A NEW SYSTEM OF AERIAL NAVIGATION
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie, of 39, Rue de
l'Echiquier, Paris, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Mechanical
Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW SYSTEM OF AERIAL NAVIGATION."
Sealed the 10th March 1857, and dated the 15th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Justin
Lassie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th September 1856.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE JUSTIN LASSIE, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, and
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "A NEW SYSTEM OF AERIAL NAVIGATION," to be
as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in an improved aerial ship or car constructed
so that the crew or passengers placed inside a hollow cylinder, supported
by balloons and furnished with a screw on the exterior, cause it to rotate,
and thus propel the vessel in the air.
The aerial ship or car is composed of one or more long cylinders, formed
with hemispherical ends,and on which is fixed the thread of a screw, consisting
of a thin plate of metal. The centre of this helicoid cylinder is occupied by an
internal parallel cylinder of the same length as the former. In the centre of
-this internal cylinder is a hollowiron axis, which acts as a central support to the
whole. The axis projects several yards from the extremities of the cylinder.
The internal cylinder is divided into cabins or chambers, furnished with
hammocks suspended to the central axis or support, which givesaccommodation
Price Sd1

page_text: for the crew or passengers, who walk round as in a treadmill, and thus cause
the screw to rotate. It is by this movement of retation which propels it
through the air with a speed proportioned to the diameter of the cylinder.
At
The aerial vessel is maintained in the air horizontally or at the required
angle of inclination by means of a counterpoise of metal, offering but little
resistance as possible. This counterpoise issustained by two lines of iron wire,
whose extremities pass round a reel placed at each end of the aerostat.
the extremities of the vessel are two balloons of the same diameter as the
cylinder, but only from two to two and a half diameters in length; they
are fixed on the central axis, but do not turn with it. One of these extremities
is the fore balloon, and the other is the aft or steering balloon, the latter being
surmounted by a horizontal semicircular toothed rack,gearing with a vertical
pinion surmounted by a horizontal wheel with handles, which serves to turn
from right to left, or to steer as in the ordinary way, the counterpoise dis-
pensing with the necessity of steering up and down.
The whole space comprised between the internal and the external cylinder
is occupied by the gas compressed and separated at intervals by partitions
forming equal compartments. In each compartment corresponding with the
cabins are as many small balloons, each formed of two annular discs of light
impermeable tissue, and of which the outer circumference is fixed to the inner
circumference of the external cylinder, whose innercircumferenceisinturnfixed
to the outer part of the internal cylinder, across which each balloon commu-
nicates with each cabin by means of stop cocks and other openings, with safety
valves having springs for regulating the pressure. These balloons compressed
bythe gas become expanded on reaching the heighest point of ascension, when
the gas is compressed in its turn by the atmospheric air which is pumped
in; and the aerostat changing thus its specific weight descends, according
as the air is admitted, till the earth is reached, or till the valves act of them-
selves. The ascents and descents are effected in this manner.
The pumps employed are formed similar to bellows in the framework of the
internal cylinder, of which their covers form the flooring, so that by the half
turn of a key, which renders this flooring moveable, the crew, in walking
at a regulated step, cause the vessel to ascend or descend as desired.
The external cylinder, formed of very thin sheet metal, is strengthened
by means of iron wires proceeding from the centre of the internal cylinder,
which, added to the effect of the valves, gives perfect security against
explosion.
The aerostat forms in the atmosphere the figure of a triangle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE JUSTIN LASSIE, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, and 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie, Her special license that I, the said Jean
Baptiste Justin Lassie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie, my executors, administra-
tors, and 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 "A NEW SYSTEM OF AERIAL NAVIGATION," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie,
by an instrument in writing under my 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 I, the said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in an improved aerial ship or carriage constructed
with an outer and inner cylinder on an axis, so that the crew or passengers,
by walking inside the inner cylinder supported by gas, cause it to rotate,
and with it the outer cylinder furnished with a screw, and thus propel the
vessel in the air.
The body of the aerial ship, carriage, or aerostat consists of a long outer
cylinder with ends of an hemispherical shape. This cylinder is furnished with
one or more screw threads, and its length should be at least ten times its
diameter. The thread of the screw should be made broad, so as to have

