Improvements in Dirigible Balloons and Flying Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dirigible Balloons and Flying Machines.
I, THOMAS FRASER, of 205 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda, in the Colony of
Victoria, Australia, Civil Engineer 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 :-
This invention consists of improvements in apparatus for acriul navigation,
whereby I employ a more efficient form of energy for purposes of propulsion and
for maintaining or changing the direction of travel and for varying the balance and
the buoyancy; a better method of storeing such energy, also an improved method
of construction for obtaining buoyancy, and for resisting air and wind pressures;
also an improved method of carrying ballast. To obtain energy I employ
ammonia gas or carbonic dioxide or any other similar gas baving great expansive
powers, compressed to a high pressure, which I store in certain parts of my
apparatus.
The parts in which this compressed gas is stored are of metal and preferably
in the form of small tubes, which form part of the framing of my apparatus.
In order to give buoyancy I employ a vessel constructed of thin sheets of
metal, stiffened and supported by some of the aforesaid tubes, which vessel is
filled with a light gas such as hydrogen; and the size and weight of such vessel
with its contents and stiffening parts are so proportioned and arranged that the
vessel will have buoyancy, being able to support in air a considerable weight
without sinking. The vessel is provided with a screw or propellor similar to
that employed for marine navigation, but so pivoted or jointed to its shaft that
the axis of the propellor is capable of considerable variation of position with
respect to the axis of the buoyant vessel. The rapid rotation of this propellor in
air will cause motion of said vessel in a direction which depende upon the direction
of rotation, and upon the direction of the axis of the propellor with respect to the
axis of the buoyant vessel; and with a speed which depends upon the rate of
rotation. The rotation of the propellor shaft may be effected by means of any
suitable form of wind or air turbine motor, the fluid impact and pressure necessary
to drive such turbine motor being, supplied by releasing part of the compressed gas
stored in the framework of tho machine as afore described. By these means I
provide a vessel having by reason of its material and of its framework of tubes
sufficient resistanco against the external pressure of air, and sufficient rigidity to
maintain its shape and carrying a considerable supply of energy in the form of
compressed gas and a means of propulsion in any desired direction, and at any
desired speed within the power of the turbine motor; and having such a displace-
ment as to secure sufficient excess of buoyancy to enable me to attach thereto
without entirely destroying such buoyancy considerable additional weight, which
consists partly of a car or chamber to carry freight and passengers, partly of such
freight and passengers, and partly of ballast.
The car or chamber is constructed of light material, some of the tubes above
referred to being employed to form its framework, and some to form an attachment
between said car and the buoyant vessel.
The ballast which I employ is partly in the form of compressed gas (preferably
air) contained in some of a series of tubes, so arranged that the disposition of such
ballast may be altered at will (and hence the balance of the whole apparatus may
be controlled) by means of pumping or forcing gas or air from some of these tubes

page_text: into others, and the buoyancy of the whole may be altered by varying the
ballast either by allowing the compressed air to escape, or by forcing part of the
outer atmosphere into the tubes. All the operations of forcing and pumping may
be performed by air pumps actuated by and from the turbine motor which is driven
by the compressed gases carried in the apparatus ;—
Instead of the turbine motor I may prefer to employ for the purpose of
actuating either the propellor or any of the pumps or other working parts any
suitable form of gas engine, in which case the combustible gas required for this
purpose will be stored in a compressed form in some of the tubes forming the
framework of the apparatus, in the same manner as the compressed ammonia or
other gas when used in combination with the turbine motor.
In order to minimise the danger of accidents through injury to the shell of the
buoyant vessel, I divide the latter into a number of independent compartments, by
suitably arranged diaphragms, constructed of metal in thin sheets stiffened with
some of the aforesaid tubes. These diaphragms may be placed vertically, horizon-
tally, longitudinally and transversely and by opeuing a communication between
any such chambers and the outer atmosphere the buoyancy of the whole apparatus
may be decreased at will whenever it is desired to descend, by allowing the Lydrogen
gas to escape and allowing air to enter.
Below the car I may place pneumatic cushions so that upon descent the shock of
contact with the earth may be reduced.
I may attach to the buoyant vessel sails or aeroplanes which may be folded,
unfolded and varied in position in order to steady, impede or regulate the passage
of my apparatus through the air. The power required to actuate these aeroplanes
may be in any
of the forms above described for actuating the propellor or pumps.
Referring now to.the accompanying drawings which form part of this Specifica-
tion and in which the same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line 5 5 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section and
Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 6 6 in Figures 1 and 3.
A is the buoyant vessel which is approximately cigar shaped. It consists of a
shell or envelope constructed of thin sheets of steel, aluminium or other metal
which combines strength with comparative lightness.
Bare hollow metal tubes of small diameter disposed inside and outside the shell
of A so as to give A stiffness and rigidity against both internal and external
pressure. A is provided with divisions or diaphragms some of which are vertical
or transverse such as C, others being horizontal such as D or longitudinal such
as E. These diaphragms are constructed of thin sheets of metal, stiffened with
tubes B. By means of these diaphragms A is divided into a number of separate
compartments. The various compartments are connected to each other and to the
outer air by valves which may be opened and closed at will, so that the compart-
ments may be filled with hydrogen or other light gas. The total weight of A with
its contents may thereby be made considerably less than the weight of air displaced
by A, which will make A capable of rising in the air and lifting a considerable
weight.
F, F, are other small metal tubes similar to B, which are combined to form a
rigid frame by which weight may be attached to A. G is a car or chamber formed
by having its walls, top and floor of any light material, fitted to the framework of
tubes F.
Hare hollow vessels or reservoirs divided into a series of separate spaces by
diaphragms each part communicating with the other and with the outer air by
valves and. by tubes K. These reservoirs H may be filled with compressed air.
which forms ballast to prevent the whole apparatus from rising too rapidly or
beyond a definite height. When it is required to rise to a greater beight, any of
the spaces H. may be opened so as to allow compressed air to escape and so lighten

