinder a, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The improved arrangement, construction, and application of springs and
spring cylinders g, to diminish the momentum ou alighting, and the means of
attaching them at either end, substantially as and for the purposes bereinbofore
described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The improved arrangement and construction of the frame-work and
car generally, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. The improved construction of the fans or screw-propellers, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixthly. The use and application of legs or "risers" for elevating the forepart of
the apparatus, and the means of working the same, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The use and general arrangement and application of a moveable
balance-weight to alter the centre of gravity in the apparatus, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Eighthly. The improved general arrangement and combination of machinery and
apparatus for aërial navigation, substantially as hereinbefore described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Arthur Pearse, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
EDWARD ARTHUR PEARSE. (L.S.)