Improvements in Air Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
Improvements in Air Ships.
I, HUBBELL DUANE HURLBUT, of 630 South 27th Street, Paterson, County of
Passaic, State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in air ships and it
consists in the novel arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter set forth
and claimed.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating simply the general outline and shape of
the air ship;
Figure 2 is an enlarged central cross section of the air ship;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a movable curtain or slide adapted to partially or
wholly close certain open portions of the frame work of the air ship and
Figure 4 is a central cross-section of a modified form of the ship.
In said drawings the entire air ship is designated by a. The ship a is composed
of a frame work consisting of the longitudinal ribs b and the upper and lower
arched ribs c, c¹ forming in cross section at the center of the air ship a crescent.
The ends of the ship terminate in a point to somewhat like the point of a pen.
Arranged along the top of the ship and confined between the frame work is the
balloon or gas chamber A which extends longitudinally along almost the entire
length of the ship.
Arranged alongside the main gas chamber A and on either side thereof are a
series of auxiliary gas chambers d separated from each other, as indicated in dotted
lines in Fig. 1. These auxiliary gas chambers d are likewise confined within the
frame work. At the extreme sides of the frame work are placed air cushions e,
preferably in sections.
The car h of the air ship is suspended below the main gas chamber A from the
lower arched ribs c'. Within the car is placed a gas generator i communicating by
pipes with the main and auxiliary gas chambers..
On either side of the car and below the lower arched rib c' are arranged a series
of propellers revolving in a ring p, which latter has its bearing in a bracket o
secured to the frame of the car and to said ribs c. The ring p may be turned in
its bearings by means of the shaft r and hand wheels. These propellers
are each
arranged directly below the space between the auxiliary gas chambers d. Extending
above the upper frame work c are observation towers t which may be reached from
the car of the air ship. The car h of the air ship is provided with an air cushion
below its floor and a movable ballast n.
The upper curved frame work is covered by canvas or oiled silk or any suitable
material.
In this covering, as at d, directly above the propellers are cut elliptical or other
shaped openings, and at certain intervals along the edges of the ship between the
auxiliary gas chambers d and the air cushions e are cut other openings f, adapted
to be partially or wholly covered by a shade or shades g (see Figure 3).
The propellers y may be actuated by a dynamo, engine or other mechanism
situated in the car not shown.
In the form shown in Figure 4 the car may be raised or lowered by means of
the telescoping supporting rods by means of which it is suspended from the frame
work. The means and manner of thus lowering and raising the car is not shown
and claimed in the present application.

page_text: In this form the sides of the car and the sides of the frame work are connected
by spring curtains v, which automatically roll up or unroll as the car is lifted or
lowered.
The operation is as follows: The main gas chamber is first inflated, and should
for any reason this be insufficient to float the ship, or if the chamber be demolished
(as in war), then the auxiliary chambers d'are inflated with gas from the
generator i.
Apy direction may be given to the ship by means of the propellers by simply
altering the plane of the ring p by means of the shaft r and hand wheel 8, which
may be operated from the car in any desired manner.
To ballast the air ship the weight n may be raised or lowered from the bottom
of the car or as shown in Figure 4 the entire car may be raised and lowered.
Should by any reason all the gas chambers become inflated, the curtains 9 may
be drawn up and the ship will descend like a parachute. The openings d¹ will
allow the whirling or cross currents of air set up by the revolving blades of the
propellers q to escape without retarding or changing the course of the ship.
Dated this 13th day of December 1893.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Air Ships.
I, HUBBELL DUANE HURLBUT, of 630 South 27th Street, Paterson, County of
Passaic and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of
my 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 relates to a new and useful improvement in air ships and it
consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter
described and claimed.
The invention is illustrated by the drawings left with the Provisional Specification
in which;
.
L
Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating simply the general outline and shape of
the air ship;
Figure 2 is an enlarged central cross section of the air ship;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a movable curtain or slide adapted to partially or
wholly close certain open portions of the frame work of the air ship and
Figure 4 is a central cross-section of a modified form of the ship.
.
In said drawings the entire air ship is designated by a. The ship a is composed
of a frame work consisting of the longitudinal ribs and the upper and lower
arched ribs " c¹ forming in cross section at the center of the air ship a crescent.
The ends of the ship terminate in a point to somewhat like the point of a pen.
Arranged along the top of the ship and confined between the frame work is the
balloon or gas chamber A which extends longitudinally along almost the entire
length of the ship.
Arranged alongside the main gas chamber A and on either side thereof are a
series of auxiliary gas chambers d separated from each other, as indicated in dotted
lines in Fig. 1. These auxiliary gas chambers d are likewise confined within the
frame work. At the extreme sides of the frame work are placed air cushions e,
preferably in sections.
The car h of the air ship is suspended below the main gas chamber A from the
lower arched ribs c¹. Within the car is placed a gas generator i communicating by
pipes with the main and auxiliary gas chambers.
On either side of the car and below the lower arched rib c are arranged a series

page_text: +
of propellers 9 revolving in a ring p, which latter has its bearing in a bracket o
secured to the frame of the car and to said ribs c'. The ring p may be turned in
its bearings by means of the shaft and hand wheel s. These propellers q are each
arranged directly below the space between the auxiliary gas chambers d. Extending
above the upper frame work c are observation towers t which may be reached from
the car of the air ship. The car h of the air ship is provided with an air cushion.
below its floor aud a movable ballast n.
