Improvements in Navigable Balloons or Aerial Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Navigable Balloons or Aerial Machines.
I, FRANCIS ALEXANDER BARTON, of Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, in the
County of Kent, Physician and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention is designed to provide a navigable balloon or aerial machine
which is capable of being propelled and steered in any direction.
In carrying out my invention I employ a balloon or aerostat of cigar or other
suitable shape and inflated preferably with hydrogen gas. The balloon when
fully inflated being of such a size as to exert a lifting power sufficient to
counteract the load attached thereto and the weight of the occupants of the car;
thus making the whole body exactly buoyant and rendering it possible for the
machine while travelling to be steered either upwards or downwards or in any
other direction without discharging ballast or letting the gas escape.
Suspended from the balloon is a suitably constructed car upon the platform
of which is secured a suitable high speed motor for driving one or more pro-
pelling fans.
Between the balloon and the car I arrange a horizontal aeroplane made of
canvas or other suitable material. The forward end of said aeroplane is fastened
to a fixed bar which is held rigid between the side frames of the machine, while
the rear end which is also mounted on a bar is capable of being raised or lowered
in a limited are by any suitable mechanical contrivance. According to the posi-
tion of this aeroplane the machine when in operation is caused to either ascend
or descend, or travel straight at any altitude.
At the rear end of the machine frame is arranged a vertical aeroplane or
rudder by means of which the machine can be steered to the right or left.
The car is furnished with wheels so that the machine can be propelled forward
over a field or other moderately even surface; this operation being necessary
in starting the machine. As soon as sufficient speed is attained the horizontal
aeroplane is depressed, so that a pressure of air comes in contact with its under
surface which causes the machine to leave the ground.
In order that the centre of gravity of the machine can be altered or main-
tained, two half-filled water tanks are arranged, one at each end of the car.
They are connected together by a pipe with which connects a small pump. By
pumping the water from one tank into the other, one end of the car becomes
heavier than the other, consequently the centre of gravity is moved from its
former position to another.
The balloon or aerostat in large aerial machines is divided by partitions into
gas-tight compartments, and if the machine is used for war purposes each of
these compartments would contain a second spherical balloon.
Dated the 13th day of December 1899
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FRANCIS ALEXANDER BARTON, of Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, in the
County of Kent, Physician and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
My invention is designed to provide a navigable balloon or aerial machine
which is capable of being propelled and steered in any direction.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my aerial machine.
Figure 2 is a deck plan of the car.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the machine, while
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section.
Figure 5 is a plan on an enlarged scale of an arrangement for maintaining
the machine in a horizontal position.
Figure 6 is a detail of the locking bolt for the rod used in connection with
the arrangement illustrated in Figure 5, and
Figure 7 shews the arrangement on the machine of ascending and descending
propellers.
In carrying out my invention I employ a balloon or aerostat (A) of cigar or
other suitable shape, inflated preferably with hydrogen gas. The aerostat is of
such a size that when fully inflated it exerts a lifting power sufficient to counteract
the load attached thereto and the weight of the occupants of the car, thus making
the whole body exactly buoyant and rendering it possible for the machine to be
propelled and steered either upwards or downwards or in any other direction
without discharging ballast or letting the gas escape.
Said aerostat is divided by a suitable number of partitions (A) into gas-tight
compartments, which are filled with gas separately. Thus should the aerostat
become damaged from any cause whatever while the machine is in operation
and the gas from one or even two of these compartments escape, the machine
would still be manageable with safety until the ground could be reached.
The aerostat (A) is embraced by and is secured to a suitably constructed
frame (B) and is also retained in said frame by means of netting or a covering
of thin suitably coated or treated fabric which is placed over the aerostat and
secured to the side longitudinal bars (C) and (C) of the frame.
The front end of the aerostat is protected by a shield (1) made of any suitable
thin light material and which is also fastened to the frame.
From the said longitudinal bars (C) and (C) depend the bars (E) to which is
secured the car (F). Cross bars such as (G) and bars (G¹) are connected to the
bars (E) and also with suitable tie ropes to form a suitable rigid frame for the
aeroplanes and which is hereinafter called the " aeroplane frame."
The car aforesaid may be of any suitable construction so long as it is rigid
and light.
On the deck of the car are preferably two propellers (H) and (H) for causing
the machine to go forward, also the propellers (I) and (I) which are mounted on
suitable turntables, so that they can be turned about to either assist in driving
the machine forward, or drive it sideways or turn it sharply round, or if desired
propel it backwards. A separate motor (J) of any suitable construction is pro-
vided preferably for driving each propeller so as to distribute the weight of the
machinery.

page_text: Under the deck of the car are the twin propellers (K) and (K) arranged within
the tubes (L) and (L) which may be of any suitable length. The propellers
may be arranged at either the front or rear ends of the tubes or at any other
parts, whichever give the best results. Said propellers are suitably supported
within the tubes and are driven by means of motors on the deck. One tube
and propeller only, arranged centrally could be used if desired.
