A METHOD OF PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ELASTIC AND CONCENTRIC PRESSURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE AS ABOVE
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM CORNELIUS, Bookkeeper of Creuznach in the Empire of Germany
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for A METHOD OF PRACTICAL
APPLICATION OF THE ELASTIC AND CONCENTRIC PRESSURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
AS ABOVE to be as follows:―
My Invention is the demonstration that for the realization of mechanical flight
nothing else is required but the application of well known physical laws by
means which our technical science of the present day is perfectly used to work
with. No space for doubt is left by my Invention: it opens on the contrary to
the working civil engeneer a vast field of inventive action which is sure to attract
individual energy.
The elastic and concentric pressure of the atmosphere of which the application
to the solution of the problem in question has until now totally escaped to notice,
is nevertheless the factor which draws it within the sphere of technical application.
The constructor of a flying machine, taking into account the instructions which
my Invention ripens, does no longer work in darkness but with open eyes and
sure of success.
It is well known that the concentric pressure of the atmosphere is weighing
with a force of 1 pound upon every 1/15th square inch of any surface that is offered
to it.
That pressure, is known to be exercised in every direction, it is therefore
exercised upwards, against the direction of gravitation, in the same way as in any
other direction. Thus to paralise the effect of gravitation upon a heavy body
supposed to be.floating in the air, only a construction of its surface would be
required showing a surplus of downward surface of merely so many times. 1/18th of
a square inch as the body has pounds of absolute weight. This imaginary body
will be found to be completely realised by the body of a bird extented for flight
and I take it for granted that the latter offers, with respect to configuration of
surface as well as with respect to the mechanical laws that govern its flight, in no
way unravelled mysteries to our technical science, I feel therefore justified in
adopting the same as an example for my demonstration.
:
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3
This configuration offers such striking proportions of surface, such an evident
surplus of downward and backward surface, that the bird, if exposed (without the

page_text: assistance of his own motion) to the pressure of the atmosphere, would be very
quickly turned overhead downwards; its downfall being thus occasioned by the
united pressure of atmosphere and of gravitation, both then acting in the same
direction.
It is not alone the configuration of the birds body in general which renders it
active in the way I mentioned; the same principle is observed in the construction
of surface of every single feather by which it is covered here also a considerable
surplus of surface exists on the concave side, and the body of the bird extented
for flight turns the concave side of every feather it bears, without exception, either
downwards or backwards, whilst the covex sides are all turned either upwards or
forwards.
This fact shows the striking accordance of the natural organization with my
system.
Such floating body, or the birds body extented for flight, have the geometrical
centre below the point of gravitation: this reciprocal position of the two centres,
whilst it is preserved, indicates the absence of a tendency to fall, and the motions
of fight preserve this equilibrium between gravitation and pressure of the
atmosphere.
If the body is kept floating by the atmospheric pressure acting from below, the
same body of the bird extented for flight does not however show the greater part
of its surplus of surface downwards but rather backwards, and the surplus of
forward pressure of the atmosphere would still bring the same danger of a
downfall if this was not prevented by the continual motion of the wings.
By this motion both the two mentioned centres are moved back and forward
alternately but never so much forward as to endanger the equilibrium.
The motion of the wings, which is the floating body's proper motion, introduces
a further consequence of the pressure of the atmosphere within the scope of my
observations.
Namely, the unfailing logical necessity of a perfect regularity of the reacting
motion of the atmosphere against whatever action it may have to suffer, and also
of its strictly limited extend, notwithstanding the great mobility of the air. The
greatest force we know of, being put in action against the atmosphere, is that of a
hurricane; it is however unable to overcome more than about 1/10th of the
atmospheric pressure; it is only this small part of the atmosphere-the open air-
that can be put out of action by this or any other force weighing against it; whilst
the far larger part of the atmospheric pressure maintains that action within strict
and narrow limits.
