Improvements in Electric Air Ships.
Year: 1892

page_text: ate of Application, 1st Sept., 1892--Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Air Ships.
I, CHARLES DRILL, of 1234 Sidney Street, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
of America, Machinist, 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 relates to improvements in "Electric Air Ships," and consists in
the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully herein-
after described and designated in the claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is the side elevation of my complete invention showing the car in its
normal position and a propelling device for moving same.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the propelling device or carriage, showing the cable
or rope upon which the same is suspended, said cable being shown in cross-section.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the car which is suspended by the balloon.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation, showing the end of the
support, carried by the posts or columns, the same providing means for supporting
said rope or cable.
The object of my invention is to greatly improve upon the present system of
aerial navigation whereby one can travel at a high rate of speed and with
perfect safety. In carrying out my invention I employ electro-motive power for
propelling an elevated car, the propelling device or carriage travelling upon
a suitable rope or cable and suspended thereby, and the said car attached to
the propelling device in the rear and above the same.
Mounted upon or within the frame-work of the carriage are electric motors
controlled by a suitable switch located in the car, said motors being controlled
at the will of the operator by means of the switch when it is desired to stop or
start the carriage.
Heretofore when balloons were employed to suspend a car, the gas contained
in said balloon was necessarily allowed to escape before the balloon could
descend. But by the use of devices more fully hereinafter described, the
balloon and car attached to same is drawn to the ground without allowing any
of the gas to escape and consequently no attention need be directed to said
balloon in any manner.
Referring to the drawings:
1 represents a suitable number of posts or columns which are of desirable
shape in cross-section to adapt themselves for the purpose, and are arranged in
a line and at a relative distance apart, and are fitted to support the mechanism
as will be more fully hereinafter described.
To each post is secured a right angle support 2 by means of suitable bolts 3
and in addition to said bolts a band 4 is employed, which encircles the said
upper end of the posts and also serves to firmly clamp the supports to the
posts.
The said supports all project in the same direction from the top of the
posts and in a horizontal line with each other.
Said supports 2 project far enough from the posts to allow a sufficient space
between the carriage and the posts. Secured to the ends of said supports 2
are metallic collars 5 by means of bolts 6, the construction of which is best
shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.
7 represents a cable or rope, which is of suitable dimensions and of sufficient
strength for the purpose it serves, and is supported by the collars 5, carried by
the supports 2, premising, however, that the said rope is stretched to the proper
tension to receive the weight of the carriage..

page_text: In this connection I will state that the collars 5 securing the rope or cable 7
are flush with the surface of said rope or cable.
It will be understood in this connection that the rope or cable 7 is made up
of the lengths used in such construction and spliced together in any suitable and
mechanical manner.
8 indicates a balloon which is of suitable shape but preferably as shown in
the drawings as having pointed ends to facilitate its movement through the air,
and said balloon is constructed of some flexible material and inflated with gas
having a less specific gravity than air.
The said balloon is covered by a netting 9 and leading from said netting to
a ring 10 are a number of ropes 11, and from said ring 10 to the car 12 are
more ropes 13, which hold said car in a balanced position directly beneath the
balloon.
as
The car which I employ is preferably constructed in as simple a manner
possible, and of a light material in order that the said car may be easily
manipulated.
The said car 12 is provided with seats 14 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
Located upon the floor 15 of the car 12 is a windlass 16 which is of the usual
construction, and is intended to be operated by hand. Around the spindle of
this windlass is wound a rope 17 for raising or lowering an ordinary anchor or
grapnel 18.
When it is desired to lower the car the windlass 16 is turned in the proper
direction and the anchor 18 lowered down so that the person in charge of the
station where the cars stop may attach the anchor in a suitable ring or other
device secured in the ground and by the operator of the car turning the windlass
in the opposite direction the car and balloon will be drawn to the ground without
releasing the gas contained in the balloon, premising however, that the motor
employed in propelling the balloon has been stopped by the manipulation of the
switch located in the car as will be more fully hereinafter described.
To one of the pointed ends of the balloon is attached a rope 19, said rope
leading downward, having its other end secured to the carriage upon which the
motors are mounted.
The carriage which I employ is especially constructed for this purpose, and is
made of as light material as practicable.
20 represents a carriage consisting of two skeleton side frames 21, one of
which at a suitable distance from its lower end is bent upwardly or inclined
towards the center of the carriage. The side frames are secured together by
suitable bolts 22 and strengthened by braces 23 which have one of their ends
secured to said side frames and the other ends to an upright bar 24 to the
upper end of which is secured the bent portion 25 of the side frame 21 by
means of bolts 26. Said upright brace 24 being centrally located in the carriage
provides a bearing for the shaft 27 upon which is keyed a small grooved
wheel 28 which is adapted to travel on the top of the rope or cable 7, the
groove in said wheel fitting over the rope.
The said grooved wheel 28 partially receives the weight of the carriage and
assists in keeping same in a balanced position. Projecting upwards from one of
the top cross pieces of the frame-work is a casting 29 in which is fastened a
shaft 30 upon which two grooved trolley or guide-wheels 31 are adapted to
rotate.
Projecting from one of the side frames 21 of the carriage is a casting 32
carrying two shafts or spindles 33 upon which are mounted two grooved guide-
wheels 34, one of which guide-wheels travels on the cable 7, and the other
under same.
This device is to prevent any undue rocking of the carriage when it
is in motion.
By preference we employ two electric motors 35 of desirable size, said motors
provided with a double armature shaft 36, upon which and between the two motors,
is keyed a large grooved wheel 37, the peripheral surface of which is always in