$6
Between the aerostat (A) and the car (F) and in the forward part of the
aeroplane frame," I arrange the horizontal aeroplane (M). The forward end
of said aeroplane is fastened to the fixed bar (M¹) of the "aeroplane frame,"
while the rear end which is also mounted on a bar is capable of being raised
or lowered in guides such as (M2) through a limited arc, by any suitable
mechanical contrivance operated preferably by means of a steering wheel (N)
on the car's deck. According to the position of this aeroplane, the machine
when in operation is caused to either ascend, descend, or travel straight at any
altitude.
At the rear end of the "aeroplane frame" is arranged the vertical aeroplane
or rudder (0) by means of which the machine can be steered to the right or left.
The said rudder (0) is attached to the central vertical rear bar (0¹) of the
aeroplane frame" and is furnished with top and bottom stays, the top one of
which is supported by suitable ropes.
66
The rudder (0) is movable to the right or left by means of ropes which pass
over pulleys attached to the side bars of the " aeroplane frame" and connect
with the steering wheel (P). Said wheel (P) is arranged preferably near the
steering wheel (N) so that they both can be operated by one man.
Both of the aeroplanes are made of canvas or other suitable material and
are of such a shape and size as will effect the object for which they are intended.
I may arrange auxiliary collapsible horizontal aeroplanes either at the sides
of the car or the "aeroplane frame so that in case of a mishap to the main
horizontal aeroplane the machine could be controlled by the auxiliary ones.
In order that the centre of gravity of the machine can be altered or main-
tained, I arrange at each end of the car a half-filled water-tank (Q). These
tanks communicate one with the other preferably by two pipes (Q') and (Q)
with which are connected the pumps (R) and (R). Said pumps are so arranged
as to cause the water to flow from one tank through one pipe, and from the
other through the other pipe. By pumping the water from one tank into the
other one end of the car becomes heavier than the other, consequently the centre
of gravity of the machine is thereby either restored or altered, according to the
circumstances.
The pumps (R) and (R) may be automatically controlled so as to cause the
water to flow from one tank into the other at any deviation of the machine from
its horizontal course. This I can effect as shewn in Figures 4 and 5 by the
arrangement of a swinging rod (S) which is depended from a suitable part of
the machine frame and which is connected by links such as (T) and (T) to the
pivoted levers (U) and (U) which engage the slidable portions (V) and (V) of
suitably constructed clutches. According to the forward or backward position
of the rod (S) so is the movement of the levers, which thereby cause one clutch
to be put into and the other out of engagement with the driving gear, con-
sequently putting one pump into and the other out of operation. So long as
the machine travels in its proper course the pumps are inoperative as both
clutches (V) and (V) are out of engagement.
It will be understood that any other means for putting the pumps into and
out of action by connecting with or disconnecting from the driving gear, accord-
ing to the position of the swinging rod, cauld be used; also that one pump
furnished with suitable two-way valves could be employed instead of two pumps
as above mentioned.
A bolt (W) as in Figure 6 is provided for locking the lower end of the rod (S)
when necessary.

page_text: For rapidly raising or lowering the machine I may employ suitable pro-
pellers (X) and (X) which are driven by suitable motors, and which may be
arranged as shewn in Figure 7, or in any other convenient position.
The car (F) is furnished with wheels (Y) so that the machine can be pro-
pelled forward by means of its fans or propellers over a field or other moderately
even surface; this operation being necessary in starting the machine. As soon
as sufficient speed is attained the horizontal aeroplane (M) is depressed as shewn
by dotted lines in Figure 1 so that the air presses on its under surface and thus
causes the machine to leave the ground. When the desired altitude is reached
the said aeroplane is adjusted so that the machine will travel in a horizontal
course.
To cause the machine to descend it is only necessary to raise the aeroplane (M)
to the position shewn in Figure 1 so that the air will press upon its upper
surface. The swinging rod (S) when the machine is ascending or descending
should be locked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly In an aerial machine such as described, the aerostat (A) and car (F),
frame (1) embracing said aerostat, the "aeroplane frame" between the aerostat
and the car in which are arranged the horizontal aeroplane (M) and vertical
aeroplane or rudder (0), suitable propellers for driving the machine, and the
device for altering or maintaining the centre of gravity of the machine, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly: In an aerial machine such as described, the aerostat (A) divided
by the partitions (A) into gas-tight compartments, as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
Thirdly In an aerial machine such as described, the propellers (I) and (I)
mounted on turntables on the car's deck substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
Fourthly In an aerial machine such as described, one or more propellers
such as (K) each arranged within a tube (L) attached to the car, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
:
Fifthly In an aerial machine such as described, the car (F) having support-
ing wheels (Y) thereon, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Sixthly: In an aerial machine such as described, the water-tanks (Q) and (Q),
one at each end of the car, with means for causing the water to flow from one
tank to the other for the purpose of altering or maintaining the centre of gravity
of the machine, substantially as herein set forth.
Seventhly-In an aerial machine such as described, the combination with
the contrivance set forth in Claim 6 of the swinging rod (S) for automatically
operating the pumping mechanism which causes the water to flow from one tank
to the other according to the position of the machine substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
:
Eighthly An aerial machine constructed in the manner substantially as
herein set forth.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.