IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPARTING TO VESSELS IMMERSED IN AIR OR WATER PROGRESSIVE OR RETROGRESSIVE MOTION, AND IN THE APPARATUs Used, therefor
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City
of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPARTING TO
VESSELS IMMERSED IN AIR OR WATER PROGRESSIVE OR RETROGRESSIVE
MOTION, AND IN THE APPARATUs Used, therefor." A communication from
abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of the Village of Lachute, in the Parish
of St. Jérusalem d'Argenteuil, in the County of Argenteuil, and Province of
Quebec, Canada.
Sealed the 27th February 1880, and dated the 19th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1879.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPARTING TO VESSELS IMMERSED IN AIR OR WATER PRO-
GRESSIVE OR RETROGRESSIVE MOTION, AND IN THE APPARATUS USED THEREFOR."
(A communication from abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of the Village of
Lachute, in the Parish of St. Jérusalem d'Argenteuil, in the County of Argenteuil,
and Province of Quebec, Canada.)
This Invention consists, first, in the utilization, in connection with the resistance
of the air or water, as the case may be, in which the vessel is immersed, against an
inclined surface, of the power employed for giving motion vertically to such vessels
in order to convert such vertical motion into a diagonal one, either upward and
onward, or downward and onward, in the direction of their longitudinal axes;
and, second, in the means whereby such diagonal movements are produced.
From this it will be seen that to produce this compound diagonal motion, which
will of necessity be a gliding one, three factors are needed, i.e., a motive power
vertically, an inclined surface, and the resistance of the air.
To secure this last the vessels or ships are constructed of such a section as to
present in moving up and down in a vertical direction the largest possible amount
of opposing surface, and at the same time the least possible amount of opposing
surface to end wise motion, i.e., in the direction of their longitudinal axes, sails or
other means being used if desired to increase such surfaces.
To a vessel thus constructed and floating in air diagonal gliding motion is
imparted by tilting or inclining it so that its longitudinal axis is out of the hori+

page_text: zontal plane, thus presenting to the resistance of the air inclined surfaces, and
causing the vessel to move forward or backward as desired.
To proceed for any distance in this way the vessel must be caused alternately
and continuously to rise and descend, and this may be effected in any usual or
desired way, but preferably by making part of the lifting force necessary to raise
and sustain the vessel and attachments capable of being withdrawn at will, and
bringing this to bear or not according as it is desired to. ascend or descend, thus
giving the vertical movement required as a factor.
Although any construction of vessel and method of operating it so as to produce
the above effects may be used it is proposed to make the apparatus with a platform
or frame above which are arranged compartments permanently charged with gas,
etcetera, and of such lifting power a certain proportion short of that required to
raise the apparatus. These are supplemented by a chamber charged intermittently
with gas or other fluid, air, etcetera, capable of being expanded to a great extent,_.
preferably by heat, this chamber when fully inflated supplying more than the
additional force required, and when allowed to collapse causing the apparatus to
descend.
The agent which it is preferred to use to generate the expansive force in this
chamber is heat, which may be evolved by any suitable devices or means contained
in a working chamber attached to the apparatus from which is suspended the car
of any suitable kind, and providing accommodation for passengers, freight, etcetera.
To tilt the apparatus loose ballast or weights are used which may be carried in
the working chamber and shifted in either direction longitudinally from the centre
to give the angle of inclination desired, but is preferably suspended on an endless
cable running round drums or pulleys arranged in the working chamber.
Any auxiliary means such as side wheels, propellers, etcetera, may be used in
addition to the above to increase the rate of speed at which the apparatus travels,
and these receive motion from any suitable engines placed in the working
chamber.
Sails or vanes as beforementioned may be used to increase the amount of
inclined surface, and these or any other suitable device be used to steer the
apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
March 1880.
"
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPARTING TO VESSELS IMMERSED IN AIR OR WATER PRO-
GRESSIVE OR RETROGRESSIVE MOTION, AND IN THE APPARATUS USED THEREFOR.'