The object of that larger part of the atmospheric pressure is only the
reestablishment of the equilibrium with as little delay as possible and of course by
the shortest way practicable. Any enduring force of determined direction acting
within and against the atmosphere, which the latter, on account of its great
mobility, cannot directly resist, engenders therefore a counter-motion, a reaction of
the atmosphere which has for its object the reestablishment of the level, of the
tension that existed before. Taking now into consideration that, notwithstanding
all the violence of the force that can be put in action against it, the overpowering
force of the elastic and concentric pressure of the atmosphere continues to subsist
almost unaltered; no doubt can remain, first, that the motion of the atmosphere
which is directly originated by some regular and enduring action against it, and
secondly, that also the motion of the reaction of the atmosphere thus created, that
they both must be shaped in perfectly regular geometrical forms of distinct limits
and of which the spheres may be traced and completed beforehand.-It is not less
evident that the direction of this reaction must necessarily move in exactly an
opposed line to the direction of the action, in accordance with the law of the
parallelogramm of forces.
Thus the combined double-action of the two wings of a bird, directed against
the end of his tail must of necessity. occasion a reaction in the direction of the

page_text: longitudinal axis of the birds body; the simple action of an air-screw must
produce a sphere of motion of a more or less elongated conical form, and a hollow
cone of reaction encircling the former and moving in an exactly opposite direction,
which must find the body of the aërial vessel in its way as its aim for locomotion.
Thus form and direction of the action are conditions of form and direction of the
reaction and both are moving within narrow limits.
It is not so much the measure of the force of locomotion, but its direction
which is the foremost part of the task of the engeneers application and the
non-attendance to the consequence as here demonstrated sufficiently explains the
failure which until now has signalised all essays to solve the problem in
question; it is due to the erroneous supposition that the force of locomotion
must be produced by the direct action of the machine; and that the imperfect
resistance of the means can only be augmented by the increased velocity of the
moving levers.
I have shown that the force of locomotion can only be found in the means: in
the elastic reaction of the atmosphere. Whilst only 1/10th of the atmospheric
pressure the open air-give way to the action of an exterior force, this partial
movement is constrained by the other much more considerable portion of the
pressure within narrow limits and forced into level again. The reestablishment of
its propre tension being the sole object of the reaction of the pressure, its force of
reaction has no occasion to exceed that of the action, but it must always be its
complete equivalent and without any loss of force whatever.
The backward and downward strokes of the wings have no other object but to
excite that reaction and the forward or upward strokes that follow, serve only to
render the motion of the body in accordance with the direction of the reaction.
From this reciprocal and conditional relation of the spheres of action and of reaction
with respect to their geometrical form and their direction, it is easy to conclude
that the floating body which is to become the aim of the reaction must for that
very reason be also the source of the action. Only by starting from the floating
body against the atmosphere in direct opposition to the direction of the intented
flight can an efficacious reaction be created. This reaction, of which direction and
duration are consequently perfectly at the fliers choice and option, must however
attain the floating body at a moment, when it finds itself so conditioned and in
such position as to ensure the exclusive application of the impulsive effect of the
reaction for the locomotion of the body.
In order to obtain this, the body must, for the requisite moment, be transformed
into a really floating body, be this by a leap or by a fall or otherwise, exciting at
the same time the reaction by the backstroke of the wings whilst keeping its
surplus of surface turned against reaction. To the body thus prepared the forward
stroke of the wings imparts the direction of the intented flight which is по other
than that of the reaction.
The difficulty of starting for a flight lies in the too great proximity of the body
to the starting ground, which is a hindrance to the wings to obtain the necesssary
space for exciting a sufficient quantity of elastic air as required for the elevation.
Only a few kinds of birds try to get up in a vertical line, they all contrive to do it
in more or less inclined angles. Heavy birds use even the help of the elevating
power of the air in motion, running against the wind with half opened wings and
their feet touching the ground less and less, because they know that the reaction of
the atmosphere against the first energetic stroke of the wings must meet a floating
body: whilst the body remains in immediate contact with the ground, it opposes,
as part of a much heavier mass, a much greater resistance to the wind than if
floating in the air.
