IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LIGHT GASES, AND IN THE METHOD OF INFLATING BALLOONS THEREWITH (FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES), AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH PURPOSES, AND FOR DIRECTING, GUIDING, PROPELLING, AND MANAGING SUCH BALLOONS
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Isham Baggs at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th August
1874.
I, ISHAM BAGgs, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Practical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LIGHT GASES, AND IN THE METHOD
OF INFLATING BALLOONS THEREWITH (FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES), AND IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH PURPOSES, AND FOR DIRECTING, GUIDING,
PROPELLING, AND MANAGING SUCH BALLOONS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the manufacture
of light gases, and in the inflation therewith of balloons, and in the
construction and arrangement of machinery and apparatus applicable
to such purposes, and to directing, guiding, propelling, and managing
such balloons for military and other purposes.
For the purposes of inflation hydrogen gas prepared in the following
manner is by preference employed:-A number of gas-tight receptacles
of an aggregate capacity corresponding to the requirements of the
balloon is provided, each of such receptacles being fitted with a funnel,
stop-cock, and dip tube or pipe, which leads nearly to the bottom of the

page_text: the balloon, whilst such gases as they become cool still retain sufficient
levity for the purposes in question.
For guiding, steering, and propelling balloons the following is used:-
I firmly fix outside of the equator of the balloon a strong but light
horizontal ring of wood or basket work, or other suitable material, the
same being made conveniently of sectional arcs of the said equatorial circle
joined and fixed securely together as one piece when required for use, and
made thoroughly fast to the balloon by suitable-means. At the opposite
ends of a diameter of this large circle the woodwork or other meterial is
increased in extent, thickness, and strength, and is pierced or supplied
with two holes or bearings. In these holes work two short spindles
placed in the axial line of a large and strong but light framework, which
constitutes in its entirety the wings of the machine. The framework is
a rigid structure of considerable extent of the form of a rectangular
parallelogram, in the centre of which is the equatorial ring of the
balloon to which it is attached by the short spindles just named, and on
each side of these spindles is a broad expanse of silk or other suitable
material forming the wings.
To make the matter more clear, suppose the entire parallelogram to
be divided into three smaller parallelograms by two parellel lines drawn
through the spindles at right angles to their joint axis, the equator of
the balloon will lie in the centre space, and the two outer parallelograms
will be the wings. It will be obvious from this description that these
wings being fixed together move together, and that they have only one
motion, namely, a circular motion in a vertical plane; they themselves
lying horizontally when in a position of rest. Now if the framework
carrying the wings be depressed at one end, and so secured that the
balloon by its ascending power be allowed to fly upwards, the wings will
strike the air above them at an angle, and the whole machine will be
projected horizontally as well as vertically, and will be driven towards
that point of the compass to which the upper part of the framework is
directed if the atmosphere be still. In other words the balloon will
travel in the line representing the diagonal of a vertical parallelogram,
the adjacent sides of which represent the two forces employed; but if
there be a wind the balloon will describe the diagonal of a parallelopiped
compounded of the three forces to which it is now subject. Having
reached the required elevation, if a quantity of gas is thrown out or the
balloon is otherwise made specifically heavier, it will
descend, and if at

page_text: the same time the angle of the framework supporting the wings is
reversed in direction, these latter will strike the air upon their under
surface at a similar angle also, and drive the machine towards that point
of the compass to which the lower part of the framework points, that is
In
to say, if the axis of the balloon is in the same azimuth as at first.
other words the machine will continue to travel to the same point of the
compas as at first, and so on continuously, rising and falling alternately
by making the whole machine specifically lighter and heavier than an
equal bulk of atmospheric air. To render these movements of the
framework automatic I cause it to be as truly and equally balanced on
its centres as possible, but with a greater expanse of silk or resisting
surface at one side of those centres than upon the other, so that in rising
or falling the impingement of the air exerts a greater leverage on that
side and always throws it in rising or falling to the necessary angle,
whether direct or reversed. Now it is well known that when a balloon
leaves the earth it has a tendency to rotate upon its axis, which would
completely negative all the effect of the above arrangements. To correct
this and to give the aeronaut a full power of steerage as well as pro-
pulsion I attach a tail either to the equatorial circle already described or
to the framework which vibrates thereon. This tail is placed at the
point of the circle equidistant from the spindles, and consists of a frame-
work (covered with silk) projecting outwards horizontally and capable
of turning on a horizontal spindle or axis. Suppose now the machine is
rising with the tail pointing due south; if this latter be now slightly
turned by the aeronaut so as to be raised on its eastern edge and
depressed on its western edge, the impingement of the air upon its
surface will cause the tail to turn towards the east and the whole
machine to revolve when viewed from above in a direction contrary to
the hands of a watch, and if the partial revolution of the tail be in the
contrary direction the effect will be obviously reversed. Now as these
movements are entirely dependent on the will of the aeronaut and the
blow or impact of the air in rising or falling, it is clear that the power of
steerage is by these means conferred upon the machine.
I may observe that as a leverage is given to one end of the wings over
the other, a steering power would be derived; also, if instead of such
wings being rigidly fixed to the framework they were permitted to
revolve to a limited extent upon a longitudinal axis furnished to each
wing, such axis being in both cases at right angles to the axis of the

page_text: framework. And it may also be observed that the ascending and
descending angle of the framework and sails is restricted by cords from
the car of the balloon, which cords are by preference never allowed to
become slack, but are gathered up alternately after they are once adjusted
by spring reels.
In place of or in conjunction with the ordinary grapnel I secure a landing
upon descent by firing or projecting a steel tipped arrow or bolt from a
strong bow or suitable gun into the soft ground that may present itself,
such arrow or bolt having a cord or rope attached to its end; from this
the balloon may be wound or drawn downwards and so secured.