IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPARATUS FOR FLOATING IN AND TRAVELLING THROUGH THE AIB
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Butler, of 19, Saville Row, and
Edmund Edwards, of 22, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, both in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
and Edmund Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 19th July 1867.
We, JAMES WILLIAM BUTLER, of 19, Savile Row, and EDMUND EDWARDS,
of 22, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, both in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FLOATING IN AND TRAVELLING THROUGH THE AIB," to be as
follows:
This Invention consists in making wings or inclined planes to which the
aeronaut and the propelling apparatus are attached. These wings or inclined
planes consist of frames made as light and strong as possible, and covered

page_text: with some strong light material. Each wing must be triangular or nearly
so in shape, and two are joined together by one of their longer sides, so that
the point formed by the junction of their apices may be in front, and so that
the width (in plan) may gradually increase towards the back. We do not
always make these two wings in the same horizontal plane, but sometimes
make them incline either slightly upwards or slightly downwards from the
line forming their junction. A third (vertical) plane which may be heavier
than those forming the wings is attached firmly to the line forming their
junction, and hangs below so that the centre of gravity of the entire apparatus
is below a horizontal plane supposed to be drawn through the centre of
gravity of the two wings. This third plane is also formed with a pointed
front where it is joined to the point formed by the junction of the other two
planes in front, and increases gradually in depth towards the back. If the
two wings and the vertical plane were made of the same substance throughout
the centre of gravity would be too far back, and the apparatus instead of
floating horizontally whilst passing through the air would fall down backwards
to the ground. In order to prevent this we make the car or vessel carrying
the aeronaut and propelling machinery moveable horizontally until the
required. balance is obtained; or sometimes we use a moveable weight
which can easily be adjusted specially for the purpose, so that by moving
it forward the front of the apparatus may descend, and by moving it backwards
the apparatus may rise, and we make the car or vessel carrying the
aeronaut and propelling machinery attached to or forming part of the vertical
plane described. By this construction and shape of the wings and planes
we find that the apparatus will float upon and through the air so long as it
is kept moving forward even at a slow rate, which a very small amount of
propelling power is able to effect. And where a heavy weight is carried we
prefer to use several wings or planes of moderate size, but of the shape
described, arranged one above another at convenient distances apart, instead
of one set only of large dimensions at first described. And in order to give the
apparatus a horizontal movement through the air sufficient to keep it floating
we either use wings worked from the car and so arranged that their planes
may strike the air in the direction required. during their effective stroke, and
during their return stroke may have their planes coinciding or nearly so
with the direction in which the apparatus is moving; or we use flexible wings
the front edge of which are attached to rigid bars, so that by moving such
bars quickly up and down the flexible wings may create a rapid current of
air, and by reaction the wings and apparatus may be carried forward in the
direction required; or we use the reaction of a jet of compressed air, steam,

page_text: or the explosion of a mixture of inflammable gas and atmospheric air, such
gas being generated in any suitable way, the jet issuing in a direction
contrary to that in which the apparatus is moving; and sometimes we use
two such jets, one on each side of the car, and make them moveable, so that
the direction in which the apparatus travels may be guided by regulating the
force and direction of the jets issuing from them; and we prefer to make
the jets of compressed air, steam, or gas intermittent, so that the apparatus
having been impelled forward with considerable force the jets may then
cease and the apparatus will float forward horizontally for a considerable
distance by the momentum which it has retained, and when this is nearly
exhausted a renewal of the jets will again carry it forward and give it fresh
momentum; thus imitating the flight of some birds which float through the
air with expanded wings, a few strokes of which occasionally are sufficient to
renew the momentum when necessary, and in this way lesser power will be
required. Sometimes we use screw propellers instead of jets to obtain the
same results.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James William Butler and Edmund Edwards in the Great.
Seal Patent Office on the 15th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
WILLIAM BUTLER, of 19, Saville Row, and EDMUND EDWARDS, of 22, Buck-
ingham Street, Adelphi, both in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James William Butler and Edmund Edwards, Her special license that
we, the said James William Butler and Edmund Edwards, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James William
Butler and Edmund Edwards, our executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FLOATING IN AND TRAVELLING THROUGH
THE AIB," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James

