A Convertible Kite and Travelling Parachute for Nautical, Military, and other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Convertible Kite and Travelling Parachute for Nautical,
Military, and other purposes.
I, THOMAS MOY of 8 Quality Court London W.C. Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this said invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means for conveying a line from a
shipwrecked vessel to the shore, or vice versa, as a substitute for, or to be used in
cases where the rocket apparatus fails.
Also to provide means for conveying persons in a similar manner from ship to
shore, or from one place to another, or for reconnoitering.
Also enabling a person carried by my improved kite, to convert it into a
travelling parachute, whereby he may descend to the ground where he chooses;
and for other analogous operations.
My invention is formed with a folding frame, consisting of a set of ribs radiating
from a central axis, upon which frame is stretched canvas or other suitable
material to receive the pressure of the wind. The frame may be made to fold
like umbrella ribs, or circumferentially, the latter being preferred, as being most
convenient for expansion in a strong wind.
The surface of the kite presents to the wind a combination of (preferably but
not exclusively) five triangular surfaces stretched upon the frame. The two upper
triangles receive the greatest thrust, their relative angles to the wind being such
as to ensure stability. The three lower triangles meet the wind and receive its
pressure at smaller angles, and act as guides to the upper part to ensure stability
and prevent "pitching."
The upper radial frame or pair of frames is or are fitted with a loop or its
equivalent, whereby the kite is flown with an ordinary line.
Small kites having only a few square yards of surface, are intended to be folded
and packed in cases, and placed in the tops, and on the quarter deck and forecastle
of the ship, with a suitable quantity of line on a reel ready for immediate use.
When using my invention for carrying persons, and reconnoitering &c., the
weight of the person is sustained by the forward part of the apparatus, while
operating as a kite; but when it is required to act as a parachute the traveller
shifts his weight nearer to the centre. The whole surface then comes into play,
and the traveller can direct his course either vertically or diagonally by means of
ropes which render the several surfaces slack or taut, as required.
When the kite is required for carrying persons or parcels, it may be fitted with
two lines, for the purpose of altering the angle of incidence of the wind when
converting the kite into a parachute, and for steering the same in any direction.
Dated 1st February 1892.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Convertible Kite and Travelling Parachute for Nautical,
Military, and other purposes.
I, THOMAS Mor, of 8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to provide means for conveying a line³ from. a'

page_text: shipwrecked vessel to the shore, or vice versa, as a substitute for, or to be used in
cases where the rocket apparatus fails. Also to provide means for conveying
persons in a similar manner from ship to shore, or from one place to another, or
for reconnoitering. Also enabling a person carried by my improved kite, to convert
it into a travelling parachute, whereby he may descend to the ground where he
chooses; and for other analogous operations.
My invention is formed with a folding frame, consisting of a set of ribs radiating
from a central axis, upon which frame is stretched canvas or other suitable material
to receive the pressure of the wind. The frame may be made to fold like umbrella
ribs, or circumferentially, the latter being preferred, as being most convenient for
expansion in a strong wind.
The surface of the kite presents to the wind a combination of (preferably but
not exclusively) five triangular surfaces stretched upon the frame. The two upper
triangles receive the greatest thrust, their relative angles to the wind being such as
to ensure stability. The three lower triangles meet the wind and receive its
pressure at smaller angles, and act as guides to the upper part to ensure stability
and prevent "pitching."
The upper radial frame or pair of frames is or are fitted with a loop or its
equivalent, whereby the kite is flown with an ordinary line.
Small kites, having only a few square yards of surface, are intended to be folded
and packed in cases, and placed in the tops, and on the quarter deck and forecastle
of the ship, with a suitable quantity of line on a reel ready for immediate use.
When using my invention for carrying persons, and reconnoitering &c., the
weight of the person is sustained by the forward part of the apparatus, while
operating as a kite; but when it is required to act as a parachute the traveller
shifts his weight nearer to the centre. The whole surface then comes into play,
and the traveller can direct his course either vertically downward or diagonally by
means of ropes which render the several surfaces slack or taut, as required; or by
slightly altering the centre of gravity by shifting the position of his body, or that
of the load carried by the apparatus.
When the kite is required for carrying persons or parcels, it may be fitted with
two lines, for the purpose of altering the angle of incidence of the wind when
converting the kite into a parachute, and for steering the same in any direction.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a mariner's kite expanded. Fig. 2 is a side view of one
of the ribs. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail drawings, showing three methods of forming
the bub, and Fig. 6 illustrates one method of forming jointed rods for providing
rigid front edges to the kite.
2, 2, 3, 3, and 4, 4, are the radial ribs, pivoted to the centre at 5. 6, 6, represent
stretched canvas or other suitable material (hereinafter called "canvas"). The
spaces 7, 7, may be covered with slack canvas, or left uncovered; or the canvas
may be reduced in area and carried backwards on each side of the ribs 4, 4, for
securing stability; and, for the same purpose, the two lower ribs may be elongated
or weighted.
The jointed rods at 8, 8, will be readily understood from Fig. 6. The rod may
be formed of thin metal. The portion 9 may be of U or channel form and pivoted
at 10 to the rib 2, as shown. 11 may be tubular and pivoted at 12 to the rib 3.
A slot 13 in 11 engages with a pin 14 fixed in 9, so that the jointed rod may be
folded together. When stretched out a pin 15 fixed in the tube 11, engages in
short slots 16, on each side of 9. The lower side of 9 is slotted from 14 to 16.
The two ribs 2, 2, are locked together, when the kite is opened out for flight, by
any suitable latch at 17. A loop is attached to each of the same ribs 2, 2, with a
short line to each in a correct position for flight, the short lines being secured
to the ordinary line, which is kept wound upon a stick or reel, or other suitable
appliance.

page_text: Fig. 3 shows one method of attaching the ribs to the hub, or its equivalent, so
that the ribs may be capable of folding to nearly parallel positions, when packed
up. Fig. 4 shows another method in which the hub is cut into sections, and hinged
together; and Fig. 5 shows a tubular hub 18, to which the ribs may be hinged by
means of curved flanges, as shown.
When using an enlarged apparatus for conveying goods or passengers, the tubular
hub 18 is made long enough to carry a trapeze bar, a telescopic tube being fitted
therein, with a coiled or other spring, in such a manner that the first contact with
the ground, on alighting, is reduced to about 16 feet per second or less.
When the apparatus has been raised as a kite, it may be made to assume the
character of, and act as a parachute immediately upon the line being cast loose or
slackened, and it reassumes the character of a kite when the line is again drawn
taut. Also by using two lines, attached to the loops one above the other; if the
ordinary (lower) line is slackened, and that nearer the upper end is made taut, the
angle of incidence is reduced, and the kite may thereby be made to descend slowly
to the ground.
Having now 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 :-
1. An improved kite capable of being folded and stowed away ready for
immediate use, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. An improved kite capable of being converted into a parachute, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The general construction, arrangement, and combinations of the several and
respective parts, together constituting my invention of a convertible kite and
travelling parachute, for nautical, military, and other purposes, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 1st November 1892.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.