page_text: contact with the under surface of the cable 7 by which means when the said wheel
is turned by the motors motion will be imparted to the carriage by frictional
contact.
By arranging the motors upon the carriage as shown in Fig. 2, the said carriage
is equally balanced and the weight suspended below the rope 7.
On the upright support 24 is secured a hook 38, which hook receives a ring 39
carried by one end of the rope 19 making a movable connection between said rope
and carriage.
To each of the supports 2 near the cable 7 and depending therefrom are attached
two insulators 40 to which are attached the conducting wires 41 for conducting the
electrical current along the line
The trolley wheels 31 have a V-shaped groove in their outer periphery adapted
to engage and make good contact with the conducting wires 41. Said trolley-
wheels are well insulated from their bearings and the brackets securing the bearing
to prevent any short circuiting of the current.
42, represents two metallic plates secured to and insulated from the casting which
supports the trolley-wheels 31, and having secured in a suitable manner to the ends
next to said trolley-wheels suitable copper brushes 43 adapted to conduct the
current from said trolley-wheels through into the motor. This is done by the
brushes 43 engaging against the trolley-wheels 31 and the metallic plates 42 to
which the brushes are secured, having wires leading therefrom in to the motor as
will be more fully hereinafter described.
44, indicates two branch wires running from the trolley wires 41 to the line feed
wires 45, and serving to supply the current to said trolley wires 41.
46 represents a switch of ordinary construction and design having two metallic
plates 47 and 48 and a controlling lever or handle 49.
I will now follow the current from the feed wires through the motors.
The current transmitted by the trolley wire 41 passes through the trolley wheel 31
bearing thereon, thence through the brush 43 bearing against said trolley wheel
and into the metallic plates 42 to which the brush is secured, and from there it
passes through the wire 53 to the metallic plate 47 of the switch 46.
Premising that the switch is closed as in Fig. 3 the current passes through the
wire 54 downwards through the motors.
The direction of the current through the electric motors is well known and there-
fore I deem it unnecessary to trace the same.
After passing through the motors the current passes again into the other metallic
plate 42, from thence through the brush 43 into the trolley-wheel 31 and into
the conducting wire 41 from whence it returns by the other wire to the power
house.
.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the switch is in position
or closed as shown in Fig. 3, the circuit is continuous and unbroken, thereby
supplying electrical energy to the motors.
But with the switch in position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the
current is broken and consequently no current passes through the motors. It will
be seen that this switch is the means furnished by which the operation of the car
is controlled.
In other words, the current must pass through the switch before going through
the motor in the manner as used in all electrical construction.
.The feed wires 45 are secured in the usual manner to insulators 50, secured to
right angular brackets 51 which are secured to the upper ends of the posts or
columns 1 by means of bolts 52.
Having fully described the mechanical parts and construction of my invention I
will now, proceed to describe the operation of same. We will first consider the car
lowered to the ground at the station and taking ou passengers. The grapnel or
anchor 18 is secured in a ring or hook in the ground and the passengers step from
a suitable platform into the door of the car. When the car is ready to start the