page_text: a large surface, exceeding that of the cylinder by half or two-thirds of its
radius. Thus, supposing the diameter of the cylinder to be ninety feet, its
length would be nine hundred feet, and the screw taken at two-thirds of the
radius would be thirty feet deep; and if the screw made two and a half
revolutions on the whole length of the cylinder, and the cylinder make two and
a half revolutions on its axis,the result would be that the cylinder would pass
through a space of nine hundred feet, or about three hundred and sixty feet for
each revolution. The speed of the aerostat greatly depends on the number of
convolutions of the screw thread round the cylinder. The motive power is
obtained by the crew. The aerostat is constructed in the following manner:
-
In the interior of the outer cylinder A, B, Figure 1, is placed the inner
cylinder FG, Figure 2, from six to nine feet in diameter. This internal
cylinder is in free communication with the atmosphericair at each end, where
the crew or passengers enter. The cylinder is formed of hoops, placed at
distances of about three feet apart, covered with light planks of wood bound
closely together like the staves of a barrel. The hollow axis C of the two
cylinders should be at least eleven inches in diameter, and serves as a support
to the series of strengthening rods C I, CR, CS, CZ, Figure 3, fixed at
right angles to it, and which rods are connected together by the cross rods
HL, N M, Figure 3, at intervals of about six feet. These rods which are fixed
together serve also as supports to the iron wires for keeping the outer cylinder
at equal distances from the centre, and for supporting the parts C 1, CR,
and sides of the screw IQZ, and N R S. The angular rods A HED
BG MOPQ, Figure 3, and LND MIHG, Figure 4,are also used for
giving strength to the frame of the ship. It is thus seen
cylinder C X, Figures 3 and 4, is strengthened by the axis C. In each of the
spaces between the cross rods forming chambers or cabins A B, B D, DE,
Figure 2, is a hammock suspended to the axis by two rings or hoops provided
with rollers, which enable it to remain perpendicular. In each of these cabins
there should be two men performing duty in turn, as on board ship, that is
to say, while one remains in the hammock the other walks up one side of
the inner cylinder, as on a treadmill. The aerostat A B C, Figure 1, being
nine hundred feet in length between A and B, the one hundred and fifty
cabins with two men to each necessitates the employment of a crew of three
hundred men, which, at the rate of seven men per horse power; would pro-
duce the force of thirty-three horses; but in regular work half of the above
number of men are employed.
that the inner
To increase the rate of speed the angle of inclination of the screw with
respect to the axis of the aerostat should be made sharper. In this case,

page_text: instead of two screws, three and even four might be employed, as in Figure 6,
and by this increase in number compensate for the surface lost by the decrease
in the pitch of the screw. Thus, the greater development of surface in the
blades of the screw, the greater the amount of resistance in the air to produce
a sudden movement, so that with the least rotatory motion in one or the other
direction the aerostat is caused to advance or recede instantaneously. This
result proceeds from the great difference which exists on one side between the
diametral section of the aerial vessel,which section is equal to that of a column
of air representing the entire resistance to be overcome; and,ou the other side,
between the total of the surfaces developed by the screws which produce
the resisting power in the air as a point of support for the repulsion of the
atmospheric column, which from this moment is equivalent to the power.
In Figure 5 there are only two screw threads, and the resistance of the
ship or car to the air may be considerably lessened by means of a "cut-
wind" F G H, which divides the air.
Figure 1 shews the "cut-wind," of an angular shape and fixed to the fore
balloon; the principal framing E F, and G H, of the cut-wind is provided
with collars I and G, sliding in grooves formed on the revolving axis G.
One or more rollers may be fixed at their upper part to diminish the
friction. Between the two planes H G F, and the similar plane at the back,
is mounted a roller on which the anchor cable is rolled, one of the extremities
of which cable is passed over a grooved pulley G to which the anchor is
suspended. The "cut-wind," composed of three plane surfaces, is made fixed
or moveable. In the latter case the axis G A B, is moveable, and revolves in
bearings. By means of the pulleys F and K are lowered the wires or chains
FL, and K L, suspending the small iron car or counterpoise M, the weight
of which should be about five hundred to six hundred pounds. This counter-
poise is for the purpose of keeping the aerostat in equilibrium, and by
shortening one of the cables F L, or K L, by means of rollers on the parts
E, I, K C, to bring it in a horizontal position, or at any angle of inclination
under or above the horizon; and it is by reason of this point of equilibrium
that weights or men can displace it and move it from one end A to the other
B of the aerostat without causing any serious inclination. On this account the
heavier the counterpoise, or the more distant it is from the aerostat, the
greater is its effect. Independently of the advantages afforded by this system
of equilibrium for keeping the aerostat in the required direction, it possesses
that of simplifying the action of the helm D, leaving it only the functions of an
ordinary helm, viz, that of directing right and left according to the points of
the compass. This helm is thus constructed: It consists of a cylinder or

