Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
I, MANOEL MACHADO TOLEDO, of No. 3 Rua Leopoldina Rio de Janeiro, in
the Republic of Brazil, Bookkeeper do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and,
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
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My invention relates to a construction of apparatus for aerial navigation which,
consists mainly in the use of a hermetically closed, vessel of aluminium charged with
hydrogen gas or other light gas which affords sufficient buoyancy to float in the:
atmosphere when carrying a certain load, the propelling of such vessel, as also its
ascent or descent in the air being effected by a small motor engine the weight of.
which would not exceed from one to two per cent. of the entire weight of the
machine, the ascent or descent being effected without discharging ballast or gas. :
Any kind of motor engine can be employed, even a steam engine, as fires may be,
used without incurring any danger of explosion of the gasholder.
Such an aerial machine of comparatively small dimensions is capable of raising
and transporting very considerable weights, not only on account of the small.
density of the metal employed as compared with its strength, but also because it is
possible to utilise as gas reservoirs, in addition to the main gasholder, all the spaces.
that are not necessary for other purposes, whether in the saloon or in the hold, of
the structure.
i
By means of four vertical steering wings. the machine can be steered in any
horizontal direction, whatever may be the force of the wind, without danger of,
being carried away by the latter, this being only. possible with at least four such
vertical wings. In addition, two, feur, or other number of horizontally, projecting
steering wings of my system are employed by means, of which the aerial machine;
can also be steered both in any horizontal, and in an upward or downward
direction.
I also employ, in conjunction with such steering wings, screw propellers either,
surrounded by cylinders or not, which may be arranged above and below the.
machine, and which are caused to operate so as to prevent lateral drifting when not
travelling in the same direction as the air currents.
_
The lower screw propellers would also serve to propel the machine when floating
on water, for which purpose it is also made adaptable...
***.)
The lower propellers may also serve to convey the machine to a certain extent
along the ground. Lastly, the possibility of hermetically closing all the spaces of
the aluminium structure will enable the temperature of such spaces to be maintained
at any desired degree, either by the aid of refrigerating or heating apparatus.
The aeronauts would thus be sheltered against all inclement weather, so that
they could navigate the machine both in glacial and torrid zones without incon- ;
venience
As will be seen from the following description of the accompanying drawings, the's
aerial machine will be enabled to travel at exceedingly high speeds, such as from
forty to three hundred' metres a second. 1
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The accompanying drawings shew the construction of my said aerial machine.'s
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the same, the machine being, supposed to be on..the
point of starting on a journey. Fig. 2 shows a plan, Fig. 3 a sectional plan. ands
Fig. 4 a vertical cross section. It consists of a closed vessel or balloon con.i
stricted entirely of sheets of aluminium, the thickness of which is determined
according to the load to be carried thereby.
This closed vessel is divided into three main compartments; the upper one is they

page_text: gasholder, the middle one serves to contain the motor engines, the aeronauts &c.
and the lower one is the hold for containing the luggage, utensils &c.
For constructing the vessel, two sheets of aluminium, bent to the shape shewn in
plan at Fig. 2 and vertical section at Fig. 4 are placed together with their concave
sides opposite each other, and are welded together all round at their meeting
edges, thus giving a vessel having a rectangular side elevation, as at Fig. 1 while
in plan and end view it has a curved configuration approximating to that of a ship,
but curving together to form a keel both at top and at bottom, so that the vessel
presents a sharp edge on all four sides.
The metal is welded together at such edges, without soldering or brazing with
other metal.
The interior partitions of this vessel are also formed of sheets of aluminium
welded together and to the vessel.
To the outside of the vessel are fitted the various apparatus for propelling and
steering, as shewn on the drawing. C are the horizontal projecting wings attached
to the sides and intended for directing the aerial machine wherever required,
whether horizontally or upward or downward.
E are cylinders surrounding screw propellers so as to concentrate the propulsive
action thereof, and assist the wings C in directing the machine. E2 are similar
cylinders with screw propellers, serving to neutralize the lateral drifting action of
the wind when travelling at an angle thereto, and serving also to propel the
machine in the same manner as the propellers E. K are the vertical steering
wings or rudders, which also serve to steer the machine in the horizontal direction,
maintaining it always in the desired direction, whatever the force of the wind
may be.
L are wheels by means of which the machine can run upon the ground at the
moment of ascension or descent.
In the plan view at Fig. 2 C are the horizontal wings, E² the directing propeller
cylinder and K the vertical steering wings or rudders.
The cylinders E are omitted in this figure. Fig. 3 shews a horizontal section of
the machine, shewing the internal mechanisms that impart motion to the propelling
and steering devices. The cylinders E are shewn in dotted lines so as to shew the
screw propellers and the gearing for driving the same in full lines. Fig. 4 shews a
vertical cross section, also shewing the internal mechanisms. A is the chamber for
containing the hydrogen gas separated from the lower compartments of the vessel
by the partition B shewn in dotted lines at Figs. 1 and 4.