page_text: William Butler and Edmund Edwards, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our hand and seal should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James William Butler and Edmund
Edwards, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and as-
certained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:
•
Our said Invention consists in making and combining together wings or
planes of the kind and in the manner herein-after described to which the
aeronaut and the propelling apparatus are attached. These wings or planes
we make of frames as light and strong as possible, and covered with some
strong but sufficiently light material, which in some cases we prefer should be
flexible, such as cloth, canvas, or varnished silk, and in other cases we make
of thin wood varnished, or of thin metallic plate either of a single thickness
or double, with a space between for the purpose herein-after mentioned. It
has been found by experiment that such planes if kept perfectly horizontal and
allowed to fall through still air will do so very slowly, and that even if a
certain weight be attached to them proportioned to the number of square feet
in their horizontal surface they will still only fall at a certain speed, which
however great the height of fall will not be exceeded. It has also been found
that if such horizontal planes with such weights attached to them be made to
pass nearly horizontally through the air, but with their front or advancing edges
slightly elevated, and if the angle of elevation and speed of horizontal passage
through the air be proportioned to the area of such planes and the weights
attached to them, the planes will continue to pass horizontally forward without
falling, and that thus if the propelling force be continued they may be made
to travel for any distance and in any direction. In order to effect this object
most completely we make each of the wings or planes first described triangular
or nearly so in shape, and we join two of them together by one of their longer
sides, so that the point formed by the junction of their points or apices may be
in front, and so that the width (in horizontal plan) may gradually increase
towards the back, the shape of the two together in horizontal plan being that
of an isosceles triangle having the apex in front. We do not always make
these two wings in the same horizontal plane, but prefer to make them incline

page_text: slightly upwards from their central line of junction, and in this way we obtain
greater stability in the air, and are also able to stay or brace the wings or
planes more readily. Sometimes we make the wings incline slightly down-
wards. A third (vertical) plane, which carrying the vessel apparatus or
receptacle containing the aeronauts and propelling power which is attached
to and forms a part thereof, and which vertical plane may be heavier than the
horizontal wings, is attached firmly by its upper edge to the line of junction
of the said horizontal wings, and hangs below them, so that the centre of
gravity of the entire apparatus is below a horizontal plane drawn through the
centre of gravity of the two horizontal wings. The front edge of this third or
vertical plane is pointed or of less depth where it joins the united points of the
other two wings or planes than in the remainder of its length, so that as little
resistance as possible is offered to the air while passing through it. The
general appearance of the apparatus in this form therefore is that of three
long triangular planes joined together by one of the longer sides of each one
plane hanging vertically from the other two nearly horizontal ones above;
but if the three planes were of a substance equally thick and heavy throughout
the centre of gravity of the apparatus would of course be nearer the back
where the planes are broader than towards the front, and the apparatus instead
of floating horizontally through the air would have a tendency to gravitate at
the back until the wings or sustaining planes were so far from being horizontal
that they would lose their sustaining power, and the apparatus would fall
rapidly to the ground backwards and in a vertical position. In order to
prevent this, and retain the centre of gravity near the centre of the apparatus,
we fix the car or vessel containing the aeronauts and the propelling machinery
nearer to the front end of the apparatus, and we also make it moveable back-
wards and forward within moderate limits at the will of the occupants, so that
the longitudinal horizontal adjustment of the apparatus may be easily effected
by them. By this means also we cause the apparatus to ascend or descend in
its onward course, for if the centre of gravity of the apparatus be moved
slightly forward the front will sink, and the apparatus descend, and the reverse
will be the case if the centre of gravity be shifted slightly backwards instead
of forwards. Sometimes instead of making the car or vessel moveable we
use a moveable weight within it, which may form a part of the propelling
machinery. And sometimes we cause the apparatus to rise or fall whilst
passing nearly horizontally through the air by means of a rudder or rudders at
the back, which consist of a small plane or planes, which can be turned up
vertically in a plane at right angles to the direction of motion of the apparatus,
and which are under the control of the aeronauts. When these rudders are

page_text: lying horizontally they are inoperative, but if they are elevated the resistance
they offer to the air causes the front of the apparatus to rise; and if they are
depressed to fall. The guidance of the apparatus horizontally is also effected
by a similar rudder or rudders turning on a vertical instead of a horizontal
hinge, so that the resistance it offers to the air may cause the front of the
apparatus to turn to the right or left at the will of the aeronaut in the same
way as a boat is guided by the resistance offered to the water by the rudder.
By the peculiar construction and shape of the wings and planes herein-before
described we find that the apparatus will float upon and through the air
without losing its stability, and can be easily guided so long as it is kept
moving forward, which a very small amount of propelling power is able to
effect. And where it is intended or proposed to carry many passengers or
heavy weights we prefer to connect together several sets of wings or planes
instead of making one set only of sufficient horizontal area to carry the entire
weight, and in such cases we either arrange the different sets of wings or
planes one above another at sufficient distances apart, or we arrange them
side by side, or sometimes we arrange several sets both one above the other and
side by side, and whether we use two planes only or sets arranged as described
we brace or tie the separate parts of the apparatus together by means of ties
or braces of wire or other suitable material arranged as shewn in the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, or in any other convenient way. And in order
to give the apparatus a sufficiently rapid movement nearly horizontally through
the air to prevent it from falling, as herein-before explained, we either use
wings or propelling planes worked from the car by steam, magnetic, animal, or
other convenient power, and resembling the wings of birds, being so arranged
that their planes may strike the air in the direction required during their effective
strokes, and during their non-effective or return strokes their planes may be
turned so as to coincide or nearly so with the direction in which the apparatus
is moving; or we use wings or propellers consisting of rectangular or other
planes of elastic or flexible material, the front edge of which planes are
attached to rigid bars, the remainder being left at liberty, so that if when the
bars to which they are attached are horizontal, and the planes extend hori-
zontally behind them, the bars be raised suddenly up and down the elastic
planes are bent by the pressure of the air upon them, and are forced continually
forward by such pressure, and thus propel the apparatus to which they are
attached. Or as another means of propulsion we use the reaction of a jet
or jets of compressed air or gas, steam, or other suitable fluid, or of the
explosion of a mixture of inflamible gas and air, or of other explosive
material, the jet or jets being turned in a direction contrary to that in

