APPARATUS FOR THE AERIAL TRANSPORTATION OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER MATTER AND MEANS FOR DROPPING THE SAME AT A PREDETERMINED FIXED TIME
Year: 1885

page_text: (Communicated from abroad by Moses Liberia Stilwell Buckner, of Shelbyville,
Shelby County, State of Kentucky, United States of America, Dentist.)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, ir the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for APPARATUS FOR
THE AERIAL TRANSPORTATION OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER MATTER AND MEANS
FOR DROPPING THE SAME AT A PREDETERMINED FIXED TIME (a communication to
me from abroad by Moses Liberia Stilwell Buckner of Shelbyville, Shelby County,
State of Kentucky, United States of America, Dentist) and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :--
This Invention relates to means for aerial transportation of explosives and other
matter and to means for dropping the same at a predetermined fixed time, and has
for its object to reach an enemy with destructive agents at greater distance than
can be done by present known methods, or of conveying to friends besieged in a
fortress or city or otherwise inaccessible by the adverse fortunes of war, such matter
as may be needed. This is to be accomplished by the mechanism shown in the
accompanying drawings wherein Figure I is an elevation and Figure 2 a plan or
horizontal projection showing the main features of the invention.
The said mechanism is suspended from a balloon or air-ship and floated, or pro-
pelled when desired over the enemy or friend by or through the currents of the
wind the distance to be travelled and the speed of the wind having been previously
ascertained to enable one to regulate the time keeper so as to set the dropping
nachinery in motion at the proper moment.
The motive power consists of a spiral spring and clock work whose motion- is
regulated by a fan-wheel such as is employed in common clocks communicated by
an ordinary alarm attachment with a time-keeper which need only be an ordinary
clock and adjusted in such a manner that the motive power could be put in motion
at any desired moment.

page_text: This motive power involving no new principle is not shown in the drawings.
The dropping mechanism being attached to a captive balloon the time-keeper could
be dispensed with and the motive power put in motion at any desired moment by
an electric current.
1
The dropping mechanism consists of the following described contrivances.
The belt D is made to pass over the cylinders E. and H, and also a cylinder F,
situated behind the clock B. It may be set in motion by connecting the cylinder F
with the motive power and connecting the cylinder H. with the cylinder F by
means of the cord U, or the motive power and time-keeper could be located at the
end of the machine and be connected directly with the cylinder H or E. The belt D
is supported by the frame A in the ends of which the cylinders E. and H. arc
journalled The frame A could be suspended directly from the balloon or supported
by the standards Y on the supplementary frame T, according to the usc intended to
be made of it.
Small quantities of explosives or combustibles could be dropped from the cups G
attached to the belt D which by the motion of the belt D would be carried over the
cylinder H and emptied.
For packag, bundles, shells &c of a different character, and for all heavy matter
a different arrangement is provided. The packages or matter of a different, weight
are suspended, as at W by a ring P on the elbow or arm O secured by a suitable
fastening to the plate X which is secured to the inside bars of the supplementary
frame T. the free end of the elbow O being sustained by the segment S until the
latter is moved out of engagement by the lever N the upper end of which passes
between the guide-bar P and frame A. To the belt D is secured the cross bar I
the ends of which pass between the guide bar P. and frame A and which by the
motion of the belt D engages the lever N and carries it forward until the elbow O
drops from the segment $ and the ring R. off the elbow O the package or shell W.
This is shown at the left in the drawings.
The whole mechanism can be suspended from any balloon by the rods n attached
to the supplementary frame T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is -
1st The combination of a balloon with mechanism attached thereto for the
transportation of explosives or other matter necessary in war, and dropping
explosives or other matter on an enemy or down to beleaguered friends.
2nd The combination of a belt as at D or a cord or a chain or a combination of
the two, having attached thereto cups or receptacles as G, for containing and
pouring out or dropping explosives or other matter, passing over pulleys or cylinders
as E. H. and F., and receiving motion from them so as to pour out their contents
by passing consecutively over the end cylinder as at H, the pulleys or cylinders
⚫ receiving motion from a spring and clock work either by direct connection with the
cylinders E. or H, or indirectly by a cord as U passing over the cylinder E. or H.
and another pulley or cylinder as F, moved by the clock-work, which clock work is
connected by an alarm attachment with a clock in such a manner that the clock
work can be set in motion at any desired moment in the manner and for the
purposes herein described and illustrated.
3rd The combination of a bent arm or elbow, or a straight rod or armature used
as a substitute for and performing the office of same bent arm or elbow, attached
by a proper bolt or hinge to the plate X and secured to the framework of the
mechanism, with the ring P. and the segment S sustaining the free end of the bent.
arm O, or its substitute, the lever N. O the cross-bar L secured to the belt D or
the cords or chains or combinations of same as a substitute for its operating the
lever N and liberating the arm () in the manner and for the purpose herein described
and illustrated.
5.' 3.141

page_text: 4th The combination with a balloon of a time-piece, one or more reversible
receptacles, and mechanism connecting the time-piece with the receptacles sub-
stantially as described, whereby explosives and other material may be transported
through the air and discharged at a stated time for the purpose specified.
5th The combination with a series of explosive-carrying receptacles arranged to
empty their contents in rotation and means for rotating them, of clock work
connected with said means of rotation to start it to rotating at any given time and
a balloon for carrying the said apparatus.
6th The combination with the frames A and I connected as one, the clock B
thereon, the cylinders E H journalled in the frame A near its ends, the cylinder F
near its middle, the belt D mounted on said cylinders, the receptacles & secured
on the belt and means connecting the cylinders with the clock to be rotated'
thereby.
7th The combination of the frames A and T secured together, the cylinders E. F
and H. journalled in frame A., the guide bars P along the frame beside the belt, the
cross bar L. secured on the belt and projecting beyond the guide bars, the levers N
provided with segments S pivoted to the frame T, and the elbowed arm O pivoted
to the frame T to engage the segment substantially as shown & described whereby
packages or shells W. may be suspended and dropped for the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of April 1885
A. M. CLARK.
By A. M. & Wм Clark.