Improvements
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 11th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887
Improvements 10
I EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of 29 Cooper Street Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Manufacturer and Merchant do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is principally to construct small navigable balloons
capable of carrying one person who can propel and steer the same by his own
exertions, but the same principle of construction and propulsion is also applicable to
the construction of navigable balloons of a larger size. I propose to employ an
aerostat of a cylindrical form with hemispherical ends, the internal area of which may
be divided into a number of gas tight compartments, or the outer casing of the above
form may contain a large number of smaller balloons cach independently inflated. In
order to reduce the resistance of the air the forward end of the aerostat is protected
with a sharp conical or pyramidal shield.
The aerostat or balloon is covered with netting and from ropes or other suitable
connections attached thereto is suspended a short distance below the balloon an aero-
plane or platform composed of canvas sheet metal or other suitable material stretched
over spars or rods or other light frame-work and preferably of a lozenge-form.
From the central transverse spar or rod of this framework is suspended by ropes or
rods a light car for the passenger the centre of suspension of such car coinciding with
the central point of buoyancy of the aerostat, so that when the car hangs in its
normal position (i.e vertically) it shall have a tendency to maintain the acroplane or
platform, and consequently the axis or central line of the cylindrical acrostat, in a
horizontal position.
A long rope or cord is attached by each end to the extremities of the central
longitudinal spar or rod of the framing and the central portion of this rope or cord
passes round a windlass attached to the car so that by turning this windlass either
backwards or forwards the car may be moved either in front of, or behind, its centre
of suspension so as to give an inclination, either downwards or upwards to the front
part of the aero-plane and thus cause the balloon to descend or ascend as may be
required.

page_text: I prefer to have only one propeller situated at the rear, and in a central line with
the longitudinal axis of the aero plane, but two or more propellers may be used if
required. The propeller or propellers I propose to make in the form of a fan with
three or more vanes, each vane being set at an angle and formed somewhat like the
wing of an albatross or other sea bird, the leading edge of each vane being provided
with a strengthening rib and the following edges being made elastic.
In the lower part of the car is mounted a crankshaft with pedals and provided with
grooved pulleys over which pass endless cords or gut bands, passing also round
another grooved pulley or pulleys situated at or about the point of suspension of the
car, and driving the propeller shaft or shafts; or other means of connection between
the crankshaft and the propeller may be employed. The passenger thus drives the
propeller or propellers by his feet and alters the inclination of the aeroplane (so as to
rise or descend as he wishes) by means of the winch.
The acroplane is also provided with a rudder by means of which it can be steered in
either direction being worked by the knees or other part of the body when the hands
are engaged.
The front of the car (and the passenger is protected by a light conical shield so as
to minimise the resistance of the atmosphere.
In order to keep the outer casing of the aerostat always distended and smooth so as
to present the least possible resistance to the air, I propose to place inside thereof an
elastic air-bag provided with a tube communicating with a small air pump which can
be connected with the crankshaft when required so that should the outer casing owing
to the contraction or the escape of the gas have a tendency to collapse or become
flaccid the aeronaut can distend the same at once by inflating this internal air bag;
and on the other hand should the expansion of the gas at any time cause a dangerous
state of tension it may be reduced immediately by allowing some of the air to escape
from the said internal air bag.
Dated this 10th day of June 1886.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I EDWARD NEWALL MOLESWORTH-HEPWORTH of 29 Cooper Street Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Manufacturer and Merchant do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGABLE BALLOONS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following staicinent :-
The object of my invention is principally to construct small navigable balloons
capable of carrying one person, who can propel and steer the same by his own
exertions but the same principle of construction and propulsion is also applicable to
the construction of navigable balloons of larger size driven by other power.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed or
carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the annexed
sheet of drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1, on the drawing is an elevation (shown partly in section) of a navigable
balloon constructed according to my invention, and Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are detached
views hereinafter more especially referred to.
I propose to employ an acrostat a, a of a cylindrical or other suitable form and
either with hemispherical ends or with conical or pointed ends b, b' as shown at
Fig. 1. The interior of this aerostat a, a I divide into a number of gas tight com-
partments as shown by the dotted lines c, e in Fig. 1. or the outer casing of the above
form may contain a number of smaller balloons d, d each independently inflated and
held in position.
In order to reduce the resistance of the air when hemispherical ends are employed,
the forward end of the aurostat may be protected with a sharp conical or pyramidal
shield of the form of one of the ends b, & shown at Fig. 1.
The aerostat or balloon is covered with netting as shown at the left hand end on
the drawing, and from ropes e, e or other suitable connections attached thereto is
suspended a short distance below the balloon an aëro-plane or platform ff composed
of canvas sheet metal or other suitable material stretched over spars or rods g, g (or
other light framework) and preferably either of a lozenge form in plan view as shown
at Fig. 2. or of the wing-like shape shown at Fig. 3. and being slightly concave
beneath so as to give greater sustaining power and at the same time to present less
resistance to the air when rising.
From the central transverse spar or rod g of this frame-work is suspended by
ropes or y side rods h, h a light car as shown at i, i in dotted lines, or instead of a
car any convenient light frame for supporting the body of the passenger in a prone or
other suitable position and at the same time allowing of free use of the arms and legs;
the centre of suspension of such car or frame i, i coinciding with the central point of
buoyancy of the aerostat so that when the car or frame hangs in its normal position
(i.e vertically) it shall have a tendency to maintain the aeroplane ff and consequently
the axis or central line of the cylindrical aerostat in a horizontal position.