The upper curved frame work is covered by canvas or oiled silk or any suitable
material.
In this covering, as at d, directly above the propellers are cut elliptical or other.
openings, and at certain intervals along the edges of the ship between the auxiliary
gas chambers d and the air cushions e are cut other openings, adapted to be
partially or wholly covered by a shade or shades. g (see Figure 3).
The propellers 9 may be actuated by an electric dynamo, a gas or steam engine
or by any other. well known mechanism situated in any convenient position in
the car.
When operated by a dynamo, the electric current is sent through wires passing
through the shaft r (which in that case is made hollow) and through or over the
ring p into the shaft of the propeller and from there to the armature which is
arranged on the said shaft. To the inside of the hub of the propeller are secured
the field magnets. If operated by any other engine, the propeller shaft is connected
with the said engine by any suitable ball and socket joint connection. But this I
do not claim as part of my invention.
In the form shown in Figure 4 the car h may be raised or lowered by means of
the telescoping supporting rods by means of which it is suspended from the frame
work. The means and manner of thus lowering and raising the car is not shown.
and claimed in the present application.
In this form the sides of the car and the sides of the frame work are connected
by spring curtains o, which automatically roll up or unroll as the car is lifted or
lowered.
The operation is as follows: The main gas chamber is first inflated, and should
for any reason this be insufficient to float the ship, or if the chamber be demolished
(as in war), then the auxiliary gas chambers d are inflated with gas from the
generator i.
Any direction may be given to the ship by means of the propellers q by simply
altering the plane of the ring p by means of the shaft and hand wheel 8, which
may be operated from the car in any desired manuer.
To ballast the air ship the weight n may be raised or lowered from the bottom
of the car or as shown in Figure 4 the entire car may be raised and lowered.
Should by any reason all the gas chambers become deflated, the curtains y may
be drawn up and the ship will descend like a parachute. The openings d' will
allow the whirling or cross currents of air. set up by the revolving blades of the
propellers g to escape without retarding or changing the course of the ship.
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. In an air ship, the combination of the main gas chamber, with a series
of auxiliary gas chambers arranged on either side thereof, substantially as
described.
2. In an air ship, the combination of the main gas chamber extending longi-
tudinally throughout the length of the ship, with a series of auxiliary gas chambers
arranged in sections parallel with said main gas chamber and on either side thereof,
substantially as described.
3. In an air ship, a frame work consisting of the longitudinal ribs and the
vertical upper and lower arched ribs, said frame work terminating at either end in
a pen-point, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In an air ship, the combination of a frame work consisting of the longitudinal
ribs and the vertical upper and lower arched ribs, said frame work terminating at
either end in a pen point and being substantially crescent shaped in central cross
section, with a car suspended below the center of said frame work and supported
from the lower arched ribs, substantially as described.
5. In an air ship, the combination of a frame work of the character described,
consisting of upper and lower arched ribs and longitudinal ribs connecting the
same, with a main gas chamber placed between the upper and lower arched ribs,
and a car suspended directly below said gas chamber from the lower arched ribs,
substantially as described.
6. In an air ship, the combination of a frame work consisting of the upper and
lower arched ribs and the longitudinal ribs connecting the same with the car
suspended from said lower arched ribs and a series of propellers arranged on either
side of the car and supported in brackets between the car and the lower arched
ribs, substantially as described.
7. The combination in an air ship, of the frame-work consisting of the upper and
lower arched ribs, and the longitudinal ribs connecting the same with the car
Buspended from said lower arched ribs, a bracket connecting the sides of said car
with the said lower arched ribs, a ring having a pivotal bearing in said bracket and
a propeller rotating within said ring and with a shaft connected with said ring and
extending to the car, and a hand wheel on said shaft and within the car, all arranged
so that by turning said hand wheel and shaft, the ring with the propeller may be
turned, substantially as described.
8. The combination in an air ship, of the frame work consisting of the upper and
lower arched ribs and longitudinal ribs connecting the same, with a main gas
chamber placed beneath the center of the upper arched rib and extending
longitudinally from end to end of said air ship, and with the auxiliary gas chambers
arranged between the upper and lower arched ribs and in separate sections on either
side of said gas chamber, and a series of propellers placed in bearings below the
lower arched ribs and directly below the space between the separate sections of
the auxiliary gas chambers, substantially as described.
9. The combination in an air ship of the frame work consisting of the vertical
upper and lower arched ribs and the longitudinal cross ribs connecting the same,
with a series of air cushions confined between said upper and lower arched ribs at
their meeting edges, substantially as described.
10. The combination in an air ship of a frame work consisting of arched vertical
ribs and longitudinal ribs with a covering placed on top thereof, a portion
of said covering being permanently secured to said frame work whilst other
portions may be rolled over or unrolled from said frame work, substantially as
described.
11. The combination in an air ship of the main and auxiliary gas chambers, a
frame work surrounding said gas chambers and a car adjustably suspended from
said frame work and adapted to be raised and lowered therefrom, substantially as
described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1894.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.