The landing, on the contrary, does not offer any serious difficulty or danger,
as every upstroke of the wings produces some elevation of the centre of gravity
within the body, thus reversing any tendency to fall. Considering the deportment
:

page_text: of the floating body in its relation with exterior forces, it is not only the reciprocal
position of the two centres which must be considered, but in particular the effect of
the continual motion of the wings and the mobility and motion of the centre of
gravity which it engenders. During flight it does not cease altering its place
within the flying body, and its geometrical centre, if it does the same, both doing
so in consequence of the motion of the wings, this reciprocal and simultaneous
locomotion, although due to the same agency, is not executed under the same
conditions. Whilst the locomotion of the centre of gravity is due to the weight of
the different parts that are put in motion, to their position between themselves and
in relation to the weight of the whole body; the locomotion of the geometrical
centre is on the contrary due to the simultaneous alterations of the configuration of
the surface, it is therefore perfectly independent of the simultaneous locomotion of
the centre of gravity. Whilst the latter remains always under the influence of the
vertical action of gravity which draws it down to the ground, the geometrical
centre finds itself on the contrary exposed to the action of the atmospheric pressure
weighing concentrically against the whole surface of the floating body. The sum
of the force of gravity weighing against the centre of gravity is its absolute weight
in pounds and fractions of pounds. The sum of the atmospheric pressure acting con-
centrically against the geometrical centre results from the number of square inches
which compose the surface of the floating body multiplied by 15 of the same
unities of weight. The effect of pressure being concentric, it must be balanced in
so far as the surface, it is acting upon, presents an equal space to each front. But
her the case is quite different, the outstretched body of the bird presents a much
larger surplus of surface downwards than the simple compensation for its absolute
weight would require and it uses the energy of its elastic limbs and of its motions
to keep that surplus ineffectual,
I believe I have justified the assertion with which I have commenced. To the
engeneer who is in possession of the mental working tools of contemporanian science,
I tender the knowledge of the mechanical laws which till now, if they have not
wholly escaped notice, certainly never have been applied to the task of the con-
struction of an aërial vessel. That task is thus reduced to the level of any other
mechanical task for my demonstration explains at once and without difficulty the
problem of the flight of the bird, a solution so often tried but never realized; it
explains with ease the want of success of so many experiments, but also the partial
success of some of them, a success obtained unconsciously and without insight into
the causes which let to it, sterile therefore for the realization of the intented
Invention. I may mention that mysterious plaything, the aërial top and the
balloon of Mr. Hänlein of Mayence. In both cases the body of the balloon is being
reached by the reaction excited by the motion of the screw. To the aërial top the
continuity of the effect is wanting which an experiment on a large scale can easily
supply; and the effect upon Mr. Hänleins balloon is due to the proximity of the
screw to the balloon. This effect was considerable enough to ensure success to the
experiment in a closed locality but quite insufficient for the experiment in free air.
It also explains what still continues to be a problem to many meritorious inves-
tigators: the soaring of the bird in high regions without any motion of the
wings -The sum of the atmospheric pressure decreasing in the same proportion in
which elevation increases, it approaches more and more the absolute weight of the
floating body which does no longer stand in want of any motion to maintain
equilibrium as soon as absolute weight is reached.
Man is walking by first putting the foot in advance, but only by the subsequent
advance of the point of gravity his pace is accomplished: thus for the act of flying
the centre of gravity is put back at first only then to be advanced under quite
different circumstances.
The demonstration of these circumstances and the method of practically making
use of the same is the object of my Invention for which I now humbly pray that a
Patent may be granted.

