Improvements in Flying Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1900-A ocepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Improvements in Flying Machines.
ARTHUR HENRY PHILIP BLUNT, of No. 166, Stanhope Street, St. Pancras,
London, N.W., Civil Engineer and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
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The essential principle of these improvements is such that a machine built
according to it may be of great lightness compared with the lifting pressure which
it can effect on the atmosphere for the power spent. The reason for this is that
the principle strains which are produced in my machine in propelling it are ten-
sile which afford the lightest dimensions to the machine of any strains and because
the propeller acts directly against the atmosphere and therefore moves a shorter
distance or with less velocity to effect the required lifting pressure against
it which certainly has an advantage over any propeller such as aeroplanes whether
revolving or otherwise which do not act directly against the atmosphere. For the
power spent in propelling is equal to the product of the mass or weight of the pro-
peller and the velocity it would move at in vacuo plus the product of the mass or
weight and its velocity propelled to effect the required lifting pressure against
the atmosphere. If therefore its weight is increased its velocity will be dim-
inished and it is not propelled so much but if its weight is diminished its velocity
will be increased; it therefore is of the utmost importance that the propeller be
of such a principle as affords the greatest lightness because the velocity then is
greatest and its pressure on the atmosphere is as the square of the velocity. Thus
if the velocity is one the pressure effected is one; if the velocity is two the pressure
effected is four times; if the velocity is three the pressure effected is nine times,
and so on. Also it is of great importance that the propeller act on the atmosphere
as direct as possible because the power spent is proportional to the distance moved
by the propeller. Thus if the distance moved directly against the atmosphere
is one in unit of time to effect the required pressure on it the power spent is one,
but if the distance is two in unit of time to effect the required pressure the power
spent is twice; if the distance is three the power spent is three times, and so on.
The principle of the propeller of my machine is that it acts directly against the
atmosphere and because the strains which are produced in it are tensile it can be
of the lightest dimensions, consequently it requires less power to effect the required
lifting pressure against the atmosphere than a propeller which does not act directly
against the atmosphere and which consequently requires to be built of heavier
dimensions to withstand the strains which are produced in it. The propeller of
my machine is constructed of one or more pieces of canvas or the like mounted on
frames preferably circular although they may be of other forms and radial ribs
the canvas being so framed as to be concave on its propelling surface which
mounted pieces of canvas are supported preferably at their middles or centres and
at sufficient distance apart on a tension wire or rod the ends of which are con-
nected to two pistons in two cylinders such that when the one in the rear cylinder
is forced along by steam or other power the tension wire or rod and all the framed
canvas propellers supported on it are pulled along with it so as to cause the framed

page_text: cular metal on the outside the arm or cock of the one double valve being connected
by a rod to the arm or cock of the other double valve so that when the arm of the
one double valve is pushed either way the arm of the other double valve is pulled
the same way with it the valves opening and shutting as above described. The
power pipe which leads to the unused power valve enters the circular casing on
one side of it and leads out of it on the opposite side into the cylinder and the
exhaust pipe from the cylinder which leads to the exhaust valve enters the cir-
cular casing on one side of it and leads out of it on the opposite side
into the atmosphere. The arms or cocks of these double valves are pushed and
pulled backwards and forwards by two notches or bars on the said tension wire
or rod which connects the two pistons for the purpose of opening and closing the
double valves the cocks or armis being furnished with spring buffers which the
notches strike against. It may be understood that when one notch on the tension
wire or rod strikes the one cock or arm of the one double valve forcing it back-
wards before it the other cock or arm of the other double valve is pulled forwards
by the tension rod which connects the two cocks and so will on the return of the
other notch or bar be in the way and consequently will be forced backwards before
it and this is repeated at every backward and forward motion of the propeller.
Thus are the double valves actuated alternately. Of course it will be understood
that these double valves commence to be actuated before the pistons have com-
pleted their strokes and are completely actuated when they have completed their
strokes. Two or more wheels or brackets or legs attached to the cylinders are
provided for resting or wheeling the machine about on when resting on the ground.
Two horizontal cross bars are fastened the one to one cylinder and the other to the
other cylinder on the four ends of which the four ends of two chains, cords or
the like are connected on which a car carrying the aeronaut is suspended the
purpose of these horizontal cross bars being to prevent the machine rolling from
side to side too freely when struck by gust of wind the weight of the aeronaut
being suspended from the ends of the horizontal cross bars preventing the same.
The car can be adjusted to any position desired on these two said chains, cords or
the like but wherever placed on them can be fastened there. For guiding or
steering the machine l'employ a rudder preferably placed at the rear
of the
machine supported by brackets on the rear cylinder which may be actuated by
some suitable contrivance by the aeronaut from the car to depress it in order to
ascend or to raise it in order to descend or to move it horizontally sideways right
or left in order to steer the machine to the right or to the left. The rudder how-
ever may be placed at the front end of the machine. In order to prevent too
sudden descent as an effect of sudden gusts of wind or from any other cause I
employ a parachute which may be placed above the frame canvas propellers or
below them supported by brackets fastened to the cylinders or said wheel brackets
or legs.
וי
1000
Improvements in Flying Machines.
ARTHUR HENRY PHILIP BLUNT, of No. 42, Albert Street, Regent's Park, London,
N.W., Civil Engineer and Surveyor, late of 166, Stanhope Street, St. Pancras,
N.W., 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:-
-
The essential principle of these improvements is such that a machine built
according to it may be of great lightness compared with the lifting pressure which

page_text: dimensions which is very necessary considering the velocity it requires to move.
The said cylinders D are connected to and firmly held in position at their
proper distances apart by bars (not shewn in the drawings to avoid confusion) to
which they are firmly tastened there being holes formed in the canvas propeller
which these bars pass through. The strokes of the pistons CC are equal in length
and when the one piston is at the one end of the cylinder which it is in, then the
other piston is at one end of the cylinder which it is in. The cylinders are con-
nected by a pipe G which conducts the steam or other power into them and the
power enters this pipe from another pipe G which conducts it from the
generator G On this other pipe G₁ is a throttle valve G for turning on
or shutting off the power as required actuated by the aeronaut by means of lever
or pullies and cord. In the drawing Figure 1 a double armed lever is shewn seen
endwise only, at the ends of which are two cords G only one of which is seen.
When the one cord is pulled downwards the steam or other power is turned on
but is shut off again when the other cord is pulled downwards. The fuel for
generating power may be solid or liquid such as coal wood oil or other kind
burned in a burner and the power generator preferably a steam generator. The
burner may be preferably of the locomotive kind of furnace and also may the
steam generator be of the locomotive kind. They are preferably situated over
and between the wheels on which the whole machine rests and so as to maintain
a continual tendency to bring or keep the aeroplane in a horizontal position thus
resisting any tendency of the aeroplane sliding in any direction. They are shewn
in Figure situated at G2 G. When the power commences to enter either one
cylinder then the power in the other cylinder commences to exhaust. Also at the
same time as the power commences to enter either cylinder it then ceases to enter
the other cylinder. Also when the exhaust commences to take place in either
cylinder it is completely closed in the other cylinder. This is effected by the
following means. Un the said pipe G which conducts the power to the two cylin-
ders are two double valves G G, the one double valve is exactly like or similar
to the other double valve. Each double valve contains two valves the one which
opens to allow unused power to enter the cylinder or closes to shut it off from
entering it and the other which opens to exhaust after it has been used and
closes again when fresh unused power commences to enter the cylinder. Indeed
of each double valve the exhaust commences to open as soon as the admission valve
has completely closed and is completely shut again as soon as the admission
valve commences to open. Both the admission valve and exhaust valve are
circular holes through circular metal G9 which turns inside a circular casing G10
backwards and forwards alternately by means of an arm or cock G attached to
the circular metal of the valve preferably at each end of it. Each double valve,
that is to say the circular metal which contain the valve holes has two bearings
inside the casing which may be lubricated with oil from oil cups or reservoirs G¹2
attached to the casing. That part of the circular metal through which the valve
holes pass may be of greater diameter than the parts on either side of it which
form the bearings. The arm or cock of the one double valve is connected by a
rod G to the arm or cock of the other double valve so that when the arm of the
one double valve is pulled one way the arm of the other double valve is pulled the
same way with it the valves opening and shutting as already described to admit
steam to the cylinders or to exhaust them of it. The power pipe which leads to
the admission valve enters the casing Go on one side of it and leads out of it on
the opposite side into the cylinder and the exhaust pipes G G from the
cylinders which lead to the exhaust valves in each case enter the circular
casing on one side of it and leads out of it on the opposite side into the
atmosphere or the exhaust pipe of such cylinder may be continued to the
other end of the cylinder and deliver the exhaust power into that end of
it so as to resist back pressure and then exhaust into the atmosphere from
that other end G6 of the cylinder; or instead of exhausting into the atmo-
sphere it may be conducted by a pipe G17 from the one cylinder D₁ into the upper

page_text: before the pistons have completed their strokes and are completely actuated when
they have completed them. A carriage K supporting brackets K¹ to which the
generator, furnace and propeller cylinders are connected stands on four wheels L
of similar construction and diameter equal. These wheels are provided with an
arrangement for making them eccentric. The spokes of each wheel are connected
to a slide K in which the axle block K³ may slide from the centre of the wheel
nearer to the periphery of it. When it has slid to the projection K it cannot
slide further and a plate may be inserted into the grooves K thus securing it
there so that when the wheel turns round the axle block cannot slide back again
to the centre of the wheel. When it is required to keep the axle in the centre of
the wheel as shewn in Figure 3 the said plate is inserted in the groove K thus
securing the axle block as shewn. The spring K7 pressing against the tire of the
wheel and against the axle block tends to keep the block centrally in the wheel
and is sufficiently strong to keep the block there when the wheel is turning round
sharply. It however is not too strong to resist fully the weight of the machine
when the wheels are turned into the position shewn in Figure 3, which position
therefore they are turned to when required to make them eccentric but are turned
half a revolution more to bring the axle blocks centrally again. The purpose of
this eccentric arrangement is for raising the whole machine upwards from the
ground on commencing to fly it. After the wheels have raised the whole machine
to the full height to which they can raise it that is, after they have made half a
revolution in rolling along the ground then a continuance of their revolution
moves them from the ground thus leaving the machine to rest suspended on the
aeroplane M. For giving the machine a sufficient horizontal velocity for the com-
mencement of its flight through the air during the said half revolution of the
wheels I employ a cylinder N pivotted at its upper end N underneath the furnace
in which cylinder is a piston N2 connected to the rod N3 which rod abuts with a
pointed end N into the ground. N³ is a steam pipe with elbow or pivot joints No
which pipe is connected to the pipe G₁ by a pivot joint. On the pipe N³ is a
throttle valve N which keeps the pipe throttled by a spring which presses against
the arm N8 upwards. When this arm N8 is pulled downwards by the aeronaut
pulling the cord N° connected to the arm N8 the valve opens admitting steam
which is conducted along the pipe N into the cylinder N which
presses against the end of the cylinder N in a forward direction
and against the piston in a backward direction the machine consequently is moved
forwardly on its wheels along the ground with the required velocity. The aeronaut
then discontinues depressing the throttle valve arm N8 when by the upward
pressure of the spring the steam is cut off; at the same time the throttle valve G³
is opened admitting steam to the propeller cylinders. Two horizontal cross bars P
are fastened the one to the one cylinder and the other to the other cylinder of the
propeller on the four ends of which the four ends of two chains, cords or the like P¹
are connected on which the car P2 carrying the aeronaut is suspended the purpose
of these horizontal cross bars being to prevent the machine rolling from side to
side too freely when struck by gust of wind the weight of the aeronaut being sus-
pended from the ends of the horizontal cross bars preventing the same.
The car
can be adjusted to any position desired on these two said chains P" but wherever
placed on them can be fastened there. The car rests on rollers P³ on the chains Pl
and may he rolled along the chains P¹ to the position desired. For guiding or
steering the machine I employ a rudder R preferably placed at the rear of the
machine supported on brackets on the rear propeller cylinder (in the drawing
Figure 1 it is shewn lower down) which may be actuated by some suitable contri-
vance by the aeronaut from the car, that is to say the rudder R is pivotted at or to
the bracket R and can be depressed to the position shewn in dotted lines. An
arm Re is connected to the rudder where pivotted and a cord or the like R³ connects
the other end of this arm to the rudder; this cord R passes over a pulley on the
bracket R' and then passes down a. tubular shaft R4; it then passes out of this
chaft as two cords, the one over the one pulley R³ and the other over another

page_text: densed steam water pump in forcing the water of condensed steam into generator
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. In a flying machine the kind of condenser in combination with the arrange-
ment of lever arm and valve and means for opening and closing the same for the
purpose specified as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. In a flying machine the employment of eccentric wheels and pipe with elbow
joints and throttle valve connecting steam or other power generator and cylinder
with piston and rod to abut against ground for raising the machine from ground
and giving it the necessary starting velocity in the manner described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
8. In a flying machine the employment of a rudder in combination with the
means for actuating it in steering the machine as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
9. In a flying machine the employment of a parachute preferably having steel
ribs for supporting the canvas covering in the shape required as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings placed either above or below the propellers.
10. A flying machine consisting of all the parts, constructed, arranged, and
connected in a manner adapted to be actuated substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of January 1900.