Improvements in Aeroplanes or Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aeroplanes or Apparatus for Aerial Navigation.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I. Mech. E., of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6 Bank Street. Manchester, Liverpool, and London, in the Counties of
Lancaster, and Middlesex, respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication from
abroad by Martin Henri Rumpf, of Rue Hauteville, Paris, in the Republic of
France) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for enabling a person to
rise in the air without using a balloon, and known under the name of aeroplanes.
The object proposed is to make the movements for raising, and horizontally
displacing the apparatus to alternate in order to allow of a motive force of small
power, but constantly working, being used, which is stored up during the periods of
horizontal displacement so as to furnish at a given moment the considerable amount
of power necessary during the periods when the apparatus is ascending.
It consists in providing means for producing and storing up the power developed
by the motor; for raising, maintaining and guiding the apparatus in the air, and
in arranging the parts employed for these purposes in such a way that they resist
the descent of the apparatus without presenting any resistance to its ascension.
The apparatus is essentially composed of the following principal parts :-

page_text: The rod of this piston which is suitably guided at its lower end, operates directly
by means of oblique cranks, the framework of the two wings, which are
symmetrically hinged on each side of the frame of the apparatus.
These wings are preferably rectangular, and slightly curved downwards, and in
order to maintain them rigidly in position they are provided in the centre with a
vertical bar, the ends of which are connected with the outside of the framework of
the wings by means of cords.
In order that the wings may be easily raised without offering resistance to the
air, the rigid rectangular frame which forms the outside of them, is divided by
means of light rods into sections of rectangular form, in each of which a cloth
panel is arranged, the displacement of which is limited by a cord, and these panels
are arranged in such a way that when the wing is raised, all the panels are
sufficiently depressed to yield a free passage to the air, whilst when the wing again
descends under the action of the motive piston, all the panels rise of their own
accord and form an uniform curved surface, which constitutes the effective surface
of the wing.
It is evident that under these conditions the piston will only have to over-
come a very slight resistance in order to produce the raising of the wings, whilst
this same piston must during its descent exert a considerable amount of force in
order to lift the weight of the man and the mechanism.
This result is obtained by a distributing arrangement or valve which regulates
the admission at each side of the piston, of volumes of compressed air exactly
proportionate to the power which it has to exert during its two movements of the
outward stroke and return.
On the other hand, in order to cause the machine to move forward, the front
side of the wings has a vertical ledge or flange, which presents at this side a
resistance to the passage of the air forced back by the wing, whilst the air can
freely flow away at its hinder part; the reaction thus exerted by the air on the
front ledge produces the progressive movement of the apparatus.
Any other suitable means may also be employed for the same object, such for
instance as a flexible surface of tissue attached by one of its sides to a projecting
rod arranged as a prolongation of the front edge of the main framework of the
wings.
In order to allow of the apparatus moving horizontally and floating in the air
for a certain time after each ascending movement, it is provided with a horizontal
plane attached to the frame, which plane is, like the wings, provided with movable
flexible panels which give free passage to the air when the apparatus is rising, and
which close automatically when it is floating, as has been already herein before
described.
Finally a rudder of large dimensions, formed preferably with four faces at right
angles, is flexibly attached to the rear part of the frame, and may be inclined in any
desired direction.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
Before starting, the reservoir is filled with compressed air at a high pressure
(ten atmospheres for instance) in order to accumulate the power necessary for the
first ascension of the apparatus, then the man carrying the apparatus on his
shoulders as herein before stated, runs forward in the direction in which he desires
to proceed, he then opens the valve which allows the compressed air to pass from
the reservoir to the motive cylinder, and the piston causes the wings to move, and
produces thus a first rising of the apparatus from the ground whilst the man
operates at the same time the compressing pumps through the crank shaft
and cranks in order to maintain the pressure in the reservoir at its initial degree.
As soon as the apparatus has reached a certain height, the man closes the valve
for supplying the compressed air, and allows the apparatus to float, which being
sustained by the fixed plane and by the wings which have become stationary,
continues to move during a certain time in the direction which was originally
imparted to it.