This gas holder communicates by pipes with stop cocks with such parts of the
saloon and the hold as might, if required, be also charged with gas.
The gas holder, when once charged, being perfectly gas tight, will not require
emptying or replenishing, except in the case of accident, as part of the total weight
of the machine and its load will be sustained by the motor engine in conjunction
with the propelling apparatus. For example, if the weight of the complete aerial
machine be 500 kilos., and it is adapted to convey the same weight of passengers
and luggage &c., the buoyancy of the gas holder is not made sufficient to raise the
whole of this load, but it will require, in order to enable it to ascend, to be propelled
upward by the action of the motor engine and screw propellers and when floating
in the air its descent is also effected by diminishing the action of the propellers, so
that no ballast or discharge of gas is required for these purposes.
The partition B forms the ceiling of the saloon H; it is also constructed of
aluminium sheets hermetically welded to the sides of the vessel, so as to form a gas
tight gas holder above, preventing any escape of the gas into the saloon.
The partition & forms the floor of the saloon H, separating it from the hold 62 ;
it is also made of aluminium, or at any rate those portions thereof which are
intended to enclose spaces in the hold that are to serve as gasholders.
That portion of the hold which is to receive the luggage, provisions &c. can be
covered in with any other suitable material.
In the space H, which I call the saloon, is arranged the motor engine and other

page_text: achinery, and it also contains the aeronauts. It is provided with the necessary
doors and window which are so arranged as to be closed hermetically when required
so as to prevent the ingress of heat or cold from the outside as much as possible.
For this purpose the doors and windows are by preference made to slide faterally
in accurately fitting grooves. Those parts of the saloon that are not required for
the above mentioned purposes can be formed into auxiliary gas holders, communi-
cating by pipes with stop cocks with the gas holder A.
The lateral wings C are capable of being turned on their axes D so as to assume
a more or less inclined position, being adjusted by the rods P. N.
They are also constructed of a single thin sheet of aluminium, and are made
either perfectly plane or slightly convex or concave if preferred.
There are either two, four or six of such steering wings; their object is to cause
the machine to travel in the desired direction, either horizontally or upwards or
downwards. The axis D is carried right through the body of the machine, so as
to have a wing C mounted on each end thereof, the wings being attached thereto
either at the middle or at the front end. The propeller cylinders E are also made
of sheet aluminium, of from m.m. to 1 m.m. in thickness, or more if necessary,
according to the size of the machine; they are made of such a diameter as to
enable the screw propeller to work freely within them.
They are fixed to axes R2 which are connected to toothed gearing worked by
cranks R within the saloon H for turning the cylinders into any desired position.
The axes R2 may be fixed either to the middle or to the front end of the cylinder.
Each cylinder contains a screw propeller and serves to confine the column of air
propelled by it, thus concentrating the propelling force, and assisting the wings C
in steering the machine in the required direction. E² are propeller cylinders the
same as E mounted on a vertical axis on the top and bottom of the machine; the
propellers may be used with or without the cylinders and serve more particularly
for neutralising the lateral drifting action of the wind, when the machine is
travelling at an angle thereto. In other cases they may serve for propelling only,
like the propellers E.
The gearing F, worked by cranks communicates its motion through the axes 1'2
to the rods P and N the movement of which controls the position of the wings ().
The screw propellers F2, when carried within cylinders E have their axis mounted
in cross heads Z fixed in the ends of the latter.
The axes R2 of the cylinders are tubular to allow of the passage through them
of the shafts U which are driven by gearing T and impart such motion to the
propellers through bevil gearing V, the shafts U being of course made to revolve
independently of the tubular shafts R². The propellers are also made of aluminium,
and of a form to give the greatest amount of strength with a minimum amount of
metal. By their rotation they act upon the atmosphere with sufficient force to
propel the machine forwards or backwards.
The screw propellers E2 in addition to the above mentioned functions, also serve
to propel the machine when immersed in water, the lower steering wings K in that
case also serving as rudders.
The number and dimensions of the screw propellers should be in direct proportion
to the size of the aerial machine and the power of the motor employed. With a
machine of the size indicated on the drawings (scale Tooth full size) an engine of
from one to two horse power should give a very great speed in calm weather, which
would be increased with a wind astern, and decreased with the wind ahead.
The cylinders E are connected together by pivotted rods G so that they may all
be made to assume the same degree of inclination when one of them is turned on
its lateral axis R2 as described.
The steering wings K are mounted on vertical axes carried in brackets I fixed
to the vessel A at each of the four corners theroof. J are toothed wheels by
means of which motion is imparted to the axes of the wings K from the shafts Y
and cranks J².
