Improvements in Aerial Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aerial Machines.
I, STEWART CAIRNCROSS of Corner of Hill Avenue and 5th Street, Grafton,
Walsh County, North Dakota, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to that class of air ships wherein suitable mechanism is
connected to the gas bag or balloon proper which serves to raise the machine and
propel and steer the same when in the air.
My invention has for its object to construct an air ship of this character which
will be light in weight but strongly built and which can be quickly manipulated by
the operator so as to ascend or descend and to travel in any desired direction.
To this end my invention consists in providing a suitable frame to which the
gas bag is held by means of the usual netting, and at the lower face of such frame
is disposed a shaft upon the outer end of which is secured a propelling wheel
which is operated by means of intermediate gearing devices disposed at the
juncture of such balloon frame and a supporting frame or cage adapted to be
suspended from the balloon frame, such cage being always disposed in a vertical
position. It also consists in adjusting the balloon frame and the propeller wheel
in relation to such depending frame or cage and connecting it therewith so that the
said balloon frame and the propeller can be turned to any angle between 1° to 90°
so as to cause the propeller to rise up in the direction desired. It further consists
in adjusting the several parts of the machine in such a manner that the same will
normally raise a predetermined weight, eg. 125 pounds, whereby when the
operator steps into the cage his weight will serve to hold the ship from rising,
necessitating his operating the propeller wheel to supply the power necessary to
raise the difference of his weight and the normal capacity of the machine. Finally,
my invention consists in the novel arrangement and peculiar combination of parts
hereinafter described.
The main or balloon frame is constructed of any light material, preferably
bamboo, formed in sections and jointed in any well-known manner, the under side
of such frame being covered by a light glazed covering, such as silesia. A shaft is
disposed horizontally below the frame journaled in bearings held upon parallel
members of the frame, the rear end of such shaft being also journaled in a
transverse member of such frame. The front end of the shaft is extended beyond
the frame and forms a bearing for the propeller wheel which may be of any
well-known construction. being braced to said shaft to turn therewith. In rearward
extensions of said parallel members are journaled short shafts which constitute
pivots for the main frame to turn on. They are arranged in the same horizontal
plan upon which is hung a supporting frame or cage, which consists of hangers
the upper ends of which are forked and supported from said shafts the lower ends
of which are connected with and support a platform being braced therewith by
braces, a suitable screen being provided on said platform to form a frame or
cage for the navigator. A transverse crank shaft is journaled in the hangers at a
convenient height from the platform, the cranks of which are coupled by means of
connecting rods with foot levers pivoted in the platform the outer ends of the
shaft being provided with crank handles. A sprocket wheel is mounted upon the
shaft which communicates motion by means of a chain belt to a similar wheel
mounted on the short shaft at the upper end of the cage which is geared by bevel
wheels with the propeller shaft.
By the aforesaid construction, the operator may turn the crank shaft by means
of the crank handles, or in case he desires to rest his arms by means of the foot

page_text: levers or in case of necessity he can operate the crank handles and the foot levers
at the same time and thereby communicate motion to the propeller. To prevent
any undue friction on the said short shaft which might be caused by the weight of
the hanger of the frame which is supported therefrom, I provide that part of the
rear end of the member through which said shaft passes with a sleeve or hub and
from the transverse member projects a bracket provided with a hub in which is
journaled the outer end of such shaft, the hanger being supported on the said hubs
thereby placing all the strain of the said hanger on the main frame.
The gas receptacle or balloon proper is held on the top of the main frame, by
means of the netting usually employed which normally is always inflated to the
proper buoyancy, no matter whether the machine is at rest or is in operation.
The steering vane is pivoted to the main frame at one side of the centre of the
said frame at the rear end thereof to swing horizontally, the front end of such vane
being connected by means of cords which pass over suitably arranged guide rollers
on the main frame and guide pulleys on the hanger frame, one of the last mentioned
pulleys being provided with a handle and disposed within easy reach of the
navigator so that he may operate the steering vane as the occasion may require.
A stay or guide rope is connected at its ends with the front and rear edges of the
main frame, said rope passing over a pulley within easy reach of the navigator,
on the lower portion of one of the hanger bars such rope being held to retain its
proper relation during the swinging motion of the main frame by means of a
dolphin striker or stick secured at its upper end to the main frame, its lower end
projected in advance of the last mentioned guide pulley and connected to said rope.