page_text: .
A wire or other rope k, k from each side of the car or frame is attached by each end
to the extremities of the central longitudinal spar g, g of the framing and the central
part of this rope passes round or may be attached to a small windlass 1, 1 (see detached
view Fig. 4) mounted in or on the car or frame i, so that by turning this windlass
either backwards or forwards the car or frame i, i can be moved either in front of or
behind its centre of suspension at m so as to give an inclination downwards or
upwards to the aeroplane, and thus cause the balloon to descend or ascend as may
be required, he can also tilt the aeroplane sideways by the movement of his body.
Instead of the windlass a bell-cranked lever n, n (see Fig. 1.) may be employed for
this purpose, the shorter arm being attached to the cord or rope k, k and the longer
arm being provided with a spring bolt working on a toothed quadrant somewhat like
the signal lever used on railways.
I prefer to have only one propeller situated at the rear, and placed either in a central
line with the longitudinal axis of the aero-plane, or at the rear of the car or frame
i, as shown at Fig. 1. but two or more propellers may be used if required.
The propeller (or propellers) o, o I propose to make in the form of a fan with three
or more vanes (see face view Fig. 5) each being set at an angle and formed somewhat
like the wing of an Albatross or other sea bird, the leading edge of each vance being
provided with a stiff strengthening rib and the following edges being elastic.
may also remark, that the aeroplane if required may be constructed on the same
principle.
Near the rear end of the car or frame e, c is mounted a crankshaft with pedals p, p
to be worked by the feet of the passenger and driving the propeller o, o by means
of a bevil wheel and pinion 4, 4, or if the propeller be situated in a line with the
aeroplane the crankshaft and the propeller will be fitted with grooved pulleys and
endless bands for driving the latter.
Or other convenient means of connection between the crankshaft and the propeller
may be employed.
The passenger thus drives the propeller (or propellers) by means of his feet and
alters the inclination of the aeroplane, so as to rise or descend as he wishes, by means
of the windlass I, 1 or the lever a, n worked by hand. He also will have by these
means (and by the facility for side balancing by the movement of his body) the power
of soaring in the manner of a sea or other bird so as to dispense at times with the
necessity for propelling.
The aeroplane (or the spar projecting therefrom) is also provided with a rudder
(shown dotted at r, r) by means of which it can be steered in either direction
laterally and this may be arranged so as to be worked by the knees or other part of
the body when the hands are otherwise engaged.
The front of the car and the head of the passenger may be protected by a light
conical shield so as to minimise the resistance of the atmosphere.
In order to keep the outer casing of the aerostat always distended and smooth
I propose to place inside thereof an elastic air bag provided with a tube s, s com-
municating with a small air pump t, which can be worked by a hand lever u, u or
may be connected to the crankshaft when required, or the bag may be dispensed with
and the tube communicate with the interior of the acrostat so that should the outer
casing, owing to the contraction or escape of the gas have a tendency to collapse or
become flaccid the aeronaut can distend the same at once by inflating this internal
air bag, or the aerostat itself.
And on the other hand should the expansion of the gas at any time cause a
dangerous state of tension it may be immediately reduced by allowing some of the
air to escape from the said internal air bag so that the latter may at all times be fully
inflated with either gas or with compressed or uncompressed air.
A further and most important use of this air compressing arrangement is as follows:
that he can at any time increase the weight of the aerstat by compressing air into the
said bag or cavity of the aerostat so as to increase the density of the contents thereof
and thus cause the balloon to descend. And on the other hand he can when he
wishes to ascend decrease the weight of the same by allowing this compressed air to

page_text: escape until it reaches the same density as the surrounding atmosphere so that he can
ascend or descend as required without expending any of his buoyant gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination in a navigable balloon of an aërostat with an aëroplane
supporting the passenger car or frame and a propelling apparatus to be worked by the
passenger substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings
annexed.
Secondly. In a navigable balloon consisting of an aürostat, an acro-plane from
which the passenger car is suspended, and apparatus for propelling the same, the
combination with the said aeroplane of an apparatus whereby the passenger can
thoroughly control the car or frame in which he is suspended either by moving it in
front of or behind the centre of suspension so as to cause the aeroplane to be tilted
either downwards or upwards and also tilt it sideways when required substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Thirdly. The means substantially as above described of altering the carrying power
of the balloon by compressing atmospheric air into or allowing it to escape from a
suitable air bag or casing so as to be able to rise or fall as required without any
expenditure of the buoyant gas.
1:1
1
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester
Agent for the Applicant.