page_text: A strong semicircular frame of wood or iron is to keep within its hollow the
shoulders of the aëronaut, whose seat is a simple saddle of small dimensions so as
to leave the action of legs and feet unfettered. Frame and seat are united by a
stiff but elastic blade along the backbone of the flyer and two girdles attach it to
his waist and to his chest, leaving likewise unfettered the action of arms and
hands. The frame which is encircling the body of the flyer in a horizontal
direction and at such a distance as to leave free space for the move of the elbow,
supports at its ends the pivots of two wings. The distance of the pivots from the
body of the flyer must allow the propre use of the wing-handles for up and down
as well as for back and forward strokes of the wings, that will be at about 1 foot
in advance of the flyers chest and at the height of a little less than the flyers
shoulders; the distance of the 2 pivots from each other being somewhat more
than 4 feet, this being the length of the two handles i.e. 2 feet odd each, whilst
the length of the wings is 8 feet each; thus the breadth of the whole machine
will be about 20 feet.
°
The construction of the wings requires materials of great strength and elasticity;
a big bamboo-cane for the forebone, and whale bone rods, about 50 for each wing,
to be rectangularly attached alternately at the upper and under part of the bamboo,
so as to give to the silken or light cotton cover which is to form the concave side
of the wings, by passing up and down over those rods, the required undulating
surface, whilst the convex or upper part of the wings is formed by a separate
quite smooth and even spread of the same stuff. The wings have 2 feet breadth at
the root and are tapering to the end like swallows wings.
As a continuation of the elastic blade along the backbone of the flyer a strong
flat steel spring runs overhead of the flyer curbing straight forward to an elevation
of about 1 foot above his head and to a distance of about 2 feet more in advance
of his body than the pivots of the wings. Through the point of this spring, which
ends in a ring, a strong elastic cord passes, the ends of which are fastened to the
bamboos of the wings at a distance of about 3 feet from the pivots. Thus the
back and down strokes of the wings have to overcome an additional force which
renders the forward and upward strokes-which alone are the really locomotive
strokes so much more effective.
So far the front part of the machine seems to be carried out pretty closely in
imitation of the birds construction; but the back parts of the bird are not less
essential for his flight: I attach therefore a body to the back of the flyer of 3 feet
length, continued by a tail of equal length; the body is a semicircular tapering
hollow of 2 feet diameter at its beginning where it is firmly screwed to the back
of the frame mentioned before as encircling the flyers shoulders, and the tail is
pointed and forked like the tail of a swallow; the upper and under, concave
surface of both to show the same difference as that provided for the wings. The
tail, which is attached to the body by means of a hinge, can be lowered by pulling
a cord with a handle under the flyers seat. Should the capability of a start from
the ground be questioned, the lightening of my machine by means of a small
balloon would be a sufficient answer to such objection.
The weight of the machine being about 50 pounds and that of the flyer
150 pounds, the total weight to lift up is about 200 pounds against which a lifting
surplus of downward surface of merely 13, square inches would be required.
As however a much larger proportion may easily be provided by the construction
which I propose, and as in fact the natural construction of the bird far exceeds
that proportion, it may be left to the practical performance to decide this point.
The centre of gravity of the whole machine, inclusive of the flyers person, will
be found to be only slightly in advance, but rather higher than the flyers own
natural centre of gravity. Only a slight forward inclination of the upper part of
the flyers body must therefore bring his tendency to fall into operation. But the
moment of taking the leap must coincide with that when the reaction excited by
the backstroke of the wings is taking effect spontaneously with the forward stroke,

page_text: i
I need not describe such parts of my machine which do not show any new
features, but may easily be supplied at command by. any of our professional
mechanics. I may for instance leave the choice of the necessary pivots to the
operative engineer if I tell him that I want them to allow every action of the
wings which is used in flight by the bird, not forgetting however one which is
generally overlooked, and which is nevertheless very essential for the act of flying:
namely the capability of giving the backstroke somewhat flatly backwards whilst
the forward stroke is given with the edge sharply forward. It must therefore
allow to some small extend the turning of the handles round their own axis.
A little exercise may still be required thus to set the machine in motion, bat
every difficulty can easily be removed by the practical application of my principles
and the grant of your Patent will, I trust, soon enable me to make the required
practical experiment with this machine of my Invention.

page_text: I WILLIAM CORNELIUS Bookkeeper of Creuznach in the Empire of Germany
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FLYING
MACHINES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a flying machine constructed as nearly
as possible upon the same principles which enable a bird to traverse the air, all its
movements being under its entire control and requiring but little strength compared
with the effect produced.
The construction and arrangement of parts of my improved flying machine are
intended to utilize on the one hand the elastic and concentric pressure of the
atmosphere by giving to the machine a larger underneath or supporting surface
than the upper surface and on the other hand the reacting motion of the atmosphere
against the action of the wings the principal feature in realizing the latter effect
being that such reaction shall take the same direction as that in which the flying
body is to move.
The flying machine hereinafter described is intended to carry one person riding
in a saddle and working the driving mechanism by hand but I wish it to be
understood that without materially changing the essential features of my Invention
the saddle and frame may be replaced by a suitable cage or stand to hold one or
more persons and provided with mechanical means for exercising the driving power.
The dimensions and proportions of the flying machine in such case will have to be
altered in accordance with the increase of weight or to counterbalance the same a
balloon of adequate capacity may be connected.
In order that the Invention may be more fully understood I will proceed to
describe it by the aid of the accompanying Drawings in which the same letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Fig. 1 is a plan or horizontal view of my improved flying machine the wing at
the left hand being broken off near the pivot in order to save space. Fig. 2 is
a transverse elevation of the same partly in section. Figures 3 to 14 serve to
explain sundry details of the construction of parts belonging to the mechanism.
The apparatus consists of a strong semicircular frame of wood or iron in the
hollow of which frame the shoulders of the aëronaut are supported, his seat p
being conveniently formed as a saddle of small dimensions leaving the legs and feet
free to move. The frame and seat p are united by a stiff and preferably elastic
rod or blade m extending along the backbone of the aëronaut who is attached to
the said rod m by girdles or straps or other suitable fastenings leaving the use of
his arms and hands unfettered. The branches of the frame (which encircles the.
aëronaut so as to leave free space to the elbows to move) carry at their free ends
the pivots e of the wings. The distance of the pivots from the body of the
aëronaut must be arranged to allow the proper use of the wing handles f
(Figures 12. 13. 14) for up and down strokes as well as for back and forward
strokes of the wings I prefer to arrange the pivots at about one foot in advance of
the aeronauts chest and at a height of a. little less than that of his shoulders the
distance of the two pivots e from each other being somewhat more than four feet
each handle measuring about two feet the length of the wings will suitably be
8 feet each. Thus the breadth of the whole machine with extended wings will be.
about 20 feet.

page_text: .
The construction of the wings requires the employment of materials of con-
siderable strength and elasticity for the rib or rod I prefer to use a strong bamboo
cane rat right angles to which a number of elastic blades u preferably of whale-
bone or the like are fastened alternately at the upper and lower surface of the
bamboo as shown in Figures 1. 2. 3. The said blades u are secured to the rib r by
wires or other suitable means in such a manner as to prevent any displacement
and they are covered with a suitable woven fabric of silk cotton or the like
which forms the lower or concave surface of the wings the said lower surface
assuming an undulating form by the fabric being passed over and under the
blades u.
The upper convex surface of the wings on the contrary is as smooth and
even as possible being formed of a separate extension of the same or a similar
fabric, I prefer to give to the wings the shape of a swallow's wing tapering towards
the end the breadth at the root may be two feet but this as all other dimensions
may vary according to different requirements and circumstances.