To allow for the main frame being turned to an almost vertical position, I form the
rear part with a cutaway portion which admits of the easy manipulation of the
operating mechanism.
The manner of operating my improved air ship is as follows: The machine
when on the ground has the main frame in the vertical position, the propeller being
uppermost and in a horizontal plane and the ship being held to the ground by
means of suitable guy ropes or in any other manner. The aeronaut then steps
upon the platform, his weight serving to hold the machine from ascending. The
other means for holding it down are then released. The aeronaut then operates
the crank shaft which in turn will cause the propeller to revolve in a direction to
cause the atmospheric pressure to raise the machine from the ground. After the
machine rises from the ground a height sufficient to clear objects, the main frame
is lowered toward a horizontal position, but in practice it is never lower than
about 15 to 20 degrees, such movement being accomplished by turning the crank
pulley thereby turning down the frame on its pivots to the position desired. By
adjusting the steering vane in the manner before described the operator can cause
the machine to move in the direction desired.
By my improved construction I have reduced the total weight of the machine so
that the same will be very light and buoyant and when it has ascended to the
height desired (such ascension being made vertical when at the start and diagonally
upward and forward when travelling) the operator at any time, by turning the
frame to a vertical position and slowing the movement of the crank shaft causes
the machine to descend thereby having the movement of the descent under ready
control. Should, however, the downward movement of the machine become to
rapid, the operator can turn the frame to a horizontal position which owing to its
peculiar construction would serve to act in the manner of a parachute and quickly
check the downward momentum of the machine.
Instead of arranging the parts to carry but one person and he to operate the
mechanism, the same relation of the power of raising a given amount may be
retained in case it is desired to form a large car at the bottom of the hanging fram
to carry passengers or freight and that any suitably constructed and operated
engine may be employed which may be located in such car to provide the required
power necessary to drive the propeller.
I desire it understood that
do not limit myself to the exact details o

page_text: construction described as these may be readily varied without departing from the
broad principle of my invention. Neither do I confine myself to any particular
construction of the propeller wheel, as such wheel may also be varied according to
the power which may be required on differently constructed and weighted balloon
frames made according to my invention. It is obvious that the propeller frame
and the balloon frame to have the required strength should be suitably braced by
means of suitable strut braces.
1000
S. CAIRNCROSS.
By A. M. & Win. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aerial Machines.
1, STEWART CAIRNCROSS, Corner of Hill Avenue and 5th Street, Grafton,
Walsh County, North Dakota, United States of America, Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of air ships wherein suitable mechanism is
connected to the gas bag or balloon proper which serves to raise the machine and
propel and steer the same when in the air.
My invention has for its object to construct an air ship of this character which
will be light in weight but strongly built and which can be quickly manipulated by
the operator so as to ascend or descend and to travel in any desired direction.
To this end my invention consists in providing a suitable frame to which the gas
bag is held by means of the usual netting and at the lower face of such frame is
disposed a shaft upon the outer end of which is secured a propelling wheel which
is operated by means of intermediate gearing devices disposed at the junction of
such balloon frame and a supporting frame or cage adapted to be suspended from
the balloon frame, such cage being always disposed in a vertical position. It also
consists in adjusting the balloon frame and the propeller wheel in relation to such
depending frame or cage and connecting it therewith so that the said balloon frame
and the propeller can be turned to any angle between 1° to 90° so as to cause the
propeller to rise up in the direction desired. It further consists in adjusting the
several parts of the machine in such a manner that the same will normally raise a
predetermined weight, e.g. 125 pounds, whereby when the operator steps into the
cage his weight will serve to hold the ship from rising, necessitating his operating
the propeller wheel to supply the power necessary to raise the difference of his
weight and the normal capacity of the machine. Finally, my invention consists in
the novel arrangement and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will
hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved aerial machine, the balloon proper and
the propeller being disposed in a horizontal position, to more clearly illustrate the
relation of the parts.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same, the balloon frame and propeller being
shewn in vertical position, parts being broken away.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the machine, the parts being in the position shewn in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
A indicates the main or balloon frame which is constructed of any light material,
preferably bamboo, formed in sections and jointed in any well known manner, the
under side of such frame being covered by a light glazed covering a such as silesia.

