A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF BALLOON OR AERIAL MACHINE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Duthu, of Madrid, in the Kingdom
of Spain, Merchant, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF BALLOON OR AERIAL MACHINE.”
Sealed the 12th April 1873, and dated the 18th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Duthu
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th October 1872.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE DUTHU, of Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF BALLOON OR AERIAL MACHINE," to be as
follows:
1
The novel system of balloon, the subject of my Invention, is so simple
that at first sight of its parts it is difficult to believe in the realization
of that long sought problem the guiding or steering of balloons.
Nevertheless a careful consideration of the working of each part will
lead if not to conviction at least to some confidence.

page_text: A complete guidance in every possible wind and weather is a thing
if not impossible at least very difficult, and I do not pretend in starting
from one fixed point to go to another to travel in a direct line when the
winds are contrary or unsteady, that is to say, against the wind; I have no
such pretension; that which I claim to do is by beating and tacking like a
ship against a head wind to keep the line I desire to follow. For this
purpose I have only to arrange the oars or yards which carry the sails
so as to lic close to the wind, or to use a nautical expression, go ellip-
tically as near to the wind as possible. I am aided in these evolutions
by a screw fan, the special construction of which permits me to shift:
the horizontal position at will without it therefore becoming necessary
to stop the motion. By this means while causing the balloon to describo
ellipses I always finish by arriving at the point fixed beforehand, which
enables me to say with justice that the system herein-after described
solves the problem of the direction or steering of balloons.
It need scarcely be stated that the balloon, that is to say the stuff
which is inflated, remains of the same shape, and therefore my Inven-
tion consists only in the arrangement of the mechanical parts as hiercin-
after set forth.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention, reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of
reference placed thereon.
1°. a, b, axle or vertical miast of conical form, passing in a straight
line through the centre of the balloon, and extending to the lower part
of the car m, to which it is joined by bars h and iron tics.
The lines of
2º. c, d, e, f, g, h, horizontal axles of the same form as the above, and
which may be increased or diminished like that a, b, according to the
size and shape of the balloons and cars to be constructed.
these horizontal axles are cut at their base by the line of the axle or
main mast a, b, so as to form angles, the summits of which are super- 3
posed on this same line. These axles or wooden cross pieces are
arranged at their base in such a manner as to be in connection with
cach other and by fours, by means of iron bars through the centre of
which passes the main mast. These bars are united and connected in
their turn with the main mast by screws or pins to prevent their
rotation. All the axles or cross pieces are furnished at their end with
a ring through which pass the ropes j starting from the upper part of

page_text: the mast, as also other supplementary ropes a', b', which ropes all como
and fasten on to the car to give stability to the entire apparatus of tho
balloon.
3°. The three long oars or yards k carry sails of a triangular form,
and which have the car m for fulcrum and point of rotation; z, ropes for
working the sails 7. These yards which act as rudder to the balloon
may be multiplied if necessary.
4°. Of a fan or screw A of special shape and construction which I
repeat may shift its horizontal position at will without necessitating a
stoppage therefor. This apparatus placed in one of the sides of the car may
be multiplied according to the size and shape of each car, and these
apparatuses, no matter what form may be given to them, may be
said to complete this system of directing air balloons. The shaft of the
screw or fan A is supported upon and revolves in two bearings, i", in
order to facilitate its rotary motion, and is further provided with a
wooden fly made hollow and filled with ballast which may be let out at
will by means of an opening for that purpose. The balloon, properly so
called, is furnished at its upper part with safety valves p in unlimited
number which open naturally outwards when there is too great an expan-
sion of gas, and close of themselves by means of the spiral spring r
when the pressure of the gas is at its normal state, that is to say, when
there is neither too much nor enough pressure; when the pressure of
the gas is normal, and it is desired to descend to a certain region, as the
pressure of the gas can no longer cause the valves to open, they are opened
by means of the rope & attached to the end of the lever t which it
causes to pivot and open or close the valve. This valve serves at the
same time to enable the acronaut to effect the landing. The balloon is
covered with a net, the ends of which come on to the car, which is also
surrounded for the security of the traveller with another strong net
fastening on to the first.
To ensure the landing I adopt an anchor of a novel description. This
anchor is composed of two similar pieces x, x', joined together at the
point 6 by means of a strong rivet, and attached to the screw or fan
shaft by means of the two ropes c, d; each of these two ropes passes
into rings y, y'. The rope c passes in the ring y and separates at this
point into two; it is the same with the rope d which in passing through
the ring y' also divides into two at the same point. Each of the two

