Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Aerial
Navigation.
"
We, THOMAS GRIFFITHS, of "Arvon Villa," St. Davids, Pembrokeshire,
Master Mariner, and THOMAS HENRY WILLOUGHBY BEDDOES, of "Wyndham,'
Pill, Bristol, Commander Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for aerial navigation and has for its object to
produce a stable aerial raft.
Our invention comprises a raft in the form of a closed or covered vessel having
a convex under surface and a flat or slightly concave upper surface, aud tubular
chambers attached to the said vessel filled with gas or hot air to give buoyancy.
The vessel is filled with air or gas to render it rigid.
The structure is composed of the uninflammable material used in the construction
of war balloons.
The form of the raft is oblong with rounded ends having a length of about three
or four times its breadth, and a depth sufficient to render the structure rigid. The
upper and under skins are separated and the space between them divided into
sections by longitudinal or transverse partitions, which keep the structure rigid and
in the required form. A space or well is formed in the centre of the vessel for
the accommodation of the aeronaut. This well is of network or lattice construction
at the top and bottom, to enable the occupants of the well to see through.
For the purposes of propelling the vessel, we provide a light metal or other tube,
which extends the whole length of the raft. The end portions of the tube are
jointed, so that they can be directed at will, for steering purposes, to point
up or down or to either side, by yoke lines from the well. The propelling force
consists of jets of expansive fluid issuing from one end of the tube and re-acting
on the vessel. The expansive fluid is produced, or carried, in suitable apparatus
in the well.
The buoyancy of the vessel is arranged to be sufficient to cause the vessel to
float in the air and the form of the vessel as above set forth is such that, by
raising or depressing the leading end, the vessel will mount up or go down, at an
incline accordingly.
Dated this 21st dor of Sontember 1801
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Aerial
Navigation.
"
We, THOMAS GRIFFITHS, of "Arvon Villa," St. Davids, Pembrokeshire,
Master Mariner, and THOMAS HENRY WILLOUGHBY BEDDOES, of "Wyndham,'
Pill, Bristol, Commander Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 apparatus for aerial navigation and has for its object
to produce a stable aerial raft.
Our invention comprises a raft in the form of a closed or covered vessel having
a convex under surface and a flat or slightly concave upper surface, and tubular

page_text: $
chambers attached to the said vessel filled with gas or hot air to give buoyancy.
The vessel is filled with air or gas to render it rigid.
The structure is composed of the uninflammable material used in the construction
of war balloons.
The form of the raft may be oblong with rounded ends, or round like a parachute,
and having a length of about three or four times its breadth, and a depth sufficient
to render the structure rigid. The upper and under skins are separated and the
space between them divided into sections by longitudinal or transverse partitions,
which keep the structure rigid and in the required form. A space or well is
formed in the centre of the vessel for the accommodation of the aeronaut.
well is of network or lattice construction at the top and bottom, to enable the
occupants of the well to see through.
This
For the purpose of propelling the vessel, we provide a light metal or other tube,
which extends the whole length of the raft. The end portions of the tube are
jointed, so that they can be directed at will, for steering purposes, to point
up or down or to either side, by yoke lines from the well. The propelling force
consists of jets of expansive fluid issuing from one end of the tube and re-acting
on the vessel. The expansive fluid is produced, or carried, in suitable apparatus
in the well.
The buoyancy of the vessel is arranged to be sufficient to cause the vessel to
float in the air and the form of the vessel as above set forth is such that by raising
or depressing the leading end, the vessel will mount up or go down, at an incline
accordingly.
Having thus generally described the object nature and effects of the invention we
will now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate examples of apparatus constructed and arranged according to this invention.
The various figures and same parts are designated by the same letters of reference
and they correspond with those used in the following explanation.
Figure 1 shews a plan of the apparatus composed of 3 plain cylinders fastened
together or supported by transverse bands.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus constructed according to this
invention, consisting of an upper portion composed of 3 longitudinal cylinders for
containing hydrogen and other like gas, and an under portion to be filled with air
or uninflammable gas.
Figure 3 is a cross section shewing the upper portion in the form of 3' cylinders;
whilst
Figure 4 is a cross section shewing the upper portion made with longitudinal
partitions.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal diagram, and Figure 6 is a transverse diagram shewing
the preferred section of the raft.
With reference to the drawings, a designates the longitudinal chambers which
are filled with gas or hot air to give buoyancy. These chambers are composed of
the uninflammable material used in the construction of war balloons and are con-
nected together and supported by transverse bands e. The form of the structure
is preferably oblong with rounded ends and having a length of about 3 to 4 times
its breadth.
The chambers a may be of tubular form, as shewn in Figure 3; or they may be
formed by longitudinal partitions or diaphragms a¹ (see Figure 4) separating the
upper and under skins 6, 6'. In large apparatus these diaphragms may be light
steel lattice girders. When sufficient speed is obtainable by artificial means of
propulsion the raft may be made of one portion only, i.e. the top portion, in which
case it will be inflated with air only depending on speed for keeping its position in
the air.
c designates the space or well formed in the centre of the vessel for the accom-
modation of the aeronaut. This well is preferably of a network or lattice con-
struction. d is a metal tube which extends the whole length of the vessel and
serves to convey the propelling agent which may be any suitable gas produced in

page_text: any known manner and by any known means. The end portions d' of said tube
are connected by a universal joint to the main length of the tube d, so that they
can be directed at will by yoke lines i, to the right or left, or up or down, so as to
direct the discharge of gas for steering purposes.
h designates the under structure of the vessel, which is made in the same way
as an ordinary air or water cushion, and is filled with compressed air or gas and
constitutes the portion to which the propeller is fixed. The fluid used for the pro-
pelling agent (which may be petroleum or equivalent gas producing fluid or other
substance) may be carried in suitable apparatus in the well c.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish to state in
conclusion that the invention may be carried out in various ways to produce a raft
or aerial vessel having a convex under surface and a flat or slightly concave upper
surface. The vessel may have an oblong form as shewn in the drawings, or it may
be of circular form. The form or construction of the vessels a may also be
modified without departing from the invention; and what we claim in respect of the
herein described invention is :-
1. An aerial raft or vessel constructed substantially as herein described, that is
to say—an aerial raft or vessel having a convex under surface and a flat or slightly
concave upper surface.
2. An aerial raft or vessel comprising an under part, h, and an upper part, a,
said parts being filled or extended with gaseous fluid: substantially as set forth.
3. The aerial raft or vessel set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the
drawings, consisting of tubular chambers a supported by transverse bands e, and an
under structure h, and propelling tube d; as and for the purposes set forth."
Dated this 21st day of June 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.