The steering wings K are also made of sheet aluminium; the two wings at the

page_text: こ
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top and bottom corners at each end are carried by one and the same vertical axis
passing right through, so that both may be moved simultaneously to the same
extent. The wheels L at the bottom of the machine are connected thereto by
strong springs as shewn at Figure 4; they serve, as before stated, to support the
machine on the ground, they should not be less than three or four in number, the
front ones being arranged with their axle to turn on a vertical pivot like: those of
ordinary road carriages, so that the machine can be propelled in any desired
direction. They are also made of aluminium, and they may either be constructed
like velocipede wheels, with wire spokes, or they may be formed of two concave
discs, the peripheries of which are welded together, as indicated at Figure 4, a
tubular nave being passed centrally through them and fixed thereto in any suitable
manner, through which nave the axle ends pass.
:
M Figure I are doors through which access is gained to the saloon H; they are
also made of aluminium, and provided with glass panels, and are capable of being
hermetically closed as before stated. They are made to slide horizontally between
guides against the side walls of the saloon so as to occupy the least possible space.
In addition to these glass doors there may be provided other windows or bulls eyes.
QFigures 3 and 4 is the motor engine, the piston rod S of which is connected
to a crank shaft connected by gearing T to the shaft U which passes through
the tubular shafts R2 of the cylinders, and imparts motion to the screw propellers F
as described.
The motor engine may be of any kind; even a steam engine may be employed,
the essential condition being that the engine of lightest weight in proportion to the
power developed and that requiring the smallest amount of accessories; fuel, &c.,
should be employed. The rotary motion imparted to the middle shaft U by the
motor engine for driving the middle propeller is transmitted to the shafts. U of
the two end sets of propellers by means of connecting rods X connected to cranks
on the shafts.
The maneuvering of the aerial machine is effected as follows. For placing the
wings C in the desired position it is sufficient to turn the cranks of the gearing F
from one half to two or three times, so as to move the rods P and N by means of
the shafts P, thereby bringing the wings into a more or less inclined position,
as shewn, at Figure 1. For giving the cylinders E the required inclination, the
cranks of the gearing R are turned so as to turn the tubular shafts R²
through th, th&c. of a revolution, as may be required. For placing the steering
wings K in the required position, the cranks J are turned so as to turn the
shafts and consequently the wings K, through any angle by means of the
gearing J.
Assuming the aerial machine to be in mid air, and that the upper horizontal line
from D to A Fig. 1 Sheet 1 represents the zenith, while the bottom line from B
to C represents the horizon and the lines A' B'C' D' E' F' represent, imaginary
points in space in the direction of which the machine may travel either backwards
or forwards, upwards or downwards, then if the machine be; say, at the point C,
by placing the wings C and cylinders E in the position shewn on the, drawing,
the machine in rising will travel. towards D. If, when arrived in the central
position shewn at Figure 1, it be desired to travel back to the starting point, the
screw propellers simply lrave their, motion reversed: If, on the other hand it be
desired to travel horizontally in the direction E F the wings (and; cylinders E
are placed in positions parallel to EF, the propellers being turned in one direction
or the other, according as it is desired to travel towards E or towards F. Again,
the machine being in the central position, if it be desired to travel towards A' or Bi
without turning the machine round, the cylinders E and wings C are turned so as
to assume an angular position parallel, with the direction A¹ B', the propellers
being then rotated in one direction or the other according as it is desired to travel
towards A' or towards B'. Assuming once more that the aerial machine is in the
central position, and the wings and cylinders E on the port side be placed
paralled with E' F', while those on, the starboard, side are placed parallel to the

page_text: lines C' D', as indicated at Figure 5, then if on turning the screw propellers in the
forward direction, the force expended is not sufficient to cause the machine. to
ascend, this will simply describe a circle in the plane of the line E¹ F¹; but if the
propellers be driven at a greater speed, the machine, while travelling round will at
the same time ascend, and will consequently describe a helical path, the convolutions
of which will pass through the points B¹ E' D'or C F A. If at D' or A' the
propellers are stopped or reversed, the machine will descend in a backward direction
and in describing the same helical path will pass through the points D' E' B'
or A' F¹ C¹.
When, while travelling forward, it is desired to descend, the apparatus E C are
turned into the positions shewn at Figure 6, placing, for example, those on the port
side parallel to F' E', and those on the starboard side parallel to A'B'. The machine
will then descend in describing the same helical path, but in a forward direction ;
by reversing the motion of the propellers, the machine will descend along the same
helical path in the backward direction.
Referring now to the plan Figure 2, the lines A' B'C' D'E' F' represent various
points of the compass in the direction of which the aerial machine can travel. When
the atmosphere is calm, the machine is steered by the steering wings or rudders K
in precisely the same manner as a ship.
