Improvements in and relating to Navigable Balloons.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Navigable Balloons.
I, GRAF FERDINAND VON ZEPPELIN, Lieutenant-General, General à la Suite of
His Majesty the King of Württemberg, of 19, Keplerstrasse, Stuttgart, in the
German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
This invention relates to a navigable balloon which is characterized essentially
in that it is provided with a number of motors arranged separately from each
other. In this manner it is possible to give the balloon or aerostat, which
receives the gas and is preferably cylindrical with rounded ends, a smaller
diameter in proportion to the driving-power developed by the motors and to cor-
respondingly reduce the air-resistance. A navigable balloon or air-craft of this
kind can he combined with several other balloons or air-craft in such a manner
that the foremost craft contains the driving-gear whilst the others serve for the
reception of the goods or load to be carried."
In order to give the balloon a rigid form, it is provided with a framework or
skeleton of tubes, wire-ropes and wire-gauze or netting over which is stretched
an outer shell or envelope of silk or similar material. The framework is stiffened
internally by means of partition-walls and vertical stays between which lie cir-
cumferential rings and diagonal stays.
By means of the said partition-walls, the balloon or aërostat is divided into
separate compartments, or chambers, in which correspondingly-shaped gas-bags
or envelopes folded together are introduced, and are then filled with gas. This
arrangement permits the use of rigid chambers as gas-spaces, without bringing
the gas into contact with the atmospheric air in the chambers during filling. The
filling of the gas-bags or envelopes takes place without interfering with the cylin-
drical form of the balloon-framework which is continuously maintained by
means of the outer casing or envelope, and is only continued up to such a degree
that the necessary free space is left to permit expansion of the gas when the
balloon ascends to great altitudes and when heated. By means of this limited
charge of gas, which must however, be sufficient for lifting the craft, it is possible
to retain the necessary quantity of gas even for journeys of very long duration.
The gas-bags or envelopes are provided with safety-valves and outlet valves
which, in the ordinary course, are not used. In order to obviate the necessity
of having to let out gas from the main-gas-bags in long journeys to compensate
for the reduction in the weight to be carried due to the consumption of fuel or
other material used in driving the craft, which results in spoiling the gas by
the introduction of air, I arrange, in the several chambers near the main gas-
bags special auxiliary bags, which may be termed manoeuvring-bags or com-
tainers and are of the same diameter as the main gas-bags and of suitable length.
In filling, these special manoeuvring-bags or containers are filled with gas
before the main gas-bags with which they are connected, so that they retain their
position when the filling of the main gas-bags or containers afterwards takes
place. If now gas be allowed to escape from the manoeuvring-bags or containers,

page_text: when the reduction in weight renders this necessary, the main gas-bags or con-
tainers expand under the action of the upwardly-pressing gas contained therein
until, after the emptying of the manoeuvring-bags, they fill up the whole of the
upper part of the chamber. The main gas-bags or containers thus retain their
full quantity of gas.
Beneath the balloon or aërostat there runs a gangway rigidly connected there-
to, from which all parts of the balloon can be reached by means of rope-ladders,
as well as two or more cars for the reception of the aeronaut or controller of the
driving-gear, of the fuel or other material used in driving the craft, the
passengers, and the useful load or cargo. Each driving-mechanism drives two
air-screws provided on both sides of the buoyant-cylinder at about the same
height as the centre of resistance.
The steering of the balloon sidewise is effected by means of two rudders which
are arranged above and beneath at the front or the rear part of the balloon and
can be operated by means of suitable steering-gear.
In order to bring the balloon into a horizontal or inclined position, as desired,
a weight is suspended beneath it by means of pulley-blocks and tackle. The
movable carriage or traveller to which the upper pulley-block is secured, rests
adjustably on a wire rope secured to the shell or casing of the balloon, and can
be drawn to and fro, between suitable limiting positions, by means of an endless
wire rope which runs several times round over two rotatable drums, arranged at
equal distances from the middle of the balloon. To each of the two drums is
secured a fusee or snail rotating therewith. The threads of the said fusees are
so calculated that wire-ropes having their ends secured thereto are kept con-
tinually stretched between them and the running weight, since one
simultaneously winds on to one fusee and the other rope unwinds from the other
fusee when the position of the weight is altered by moving the traveller support-
ing it.