(A communication from abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of the Village of
Lachute, in the Parish of St. Jérusalem d'Argenteuil, in the County of Argenteuil,
and Province, of Quebec, Canada.)
The description of this Invention as communicated to me is as follows :-" My
Invention consists, first, in the utilization in connection with the resistance of the
air (or water, as the case may be), in which the vessel is immersed, against an
inclined surface, of the power employed for giving motion vertically to such vessels
in order to convert such vertical motion into a diagonal one, either upward and
onward or downward and onward in the direction of their longitudinal axes; and,
second, in the means whereby I produce such diagonal motions.
For the sake of clearness I will in my description treat of vessels immersed in
air, it being clearly understood that like effects can be produced upon vessels
immersed in water.
I propose to construct my vessels or ships of such a section or shape as to present
as large an amount as possible of upper and under surfaces, and at the same time
as small an amount as possible of end surfaces so as to simultaneously oppose to the
resistance of the air in their upward and downward movements the largest surface,
and to their movement end wise (i.e., in the direction of their longitudinal axes) the
very least. Sails, vanes, planes (fixed or moveable) or other means may also be
used to produce, or assist in producing, said compound end wise motion, whilst the
travelling of such vessels may be further assisted by any other means of propulsion
found suitable.
It will thus be seen that three factors are necessary and are employed by me to
produce this compound diagonal gliding motion, namely, a motive power vertically,
an inclined surface, and the resistance of the air.
To a vessel thus constructed, immersed or floating in air, and supplied with
motive force sufficient to raise or depress it vertically at will, I impart the here-
tofore mentioned diagonal gliding motion by tilting or inclining it so that its
longitudinal axis is out of the horizontal plane, presenting in this way inclined
surfaces or planes to the air opposing its upward and downward movements, and
thus causing the resistance of the air to force the vessel forward or backward as
desired. To obtain the diagonal motion in a forward direction the bow is raised
while ascending, and depressed as it comes down, and vice versa, to obtain the
diagonal motion backwards..
In order to proceed for any distance in this way (which will be similar to the
tacking of a ship except that the motion will be in a vertical instead of a horizontal
plane) the vessel inust be caused alternately and continuously to rise and fall, this
being effected in any suitable way.
I propose, however, preferably to perform this operation by constructing my
vessel with one or more compartments or chambers, by preference arranged in the
upper part of the apparatus, these being usually charged permanently with
hydrogen or other suitable gas, and of such capacity that their total lifting power
will be a certain proportion short of that required to raise the apparatus with its
attachments and load.
This proportion of weight, which cannot be raised by the buoyancy of the above-
mentioned chambers, represents the power of descent that may be given to the
vessel, gravitation being the active agent, and to procure the necessary ascensional
force, I provide in addition to the permanent chambers another chamber charged.
with suitable gas, heated air, etcetera, in which I generate sufficient buoyant force to

page_text: raise such weight, and afford as much additional buoyancy as may be desired, which
additional buoyancy represents the motive force upwards.
I propose to utilize, as before mentioned, these downward and upward motive
forces in producing the oblique gliding motion of my vessel through the air by
means of the inclined surfaces acted upon by the opposing air as it ascends or
descends.
The tilting or inclination of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus may be accom-
plished in many ways (which would be only equivalents of each other) of which one
of the simplest is by shifting in either direction, longitudinally from the centre,
ballast or weights carried on or under the machine until the necessary amount of
dip is obtained, this operation being controlled in any effective manner. When this
weight is suspended under the car, on a rope attached thereto, it will act as a spring
to bring the apparatus to ground gently and safely.
In certain cases in which I supplement or assist the gliding motion of the
apparatus by means of driving appliances such as side-wheels, propellers, etcetera,
receiving motion from an engine or engines operated by steam, air, gas, etcetera, I
propose to use such motive force when generated, first for driving such engine, and
then for providing, wholly or partially, the ascensional force by charging there-
with the expansion chamber above-mentioned.
