IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, PROPELLING, STEERING, AND CONTROLLING THE SAME.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jackson, of 1ª, Caroline Street, Eaton Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING,
PROPELLING, STEERING, AND CONTROLLING THE SAME.'
Sealed the 6th May 1879, and dated the 22nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1878.
WILLIAM JACKSON, of 1, Caroline Street, Eaton Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Sewing Machine Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, PROPELLING, STEERING, AND CONTROLLING
THE SAME."
'
This Invention consists in further improvements upon the Invention for which
I obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent, dated the 7 February 1878, and No. 513.
This Invention relates to improvements in balloons, and in the apparatus for
raising, lowering, propelling, steering, and controlling them in the air without dis-
charging ballast or gas, and my further improvements also consist in placing a net
of suitable size under the balloon for protection when making an exhibition in
gymnastics or trapeze and when working the balloon captive, and also an improved
system for floating the balloon and car when not working captive in the water by
means of floats fixed to the car, and blown out or filled with air or gas, which floats
can be made of canvas or any other suitable material that will secure the air or
gas and of any design, and also a system or means of anchoring the balloon by dis-
charging a cannon or gun; and in order that this my said Invention may be properly
understood I will now proceed more fully to describe the same by reference to the
annexed Drawing, wherein the same letters of reference indicate similar parts in
both the Figures
Fig. 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a travelling balloon constructed
according to my Invention.

page_text: Fig. 3 are views of air or gas bags which I attach to the car of the balloon for
the purpose of floating the same should it by any means fall into water.
A is the balloon.
B, the frame for carrying the car steering and propelling gear and other gearing.
C is a screw for propelling purposes.
C is a shaft or tube on which the screw C is fixed.
D is a pulley fixed on the other end of the shaft C' for giving motion to the
propeller C by means of the gut or band D¹ and wheel D2, which is fixed on the
crank shaft 1.
E is the car or basket.
F are the vanes or fan for steering purposes fixed on the tube or shaft F¹, and
has motion given to it by means of the endless band or get F2 and pulleys F³
and F.
G is a screw propeller for raising or lowering the balloon.
G¹ is the bevel gearing for giving motion to the said screw propeller G.
H, propeller, for the purpose of giving motion to the car when the latter is in
the water.
Hand H, screw blades for propelling and other purposes.
I represents the crank shaft worked by the hands, feet, or other suitable means,
which transmits its motion through the trains of wheel I and I² to the screw
propellers H, H³, and H³.
J, my improved anchor, for the purpose of securing a firm hold on the ground.
J¹, cannon or gun, for the purpose of discharging the anchor J so that the latter
is driven into the ground.
K are gymnasium or trapeze, as shewn in Fig. 2.
K₁, netting, for the purpose of catching the performers on the gymnasium and for
prevention of accidents.
L, a rope or other suitable fastenings, for the purpose of holding or hooking the
balloon when captive.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
May 1879.
WILLIAM JACKSON, of 1ª, Caroline Street, Eaton Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Sewing Machine Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOONS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, PROPELLING, STEERING, AND CONTROLLING
THE SAME."
This Invention consists in further improvements upon the Invention for which I
obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent, dated the 7 February, 1878, and No. 513.
This Invention relates to improvements in balloons, and in the apparatus for
raising, lowering, propelling, steering, and controlling them in the air without
discharging ballast or gas, and my further improvements also consist in placing a
net of suitable size under the balloon for protection when making an exhibition
in gymnastics or trapeze, and when working the balloon captive, and also an
improved system for floating the balloon and car when not working captive in the
water by means of floats fixed to the car and blown out or filled with air or gas,
which floats can be made of canvas or any other suitable material that will secure
the air or gas, and of any design, and also a system or means of anchoring the
balloon by discharging a cannon or gun. And in order that this my said Inven-
tion may be properly understood I will now proceed more fully to describe the
same by reference to the annexed Drawings, wherein the same letters of reference
indicate similar parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a travelling balloon constructed
according to my Invention.
Figure 2 shews a side elevation of a captive or exhibition balloon. And
Figure 3 are views of air or gas bags which I attach to the car of the balloon
for the purpose of floating the same should it by any means fall into the water.
A is the balloon; B, the frame for carrying the car steering and propelling gear
and other gearing; C is a screw for propelling purposes; C¹ is a shaft or tube on
which the screw C is fixed; D is a pulley fixed on the other end of the shaft C"¹
for giving motion to the propeller C by means of the gut or band D' and wheel D²,
which is fixed on the crank shaft I; E is the car or basket; F are the vanes or
fan for steering purposes fixed on the tube or shaft F', and has motion given to it
by means of the endless band or gut F2 and pulleys F and F'; G is a screw pro-
peller for raising or lowering the balloon; G¹ is the bevil gearing for giving motion
to the said screw propeller G; H, propeller for the purpose of giving motion to the
car when the latter is in the water; H1, H2, screw blades for propelling and other
purposes; I represents the crank shaft worked by the hands, feet, or other suitable
means, which transmits its motion through the trains of wheels I and I to the
screw propellers H, H', and H2; J, my improved anchor for the purpose of securing
a firm hold on the ground; J¹, cannon or gun, for the purpose of discharging the
anchor J so that the latter is driven into the ground; K are gymnasium or trapeze,
as shewn in Fig. 2; K¹, netting, for the purpose of catching the performers on the
gymnasium and for prevention of accidents; L, a rope or other suitable fastening
for the purpose of holding or loosening the balloon when captive.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said improvements, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself precisely to the details herein
given, as they may be varied to suit certain circumstances, but that what I claim
and desire to be secured to me by the hereinbefore recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts together forming my
improvements in balloons, and in apparatus for raising, lowering, propelling,
steering, and controlling the same, substantially as herein before described and
shewn on the Drawings.

page_text: Second. The arrangement of net or netting or its equivalent for protection of the
acrobat or other performer when making an exhibition in gymastics or trapeze,
and when working the balloon captive, substantially as herein before described and
shewn on Drawings.
Third. The improved means and arrangements of floats, as hereinbefore described,
for floating the balloon and car.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of apparatus for anchoring the
balloon by means of a cannon or gun, substantially as herein-before described and
shewn on Drawing.
hand
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jackson, have hereunto set my
and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM JACKSON. (L.S.)