As a continuation of the elastic rod in leading along the backbone of the
aëronaut a strong steel spring h (see Fig. 2) extends upwards and forwards to an
elevation of about one foot above the head of the aeronaut and to a distance of
about two feet in advance of the position of the pivots e. At the fore end of the
said spring ha ring or eye is formed through which passes a strong elastic cord ť
the ends of which are fastened to the bamboo rods r of the wings at a distance of
about three feet from the pivots e. By the aid of the said spring h and cord t the
back and down strokes of the wings have to overcome an additional force which
renders the forward and upward strokes (which alone are the really locomotive
strokes) so much more effective.
Bearing in mind the fact that the closer the construction of my improved flying
machine resembles that of a flying bird the more successful it will be and in order
to complete this resemblance I attach as an essential part a tail-shaped wing
extending backwards from the flyer. The said tail consists (like the wings) of a
rod or rectangular bar g. Figures 5 and 6 secured to the frame 1. across the said
rod g. blades u of whalebone or other suitable material are fastened at right angles
to the rod and alternately at the upper and lower surface of the same as in the case
of the wings but extending equally on both sides of the rod thus forming when
covered with fabric a semicircular concave lower surface and a convex upper
surface as shown in Fig. 5. The breadth of this tapering part of the tail at the
root is about 2 feet and its length about 3 feet; hinged to the outer end of the
rod g is another rod or bar of the same or nearly the same length. The blades u
fastened upon the extended rod may all be arranged upon the upper surface of the
rod or they may be arranged alternately as before and the shape of the tail may be
pointed and forked like a swallow's tail or it may receive any other convenient
shape. The hinge g. between the rod g and its extension is shown on an enlarged
scale in Figures 10 and 11 in longitudinal section and plan, the said hinge is
arranged to keep the two rods in one level which is the normal position but the
outer rod is capable of being pulled downwards by a cord v. attached to it and
leading to the seat of the aëronaut where it is guided and provided with a handle
or by the feet.
.
The weight of the flying machine of the described construction and size will
scarcely exceed 50 lbs. and assuming that the aeronaut riding in the saddle
weights 150 lbs. the total weight will be about 200 lbs. to carry or lift which
weight a downward surface exceeding the upper surface by only 13%, square inches
would be sufficient. A much larger proportion between the upper and lower
surface may easily be established by the proposed construction of the wings and
tail and in fact the natural construction of a bird also considerably exceeds that
proportion.
The centre of gravity of the whole machine including the aeronauts person will
be found to be only slightly in advance of, but rather higher than his own natural
centre of gravity. Therefore only a slight forward inclination of the upper part of
the aeronauts body must produce a downward motion.
.:

page_text: But the moment of taking the leap must coincide with that when the reaction
caused by the back stroke of the wings is taking effect concurrently with the
forward stroke.
The construction of the pivots may preferably be that of a ball-and-socket joint
as shewn in Figures 7. 8. 9 the handle to work the wing extending through the
said joint.
But I do not bind myself to this construction only I wish it to be understood
that an essential feature for the action of the wings is their capability of giving
the back stroke somewhat flatly backwards whilst the forward stroke is given with
the edge sharply forward. The pivot therefore must allow to some extent. the
turning of the handles round their own axis.
The tail of the machine may be connected with the wings by elastic bands 8
which serve partly to effect or aid the turning of the wings between the back-and-
forward stroke and partly to bend down the blades u of the wing adjacent to the
body thereby forming a concave lower surface like that of a birds wing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
First: The general construction arrangement and combination of parts composing
or constituting my improved flying machine designed to embody the mechanical
principles brought into exercise in the flight of a bird in the manner substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, that is to say, the combination of
a body capable of supporting the aeronaut with wings and tail respectively
constructed and proportioned as described such wings being jointed to the body in
such a manner as to admit of their having imparted to them the compound motions
described.
Secondly: The construction of the wings in the manner substantially as described
and especially with the upper and under surfaces in the relation to each other
illustrated by the sectional Fig. 3 and hereinbefore described..
And lastly: The construction of the tail in the manner substantially as described
and especially with the upper and under surfaces in the relation to each other
illustrated by the sectional Fig. 5 and hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thirteenth day of August 1884.