page_text: The compressed air is then again admitted to the cylinder, and the flapping of
the wings causes another ascension of the apparatus, succeeded by a fresh period of
inaction of the motor, and so on successively.
It is seen therefore, that by this arrangement the man, constantly working the
compressing pumps, develops an average constant force, whilst the motor for
operating the wings, as it acts only intermittently, is able to impart to them a
much greater power and sufficient to produce the ascension of the apparatus.
It must be understood that I do not limit myself to the arrangements hereinbefore
described as an example, but I reserve the right of employing any suitable motive
power for replacing the action of the man, and of making use of any suitable means
for accumulating the power developed by the motor whilst the apparatus is
floating. In the same way the first initial travelling motion may be obtained by
placing the apparatus on a conveyance driven in such a way that it travels
rapidly at the moment, when the apparatus leaves it, in order to rise in the air.
Dated this 1st day of March 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.

page_text: Fig. 3, is a plan view.
Figs. 4 and 5, are longitudinal and transverse sections of a wing.
As will be seen in the drawings the whole apparatus is arranged on a light
frame A which fits on the shoulders of the man whilst seated on a saddle as on
horse back and who is connected therewith by means of straps 6; a compressed air
reservoir B is placed at his back, and the air compressing pumps C which he
operates are placed in front of him. Finally in the upper part of the frame the
wings G and their motive mechanism as well as the fixed supporting plane I
are arranged, and the rudder J is placed in the rear of the apparatus.
The pumps C serving to compress the air into the reservoir B are operated by
means of rods driven from a crank shaft placed horizontally in front of the man,
who causes it to revolve by working, with his hands, handles E attached to this
shaft, and with his feet, pedals D connected therewith by chain gearing d moving
over transmitting pulleys d'. These pedals are mounted in slides A hinged to the
lower part of the frame, and which may be easily raised up by turning them on their
hinges a a; in this way the man can at the commencement of the operation place
his feet on the ground, and run for a certain length of time in the initial direction
which he wishes the apparatus to take, the latter at that moment resting entirely on
his shoulders.
The air compressed in the above named reservoir B is conveyed by a tube f to a
motive cylinder. F arranged at the upper extremity of the frame A, and which has
a distributing apparatus which ensures the automatic action of the piston, as soon
as the valve which regulates the delivery of compressed air is opened.
The rod of this piston which is suitably guided at its lower end, operates
directly by means of oblique rods H, the framework of the two wings G, which are
symmetrically hinged on each side of the frame of the apparatus by means of rigid
rods h.
These wings G are preferably rectangular, and slightly curved downwards, and
in order to maintain them firmly in position they are provided in the centre by a
vertical bar K, the ends of which are connected with the outside g of the framework
of the wings by means of cords k.
In order that the wings may be easily raised without offering resistance to the
air, the rigid rectangular frame g which forms the outside of them, is divided by
means of light rods into sections m of rectangular form, in each of which a cloth
panel m is arranged, the displacement of which is limited by a cord n, as is clearly
seen in Fig. 5, and these panels are arranged in such a way that when the wing is
raised, all the panels m are sufficiently depressed to afford a free passage to the air,
whilst when the wing again descends under the action of the motive piston, all the
panels m rise of their own accord and form an uniform curved surface, which
constitutes the effective surface of the wing.
It is evident that under these conditions, the piston will only have to overcome a
very slight resistance in order to produce the raising of the wings, whilst this same
piston must during its descent exercise considerable amount of force in order to
fift the weight of the man and the mechanism.
This result may be obtained by making use of a distributing arrangement or
valve for introducing at each side of the piston, volumes of compressed air exactly
proportionate to the power which it has to exert during its two movements of the
outward stroke and return.
On the other hand, in order to cause the machine to move forwards, the front
side of the wings G has a vertical ledge or flanger as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, which
presents at this side a resistance to the passage of the air forced back by the wing,
whilst the air can freely flow away at its rear part; the reaction thus exerted by
the air on the front ledger produces the progressive movement of the apparatus.
Any other suitable means may also be employed for the same object, such for
instance as a flexible surface of tissue applied by one of its sides to a projecting rod
arranged as a prolongation of the front edge of the main framework of the wings.
In order to allow of the apparatus moving horizontally and of floating or soaring