page_text: B denotes a shaft disposed horizontally below the frame A. journaled in bearings bb
held upon the parallel members a' a of the frame A, as most clearly shewn in
Figure 2, the rear end of such shaft being also journaled in a transverse member a
of such frame. The front end of the shaft is extended beyond the frame and
forms a bearing for the propeller wheel D which may be of any well known
construction, being braced to said shaft to turn therewith. In the rearward
extensions a' of the members at a¹ are journaled short shafts cc arranged in the
same horizontal plane upon which is hung the supporting frame or cage E which
consists of the hangers ee the upper ends of which are forked and supported from
the shafts c c', as shewn, the lower ends of which are connected with and support the
platform F being braced therewith by the braces ff, a suitable screen f¹ being
provided on said platform to form a frame or cage for the navigator. A transverse
crank shaft G is journaled in the hangers ee at a convenient height from the
platform F, the cranks gy of which are coupled by means of connecting rods H H
with foot levers II pivoted in the platform F the outer ends of the shaft G
being provided with crank handles g'g', as shewn. A sprocket wheel I is
mounted upon the shaft G which communicates motion by means of the chain belt K
to a similar wheel mounted on the shaft c' at the upper end of the cage E, the inner
end of such shaft being provided with a bevel wheel L which gears with a bevel
wheel M on the rear end of the propeller shaft B. By the aforesaid construction,
it will be observed that the operator may turn the crank shaft G by means of the
crank handles g', or, in case he desires to rest his arms, by means of the foot
levers I, or, in case of necessity, he can operate the crank handles and the
foot levers at the same time and thereby communicate motion to the propeller
wheel D.
To prevent any undue friction on the shaft c¹ which might be caused by the
weight of the hanger e of the frame E which is supported therefrom, I provide that
part of the rear end of the member a through which said shaft passes with a sleeve
or hub 10 and from the transverse member a projects a bracket S provided with a
hub 20 in which is journaled the outer end of such shaft c. By reference to
Figure 4, which clearly shews the arrangement of the shaft c and its supports, it
will be observed that I hang the supporting bare on the hubs 10 and 20 thereby
placing all the strain of the said supporting bar on the frame A. and not on the
shaft c¹.
N denotes the gas-receptacle or balloon proper which is held on the top of the
frame A by means of the netting usually employed which normally is always inflated
to the proper buoyancy, no matter whether the machine is at rest or is in operation.
O denotes the steering vane pivoted at o to the frame A at one side of the centre
of the said frame at the rear end thereof to swing horizontally, the front end of such
vane being connected by means of the cords which pass over suitably arranged
guide rollers 30 and 40 on the frame A and guide pulleys 50 and 60 on the hanger
frame E the pulley 60 being provided with a handle 70 and disposed within easy
reach of the navigator so that he may operate the steering vane as the occasion may
require. Pindicates a stay or guide rope connected at its ends with the front and
rear edges of the frame A, said rope passing over a pulley 80 within easy reach of
the navigator on the lower portion of one of the hanger bars e, such rope being held
to retain its proper relation during the swinging motion of the frame A by means of
a dolphin striker or stick Q secured at its upper end to the frame A its lower end
projected in advance of the guide pulley 80 and connected to said rope, as shewn.
To allow for the frame A being turned to an almost vertical position, form the
rear part with a cut-away portion A² which admits of the easy manipulation of the
operating mechanism.
The manner of operating my improved air ship is as follows-The machine when
on the ground has the frame A in the position shewn in Figure 2, being held to the
ground by means of suitable guy ropes or in any other manner. The aeronaut then
steps upon the platform, his weight serving to hold the machine from ascending.
The other means for holding it down are then released. The aeronaut then

page_text: operates the crank shaft G which in turn will cause the propeller to revolve in a
direction to cause the atmospheric pressure to raise the machine from the ground.
After the machine rises from the ground a height sufficient to clear objects, the
frame A. is lowered towards a horizontal position, but in practice it is never lower
than about fifteen to twenty degrees, such movement being accomplished by turning
the pulley 80 thereby turning down the frame on its pivots ce to the position
desired. By adjusting the steering vane in the manner before described, the
operator can cause the machine to move in the direction desired.