page_text: which the apparatus more
driven or propelled rapidly forward; and sometimes we use two such jets on
each side of the apparatus, and by regulating the force of such jets relatively
we are able to guide or direct the course of the apparatus; or sometimes for
the same purpose we make the jets or tubes themselves moveable, so that by
altering the direction in which the jets issue we can alter the course or direc-
tion of the apparatus; sometimes we make such jets of steam, air, gas, or
other fluid intermittant, so that the apparatus having been impelled forward
with considerable force the jets may then cease, and the apparatus will float
forward horizontally for a considerable distance by the momentum which it
has retained, and when this is nearly exhausted a renewal of the jets will
again carry it forward and give it fresh momentum, and so on continually,
this imitating the flight of some birds which float through the air on expanded
wings, a few strokes of which occasionally made are sufficient to renew the
momentum when necessary, and in this way the power may be more con-
veniently used. Sometimes we use screw propellers instead of jets to obtain
the same results, and we drive those screw propellers by means of steam or
other engines or power conveyed in the car or vessel in which the aeronauts
travel; or instead of using jets as already described propelling the appa-
ratus by their direct reaction we sometimes use them to drive the screw
propeller; for this purpose we attach hollow radial or curved arms to the
front of the blades of the screw propellers, and the ends of these radial arms
are turned back at right angles in the place of the blades, and their ends are
left open so that the jets may rush rapidly from them, and by their reaction
may cause the screw propeller to revolve with great velocity in the opposite
direction and thus drive the apparatus forward; and when we use steam or
other engines in which fuel is necessary we use petroleum or other such fuel,
which whilst comparatively light relatively to its heating power may be easily
carried; and when we use steam engines for the purpose of driving the pro-
pelling apparatus we prefer to make such engines condensing engines in order
to use the same water repeatedly instead of having to carry a supply; and
sometimes we utilize the planes of which the apparatus is constructed for this
purpose by making them hollow of thin metallic plates, as herein-before
described, so that the steam from the engine may pass into them and be
condensed by their rapid passage through the air, and afterwards be pumped
back into the boiler to be again used; and in such case we strengthen or stay
the hollow planes within which the steam is condensed so that they may not
collapse by the vacuum caused within them by such condensation.
In order to start such apparatus on its flight or passage through the air we

page_text: prefer to arrange at the starting point a light carriage running upon wheels
upon which the apparatus carrying the aeronauts may rest without being
attached to it, and we make such carriage with the apparatus resting upon it
run down a plane or railway inclined at a sufficient angle. When a sufficient
velocity has thus been obtained the pressure of the air beneath the wings or
planes will raise the apparatus from the carriage, and the propelling machinery
having been set in action in the meantime the apparatus continues its course
through the air without difficulty; or sometimes instead of making the carriage
with the apparatus descend an inclined plane as described we drive it by any
convenient force along a level plane, in which case we place the front of the
apparatus in a considerably higher position than the back, so that when a
sufficient velocity has been obtained the pressure of the air beneath the wings
may raise the apparatus from the carriage and the propelling machinery con-
tinues its motion through the air; for example, if the apparatus were to rest
loosely upon a locomotive engine running upon a level railway the front or
point of the planes or wings being at a higher level than the back as soon as
the locomotive engine had reached sufficient speed the pressure of the air
below the wings or planes thus inclined would raise them with the rest of the
apparatus from the locomotive engine, and the course of the apparatus
through the air would then be continued by the propelling apparatus.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indi-
cating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a Drawing of apparatus of the simplest form herein first
described.
A, A, are planes or wings triangular or nearly so in shape, and joined
together by one of their longer sides B, B, so that the apex C formed by the
junction of their points is in front; we prefer to make these planes A, A, not
in the same horizontal plane, but inclined slightly upwards from their central
line of junction B, B, as shewn in the end view, Figure 2, where A, A, arc
the planes and B their junction. In this way we are able to brace or stay
the planes more readily, as shewn at D, D, D, Figures 3 and 4. E is a third
plane in a vertical position, which is attached to the line forming the junction
of the two horizontal or nearly horizontal planes A, A, and hangs below them.
This third plane E, of which the car or vessel containing the aeronauts and
propelling apparatus forms a part, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, may be of
heavier construction than the two horizontal wings or planes A, A, so as to
bring the centre of gravity of the whole apparatus lower, as already described;

