Improvements in Aerial Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 11th May,
1895
Improvements in Aerial Machines.
I, HENRY SHEPLEY BOOTH, of 6 Hall Street, St. Peter's, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Packer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:--
This invention relates to the construction propulsion and arrangement of aerial
or flying machines and apparatus whereby such machines may be elevated,
propelled controlled and maintained suspended at any desired elevation without the
aid of balloons, aerostats, or similar contrivances.
The vessel or body of the machine may be constructed of oval, elliptical or
similar shape in cross section with pointed or tapering ends or of any other
convenient shape to offer as little resistance as possible in its passage through
the air.
At each side of the vessel or body of the apparatus I place one, two or
more wings preferably one pair at each side by which the flight of the machine is
effected.
Each of these wings is constructed of a number of members made of oil silk,
canvas or other suitable material radiating from a shaft running longitudinally at
the side of the vessel. The oil silk, canvas or other like material may be carried
in a frame work of metal or other suitable material of oblong rectangular oval or
other suitable shape. Each of these members is pivoted to move about its
longitudinal axis which is transverse with the longitudinal axis of the shaft by
which they are operated, and this movement is controlled by a lever bar or other
mechanism attached to each whereby the position can be altered or adjusted as
required.
At present I prefer to connect or attach the several members which form wings
to the shaft by a number of rods or spindles radiating therefrom and pivot each
member on one of these radial spindles.
The angle or inclination of each member can be altered on its spindle and to
effect this I apply to each a crank, crank pin, rack and pinion or similar device
connected to a rod or lever by the movement of which in either direction the
inclination can be altered. This rod runs parallel to the shaft and may be connected
to all or to a certain number of the members.
The shaft which carries the wings is rotated by an air or other motor in the
vessel or body of the machine.
The object of altering the inclination of the members is two-fold; in the first
place to turn them for part of each revolution of the shaft to the angle of least
resistance in their passage through the air as they ascend and the angle of greatest
resistance as they descend, and in the second place to incline them to such an
angle as to propel the machine either forwards or backwards as well as to actuate
them nearly horizontally to cause the machine to rise or to maintain it at an
elevation.
To operate these members of the wings I place on the shaft or attach to its
bearings a cam or cams or a clutch eccentric or other similar contrivance by which
the rod or lever which moves them is moved to and fro at each revolution to alter
the inclination at the different points of the revolution. This cam is also movable
or adjustable on the shalt or its bearings by means of a lever, screw or the like and

page_text: thereby the inclination of the members of the wings may be altered more or less
during the revolution of the shaft or independently of the throw of the cam.
The members of the wings may be pivoted so as to be larger or heavier at one
side than the other and may be free from the cam or clutch on the upward stroke
so that when moving in an upward direction they can assume the angle cr
inclination of least resistance.
I have described one wing any number of which may be employed. I at
present prefer two or three at each side and I arrange each with two, three, or
four sets of the members radiating from the central shaft each set controlled as to
inclination independently of the others. The ends of the radial spindles or bars
may be connected together by a band to equalise the pressure upon them and to
add to their strength.
The machine may be actuated by any suitable form of motor in which lightness
and speed can be combined, which is placed in a central position therein. I at
present prefer to adopt an air motor the fuel for actuating which is supplied in
liquid or gaseous form. This motor is constructed with a heat and pressure
generating chamber within which a supply of oil or gas is inserted and ignited the
heated air and products of combustion being together utilised and the piston is
actuated by the pressure of the heated air and products of combustion. When
the fuel is ignited the chamber is closed to retain the pressure generated and the
heated air together with the products of combustion actuate a piston in the
ordinary way. The fresh air is supplied to the generating chamber by an air
pump and suitable valves or other means are provided whereby the entrance of
fresh air is regulated and the heated air accumulated until the desired pressure is
attained.
Dated this 10th day of May 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
improvements in Aerial Machines.
I, HENRY SHEPLEY BOOTH, of 6 Hall Street, St. Peter's, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Packer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction arrangement and propulsion of aerial
or flying machines and apparatus whereby such machines may be elevated propelled
controlled and maintained at any desired elevation without the aid of balloons
aerostats or similar contrivances.