page_text: the apparatus. If it is required to alter the disposition of this ballast a connection.
may be made by means of the valves and the, tubes K between any one to any
other of the spaces H, so that the stability or balance of the apparatus may be
altered.
The whole system of hollow tubes B and F which are used to form the frame-
work and stiffening parts of my apparatus are connected together continuously, 80-
as to form a reservoir for compressed gas such as ammonia gas. The tubes B.
and F are filled with such gas under high pressure; and a valve is provided by
which the gas may be released at will for the purpose of driving a motor. M is a
gas or air turbine motor similar to a steam turbine of any suitable form which is.
attached underneath the vessel A or to the framework of the car G in any
convenient position so that when the gas is allowed to escape from tubes B and F.
the turbine will be driven. N is a propellor, attached to a shaft l' which is jointed'
by a universal joint Q to a shaft R. R is attached by suitable connections to the-
turbine motor, so that it may be put into or out of gear therewith, and caused to
revolve at will. P is fitted with flexible hangers S and tiller wires or ropes b by
which P may be caused to assume any required angle with R. This arrangement
canses rotation of N in a plane either transverse and at right angles to or at any
required angle with the vertical plane of the axis of the buoyant vessel, so that the
rotation of the propellor will cause motion either longitudinally forwards or
backwards, or at any required angle of deviation. By this means the vessel may
be steered in the air.
M may also be employed to drive pressure or exliaust pumps, also for the purpose-
of actuating mechanism to adjust the tiller ropes b, or for expanding, unfurling or
furling sails, or aeroplanes with which A may be fitted, or for any other mechanisni.
that may be required.
The operation of my apparatus is as follows;-
The various compartments of A are filled with hydrogen, or other gas lighter
than air; B, F, are charged with ammonia gas under great prossure; H are filled.
with compressed air; the dimensions of all parts being so adjusted that when
charged as described the total weight of the apparatus will be less than the-
buoyant power due to atmospheric displacement. The deficiency of weight will
be partly made up by passengers, freight and if necessary solid ballast. Upon.
being released from the ground the whole apparatus rises in the air like an ordinary
balloon, until such a height is reached that a balance is established between the.
force of gravity and the buoyant power of the apparatus.
Whenever it is required to rise higher than this point some of the solid ballast.
may be discharged, or some of the compressed air ballast may be allowed to escape.
Whenever it is required to descend, some of the compartments of A which have.
been left empty may be opened to fill with air, or some of the hydrogen may be.
allowed to escape, its place being taken by air.
In order to propel the vessel, the compressed gas stored in tubes B, F is allowed
to escape gradually so as to drive the motor which rotates the propellor, which
may be set at any angle so as to cause motion in any required direction as above-
described.
I may prefer to charge the tubes B, F with combustible gas and to employ a
gas engine instead of an air turbine to provide the necessary motive power. I may
also employ air pumps actuated by steam or oil engines or by manual power for
the purpose of recharging the reservoirs H with compressed air in order to.
increase the weight of the apparatus, or for the purpose of exhausting air or gas
from any of the compartments of A in order to decrease the weight of the
apparatus.
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;-
• First. In dirigible balloons and flying machines a buoyant vessel constructed of

page_text: metal sheets stiffened with metal tubes and having separate compartments, combined
with the employment as motive power of compressed gas stored in tubes, used in
conjunction with a turbine motor, and the use as ballast of compressed gas stored
in tubes, and adapted to be varied in disposition and quantity substantially as and
for the purposes hereiubefore described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second: In dirigible balloons and flying machines a buoyant vessel constructed
of metal sheets stiffened with metal tubes and having separate compartments,
combined with the employment as motive power, of combustible gas stored in
tubes used in conjunction with a gas engine and the use as ballast of compressed
gas stored in tubes and adapted to be varied in disposition and quantity substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and explained and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Third. In dirigible balloons and flying machines the employment as motive
power of compressed gas stored in tubes forming part of the framework of the
machine and used in conjunction with a turbine motor or with a gas engine
substantially as and for the purposes bereinbefore described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In dirigible balloons and flying machines the employment as ballast of
compressed gas stored in tubes adapted to be increased or decreased in quantity or
altered in disposition substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and explained' and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of January 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.