page_text: ends of the rope c are attached to the inner extremities u, u', of the
anchor, and two ends of the rope d are fastened above to the stems of
the anchor x, x', at the points o, o'.
When it is desired to land the balloon it is only necessary to let fall the
anchor by means of the two ropes c, d; the anchor therefore grapples,
and this is its merit, and I would direct particular attention thereto. It
will be understood that when it is desired to unhook, it is only necessary
to pull the rope c, which in causing the lifting of the two inner ends of
the arms u, u', of the anchor, necessarily forces the two outer ends of the
anchor p, p', to describe the curves indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 5,
and consequently to unhook.

page_text: Figure 7, elevation of one of the S safety valves p which serve by the
aid of the spring to prevent explosion of the balloon by too great an
expansion of gas, and also to regulate in conjunction with the ballast,
with which the balloon is provided, the height at which it is desired to
travel as well as to effect the landing; t, lever; 8, rope.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE DUTHυ, of Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain, Merchant, send
grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, Her special licence
that I, the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF BALLOON OR AERIAL MACHINE," upon the condition.
(amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: main mast A, B, so as to form angles the summits of which are
superposed on this same line; these axles or wooden cross pieces aro
arranged at their base in such a manner as to be in connection with each
other and by fours, by means of iron bars, through the centre of which
passes the main mast; these bars are united and connected in their turn
with the main mast by screws or pins to prevent their rotation; all the
axles or cross pieces are furnished at their end with a ring through
which pass the ropes J, starting from the upper part of the mast, as also
other supplementary ropes A', B', which ropes all come and fasten on to
the car to give stability to the entire apparatus of the balloon.
3°. The three long oars or yards K carry sails L of a triangular form,
and which have the car M for fulcrum and point of rotation; Z, ropes
for working the sails L; these yards which act as rudder to the balloon
may be multiplied if necessary.
4°. The fan or screw a of special shape and construction may, as
before stated, shift its horizontal position at will without necessitating a
stoppage therefor..
This apparatus placed on one of the sides of the car may be
multiplied according to the size and shape of each car, and these
apparatuses, no matter what form may be given to them, may be said to
complete this system of directing air balloons. The shaft of the screw
or fan a is supported upon and revolves in two bearings I', I", in order
to facilitate its rotary motion, and is further provided with a wooden fly
B made hollow and filled with ballast which may be let out at will by
means of an opening for that purpose.
The balloon properly so called is furnished at its upper part with
safety valves P in unlimited number, which open naturally outwards
when there is too great an expansion of gas, and close of themselves by
means of the spiral spring R when the pressure of the gas is at its
normal state, that is to say, when there is neither too much nor enough
pressure. When the pressure of the gas is normal and it is desired to
descend to a certain region, as the pressure of the gas can no longer
cause the valves to open, they are opened by means of the cord S attached
to the end of the lever T which it causes to pivot, and open or close the
valve; this valve serves at the same time to enable the aeronaut to
effect the landing. The balloon is covered with a net, the ends of which.
come on to the car, which is also surrounded for the security of the
traveller with another strong net fastening on to the first.

page_text: To ensure the landing I adopt an anchor of a novel description; this
anchor is composed of two similar pieces X, X', joined together at the
point by means of a strong rivet, and attached to the screw or fan
shaft by means of the two ropes c, d; each of these two ropes passes into
rings y, y'; the rope c passes in the ring y, and separates at this point
into two, it is the same with the rope d which in passing through the
|ring y' also divides into two at the same point; cach of the two ends of
the rope care attached to the inner extremities U, U', of the anchor,
and the two ends of the rope d are fastened above to the stems of the
anchor X, X', at the points V, V'.
When it is desired to land the balloon it is only necessary to let fall
the anchor by means of the two ropes c, d, the anchor therefore grapples
and this is its merit, and I would direct particular attention thereto. It
will be understood that when it is desired to unhook it is only necessary
to pull the ropes c which in causing the lifting of the two inner ends of
the arms U, U', of the anchor, necessarily forces the two outer ends of
the anchor P, P', to describe the curves indicated by the dotted lines,
Fig. 5, and consequently to unhook.
In witness whercof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Duthu, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
throo
LOUIS ROBIN.
JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD.
J. B. DUTHU. (L.S.)