to Toys and App
Year: 1885

page_text: Аррисако
Buips,
Ventilation of Buildings, to Toys and Educational Appliances.
I ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 47, Museum Street Oxford Street in the
Parish of Bloomsbury and county of Middlesex Civil Engineer and Patent Agent
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION a communication to
me from abroad by Blaise Bontems Clockmaker of the city of Paris in the Republic
of France, to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to aerostatics, and in the present case nature furnishing
the best example for effectively solving the problem of aerial navigation, the bird
has been selected as the fittest and surest guide to follow in all its movements.
The apparatus is constructed as follows:-In the centre of a platform to which
the car is attached is a vertical support, the summit of which is connected to a
horizontal bar to the ends of which the car is slung by means of ropes, a hook or
ring is fastened in the centre or point of junction of the bars and is intended to fix
it to the ropes by which the car is secured to the balloon.
Below the horizontal bar and mounted on the vertical one is an oscillating lever
having two axes, to which are hinged in pairs, four wings each of which are
worked by cranks and levers, connected to the axes, and to four rods which unite
them to a second lever, placed below the wings, and oscillating on an axis passing
through the vertical bar.
This latter lever is provided with handles for working the apparatus, the rods
referred to are articulated to slides, which can be moved along the lever, away
from the axis, in which case the striking range or spread of the wings is increased,
or it may be reduced, by drawing closer to this axis, or when brought close up to
the axis their motion is entirely arrested.
These slides can be moved separately or collectively, equally or unequally as
desired.

page_text: Cavities are made in the face of the lever, to stop the slides in the requisite
positions, for this purpose the slides are furnished with projections which fall into
the cavities.
The upper lever, bearing the wings is kept horizontal, or more ore less inclined
by aid of a muffle sliding on the vertical bar or axis, with which it is connected by
aid of a shaft and handle.
The wings are mounted on bamboo ribs (or other suitable material) fitting into
sockets and moving on hinges on the axis, whilst the body of the wings are made
of silk or other matter such as cotton or paper.
The wings may be divided into several parts by ribs of bamboo, connected to
metal frame work, the opposite ends being connected to a bar, the space between
each of which is furnished with silk.
The advantage of this arrangement is that it admits of reducing the effective
range of oscillation of the wings.
The wings whose beating action is imparted to them by the lower lever, in
striking the air exercise a force that drives it rearwards; the effect produced
being identical with that of a bird flying, this is rendered more complete by the
position in which the upper lever is placed. For instance when this lever, is
horizontal, the Hight is horizontal, if it is sloped downwards, or upwards, the
direction will be a corresponding descent or ascent.
When it is desired to take a right or left course, then the beating of one, or both
of the right or left wings is effected by moving the slides corresponding with the
wing or wings it is desired to keep stationary, in a plane vertical with the axis of
the lever.
Additional mechanism is employed for co-operating with the above, and consists
of two wings, hinged to two axes mounted on a support borne by a long arm,
which being tubular passes through another tube, mounted on a plate which in its
turn is attached to a vertical axis turning on a pivot guided above by a ring fixed
to a frame supported by a step on this frame, which latter rests at the bottom of
the car, or in any other suitable position.
These wings are worked by means of a crank, fly wheel and toothed gearing.
The continuous rotary motion of the crank is transformed into up and down
movements of the vertical shaft, and these are transformed into rectilinear
alternate movements producing symmetrical beatings of the wings, the latter are
moreover provided with a rudder in form of a birds tail, which can be turned in
any direction so that the flight of the mechanical bird can be directed. either for
ascending or descending.
One or more of these birds can be fixed to the car of a balloon so as to
co-operate with the other mechanism.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Aerial
Navigation, Applicable also to the Navigation of Ships,
Ventilation of Buildings, to Toys and Educational Appliances.
I ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 47, Museum Street, Oxford Street in the
Parish of Bloomsbury and county of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION (a communication to me from abroad by
Blaise Bontems, Clockmaker of the city of Paris in the Republic of France), and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Nature in the form of the bird presenting the best model to follow in the
construction of machines for aerial navigation I have closely followed the move-
ments of the bird in its flight as being the best means of solving the difficult
problem of how to guide a machine in any desired direction.
This is effected by mechanical means worked either by hand or otherwise in the
most effective and practical manner employing the air as a fulcrum in rising,
descending, or directing the apparatus as may be required so that like the bird it
can as it were sport in the air.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents the apparatus as applied to a
balloon, Figs. 2 and 3 show in front and side elevation the principal mechanism for
effecting these objects which comprises four wings as illustrated by the plan Fig. 5
taken above the line 3, 4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken at the line 1, 2 of Fig. 2 Figs. 6, and 7
represent in elevation and side view mechanism for co-operating with the former in
case of need and is combined with the mechanism shown by Figs. 2 and 5.
Fig. 8 shows in plan the working part of this supplementary mechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MECHANISM FIGS. 2, 3, 4 AND 5.
In the centre of a platform & to which the car is attached a vertical support b
rises, the summit of which is connected to a bar b¹, whose ends are attached to the
platform by aid of ropes a³, a¹. A hook or ring b³, fastened in the centre or point
of junction of the bars b, and b¹, is intended to fix it to the ropes by which the car
is secured to the balloon or to the netting of the latter, see Figs. 1, and 2. Below
the bar b, and mounted on the vertical bar b, is a sort of rocking lever c having
two axes c¹, c³, Fig. 5, to which are hinged in pairs four wings d, e, f, g.. Each of
these wings are worked by cranks m, and levers connected to the axes c¹, c¹, and
to the rods d, e, f, g¹ which unite them to the balance lever h, placed below the
wings, and oscillating on an axis h¹, which passes through the vertical support b.
This lever his provided with handles h², h², for working the apparatus. The
11
20
0
40