page_text: balloon D, of the same diameter as the main cylinder A B, the length of
which varies according to circumstances, say, from one to two and a half
diameters, and terminated by hemispherical or conical extremities, and provided
with an internal cylinder and axle, in all respects similar to that already
described. It is provided with two blades CNO, and CPO, and both are
in the same vertical plane, passing through the axis CDO. It will be seen
that by putting this helm right and left in an oblique position, the same result
is obtained as in the marine steering apparatus. The helm does not revolve,
and it must be ballasted, or, if preferred, connected with the car CRR S, so
as to place it at the same angle of inclination with the body of the aerial ship.
In this case it may be arranged so that the weight of the car may afford
sufficient ballast to keep it immoveable, and so that the working faces of the
helm CN, and CP O, should be always vertical. It must be understood
that the hinge at C, which joins the axles of the two aerostats, should be made
with a revolving pivot on one of its sides, to leave free the rotatory movement
of the cylinder A B. The helm is fixed by two brackets 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2, 5,
Figure 1, united by strong hinges 2, 6, 5, one mounted with rotating collars
7 and 8, and fixed collars 9 and 10, for the reception of the axles 8, 11, and
9, 12, of the balloons. Under the collar 7 of the vertical bracket 1, 2, 3, is
fixed a horizontal lever 14, 13, held firmly by this bracket on the arms 13, 8,
and 14, 8. The bracket on the other axis 4, 2, 5, is provided with a similar
lever 1, 16. At the extremities 13, 16, and 14, 15, is set two tackles, the
ropes of which are coiled in opposite directions on the rollers 17, 18, which, by
means of small rollers turus on the axle 9, 12, thus forming the wheel of the
helm, which only requires to be worked from right to left, or vice versa, togive
to the aerostat the direction required. It is evident that the above-described
wheel and tackle may be dispensed with, and be replaced by a toothed rack in
the form of an arc of a circle, which may be fixed on one of the brackets
1, 2, 3, 10, and cog, with a vertical pinion gearing with a horizontal wheel.
The first-described arrangement has, however, the advantage of being more
readily replaced in case of accident on the journey. It is seen that the
brackets 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2, 5, which acts as hinges to the two cylinders by
keeping their axes on the same horizontal plane, may, if required, obviate
the necessity for the equilibrium weight R of the helm. If this weight is con-
structed in the form of a car, it will serve as a place for lighting a fire,
according to the requirements of the passengers or crew, without danger
of the fire communicating to the inflammable gases contained in the balloons.
With regard to the outer casing, care should be taken to make it strong
encugh to bear the whole pressure of the ascersional gas. It should be formed

page_text: of a material possessing the largest amount of coherence possible, combined
with the greatest relative lightness, such as iron, copper, or aluminium in well
rolled thin sheets of about three feet in breadth and of a sufficient length.
The sheets should be soldered together at their edges, so as to overlap each
other about one inch. At every interval of about ninety feet of the length of
the outer cylinder is placed a partition of the same metal, having the same
diameter as the cylinder. The aerial vessel is thus divided into ten com-
partments of about ninety feet each from A to B, Figure 1, plus the two
hemispherical extremities of about forty-five feet each. The advantage of this
arrangement is, that in the event of the aerostat meeting with an accident
(being pierced with a ball for instance), it would not fall, or if so the fall would
be unattended with danger, as there would still remain ten-elevenths of its
ascensional power to sustain it during the time required for repairs.
The following are the means by which the aerostat is made to ascend
or descend at will without the aid of solid ballast:-
In each of the compartments of the aerial vessel I place a certain number of
balloons, composed of the ordinary varnished balloon tissue, each formed of two
annular discs,the external circumference of which is attached to the interior of
the outer cylinder, and the internal circumference to the outer surface of the
inner cylinder, with which each balloon communicates by means of three or
four stop-cocks within reach of the crew. I then place an air pump, in
the form of the bellows of the harmonicon, A B, Figure 7, in the spaces
formed in the inner cylinder between the hoops. Now, if I divide the circum-
ference, say, twenty feet of the inner cylinder, into twelve equal parts, the
length of each division will be about twenty inches, minus the separation
between each bellows; the dimensions of the bellows will therefore be about
three feet four inches long, one foot ten inches wide, and six inches deep, see
Figure 7. Four springs serve to keep the upper part of the bellows on a level
w th the planking of the inner cylinder, to which they may be fixed at will by
means of keys or bolts at the four corners; they would then form the flooring
of the inner cylinder. All these air pumps communicate with the balloons by
means of a valved pipe constantly kept under surveillance. It will now
be understood that by loosening the keys or bolts of the flooring, and setting
the crew to work, two objects are simultaneously gained. The air is pumped
into the balloons, and at the same time the aerial vessel is put in motion.
Should it be necessary to pump the air with the same speed without moving
the vessel, each of the crew would only require to work alternately two
adjoining pumps. In case of accident this arrangement has the advantage of
facilitating repairs. As an additional security two or even four safety valves