page_text: in the air for a certain time after each ascending movement, it is provided with a
horizontal plane i attached to the frame, which plane is, like the wings, provided
with jointed movable panels which afford free passage to the air when the apparatus
is rising, and which close automatically when it is floating or soaring, as has been
already hereinbefore described.
Finally a rudder J of large dimensions, formed preferably with four faces at
right angles, is flexibly attached to the rear part of the frame, and may be inclined
in any desired direction.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
Before starting, the reservoir B is filled with compressed air at a high pressure
(ten atmospheres for instance) in order to accumulate the power necessary for the
first ascension of the apparatus, then the man carrying the apparatus on his
shoulders as herein before stated, runs forward in the direction which he desires to
take, he then opens the valve which allows the compressed air to pass from the
reservoir B to the motive cylinder F; the piston then causes the wings to move,
and produces thus the initial ascent of the apparatus from the ground whilst the
man operates at the same time the compressing pumps C through the crank shaft
and cranks in order to maintain the pressure in the reservoir at its initial
degree.
As soon as the apparatus has reached a certain height, the man shuts off the
supply of compressed air, and allows the apparatus to float or soar which being
sustained by the fixed plane i and by the wings G which have become stationary,
continues to move during a certain time in the direction which was originally
imparted to it.
The compressed air is then again admitted afresh to the cylinder, and the flapping
of the wings causes another ascension of the apparatus, succeeded by a fresh period
of inaction of the motor, and so on successively.
It is seen therefore, that by this arrangement the man, constantly working the
compressing pumps, develops a mean constant force, whilst the motor for operating
the wings, as it acts only intermittently, is able to impart to them a much greater
power and sufficient to produce the ascension of the apparatus.
It must be understood that I do not limit myself to the arrangements hereinbefore
described as an example but I reserve the right of employing any suitable motive
power for replacing the action of the man, and of making use of any suitable means
for accumulating the power developed by the motor whilst the apparatus is floating
or soaring. In the same way the first initial travelling motion may be obtained by
placing the apparatus on a conveyance driven in such a way that it travels rapidly
at the moment, when the apparatus leaves it, in order to rise in the air.
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 improved method of putting in movement an aerial or flying apparatus
known as an "aeroplane," provided with movable wings, and with a fixed horizontal
plane; which consists in causing the vertical movements for the ascent and the
horizontal movements for the translation of the apparatus to alternate, and in
accumulating during the periods of horizontal translation the constant motive force
developed, for the purpose of having at disposal the considerable power necessary
to elevate the apparatus.
2. In combination with an aerial apparatus working in the manner above described
the means for accumulating and distributing the constant motive force employed,
which consist in the employment of air compressed in a reservoir by means of pumps
constantly working, and which is introduced at successive periods into a motor
cylinder supplied with an automatic distribution, so that the admission of the air to
the two faces of the piston is regulated in proportion to the power expended during
the forward and backward movement of the said piston as hereinbefore described.
3. In combination with an aerial apparatus working in the manner above

page_text: indicated, wings actuated by the motor cylinder and formed of a curved frame, the
rectangular hollows or grooves of which are furnished with cloth panels, joined in
such a manner as to open automatically when the wing rises and to close when the
wing lowers itself, as hereinbefore described.
4. In combination with an aerial apparatus acting in the manner above indicated;
wings of rectangular form, the front bone or skeleton of which is furnished with a
ledge forming a projection under the plane of the wing so as to present an obstacle
for the escape or slipping away of the air at that side and to determine the advance
movement of the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In an aerial apparatus called an "aeroplane" a light structure A carrying the
mechanism, compressing pumps C worked by a constantly acting motive force, a
reservoir of compressed air feeding a motor cylinder F with automatic distribution,
a fixed supporting plane i with movable panels, a hinged rudder J, two hinged
wings G with movable panels and set in motion by rods H connected with the
motor piston; as hereinbefore described, and shown in detail on the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1893