For full comprehension, however, of my Invention reference must be had to the
annexed Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a transverse
section of an apparatus for aerial navigation embodying my Invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
A is the frame of the machine, being usually a plane (in its normal position
horizontal) made in such a way and of such material, or materials, as shall combine
in the greatest degree lightness and strength; B, B, B¹, B', and B2 being chambers.
secured preferably on its upper side, made of canvas or other suitable material, and
by preference in compartments, these being, if desired, but not necessarily, con-
structed with frames, and so braced together and to the frame A as to hold them
rigidly in position and preferably arranged, as shewn, so as to form channels for the
air between the chambers B¹, B¹, and B². These chambers are of such size that
when fully inflated with hydrogen or other suitable gas they will, as before-
mentioned, possess less lifting power than is required to raise the apparatus with its
attachments and load.
C is the supplementary or expansion chamber suspended from the frame A
formed either partially or wholly of non-inflammable material, and so constructed
as to allow its sides when inflated to expand to the requisite extent to more than
supply the deficiency in lifting power of the other chambers B¹, B¹, and B², this
lifting power being lost when it shrinks to its normal size.
This chamber C is charged with gas or fluid, such as ammoniacal gas or ammonia
liquid, which is capable of being expanded very rapidly under the influence of heat,
this being generated by the combustion of any fuel, such as the hydro-carbons,
which may be found suitable, contained in vessels, or fire chambers of any kind
carried in the working or heating chamber, or compartment D. This is made of
any suitable material, and suspended either to frames c attached to frame A, and
dividing up the expansion chamber C, to a longitudinal stiffening frame similarly
attached to A, and running through C, or in any other convenient way, and being
further secured if desired by guys or braces d from the frame A.
The fire chambers contained in the working chamber D will be so constructed as
to obviate any chance of setting fire to the vessel, being preferably covered, both
for this reason and to economize heat, with fire-proof material of any kind, and the
gas, or liquid from which the gas is generated to inflate the chamber C, being con-.
tained in suitable receptacles distinct from said chamber, these receptacles being
preferably so arranged as to receive either wholly or partially the liquid when
condensed by the lowering of the temperature, and any suitable means being
provided for emptying the chamber C when this is required to be done quickly.
Should it be desired to use auxiliary means of propulsion wheels of any suitable.

page_text: construction combining lightness and strength may be placed on the sides of the
chamber D, or screw propellers at either or both ends, the mechanism for working
these, which must be of the simplest and most direct form, being operated, as before
mentioned, by the gas or other fluid used to charge the chamber C.
E is the car for the conveyance of mails, passengers, and freight, constructed of
any suitable material or materials shaped either as a cylinder, a cylinder with
pointed ends as shewn, a boat or any other form desired, and arranged as will be
found most convenient for the special purposes for which it is designed, and
suspended either from the working chamber D or so as to be carried by the frame
A by guys or lines l.
The upper side of this car or boat may be either wholly or partially formed as a
promenade deck, and any usual means be provided for communication between it
and the working chamber..
This car is preferably so arranged that on arrival at its destination it can be
easily detached from its points of suspension, and another one attached in its stead
so as not to cause delay.
If desired this car may be supplied with any means, such as masts and sails, or
any usual motive power, whereby if detached at sea it is independent of
outside aid..
The ballast or shifting weight for giving to the apparatus its dip or inclination
may be carried in the working chamber D, but I prefer, as shewn in the Drawings,.
to carry it upon an endless wire, rope, or cable F (F' shewing such weight or
ballast) passing over a drum or drums arranged at both ends either of the working
chamber D or the car E, preferably the former, and being drawn in either direction
by the revolution of a central drum which may be revolved by means of wheels
operated by hand, somewhat in the style of a helm, so that the direction of travel.
of the vessel can be changed and governed by the crew, a pendulum or other.
suitable plumb line shewing the angle of inclination of the apparatus.