By my improved construction it will be observed I have reduced the total weight
of the machine so that the same will be very light and buoyant and when it has
ascended to the height desired (such ascension being made vertical when at the
start and diagonally upward and forward when travelling) the operator at any time
by turning the frame A to a vertical position and slowing the movement of the
crank shaft G causes the machine to descend, thereby having the movement of
the descent under ready control. Should, however, the downward movement of
the machine become too rapid, the operator can turn the frame A to a horizontal
position, which, owing to its peculiar construction, would serve to act in the manner
of a parachute and quickly check the downward momentum of the machine.
manifest that instead of arranging the parts to carry but one person and he to
operate the mechanism, that the same relation of the power of raising a given
amount may be retained in case it is desired to form a large car at the bottom of
the hanging frame E to carry passengers or freight, and that any suitably con-
structed and operated engine may be employed which may be located in such car to
provide the required power necessary to drive the propeller wheel.
It is
I desire it understood that do not desire to limit myself to the exact
details of construction shewn as these may be readily varied without departing from
the broad principle of my invention. Neither do shew, or confine myself to, any
particular construction of the propeller wheel as such wheel may also be varied
according to the power which may be required on differently constructed and
weighted balloon frames made according to my invention.
It is obvious that the propeller-frame and the balloon-frame A, to have the
required strength, should be suitably braced by means of suitable strut braces 25, 35,
as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. An air ship, composed of a balloon frame A provided with the bag N on its upper
face, a propeller wheel D journaled at one end, a depending cage or frame E
pivotally connected at its upper end to the balloon frame, a crank shaft journaled in
the lower end of the cage, means for operating said crank as shewn, intermediate
gearing devices between said crank shaft and the propeller shaft, and a guide
rope P secured at its ends to the opposite ends of the frame A and passed over
a guide near the lower end of the cage, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The combination of the frame A provided with the gas-receptacle N on its
upper face its lower face covered with a glazed material, a shaft B journaled on the
lower face of said frame, a propeller journaled on the outer end thereof, a depending
frame or cage E suspended from the frame A, power mechanism journaled on the
lower portion of said frame, and intermediate gearing between said power
mechanism and the propeller shaft, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In an air ship, the combination, with the frame A the gas-receptacle N
mounted on the upper face thereof a frame or cage E suspended from, and pivotally
connected at its upper end with, said frame A and power mechanism held in the
lower end of said frame or cage E, of a propeller shaft B journaled on the lower
face of the frame A at one end thereof a steering vane O pivotally supported at

page_text: the opposite end of the frame A to be swung horizontally, a propeller wheel fixedly
held on the outer end of the shaft B, intermediate gear connections between the
power mechanism and the propeller shaft, and rope connection between the steering
vane and the lower end of the cage, all arranged substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described.
4. The combination, with the balloon frame A provided with the members a¹ a¹
the shaft e journaled in the inner end of said members the coincident end of the
opposite member provided with an apertured hub, a transverse brace or member
formed with a depending bracket provided with an appertured hub, the shaft c¹
journaled in said hubs provided at its inner end with a bevel gear I, and the
shaft B journaled between the members a' a provided with a bevel gear at its inner
end meshing with the gear L, and a propeller wheel at its outer end, of the
depending frame or cage E consisting of the bars ee having forked upper ends one
of said bars hung on the shaft c the opposite bar hung on the appertured hubs the
lower end of said cage provided with a platform, foot levers pivoted therein, a
crank shaft G mounted en said bars, connecting rods H connecting said shaft G
and the foot levers, said shaft G provided with crank handles, a chain belt
connection between said shafts G and c¹ and a connection between the frame A and
the lower end of the cage whereby the said frame may be swung to a vertical
position, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The combination, with the balloon frame A provided with a propeller wheel
and a depending dolphin stick, of the frame or cage pivotally hung to said frame A,
intermediate gear mechanism between said propeller wheel and the cage E, means
for operating said gear mechanism mounted on said frame or cage E, and a pulley.
mounted on the lower portion of said frame I, of the guide rope secured to the rear
end of the frame A passed over the pulley 80 secured to the lower end of the
dolphin stick its free end connected to the front end of the frame A, all arranged
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated 1911 CA: 1001
S. CAIRNCROSS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
S. CAIRNCROSS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.