page_text: increasing the striking range or spread of the wings, or in reducing this range by
drawing them closer to this axis, or in entirely arresting the motion of the wings
by sliding them close up to this axis.
The slides d, e, f, g² can be moved individually or collectively so that any one
of the wings can be moved separately, or all together, equally, or unequally as may
be required.
Cavities h³, are made in the face of the lever h, to stop the slides in the requisite
positions, for this purpose the 'slides are furnished with projections which fall into
the notches or cavities.
The upper lever bearing the wings is kept horizontal or more or less inclined by
aid of a muffle i, sliding on the axis b, (with which it is connected) by aid of a
shaft i¹.
This lever is moved by a handle ².
The wings d, e, f, g see Fig. 5 are mounted on bamboo ribs (or other suitable
material) fitting into sockets and moving on hinges on the axis c¹, forming a
fulcrum on two sides of bamboo ³, or other supple material. The body of these
wings is made of silk, or other matter, such as cotton or in some instances paper.
Fig. 5 represents another form of wing divided into several parts by ribs of
bamboo 1, 3, connected to metal frame work j, the opposite ends being attached
to a bar, the spaces between each of which is furnished with silk 1, 2, 3. The
advantage of this construction is that it admits of reducing the effective range of
oscillation of the wings, which range should only be sufficient to pass the frame 1
to 11.
1, corresponding with the ascending oscillation, and 11 that of descent. Length-
ways the tissue is secured at several points 4, 4.
In the above description the wings d, e are the front ones, the beating action of
which in the air is imparted to them by the lever h, the effect being to strike or
force the air rearwards. The wings f, and g, act in the same manner.
The result
produced is consequently identical with that of a bird flying, which is rendered
more complete by the position in which the lever c, is placed. For instance when
this lever is horizontal, the flight is horizontal, if it is sloped downwards, or
upwards, the direction taken will be a corresponding descent, or ascent.
When it is desired to take a right or left course, then the beating of one or both
of the right or left wings is arrested by moving the slides d², e², f³, g²,.corre-
sponding with the wing or wings it is desired to keep stationary, in a plane
vertical with the pivot h¹ of the lever h. By the use of this novel mechanism the
following important results are effected,
1st Hovering in the air by beating the whole or part of the wings d, e, f, g.
2nd Descending or rising by directing the lever c, upwards or downwards.
3rd Performing various movements in the air by arresting the motion of one or
two of the wings judiciously chosen, or in reducing the striking range or spread of
the wings whilst giving a larger spread to the opposite wings. The combination
of these several movements effectively conduce to establish a practical method of
aerial navigation, since it suffices to exactly calculate the dimensions of the wings
in relation to the size of the balloon to be guided by them, and determine their
striking range and spread of wing sufficient to combat the highest winds. At the
same time it is always possible to avoid high winds by rising or descending like
the bird.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MECHANISM OF FIGS. 6, 7, 8 AND 9.