page_text: and in order to bring the centre of gravity into such a position that the appa-
ratus may float horizontally through the air the car or vessel F, Figure 7, is
placed nearer to the front of the apparatus than to the back; and we also
make the car F moveable backward or forward so that the apparatus may be
readily caused to ascend or descend as already described; or sometimes we
use a moveable weight which can be regulated from the car F for the same
purpose, as already described; sometimes we cause the apparatus to ascend
or descend gently in its course by means of a rudder hinged horizontally,
as shewn at G, Figures 7 and 8, and moveable vertically, as herein-before
described. The rudder H, Figure 7. is hinged horizontally for the guidance
of the apparatus horizontally by similar means.
Figures 5 and 6 represent another form of the apparatus in which two pairs
of horizontal wings or planes are used, one set being situate above the other,
A, A, A, A, being the horizontal wings or planes, and E, E, the third or
vertical plane which is common to the two pairs of horizontal wings or
planes.
Figures 9 and 10 represents two sets of planes arranged side by side instead
of one above the other, A, A, A, A, being the horizontal planes, and E, E, the
vertical planes, as in the preceding Figures. In some cases we fill up the
space between the sets of planes with a continuation of the horizontal planes
so as to obtain additional horizontal area, as shown by the dotted line B,
Figure 9.
Figures 11 and 12 are end views of an apparatus having a superposed
plane.
Figure 13 shews a combination of both the last-described arrangements,
and consists of two sets of apparatus side by side, over each of which is fixed
another set of apparatus, as shewn. A, A, are the horizontal wings or planes,
And whether we use two hori-
and E, E, the vertical planes, as before.
zontal planes only or two or more sets of such planes we brace or tie them
together by means of braces, as shown in our Drawings and herein-before
described, or in any other convenient manner.
In Figure 7 is shewn one method which we employ for the propulsion of
the apparatus through the air; it consists of a jet I of steam or other fluid
issuing from a pipe in a direction contrary to that in which the apparatus is
proceeding, so that the latter is propelled forward by the reaction of such jet;
or sometimes we use two such jets, as shewn in plan in Figure 14 at I, I,
by regulating which the apparatus may be guided or directed, as already
'described.
Figure 9 shows a screw propeller used to drive the machine or apparatus

page_text: forward; sometimes we work such screw propellers by means of a steam or
other engine, and sometimes we work them by the reaction of jets of steam
or other fluid, as shewn in Figure 9, where the steam is brought through
hollow radial arms K. K. K. at the back of the blades of the screw pro-
peller, and is then allowed to issue from the ends of such arms, which are
turned or bent at right angles to the direction in which the propeller is to
revolve. And where we use steam engines we prefer to condense the steam
which leaves the engine by admitting it into the planes or wings which are
made hollow, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, and which are kept constantly
cool by their rapid motion through the air; the steam thus condensed is
pumped back into the boiler. and so on continually. And in order to stop
the apparatus in its flight or bring it gently to the ground we fix springs
beneath it upon which it may descend, and we prefer to drop from the car a
cord with an anchor or grapnel attached made as strong and light as possible.
When the grapnel catches the ground the propelling apparatus is still kept
in motion, and the apparatus thus descends to the ground in a curve, and
by regulating the speed of the propeller can be made to fall as gently as
possible.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe in conclusion that we do not claim as of our said
Invention the use of rectangular or other shaped planes propelled through the
air at an angle slightly inclined from the horizontal; but what we consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the peculiar construction of and mode of combining together two
horizontal or nearly horizontal wings or planes with a vertical plane, when
such vertical plane is made to carry the aeronaut and propelling power,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second, the combination of two or more sets of horizontal or nearly hori-
zontal and vertical wings or planes disposed either one above another or side
by side, or one above another and side by side, substantially as herein-before
described.
Third, the making of the car or vessel containing the aeronauts and pro-
pelling power moveable or adjustable along the vertical plane of the apparatus
in a direction towards or from the points, or from, and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use of a moveable or adjustable weight capable
of being readily traversed along the vertical plane in a direction towards or from

page_text: the point or front end of the apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James William Butler and Edmund
Edwards, have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the
Fourteenth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
JAMES WILLIAM BUTLER.
(L.S.)
EDMUND EDWARDS.
(L.S.)