IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR ARRIAL MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR
ARRIAL MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Auguste Debayeux,
of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1881.
"
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR AERIAL MACHINES.” A communication from
abroad by Auguste Debayeux, of Paris, France.
The primary objects of this Invention are to propel and guide balloons or aërial
machines, and these are accomplished by the rarefaction of the air substantially in
the following manner:-This rarefaction of the air by which, according to this
Invention, a balloon is propelled and guided is obtained by placing a fan or fanlike
screw or screws or other such like appliance or appliances capable of producing a
partial vacuum or rarefaction of the air at or about that point of the apparatus in
the direction it is desired to be propelled, which propulsion is then effected by the
pressure of the atmosphere on the other or opposite side or end of the balloon to
that at which the rarefaction or partial vacuum of the air is produced.
The fan or fan-like screw or screws or other equivalent appliance or appliances
being placed at the front, for example, acts as an aspirator to turn to the side the
column of air which is encountered as the machine advances, and also to suck the
air on that part of the balloon near the fan. This fact of the rarefaction of the air
being obtained by a fan produces at this part of the machine a relative vacuum in
relation to the other or opposite parts, where the air being more dense propels the
balloon towards the spot where the air is more rarefied, whereby progress in the
required direction is produced.
It is to be understood that any kind of fan or fans may be employed that is or
are capable of rarefying the air, whether made with straight, curved, or any other
form of wings or blades; they may be of metal, whalebone, or of any other suitable
material, open or closed.

page_text: As a motor to drive these fans a steam engine may be used, but according to the
size of the machine it may be driven by hand or other convenient power, as this is
only a detail to be regulated by the size of the apparatus, and according to the
speed to be obtained.
By means of this Invention is obtained the propulsion, and with it the direction
of the balloon or aërial machine of any form by the rarefaction of the air producing
a relative vacuum in the direction desired to be obtained; for example, a fan or its
equivalent is or may be placed at that part of the balloon where a vacuum is or
may be required; any of the described or other known means for producing this
rarefaction of the air or relative vacuum is capable of employment if desired.
These aërial machines or balloons may be inflated with carburetted or pure
hydrogen gas, or with any other suitable gas.
Many attempts have been heretofore made to obtain aërial navigation; the
greater part, not to say all, are intended to make a balloon go against the wind,
either by means of oars or fans placed on the car or by sails. Now this Invention
goes altogether in a different direction; by making a relative vacuum on a part of
the balloon a column of air is dispersed and a road is opened, so that the aërostat
may pass without encountering resistance. If it may be so expressed the wind is
disturbed and a hole is made in the air for the balloon to pass through. By this
means there is no shock between the balloon and the air, and consequently no fear
of causing the balloon to burst by the dilatation of the gas under too great pressure
of the air, as has been feared to the present day.
As a rudder, should one be required, either a sheet of metal or any other
material, such as may be thought suitable, according to the shape and, size of
aërial machine to be guided is employed, or a screw may be used therefor.
As an additional means of steering or directing this aërial machine or balloon
shutters or blind like appliances capable of being rolled up or unrolled or other-
wise adjusted by being set at an angle or angles or otherwise, and placed before or
in front of the fan or windmill or at each side, may be employed.
Fans or fan-like appliances may be used to act as a brake or brakes, and to
regulate the descent of the machine.
The aërostat or structure may be rounded, square, or pointed at the ends; the
screw, fan, or equivalents may have as many wings as desired, say, six, and more
or less; the frame or carriage is connected preferably by network to the aërostat;
and carries the driving power, which is communicated to the screw by suitable.
pulleys and bands or other suitable mechanism.