It consists essentially in constructing a vessel of convenient shape with one two
or mere sets or series of wings at each side with their axles parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the vessel such wings comprising a number of rotating vanes
or blades so placed that as they move downwards they are set to exercise pressure
upon the air to raise or propel the apparatus but as they move upwards they are
capable of assuming a vertical position or a position at any inclination thereto that
will offer the least resistance to their passage through the air.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: Fig. 8. Plan of single vane or blade of wing further enlarged with actuating
mechanism in section.
Fig. 9. Front elevation of the actuating cam.
Fig. 10. Extended view of face of cam.
Figs. 11, 12, 13. Side elevations of the actuating cam and one blade or vane
showing relative positions of the two at different angles of the blade while the
wing is descending during its rotation.
The vessel or body A of the machine may be constructed of oval elliptical or
similar shape in cross section with pointed or tapering ends or of any other
convenient shape to offer as little resistance as possible in its passage through
the air. The form that I at present prefer will be rectangular in cross section
and tapering to both ends as shown in the plan and cross section Figs. 1, 2
and 3.
The outer framing a of the vessel may be made of tubular Tangle
iron or other cross section strongly secured and braced together and the sides a¹
will be of sheet metal or other suitable material riveted bolted or otherwise affixed
thereto.
To the body or vessel A I attach at suitable intervals a number of arms B
which project out at both sides. These arms preferably pass through the vessel A
being secured to the frame a at both sides and are further secured or stiffened
in their position by stays of steel rod wire or chain attached to the top and
bottom members of the frame a.
At each side of the vessel A. I attach or connect by means of the arms B
one two or more sets of wings C by which the flight of the apparatus is effected.
At each side of the vessel I place also a shaft D running longitudinally which
is carried in bearings at the ends of the arms B. To these shafts are affixed
the wings C the shafts being actuated in a continuous rotation by the motors E E¹
placed in the centre of the vessel. The motors E E are of any suitable
construction and are connected to the shafts D by connecting rods e coupled to
cranks d. The coupling is so arranged that the shaft at one side of the vessel
turns to the right hand and that at the other side to the left hand as indicated
by the arrows (Figs. 2 and 3). The piston rods of the motors E E' are connected
together by the connecting rod and the cranks d are arranged as shown so
that when one is on the top centre the corresponding one on the opposite side
is on the bottom centre thus securing a reverse rotation of the shafts. A steam
generator or other source of power is placed in any convenient position in the
vessel A.
Each of the wings (see Figs. 2 to 7) is constructed with a frame G which
is affixed to and rotates with the shaft D and with a number of members
constituting vanes or blades H whose longitudinal axes are at right angles to
the longitudinal axis of the vessel A and of the shaft D.
The frame G is of rectangular or other suitable shape and is formed with
two or more preferably four branches radiating from the shaft D it may be
constructed of tubular rods or bars or T or angle irons. The branches of the
frame are stayed or braced together by stay rods wires or chains g.
The blades or vanes H are constructed with a frame mounted on a spindle h
and covered with canvas silk or other suitable fabric. The spindles h' are
mounted in sockets d' and y' carried by the shaft D and the frame G respectively
and have an angular movement independently of and at right angles to the
movement of rotation of the shaft D. The frames are attached to the
spindle eccentrically with the vane extending further to
one side of
the spindle than the other in order to allow for a greater pressure upon one
side of it so that it will always tend to assume the position of least resistance to
the wind pressure.

page_text: The angle or inclination of each vane H in relation to the frame G and shaft D
can be altered to offer greater or less resistance as it passes through the air. To
effect this movement or alteration of inclination of the vanes H I connect with
each a rod J placed at their ends running parallel with the shaft D and capable of
being moved to and fro. The rod J is connected to the vanes H by a link j
pivoted at one end on the pin on the rod J and at the other end on the pin
on the boss of the spindle h. On the end of the rod J I fix a pin J¹ which
engages with the face of the cam K by which it is moved to and fro. The cam K
does not rotate being carried on a sleeve M forming part of the bearing 6 of the
shaft D carried by the arm B and as the shaft D rotates carrying with it the
wings C the pin J₁ is moved across the face k of the cam K and at each downward
stroke of the frame G and vanes H the rod J is moved thereby in a longitudinal
direction whilst at the upward stroke of the vanes H and frame G the pin J'
leaves the face of the cam leaving the vanes H free to assume a vertical position
or the angle of least resistance to the air through which they are passing. This
could also be effected by a rack and pinion in place of the links or by cords or
chains in place of the traversing bar.
The position of the cam K on the shaft D is adjustable so that any desired
amount of inclination may be given to the vanes H (see Figs. 11, 12, and 13)
from the vertical position shown in Fig. 11 to the position inclined below the horizontal
shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 12 shows the vane H horizontal. This adjustment can be
carried out whilst the machine is in motion accordingly as it is required to elevate
propel forward stop or reverse the direction of movement. The sleeve M is
provided with a key or feather m on which the cam K slides and the boss k¹ of the
cam is extended and provided with a screw thread. On the sleeve M is also placed
a rotating sleeve N held at one end by the fixed clutch n. The sleeve N is
provided with an internal screw thread which screws over the screwed boss k¹ of
the cam K thus by rotating the sleeve N a longitudinal movement is given to the
cam K. By means of a rope or chain attached to the wheel n' the clutch sleeve N
can be rotated in either direction from the vessel A.
The cam K is arranged to operate only during the downward stroke of the
vanes H on the upward stroke the vanes are free. As the vanes begin their
downward stroke the pin J' travels up the incline onto the surface k thus moving
the rod J and bringing the vanes into any desired inclination between that shown
in Fig. 11 and that shown in Fig. 13 according to the position in which the cam K
is set. When the vanes H reach nearly the bottom of the downward stroke the
pin J¹ leaves the face of the cam K leaving the vanes free on their upward
stroke to assume the position or angle of least resistance vertical or otherwise.
In one or more sets of the rotating wings instead of placing the vanes H with
their axes at right angles to the longitudinal shafts D they may be placed with
their axes parallel thereto the axles being supported in the radiating members of
the frames G.
When the apparatus is in operation the motors E E' rotate the shaft D and the
wings C the shaft and wings at one side rotating to the right and at the other side
to the left. To elevate the vessel the cams K are set to cause the vanes H of the
wings to assume a position parallel to the shafts D on their downward stroke (see
Fig. 12). To propel the vessel the vanes are set at such an inclination to the
shafts D as to exercise a backward as well as a downward pressure on the air the
effective angle being that at which the elevation of the vessel is maintained and
the balance of pressure used for propulsion. To stop the vessel the vanes H are
set (see Fig. 13) to exercise a forward and downward pressure. To elevate the
fore part or bow of the vessel the vanes H of the rear set of rotating wings at
both sides are thrown out of operation (see Fig. 11). And to depress the bow and
elevate the stern the vanes of the forward set of wings at each side are thrown out
of operation. To cant or deflect the vessel to the right or left or correct a cant or
deflection to the right or left any desired number of the vanes forming the wings

page_text: may be thrown out of operation. To turn the vessel in either direction the vanes
of one or more of the wings on the opposite side will be moved about their axes
to a greater or less degree as required.
I may also if required or found desirable in addition to the wings attach to
the vessel one or more screw propellers to assist in the propulsion and an aeroplane
to assist in the elevation also a rudder or the like to steer it. And the botto:n
portion of the frame a I shall mount on wheels to enable the vessel to pass freely
along the ground in starting and stopping.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An aerial machine constructed with a central body or vessel provided with a
series of rotating wings at both sides carried by longitudinal shafts rotating at
right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vessel such wings comprising a number
of vanes or blades capable of being set as they move downwards so as to exercise
pressure on the air to raise the machine and as they move upwards free to assume
the position or angle that offers the least resistance to their passage through
the air.
2. An aerial machine constructed with a central body or vessel provided with a
series of rotating wings at both sides carried by longitudinal shafts rotating in
opposite directions at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vessel such wings
comprising a number of vanes or blades pivoted on spindles at right angles to the
longitudinal shafts and capable of being set as they move downwards in a plane
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel or any desired inclination thereto to
exercise the required pressure on the air and to raise and propel the machine and
as they move upwards free to assume the position or angle that offers the least
resistance to their passage through the air substantially as described.
3. In aerial machines a rotating wing constructed with a number of vanes
radiating from a central axle each vane arranged with a greater surface on one side
of its longitudinal axis and capable of an independent movement thereon and
controlled and adjusted by a reciprocating rod or other mechanism actuated by a
non-rotating cam whereby they are set at one part of their revolution at any
desired inclination to give the required amount and direction of pressure upon the
air and at another part of their revolution are free to assume the angle of least
resistance substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. An aerial machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described
and shown.
Dated this 8th day of February 1895
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.