page_text: The shaft t, is a kind of pivot guided above by a ring n, fixed to a frame.q,
resting below on a step or bearing ¹, attached to the same frame q. This frame q
which is of variable dimensions rests at the bottom of the car or in any other
suitable position, it terminates in a foot, and two plates q¹, q', supporting the
axes m³, and r, of a crank m, and fly wheel r¹, worked by the toothed wheel m³,
and pinion.
On the axis r, at the side of the crank, the crank plate s¹ is keyed, to which the
head of a long composite shaft's, 82 is articulated, the other end is connected to the
arm u, of a crank u, u', which oscillates in a centre on the piece p³.
t
The shaft s, which is close to the pivot t, is in two parts, the lower one 8, is held
by a muffles, mounted on the axis, and the upper part 88, is solid with the
muffle 8, and traverses the collar n³, and is articulated to the arm u., The
muffle s³, follows the movements of the shaft s; in sliding on the axis't, it allows
the first to rotate with the shaft 82, and the piece 22 without necessitating the
revolution of the shaft s, and without interrupting its connection with the part 8².
The other arm u!, of the crank u, governs a long shaft v, which passes through
the tubular shaft p, and is articulated at the end to two small shafts v1, v², which
are respectively connected to the cranks w, w¹, of the wings 1, 1ª.
The continuous rotary motion of the crank m, is transformed into up and down
movements of the shaft 8, and these into rectilinear alternate movements of the
shaft v, which produce symmetrical beatings of the wings 1, 1, by the shafts v², v³.
All the part p, p, and the mechanism of the wings 1, 1, are equipoised by means
of a counter weight x, sliding at will on an arm ².
Finally the wings 1, l, are provided with a rudder y, which is in the form of a
bird with its tail y¹ Fig. 8, which can be turned by the support p, in any direction
in its support p₁ under the action of the shaft z, connected to a crank p², of the
said support p. So that the flight of the mechanical bird 1, U, y, can be directed
either for ascending or descending.
In placing one or more of these apparatus round the car of a balloon see Fig. 1,
it or they, co-operate with the other mechanism, either for hovering in the air, or
rising, or descending, or moving to the right, or left, as the uniform beating of the
wings,, can be utilized to either remain in the air, rise or descend, and cause
the car to turn on the vertical pivot t.
In place of the crank m, I reserve the right of substituting an oscillating
movement of a lever directly connected with the shaft 8.
Finally these two mechanisms can be employed conjointly, or separately, for
aerial navigation with, or without a balloon, it can be applied to toys, or apparatus
used in teaching aerostatics, or for ventilation of buildings, and so forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1 The mechanism in general as herein described and illustrated as applicable
both to aerial, marine, and fluvial navigation, it being in the present case shown as
an example of its adaptation to aerial navigation. The model selected being that
of the bird whose movements it closely follows in its flight. The whole being
worked either by manual or steam power (manual generally sufficeing) 2, 4 or
more wings being employed whose movements are calculated to support the
apparatus and maintain it hovering in mid air or cause it to be directed to the
right or left or to rise or descend at the will of the aeronaut.
2nd The mechanism constituting such apparatus consisting as shown by Figs. 2,
3, 4, 5 of a rocking lever c, capable of placing four wings d, e, f, g at any
inclination desired, the beating action of which is imparted by aid of the rods d¹ e¹
fg, and lever h, worked by hand or steam, so that the amplitude or range of
striking power of the wings may be regulated, or one or more of them arrested, as
has already been described.

page_text: (
3rd The mechanism represented by the Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 by which a kind of
bird (more or less large) mounted at the end of a bar, p capable of turning as
required in rising or descending, the wings of which bird l, l', are set in motion by
the combined action of a crank m (or oscillating lever) shafts s and which latter.
traverses the arm p.
'
This portion of the mechanism being equipoised by a counter weight a, so as to
utilize as completely as possible the beating of the wings l,, either separately, or
conjointly with the preceding mechanism, such wings being equally serviceable in
marine, or fluvial propulsion.
"
'
Reservation being made to the application of the mechanism wholly, or in 1
part, for aerial navigation, with, or without a balloon, and in its employment and
adaptation to toys, or as means of instruction in aerostatics, or for ventilation of
chambers, apartments or public buildings.