Improvements in or relating to Aerial Navigation.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 30th May, 1900
Improvements in or relating to Aerial Navigation.
A communication from LOUIS EMMANUEL DE MANRESA, Engineer, of 187, Calle
de Cortes, Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain."
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:―
The present invention relates to an improved aerial vessel or balloon the
buoyant spherical surface of which is provided with sails or blades arranged
vertically in several horizontal sets. These blades, the height of which is the
same for each one of a horizontal set, vary in size, according to the place they
occupy on the circumference of the balloon, according as they are nearer to or
farther from the horizontal central circumferential line.
The propulsion of the balloon is effected by the wind acting upon the blades
and the balloon rotates, not around its central axis, but around what may be
called an eccentric axis determined by two metallic discs, placed at the circum-
ference of the balloon at points, vertically opposite each other, to one side of
the central vertical axis, so that one is near what may be termed the north pole
and the other near the south pole of the balloon. The axis between these two
points and about which the balloon rotates passes through the central horizontal
axis of the balloon at a point about one fourth of its length, and at the more
remote end of this horizontal axis is arranged a counterweight, by means of
which the equilibrium of the balloon is ensured and its travelling power increased.
The discs and the counterweight are fixed on conveniently arranged metal
supports.
The aerostat is provided with a specially formed car suspended from the balloon
to which it is connected by a rod provided with a ball and socket or universal
joint construction so as to prevent the car from participating in the rotary motion
of the balloon. The car is provided with a steering device consisting of four
large fans, which can be opened together or in pairs by means of a gearing
arrangement for the purpose of guiding or steering the car in any desired
direction.
In the accompanying drawings:-
-
Figure 1 is a general view of the aerostat or balloon, some of the blades of
the lower portion being omitted so as to render the drawing clearer.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan on the lines A-B of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the back of the car, showing the arrangement of
steering fans.
Figure 4 is an elevation, and Figure 5 a plan view of the construction of car
carried by the balloon, and
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the motion of the aërostat.
The body of the spherical balloon is provided with a number of horizontal

page_text: rings parallel to each other, while bars c pass round the balloon in a vertical
direction.
The bars c support the movable blades or sails by means of hinges. The
blades are of a height equal to the distance between two adjacent horizontal
rings 6, and the triangular spaces formed between adjacent blades in a vertical
direction when in the open position is filled by a textile filling or web e.
f and
represent the metallic masses intended to create the eccentric axis of
the aërostat. At at the end of the central horizontal axis is a metallic mass
serving as a counterweight and intended also to assist the aërostat in its rotatory
movement round the axis f g.
The blades d are so arranged, as shown in Figure 1, that they differ in size,
increasing from each pole to the centre from a minimum to a maximum, in
such a manner, as shown in Figure 2, that when open their outer edges form
parts of a circumference which is eccentric with regard to the centre of the
balloon. The hinges by which the blades are connected with the bars c should
work with sufficient ease to allow the blades to be opened by the slightest air
current.
The masses f g and the counterweight are preferably of a lens-shape, the
lower mass being heavier than the upper mass f. The counterweight is
intended to keep the aërostat perfectly horizontal.
The lowest horizontal ring carries, by means of cables a platen or frame i in a
central aperture of which is mounted in ball-bearings, the spherical upper end 7
of a rod, by means of which the car is suspended. This rod is preferably made
of different sections n connected together by universal joints m, so that the car
will not partake of the rotatory movement of the balloon.
the car.
The car o suspended at the end of said rod is shaped like an elongated wedge
(Figure 5) and is provided at the rear with a steering device, consisting of
four fans, worked by means of pulleys and toothed gearing placed inside
Toothed wheels are mounted on the shafts carrying two of the fans
at diagonally opposite corners, said shafts also carrying pulleys gearing by
means of crossed cables with pulleys s on the shafts of the other pair of fans, so
that when the pulleys r, are turned in the direction indicated by the arrows,
the other pulleys ss will be corresponding turned, and consequently the fans
will be opened or closed.
On a central shaft is a pinion t worked by a crank or pedal and gearing with
intermediate toothed wheels u u which in turn gear with the toothed pinions rr,
so that by turning the central wheel t the fans can be opened or closed. The
relative position of the pinions u, t, u may be such that the wheel t can be
placed in gear with either of the pinions u or with both simultaneously. The
pinion t for operating all the fans together can be placed in gear or withdrawn
at will as required.
Crank arms can be attached to the pinions u u, so that when the central
pinion is withdrawn from engagement either pinion u can be turned by means
of its crank v.
The working of the balloon is as follows:-
The wind on striking on the blades, opens them and thus starts the rotary
movement of the balloon. This rotary movement once started, however slow
at first, gradually increases, owing to the balloon being a heterogeneous sphere
rotating eccentrically. A homogeneous sphere, although provided with like
blades would only form an integral part of the air current, but would not rotate.
But here the problem is entirely different and must be treated from a different
point of view.
In this rotary movement the parts ƒ and g are of course involved, owing to
which an axis of eccentric rotation is forthwith created. This eccentric rotary
movement on the one hand, coupled with the eccentric impulse of the blades,
on the other, enables the balloon to travel against the wind, and the speed of
movement increased in proportion with the speed of the wind.

page_text: The different positions of the steering device effect different impressions on
the balloon and, consequently cause changes in the direction of movement.
If desired or found necessary a mechanical driving or propelling agent may
be added for the instantaneous initiation of movement and for increasing the
rapidity of movement.
The body of the balloon is made of silk or like material, and the use of thin
sheet aluminium is also contemplated. Suitable supports for the discs will of
course be provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method of propelling a balloon by the force of the wind by causing it
to rotate on an eccentric axis in a manner substantially as described.
2. A spherical balloon provided with movable blades as d mounted on hinges
in horizontal sets round the balloon, the length of each set of blades decreasing
gradually from the centre to the top and bottom of the balloon, weight masses
placed to the side of the central axis of the balloon one near the top and the
other near the bottom, and a counterweight placed at the end of the central
horizontal diameter of the balloon remote from said weight masses, these said
masses acting to produce an eccentric rotation of the balloon, substantially as
described.
3. In an aërostat of the kind described a steering device comprising a series
of fans as carried on the rear of the car and means for operating same sub-
stantially as described.
4. An aërostat comprising a spherical body, provided with a series of horizontal
rows of hinged blades, the length of the blades of each series decreasing gradually
from the centre outwards, webs between adjacent blades in a vertical direction,
weight masses as f, g and h, arranged so as to produce an eccentric rotation of
the balloon, substantially as described.
5. The complete aërostat substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of May 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.