page_text: according to the diameter of their openings, are fixed in each cabin in com-
munication with the balloons. These safety valves are similar to those of
ordinary steam boilers, with this difference, that their tension, instead of being
retained by weight, is in the present case (on account of the rotatory
movement) provided with a spring fitted with a pressure screw for regulating
its action. If, then, the tension of the balloons is found to be above the proper
degree the valves open spontaneously to give egress to the excess of air; but
should it be found below the point required atmospheric air is at once supplied
by the pumps until the required degree is obtained. The manometers used
indicate the pressure of the hydrogen gas, which should be equal to that of
the balloons, and shew the lowering of the tension. The ascension of the
aerostat is effected in the following manner:-Each compartment of the outer
cylinder (after having been tested by a tension considerably above that which it
is likely to undergo) is filled with pure hydrogen gas until the propertension is
obtained, the pressure in each being tested by a manometer placed successively
in communication with the stop-cocks of each space; the air pumps are then
worked in order to fill the balloons. When the air is thus introduced, the gas
in each compartment is compressed, and the pumps are again worked until the
pressure has been brought to the desired degree. At this moment, all being
prepared, the cords attaching it to the earth are cast off, and the stop-cocks
and valves of the balloon are then simultaneously opened, and the aerostat
ascends, being kept in equilibrio by the couterpoise. Should it be desired to
rise perpendicularly from the starting point, provided the speed of the wind be
lower than the greatest speed of the vessel itself, the rotatory movement is
accelerated or diminished and the helm worked according to circumstances.
The vessel is then brought to its proper position by hauling or slackening the
suspending cords of the car, to bring the aerostat into a horizontal position or
to the required inclination. On reaching the desired height the stop-cocks are
closed and the valves left to the tension of their springs; the vessel then
remains stationary. To descend (which can be accomplished at a league
an hour) it is simply necessary to unbolt the planking and cause the crew to
work the air pumps. The result is that by the introduction of atmospheric
air the specific gravity of the aerial vessel is increased, and the aerostat obliged
to descend at the required speed. The aerostat should be supplied with the
instruments usually employed in balloon ascents.
Figures S and 9 shew modifications of the aerostat. In Figure 8 the vessel
is composed of three principal parts or bodies of the same axle, of which A
and C are fixed, and B revolving. In this instance the power of the vessel
is increased to the detriment of speed. Each part is supplied with a counter-

page_text: poise. In Figure 9, the bodies A and B are on the same axis, and D on
another. The screws on the bodies B and D are placed so as to work in
opposite directions, and by this means forms, by the resistance of one, an
equilibrating point to the other. The car E is fixed by a vertical end to the
body C, which cord allows it to be brought as near as desired. In Figure 6
there is only one principal body and one axle, and in the arrangement speed
is the chief object in view.
I
Figure 10 represents the method of uniting and placing the strengthening
rods to the casing of the outer cylinder. C is the axis or centre of support
to the rods D E F G, which are fixed to the interior part of the outer
cylinder at the points of intersection of the lines forming squares of about
eight inches wide.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion,
that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details of construction
herein laid down, as they may be modified according to circumstances; but
what I claim is the general arrangement and construction of the aerostat, as
herein-before described, and shewn in the accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Justin Lassie, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
J. B. J. LASSIE. (L.S.)