Improvements in Flying Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1897-4ccepted, 15th Jan.,
1898
Improvements in Flying Machines.
I, EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH, of Holly House, Ashton-on-
Mersey, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to improvements in flying machines. In a machine.
constructed in accordance with my invention I provide an upper bar or rod or a
light frame provided at each end with two suitably shaped curved or flat carrying
wings.
From about the centre of this upper bar or frame is suspended a swinging frame
or car. When operated manually this swinging frame is occupied by the operator
who assumes a recumbent or sitting position upon the frame.
In addition to the carrying wings upon the upper frame I provide two pro-
pelling vanes or wings. These propelling wings may be secured either to the
upper frame or to the lower swinging frame or car or to the body of the operator
and are actuated by means of gearing or mechanism by the feet of the operator.
The propelling vanes or wings may be either revolving fans or hinged wings
imitating as closely as possible the shape and action of birds' wings. The upper
carrying wings are not driven but serve to support the operator, somewhat after
the manner of a parachute. When starting the apparatus the operator runs for
some little distance along the ground to gain sufficient impetus and then assumes
a recumbent or sitting position upon the swinging frame or car and operates the
propelling vanes or wings by means of his feet. To guide the apparatus I connect
the upper frame fore and aft to the lower swinging frame by means of a cord or
wire. This cord is passed around a pulley attached to the bottom car by operating
which in either direction, the plane of the upper carrying wings may be inclined
from the horizontal. By operating the pulley so as to elevate the front of the
upper frame the upward flight of the apparatus is directed. By operating the
pulley to bring the front of the apparatus in a downward direction, by means of
gravity a greatly increased speed results in addition to the downward inclination
of the apparatus. By actuating the propelling wings and a judicious use of the
action of gravity as described the operator is enabled to propel the apparatus
through the air at a considerable speed.
Instead of being propelled manually I may employ a motor to drive the pro-
pelling wings.
I do not limit myself to the number of carrying wings secured to the upper
frame as three may be employed if desired. In this case two would be secured
forward and one only in the rear of the upper frame.
When alighting the propelling wings would be turned edge upwards, and
utilized to act as a brake to check the forward impetus of the operator when near
enough to the ground to alight.

page_text: A rudder under the control of the operator is provided and is utilized to steer
the apparatus to the right or left.
The lateral motion of the apparatus obtained by the shifting of the weight of
the operator from side also materially assists the apparatus in turning abrupt
The above balancing motions on the wings may be accomplished either
by the weight of the operator or by means of a movable weight actuated by the
operator.
curves.
The annaratus man he constructed of our suitable light and touch material
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
drawings.
My said Invention relates to improvements in flying machines.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I have annexed hereto
a sheet of explanatory drawings to which I will refer.
In the said drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the improved flying machine.
Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a plan and
Figs. 4 and 5 represent detail views.
In constructing a machine in accordance with my invention I provide a frame-
work or backbone A composed of a rod, or rods a secured together and strengthened
by ribs b.
2
3
The backbone may be constructed of any suitable light and tough material. To
the backbone I secure cross pieces or yards e de d shown more clearly in the plan
view Fig. 3. The yards c d are provided with four fixed vanes or wings e e e c.
If desired less or more than four wings may be employed. These wings a are
formed from sheet aluminium or other light metal or material and are preferably 3
curved or dished as shown in the cross sectional view Fig. 5 and are secured to
the yards in any convenient manner. The front of the wings e is open and the
interior surface is provided with ribs e as shown in Fig. 2. As will be more
clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 the rear portions of the wings e may be
serrated at the edges and project beyond the yards d. The rear edges of the
wings e are or may be made flexible. The yards and wings are further secured to
the backbone by means of wires or cords f so as to render them more rigid.
Rigidly secured to the yards c d is a light rectangular frame g which is also con-
nected to the yards c d e d by wires or cords h.
C
The rectangular frame carries a hinged car i to accommodate the operator, and
is also provided with light fans jj mounted to revolve in suitable bearings.
Instead of revolving fans, hinged wings may be employed to drive the machine.
The blades of the fans are formed of light flexible metal or material
strengthened by suitable stays.
4
4

page_text: The fans are driven by the operator by means of a treadle shaft k upon which
are mounted grooved pullies shown to an enlarged scale in Fig. 4. Driving
ropes or bands m m passing partly around the pullies are conducted over guiding
pullies n n to the pullies o secured upon the axes of the fans j j, thus com-
municating motion to the fans. The operator assumes a semi-recumbent position
upon a cross bar p provided, with a cushion or saddle q. The backbone A of the
machine is secured fore and aft to the hinged car by means of a wire rope or cord r.
The cord is passed around a pulleys upon a cross shaft t. By operating the
lever u the shaft t may be rotated in its bearings thus winding the cord leading
to the front or back of the machine as the case may be, upon the pulley, whilst
unwinding the other part as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 4
of the drawings.
This, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft, will have the effect of
depressing the front or rear portion of the backbone and wings whilst the car
being pivotted remains vertical. A rudder mounted in front of the car-is con-
trolled by the operator by means of the handle w. The above balancing motions
on the wings may be accomplished either as above by the weight of the operator
or by means of a moveable weight actuated by the operator. The arrangement of
the foregoing parts may be varied to some extent in point of detail.
The fans or propelling wings may be operated by a suitable motor if desired.
The method of operating the machine is as follows.
The operator, choosing by preference a slight eminence as a starting point,
grasps the saddle bar p in both hands and raises the machine above his head, start-
ing off at a run to acquire the requisite impetus. He then raises himself off the
ground into the saddle g and drives the fans by means of the treadles. The wings
or vanes e serve as a parachute to support him in his elevated position and by
operating the lever u in the proper direction the head of the machine is depressed.
As the machine takes a downward flight an increased speed by gravity is
obtained and the operator reversing the lever directs the head of the machine in
an upward or level direction. Having thus obtained a start the fans jj are
utilized to increase the speed which is maintained by the combined action of the
fans and the judicious use of the action of gravity obtained by the intermittent
downward flight of the machine as described. Climbing upwards is attained by
elevating the front of the machine which thus directs its upward flight.
The air compressed within the cavity of the wings e escapes at the rear elastic
edges the recoil further tending to propel the machine. The rudder v is utilized
to steer and on alighting is turned broadside on to act as a brake and thus retard
the motion of the machine so as to effect a safe descent and stoppage.
To assist in turning abrupt curves the machine may be canted laterally by shift-
ing the weight of the operator to one side as required or this may be effected by a
moveable weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
(1) The improved flying machine, arranged constructed and operated in the
manner and substantially as described and illustrated.
(2) A flying machine consisting of a number of fixed supporting and balancing
wings or vanes, carried by a light framework to which a hinged car and propelling
fans are secured, the wings being arranged to be inclined to the horizontal plane
by a wire rope or cord or moveable weight controlled by the operator so as to
enable the operator to propel the car and ascend or descend by the action of gravity
combined with the use of the propelling fans substantially as described and shown.
(3) In a flying machine of the indicated nature the fixed supporting and balanc-
ing wings e in combination with a hinged or moveable weight for the purposes and
operated substantially as described and shown.
(4) In a flying machine of the indicated nature the hinged car provided with a

page_text: saddle or support for the operator and a treadle shaft from which propelling fans
are driven, a shaft and pulley or moveable weight by which the supporting wings
are controlled, and a rudder for steering and braking the machine substantially
as described and illustrated.
Dated this oru day of December 1051.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5 John Dalton Street, Manchester.