page_text: operator in the car unwinds the windlass 16 allowing the balloon and car suspended
beneath same to rise to a proper height.
When the rope connecting the balloon with the carriage which travels upon the
rope or cable 7, is taut, the operator of the car turns the controlling handle or
lever of the switch around so that the ends of said handle come in contact with the
metallic plates 47 and 48 of the switch thus completing the circuit and allowing
the current to pass through the motors and revolving the armature shaft 36 on
which is keyed a large grooved wheel 37.
The frictional contact between said grooved wheel 37 and the cable 7 causes the
carriage to move along the line and drawing the car behind and above it. When
it is desired to stop the car, the operator turns the switch handle in a position as
shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 and consequently the current is interrupted and
the armature shaft ceases revolving.
After the current has been turned off and the car reaches the station the
windlass around the spindle of which is wound the rope is turned in a direction
allowing the rope with the anchor 18 upon its lower end to descend towards the
ground.
The person in charge of the station secures this anchor in a ring or hook
secured in the ground and the operator of the car turns the windlass in the opposite
direction thus lowering the car towards the ground.
When the car is again ready to descend the operator of the car turns the
windlass in a direction allowing the rope to pay out and the car to ascend to its
normal position. The car carriage is again started by the manipulation of the
switch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An "Electrical Air Ship" adapted to be propelled through the air by an electric
motor or motors mounted upon an independent carriage and controlled by the
attendant in the ship, substantially as described.
2. An "Electrical Air Ship" consisting of a rope, a carriage movable upon the
same, motors mounted upon or in said carriage for propelling said vehicle, and a
balloon attached to the said carriage, and adapted to be pulled by the same, sub-
stantially as described.
3. An Electrical Air Ship" consisting of a balloon, a car suspended by the same,
a rope supported by posts or columns a suitable distance from the ground, a
carriage movable upon said rope, motors mounted upon said carriage, for imparting
motion to the same, means for attaching the said balloon to the said carriage and a
device located in the said car for controlling the said motors, substantially as
described.
4. An Electric Air Ship" consisting of a balloon, a car suspended by the
same, a rope located above the level of the ground and supported by posts or
columns, a carriage movable upon said rope, a rope for attaching the said carriage
to the said balloon, motors mounted in said carriage for imparting motion to the
said carriage, a switch located in the said car and adapted to be manipulated by
the attendant in said car and suitable wire connections between said switch and
motors, substantially as described.
$5
5. An Electric Air Ship" consisting of a balloon, a car suspended by the same,
a device located within the same, for drawing the said balloon to the ground, a rope
mounted upon suitable posts or columns at a suitable distance from the ground, a
vehicle movable upon said rope, motors mounted upon said vehicle, a rope or other
device for attaching the said balloon to the said vehicle, a switch located in the
said car, suitable wire connection between the said switch and said motors, and a
suitable source of electrical energy in electrical contact with said motors, substan-
tially as described..

page_text: "
6. An "Electric Air Ship comprising a balloon, a car attached to the same,
a rope or other device located a sufficient distance above the level of the ground,
a carriage consisting of wheels adapted to move upon the said rope, and electric
motor or motors for propelling the same, substantially as described.
7. An Electric Air Ship" having a car, a windlass located in the same, a
rope adapted to be wound upon said windlass, an anchor or other device attached
to one end of the said rope, and adapted to be raised and lowered by the said rope
for drawing the said car to the ground, substantially as described.
8. An "Electric Air Ship" comprising a balloon and car, and a carriage adapted
to move upon a stationary support for propelling and guiding the direction of the
balloon, substantially as described.
9. An "Electric Air Ship" consisting of a carriage, comprising side frames,
wheels mounted upon the same, for supporting and guiding the said carriage, a
motor or motors carried by the said carriage and in electrical connection with
a suitable source of electricity, a drive-wheel mounted upon the armature shaft
or shafts of said motor or motors for propelling the said carriage, a rope or
other device mounted upon suitable supports and at a suitable distance from the
ground upon which the rope of the said carriage is adapted to be moved, con-
ducting wires arranged along the line for applying electrical energy to the said
motor or motors, a balloon comprising a car adapted to be moved to and from
the ground independent of the said vehicle, and a rope or other device for con-
necting the said balloon with the said vehicle or carriage, for guiding and pro-
pelling the said balloon, substantially as described.
10. An Electric Air Ship" comprising a balloon and car, and a motor or
motors adapted to move along a stationary support for guiding and propelling the
direction of the balloon, substantially as described.
11. An Electric Air Ship" comprising a balloon and car, a carriage adapted
to move upon a stationary support, and a motor or motors mounted upon said
carriage for propelling the same and guiding the direction of the balloon, substan-
tially as set forth.
12. An Electric Air Ship" comprising a carriage adapted to move, upon a
stationary support, and a balloon attached to the said carriage and adapted to be
moved independent of said carriage, substantially as described.
13. An Electric Air Ship" consisting of a carriage 15, motors 20 mounted
upon the same, a groove wheel such as 28 located between said motors and
mounted upon the shaft of the same, guides and supporting wheels such as 28
and 37, bolts or columns 1 having supports 2 attached to the upper ends of the
same, a rope such as 7 secured to the ends of the said support upon which the
said carriage is adapted to move, for guiding the direction of the same, a balloon
such as 8, a car 12 supported by the same, a rope 19 leading from the said
balloon and attached to the said carriage, a windlass located in the said car
having a rope, an anchor attached to the said rope and adapted to be lowered
to and from the ground, a switch located in the said car, suitable wire connection
between said switch and motors, and suitable conductors located along the line for
supplying electrical energy, substantially as described.
14. An "Electric Air Ship" having a carriage adapted to move upon a
stationary support, motors mounted upon the said carriage, trolley-wheels, such
as 34 also mounted upon said carriage but insulated therefrom, conductors such
as 32 for supplying electricity to the said trolley-wheels and a suitable wire
connection between the said wheels and motors for propelling the same, substan-
tially as described.
1003
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.