This arrangement ensures that, in the horizontal position of the whole
balloon, as far as relates to the adjustment of the running weight to compensate
for other displacements or redistributions of weight (for example, change in the
position of men) the two wire-ropes on the fusees shall always remain under a
slight tension. In this manner they automatically contribute towards maintain-
ing a horizontal position; for when, for example, the front end of the balloon
begins to rise, the running-weight, in its tendency to remain perpendicularly
below the traveller, will exert a pull in the wire rope running to the front fusee.
If the balloon is to be maintained in an upwardly-directed position, for example,
the front wire-rope continuously exerts a pull, this however increasing if the
point rises still higher. The suspension of the weight is effected by means of
pulley-blocks and tackle in order to enable it to be drawn up when the balloon
descends to the ground. If the weight is to be used as a simple running weight,
even whilst it is partly or entirely drawn up, the fusees can be loosed from con-
nection with the drums and the wire-ropes from the fusees unhooked from the
weight so that these ropes and the tackle do not interfere with one another's
action.
Instead of a running weight of this kind, two or more towing or trailing-ropes
arranged at a suitable distance apart, can also be employed which ropes can be
adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the balloon. These towing- or trailing-
ropes, which can be arranged singly or in groups, are secured to an endless
cable, by means of which they can be adjusted in one or the other direction.
In travelling in the air, the towing or trailing-ropes, as soon as they no longer
trail on the earth, are tied or connected together at their lower ends in any suit-
able manner so as to enable the towing or trailing-ropes to automatically maintain
the balloon in the required position.
In order to permit greater loads to be carried, one or more similarly-built
load-carrying balloons, but without driving-gear, can be suspended to the balloon
provided with driving-gear. The combined air-craft are connected together in
such a manner that they form a connected train. The connection of the single

page_text: balloons is effected by means of couplings which are movable in all directions.
The space between each two balloons is closed by means of an extensible cover
which lies over the cylindrical shells of the two adjacent balloons so that the
wind cannot obtain a hold in the intermediate space..
The compensation for the difference in specific gravity of the balloons of a
train, due to the consumption of the fuel or material used in driving the balloon,
or of the provisions or loss of gas or to other causes, is preferably effected by
the transfer of liquids, for example, benzine, water or the like or by trans-
ferring heavy objects,--for example, provisions, useful freight of all kinds, sand
or the like out of the specifically heavier into the lighter balloon, or by con-
densing gases or atmospheric air in the latter.
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Navigable Balloons.
I, GRAF FERDINAND VON ZEPPELIN, Lieutenant-General, General à la Suite of
His Majesty the King of Württemberg, of 19, Keplerstrasse, Stuttgart, in the
German Empire, 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:—
This invention relates to a navigable balloon which is characterized essentially
in that a number of motors are arranged separately from each other, on a long
aërostat or balloon preferably of cylindrical form and having rounded ends, each
of these motors operating special propeller-screws preferably arranged at the
side of the aerostat or balloon. This arrangement has the advantage that the
weight of the motors and of the driving-gear is distributed over the whole length
of the aerostat or balloon so that the latter can be given a proportionately small
diameter whereby the air-resistance is correspondingly reduced, whilst on the
other hand, by the several motors, a proportionately large driving-power is
obtained.
A navigable balloon of this kind can be combined with a number of other
balloons in such a manner, that the foremost balloon contains the motors and
driving-gear, whilst the other balloons serve for the reception of the load to
be carried.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved navigable balloon or air-craft.
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, showing a part of the said craft drawn to
an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a transverse section through the craft.
Figures 5 and 6 show the arrangement of the separate gas-bags or envelopes
in the several compartments of the balloon.
Figures 7 and 8 show, in side elevation and plan respectively, the arrangement
of an adjustable running weight which serves for giving the balloon any desired
inclination to the horizontal.
Figure 9 shows a modification in which the running weight is replaced by
adjustable towing- or trailing-ropes.
Figure 10 shows a number of balloons connected together so as to form a train.

page_text: Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the method of coupling the several balloons together.
In order to give the balloon a rigid form, it is provided with a framework or
skeleton of tubes r, wire-ropes s and wire-gauze or netting d, Figures 1, 3 and 4,
over which is stretched an outer shell or envelope of silk or similar material.
The framework is stiffened internally by means of partition-walls a, and vertical
stays, Figures 3 and 4, between which lie circumferential rings u and diagonal
stays w.
By means of the said partition-walls, the balloon or aërostat is divided into
separate compartments or chambers, Figure 3, in which correspondingly-shaped
gas-bags or envelopes folded together are introduced, and are then filled with
gas. This arrangement permits the use of rigid chambers as gas-spaces, without
bringing the gas into contact with the atmospheric air in the chambers during
filling. The filling of the gas-bags or envelopes takes place without interfering
with the cylindrical form of the balloon-framework which is continuously main-
tained by means of the outer casing or envelope, d', and is only continued up
to such a degree that the necessary free space is left to permit expansion of
the gas when the balloon ascends to great altitudes and when heated. By means
of this limited charge of gas, which must however, be sufficient for lifting the
craft, it is possible to retain the necessary quantity of gas even for journeys of
very long duration. The gas-bags or envelopes are provided with safety-valves
and outlet-valves (not shown on the drawing) which, in the ordinary course, are
not used. In order to obviate the necessity of having to let out gas from the
main-gas-bags in long journeys to compensate for the reduction in the weight
to be carried due to the consumption of fuel or other material used in driving
the craft, which results in spoiling the gas by the introduction of air, I arrange
in the several chambers, near the main gas-bags o, special auxiliary bags, which
may be termed manoeuvring-bags or containers P, Figures 5 and 6, and are of
the same diameter as the main gas-bags and of suitable length.
In filling, these special manoeuvring-bags or containers p, are filled with gas
before the main gas-bags with which they are connected, so that they retain
their position when the filling of the main gas-bags or containers afterwards
takes place. If now gas be allowed to escape from the manoeuvring-bags or con-
tainers, when the reduction in weight renders this necessary, the main gas-bags
or containers o expand under the action of the upwardly-pressing gas contained
therein until, after the emptying of the manoeuvring-bags, they fill up the whole
of the upper part of the chamber. The main gas-bags or containers o thus retain
their full quantity of gas.
The bags, indicated in Figure 5 are provided with pipes of the same material
as the bags, through which pipes the diagonal stays w run. Or the bags are
provided with elastic tubes of rubber or the like, surrounding tightly the diagonal
stays. The manoeuvring gas-bags may be divided in their upper parts, so that
they surround the stays from two sides and can collapse without being hindered
by the stays.
Beneath the balloon or aërostat there runs a gangway 7 rigidly connected
thereto, from which all parts of the balloon can be reached by means of rope-
ladders f, as well as two or more cars g for the reception of the aëronaut or
controller of the driving-gear, of the fuel or other material used in driving the
craft, the passengers, and the useful load or cargo. Each driving-mechanism
drives two air-screws t, Figure 1, provided on both sides of the buoyant-cylinder
at about the same height as the centre of resistance.
The steering of the balloon sidewise is effected by means of two rudders q,
Figure 1, which are arranged above and beneath at the front or the rear part
of the balloon and can be operated by means of suitable steering-gear.
In order to bring the balloon into a horizontal or inclined position, as desired,
a weight bis suspended beneath it by means of pulley-blocks and tackle b¹,
Figures 1, 7 and 8. The movable carriage or traveller n to which the upper
pulley-block is secured, rests adjustably on a wire rope secured to the shell or.

page_text: casing of the balloon, and can be drawn to and fro, between suitable limiting
positions, by means of an endless wire rope which runs several times round over
two rotatable drums, y, Figures 7 and 8, arranged at equal distances from the
middle of the balloon. To each of the two drums is secured a fusee or snail z
rotating therewith. The threads of the said fusees are so calculated that wire-
ropes having their ends secured thereto are kept continually stretched between
them and the running weight b, since one simultaneously winds onto one fusee
and the other rope unwinds from the other fusee when the position of the weight
is altered by moving the traveller supporting it. This arrangement ensures
that, in the horizontal position of the whole balloon, as far as relates to the
adjustment of the running weight to compensate for other displacements or re-
distributions of weight (for example, change in the position of men) the two
wire-ropes on the fusees shall always remain under a slight tension. In this
manner they automatically contribute towards maintaining a horizontal position :
for when, for example, the front end of the balloon begins to rise, the running-
weight in its tendency to remain perpendicularly below the traveller 7, will
exert a pull in the wire-rope running to the front fusee. If the balloon is to
be maintained in an upwardly-directed position, for example, the front wire-rope
continuously exerts a pull, this however increasing if the point rises still higher.
The suspension of the weight is effected by means of pulley-blocks and tackle b
in order to enable it to be drawn up when the balloon descends to the ground.
If the weight is to be used as a simple running weight, even whilst it is partly
or entirely drawn up, the fusees can be loosed from connection with the drums
and the wire-ropes 63 from the fusees unhooked from the weight b so that these
ropes and the tackle do not interfere with one another's action.
Instead of a running weight of this kind, two or more towing- or trailing-
ropes 63 arranged at a suitable distance apart can also be employed as shown
in Figure 9, which ropes can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the
balloon. These towing- or trailing-ropes, which can be arranged singly or in
groups, are secured to an endless cable by means of which they can be adjusted
in one or the other direction. In travelling in the air, the towing- or trailing-
ropes as soon as they no longer trail on the earth, are tied or connected together
at their lower ends in any suitable manner so as to enable the towing- or trailing-
ropes to automatically maintain the balloon in the required position.
In order to permit greater loads to be carried, one or more similarly-built load-
carrying balloons but without driving-gear, can be attached to the balloon pro-
vided with the motors and the driving-gear, as shown in Figure 10. Combined
craft are connected together in such a manner that they form a connected train.
The connection of the single balloons is effected by means of couplings c,
Figures 11 and 12, which are movable in all directions. The space between
each two balloons is closed by means of an extensible cover e, which lies over
the cylindrical shells of the two adjacent balloons so that the wind cannot obtain
a hold in the intermediate space.
The compensation for the difference in specific gravity of the balloons of a train,
due to the consumption of the fuel or material used in driving the balloon, or
of the provisions, or loss of gas or to other causes, is preferably effected by
the transfer of liquids, for example, benzine, water or the like, or by transferring
heavy objects, for example, provisions, useful freight of all kinds, sand or the
like, out of the specifically heavier into the lighter balloon, through pipes or
tubes, which are preferably flexible, and which connect the said balloons.
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
1. A navigable balloon with a long aërostat of cylindrical or other suitable
form and having rounded ends, whereon a number of motors are mounted
separately from each other, each of which operates special propeller-screws prefer-

page_text: ably arranged at the side of the aërostat, for obtaining a large driving power
with a proportionately small cross-section of the aërostat.
2. In a navigable balloon such as is hereinbefore described, the employment
of special manoeuvring gas-bags or containers in the separate sections or compart-
ments of the aërostat, in such a manner that the gas can be allowed to escape,
as required, from either of the manoeuvring bags, and the main gas-bag in the
same compartment will then expand and fill up the space previously occupied
by the manoeuvring-bag, for the purpose specified.
3. In a navigable balloon such as is hereinbefore described, a running-weight
suspended beneath the aerostat by means of pulley-blocks and tackle so as to be
adjustable as regards its height, and the carriage or traveller whereof is movable
to and fro by two rotary drums to which it is connected, whereby ropes which
are stretched from the weight to fusees or snails connected to the drums, are
wound on or unwound from the said fusees in such a manner that, in the adjust-
ment or displacement of the running-weight, they always remain in tension.
4. In a navigable balloon such as is hereinbefore described, the employment
in place of the adjustable running weight of two or more towing- or trailing-
ropes arranged at a suitable distance from one another, which ropes can be
adjusted in one or the other direction and their lower ends connected together
during the aërial journey.
5. An air-craft built-up from a number of navigable balloons such as are
hereinbefore described, in which the foremost of the movable interconnected
balloons carries the motors and driving-gear, whilst the remainder serve for
receiving the load or freight, and in which the intermediate space between each
two balloons is covered over by means of an extensible cover which is secured
to the rigid shells or casings of the adjacent balloons.
6. In an air-craft such as is claimed in the preceding claiming clause, the
provision of tube or pipe-connections between the various aërostats or balloons
so as to permit the transference during a journey of sand, liquids, or the like
for the adjustment of differences of weight between the several aërostats or balloons.
Dated this 17th day of September 1898.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.