G, G, are sails or planes attached on their upper sides to the frame A, and having
their lower edges (lashed or secured, if desired, to a boom) connected to the working.
chamber D by guys or braces which may be hauled on so as to alter their position
with relation to the said chamber, and thus act the part of a rudder in steering the
vessel, or any other means, such as a rudder framed as desired, a fish-tail, etcetera,
and suitably operated, may be used.
Instead of, as herein before described, tilting or inclining the whole apparatus so as
to bring the resistance of the air to bear against the upper and under inclined
surfaces; these surfaces may be so constructed as to allow them to be inclined to.
any oblique angle, either automatically or by means for the purpose without acting
on the main body of the apparatus..
Although I have described a very effective embodiment of my Invention it must
be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction
therein set forth as they may be altered to suit varying circumstances.
This form of ship, substantially as herein before described, i.e., with large upper
and under, and proportionately small end surfaces, may be used with any ordinary
means of propulsion apart from the inclination of the axis."
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect as communicated to me as aforesaid, I hereby
declare that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured
to me under the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,
1. In an air ship chambers kept permanently charged, and out of which no gas
need be discharged at any time for working the vessel.
2. Giving additional buoyancy to any ærial vessel while floating or travelling
through the air by generating gas, vapor, or steam from any suitable liquids or
materials by means of heat or otherwise, substantially as set forth.
3. Imparting to a vessel floating in the air upward motion by attaching thereto
permanently sufficient lifting power to nearly raise it, and then supplementing such
permanent power by intermittent lifting force other than produced by a mechanical

page_text: device, and securing downward motion by withdrawing such additional inter-
mittent force, substantially as herein set forth.
4. Alternately generating gas, vapor, or steam, and condensing (without com-
pression) the same on board an ærial vessel while floating or travelling through the
air, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
5. Causing any floating or travelling serial vessel to gravitate downward or
descend by condensing (without compression) gas, vapor, or steam, substantially as
set forth.
6. Continually and alternately raising and lowering any aerial vessel while
floating or travelling by continuously and alternately generating gas, vapor, or
steam, and condensing the same without compression, and also by means of
heated air.
7. In combination with the appliances used for producing oblique gliding motion
in an aerial vessel, any other auxiliary means of propulsion, substantially as set
forth.
8. In combination with an ærial vessel, a car or cars for working the same,
separate from and independent of the car or cars for the conveyance of passengers,
mails, etcetera, substantially as set forth.
9. In combination with an aerial vessel provided with car for working same, a
separate car or cars for passengers, freight, etcetera, suspended either from said
working car or from the vessel itself, and removeable at will, substantially as described.
10. In combination with any gliding aerial vessel, a car or cars for passengers,
freight, etcetera, covered and enclosed, of tubular or any other form, provided if desired
with a promenade deck on its upper side, all substantially as herein described.
11. In combination with any air ship, but distinct therefrom, a weight suspended
below the ship and all its attachments, being permanently attached thereto, but
capable of being shifted in position, and serving both for tilting such vessel and as
a spring to bring it softly to the ground, all substantially as herein set forth.
12. The formation of air channels in the direction of the longitudinal axis of any
gliding aerial vessel by the surfaces of a platform, plane or frame A, in combination
with gas chambers or sails attached to the edges of said platform, substantially as
described.
13. Imparting to any aerial vessel upward motion by means of permanent gas,
chambers possessing a fixed (i.e., not necessarily alterable) liſting force, assisted by
supplementing any necessary amount of additional buoyancy generated by the use
of hot air, gas, vapor, or steam, and downward motion by withdrawing such
additional buoyancy, gravitation being the active downward agent, substantially as
set forth.
14. The combination of platform A with its buoys above and the expansion
chamber C beneath, and curtains G, G, attached to its edges, all substantially as
shewn and described.
15. In connection with any gliding aerial vessel, intermittently charged chamber
or chambers, for the purposes herein set forth.
16. In connection with any aerial vessel a certain weight representing a power
of descent which is raised only through the additional buoyancy produced by the
use of an intermittently charged chamber, substantially as described and
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty