Improvements in the Steerage and Propulsion of Balloons.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1888
Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steerage and Propulsion of Balloons.
I, FRANCIS HILFREICH, of No. 70 Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Agent, 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 improvements in the steerage and propulsion of
balloons, and consists of a balloon of oblong form fitted with two cars placed on each
side of the balloon. These cars are connected by means of a gangway made of canvas
or other suitable material, strained over cane or other supports, so as to allow the
occupants of each car to pass from one car to the other On the side of each car
I mount a rod preferably made of cane or other light and strong material-Such
rods are of greater length than the balloon itself and have attached to each of their
ends a hollow paddle made of canvas or other suitable material stretched over a cane
or other light framework and either in the shape of an umbrella or in any other
convenient form-The paddle on the fore end of each rod is horizontal or flat, so as
when actuated to press the air back and by that means impel the balloon forward
while the paddles on the rear ends of such rods are fitted vertically or upright so as
when actuated to cut the air.
I likewise mount at the front end of each car or at both ends as the case may be a
fan, screw or helix, working horizontally and made of cane work covered with any
suitable light fabric which fan, screw or helix is connected to a handle-By turning
the said handle the fans may be made to revolve in either direction according as
required, the object of these fans, screws or helices being to lower or elevate the
balloon in the atmosphere, which is an advantage of the utmost importance.
In the accompanying drawings wherein similar letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts, Figure 1 is an elevation of the balloon shewing the position of the
propelling and steering apparatus, and Figure 2 is a plan of the same-a. a. is the
balloon which I prefer to make oblong in shape having an eliptical section, and the
network which envelopes the balloon when inflated is connected with duplicate cars b. b.
in equidistant positions on each side of the balloon.

page_text: The connection or gangway c between the cars is constructed of light wicker work
covered with canvas or network-Each car is provided with an independent crank
and crank axle d to which is keyed or otherwise secured the arms or rods e. e.-The
arms are placed parallel with the conjugate axis of the balloon and extend a distance
beyond the front and rear ends of the same, and in a position which will enable them
to run clear and free from any obstruction when revolving―The extremities of the
said arms e are constructed in the form of a hollow paddle or blade covered with
canvas or other strong flexible material which will present a concave surface to the
opposing force of the air-This hollow paddle or blade may be inflated with gas or
may be simply composed of a webbing of canvas and their positions relative to each
other are so arranged that when revolving they are placed at right angles to each other,
that is to say the concave surface of the descending blades will be turned so as to
expose their full surface to the action of the air until they have passed their horizontal
centre during which time the other blade whilst descending, and until it has passed
the horizontal centre, has presented its side or feather edge to the air-This reversing
of the blades may be accomplished by hinging the arms carrying the blades to the
side of each car, the hinges being so placed that they will allow the weight of the arms
themselves to fall over or be reversed by their own gravity, as they pass their top and
bottom centres, and so give the required position to the blades, or in lieu of hinges
the arms may be provided with quadrant teeth which in their revolution will gear with
a fixed tooth projecting from the cars, and so positively cause the arins to reverse-
I accomplish the steering of the balloon by means of the sails supported on each side
of the balloon and placed at points clear of the revolving arms, these sails form frames
which are hinged to upright rods secured to the side nettings, and they are connected
by cords with the cars in such a manner that each sail can be worked independently
to assume a position at any angle relative to the transverse axis of the balloon, and
thereby offering ample means for steering, or normal open position may be assumed
by means of springs.
To the front ends of the cars b. b. are arranged screws or helical fans s. s¹ which
being rotated horizontally by the handle will enable the blades or paddles thereof
to greatly assist in lowering or elevating the balloon.
Having thus 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 :-
The improved mechanism or apparatus for propelling and steering balloons, arranged
combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 4th day of September 1888.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.