IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NAVIGATION OF THE AIR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Peter Jensen at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
September 1875.-A communication from abroad by Edward Vidal,
of Vienna, Austria.
I, PETER JENSEN, of Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NAVIGATION OF THE
AIR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," (a communication to me from abroad by
Edward Vidal, of Vienna, Austria,) to be as follows:-
The aërostat constructed according to this Invention consists―
Firstly. Of one or more screw or kite formed wings whose surfaces are
in oblique planes; they are placed side by side or above one another,
and may be turned in the same or opposite directions for raising the air
ship vertically.
Secondly. One or more similar wings for forward horizontal move-
ment.
Thirdly. A steam engine, the steam therefor being obtained from a
mixture of fluid carbonic acid with alcohol or other appropriate sub-

page_text: stance or material which prevents the snow formation of the carbonic
acid, the engine being suitably adapted for the purpose.
Fourthly. A balloon filled with hydrogen gas or lighting gas; the
balloon is of an oblong form or cigar like, with the longer axis horizontal,
and is placed over the wings; it is intended for the raising up of the
air ship, and for preventing the same from falling in case of an
accident.
balloon is of an oblong form or cigar like, with the longer axis horizontal,
and is placed over the wings; it is intended for the raising up of the
air ship, and for preventing the same from falling in case of an
accident.
Fifthly. A car or ship having buffers or springs on its under side.
Sixthly. A steering apparatus for guiding the air ship.
The kites or wings for vertical propulsion are by preference arranged
in two equal sets, one above the other, of, say, two or three in each set.
The upper set is by tubes and bosses in two halves attached to a vertical
spindle, and the lower set similarly to a sleeve on the said spindle, so
that they can be revolved independently and in opposite directions, their
inclination also being opposite. All the kites are some distance from the
centre spindle. The tubular arms are stayed by chains. The inclination
of the kites can be regulated by shifting of the aforesaid bosses. To
equalize the power of both sets of kites the lower set may have a small
auxiliary kite sail, which by a sliding boss and lever arrangement can be
regulated as to inclination or pitch. If the two sets are not thus
equalized the body of the ship would rotate one way or the other. The
two sets of kites might also be arranged on two separate shafts, one in
front to the left of centre line of ship, and the other behind to the right
of the said centre line. The kites or sails on the horizontal shaft for
horizontal propulsion are similarly fixed and arranged. The kites may
be two in number. The shaft is turned one way or the other by means
of clutch gear and four bevel wheels.
The mixture required for the engine is conveniently done as follows:-
A strong vessel is half filled with liquid carbonic acid; 75% alcohol and
25% water suffice for the mixture, till the vessel is filled four-fifths. A
mixture is thus obtained which boils much below the Celsius zero, and
according to the amount of alcohol produces pressure of 20 to 30
atmospheres at that zero.. The steam may be led into another vessel
with fire underneath, and thus attain still higher pressure.
For the horizontal movement axle may be driven by a separate smaller
engine.

page_text: The balloon is made of usual material of the form described, or it may
be an ellipsoid of three axes; it is only just big enough to raise the
ship slowly; it may be fitted with an expansible part for receiving a
momentary surplus of gas.
The ship may be made of wire netting, and with a guard surrounding
it; it has buffers or springs below.
The rudder is at the end opposite the kites for horizontal movement,
and consists of two crossed tubes and a canvas covering thereover. The
continuation of one of the tubes inside the ship serves as a handle.