page_text: 1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th September 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS OR AERIAL MACHINES." (A communication from
abroad by Auguste Debayeux, of Paris, France.)
The primary objects of this Invention are to propel and guide balloons or aërial
machines, and these are accomplished by the rarefaction of the air substantially in
the following manner :-This rarefaction of the air by which, according to this
Invention, a balloon is propelled and guided is obtained by placing a fan, or fanlike
screw or screws, or other such like appliance or appliances, capable of producing a
partial vacuum or rarefaction of the air at or about that point of the apparatus in
the direction it is desired to be propelled, which propulsion is then effected by the
pressure of the atmosphere on the other or opposite side or end of the balloon to
that at which the rarefaction or partial vacuum of the air is produced.
The fan, or fanlike screw or screws, or other equivalent appliance or appliances
being placed at the front, for example, acts as an aspirator to turn to the side the
column of air which is encountered as the machine advances, and also to suck the
air on that part of the balloon near the fan. This fact of the rarefaction of the air
being obtained by a fan produces at this part of the machine a relative vacuum in
relation to the other or opposite parts, where the air being more dense propels the
balloon towards the spot where the air is more rarefied, whereby progress in the
required direction is produced.
It is to be understood that any kind of fan or fans may be employed that is or
are capable of rarefying the air, whether made with straight, curved, or any other
form of wings or blades; they may be of metal, whalebone, or of any other suitable.
material, open or closed.
As a motor to drive these fans a steam engine may be used, but according to the
size of the machine it may be driven by hand or other convenient power, as this is
only a detail to be regulated by the size of the apparatus, and according to the
speed to be obtained.
By means of this Invention is obtained the propulsion, and with it the direction
of the balloon or aërial machine of any form by the rarefaction of the air, producing
a relative vacuum in the direction desired to be obtained; for example, a fan or
its equivalent is or may be placed at that part of the balloon where a vacuum is
or may be required; any of the described or other known means for producing
this rarefaction of the air or relative vacuum is capable of employment if desired.
These aërial machines or balloons may be inflated with carburetted or pure
hydrogen gas or with any other suitable gas.
Many attempts have been heretofore made to obtain aërial navigation; the
greater part, not to say all, are intended to make a balloon go against the wind,
either by means of oars or fans placed on the car or by sails; now this Invention
goes altogether in a different direction; by making a relative vacuum on a part of
the balloon a column of air is dispersed, and a road is opened, so that the aerostat
may pass without encountering resistance. If it may be so expressed the wind is
disturbed and a hole is made in the air for the balloon to pass through; by this
means there is no shock between the balloon and the air, and consequently no fear
of causing the balloon to burst by the dilatation of the gas under too great pressure
of the air, as has been feared to the present day.
As a rudder, should one be required, either a sheet of metal or any other
material, such as may be thought suitable, according to the shape and size of aërial
machine to be guided, is employed, or a screw may be used therefor.

page_text: As an additional means of steering or directing this aërial machine or balloon,
shutters or blindlike appliances capable of being rolled up or unrolled, or otherwise
adjusted by being set at an angle or angles, or otherwise, and placed before or in
front of the fan or windmill, or at each side, may be employed.
Fans or fanlike screw appliances may be used to act as a brake or brakes, and
to regulate the descent of the machine...
The aërostat or structure may be rounded, square, or pointed at the ends; the
screw, fan, or equivalents may have as many wings as desired, say six, and more or
less; the frame or carriage is connected preferably by network to the aërostat, and
carries the driving power, which is communicated to the screw by suitable pulleys
and bands, or other suitable mechanism.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates in side elevation an aërial machine or
balloon as it may be constructed for the purpose of and according to my Invention.
A is the balloon proper; b is a fanlike appliance for producing a partial vacuum or
rarefaction of the air in front of the balloon, or two or more may be arranged side
by side for the same purpose; c is a fan at the rear end, which may be used as a
brake when it is desired to descend at any desired place; C is the carriage or
vessel, connected to the balloon by network or otherwise, for carrying the motive
power, cargo, fuel, provisions, and other things, as well as passengers. Motion is
communicated to the several fans or fanlike appliances by bevil gearing, or by
suitable driving bands, pulleys, or other available appliances from the steam or
other engine D, as may be found convenient. d, d, are fans for steering, and which
may be used in connection with shutters placed in front of them to act on the same
exhausting principle as that of the propelling fan or fans b; e, e, are small internal
balloons; E is the boiler.
I claim as the Invention communicated to me,—
In an aërial machine or balloon the mode of propulsion of same, herein set forth,
by the employment of fans or fan like screw appliances, whereby rarefaction of the
air is produced in the direction in which the machine is to be propelled or guided;
also the combination and arrangement of parts for propelling and steering balloons,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
R A
ת הגזמת.