With a
more or less strong wind, assuming that the machine is in the
direction F E as on the drawing, and that it is travelling towards F with a wind
blowing from A to B', or from D' to C, the wings K at the prow, are placed in
about the direction of FC' and those of the stern about the direction D' E', so as
to counteract the tendency to drift towards B' by the tendency of the wings K¹ to
direct the machine towards D'.
But when in place of a wind there is a strong gale in the direction. A¹ B', it will
be necessary to have recourse to the steering screw propellers E², as in this case it
is necessary to place the steering wings in the direction A¹ B', parallel to. the wind,
and consequently they will not serve to prevent lateral drifting thereby, which would
be the greater the stronger the gale is.
Assuming that, as before, the machine be travelling from E¹ to F and that a
gale is blowing from D' towards C, the wings K being placed in the position F¹E
and the cylinders E2 in the direction of the wind D' Cas at Figure 7; the lateral
drifting of the machine will then be in direct proportion to the velocity of the wind,
and in inverse proportion to the speed of the screw propellers.
If, the direction of travel be from E to F' as before, a gale be blowing
from A to B', all the wings K will be placed in the direction of the wind, and
all the screw propellers E2 approximately in the position D' C¹ as at Figure 8, that
is to say, the propeller cylinders will lie in a direction intersecting that of the
wings K.
When the direction of the wind coincides with that in which the machine is to
travel, or is exactly opposite that direction, the machine can be steered in precisely
the same manner as in the case of a calm, the wings K being of course turned so as
to be directed towards the prow when the wind is astern and in the opposite direction
when the wind is ahead.
With a dead calm, all the screw propellers can be made to act without difficulty,
as also when the wind is ahead, but when the wind is more or less astern, it will
be advisable to stop working the stern propellers, and to work only those at the
prow, particularly if the wind be strong.
It will be evident that the several mechanisms above described for actuating the
propelling and steering devices may be variously modified without departing from
the essential features of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein referred to, wherein

page_text: screw propellers working either with or without enclosing cylinders, in combination
with steering wings, are employed, the use of an enclosed vessel A H b, chargedo
with hydrogen or other light gas, constructed of sheets of aluminium, welded
together at the joints, which vessel is formed with curved surfaces terminating in
sharp edges all round, and is divided internally into several compartments, one of
which A constitutes the gas holder while another H forms the saloon or living
chamber for the aeronauts, and for containing the machinery &c., and a third
one forms the hold for receiving the luggage &c., the saloon being provided with
doors and windows sliding in grooves at the sides of the saloon and arranged to close
hermetically, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In an apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein described, the use.
of horizontally projecting steering wings C constructed of sheet aluminium, and
arranged to turn on a horizontal axis at the middle or end thereof, such wings
being made to project from the sides of the closed vessel and adjusted in position
by means of external rods and internal toothed gearing and cranks substantially as
.described.
:
13. In an apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein described, the use of
large screw propellers, with or without enclosing cylinders constructed of aluminium
and receiving motion by means of shafts and toothed gearing from a motor situated:
inside the closed vessel, substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein described, the use of
cylinders E constructed of sheet aluminium serving to enclose the screw propellers
arranged to revolve freely therein, such cylinders being provided at the ends with
suitable supports for the bearings of the screw shaft, and being supported by shafts
fixed at their centre or front end, whereby they, together with the screw propellers,
can be turned-so as to lie with their longitudinal axes in any desired position, such
turning being effected by means of cranks and gearing within the closed chamber,
those cylinders that are on one end the same side of the vessel being connected by
pivotted rods so as to cause them. to..assume simultaneously the same position,
substantially as described.
.5. In apparatus for aerial navigation such as herein described, the use of
cylinders E2 with screw.propellers similar to those referred to in the preceding claim,
placed at the top and bottom of the closed vessel, and serving more particularly for
counteracting the tendency to lateral displacement when travelling at an angle to
the wind, substantially as described.
:
6. In apparatus for aerial navigation such as is. herein described, the use. of
vertical steering wings .K constructed of sheet aluminium- placed at the top and
bottom of the closed vessel A, at each corner thereof and, if required, at inter!
mediate points, the top and bottom wings at each end being fixed to one and the
same vertical axis so as to be moved simultaneously into the same positions, the
turning of the said axes being effected by cranks and toothed gearing within
the vessel, substantially as described.
.7. In apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein described, the use of the
mechanisms F. G. J. N. P. P? R. R2 T..U. V. X. Y. serving to actuate the pro-
pelling and steering apparatus, substantially as described.
* ...
.8. In apparatus for aerial navigation of the kind herein described, the use of
aluminium wheels L constructed either. as the wheels of velocipedes, or of sheet
aluminium of hollow lenticular. form,. produced by welding two concave discs
together round their peripheries, which wheels serve to support the aerial machine,
on the ground; substantially as described.
Dated this 91th dad of 1000....: