IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GUIDING AND CONTROLLING THE ASCENT AND DESCENT OF CAPTIVE OR STATIONARY BALLOONS FOR SCIENTIFIC, MILITARY, OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Martin at the Office of the
· Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1881.
.
THOMAS MARTIN, of Box Grove, Guildford, in the County of Surrey, Colonel,
late Commanding 4th K.O.R. Regt. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR GUIDING AND CONTROLLING THE ASCENT AND DESCENT OF CAPTIVE
OR STATIONARY BALLOONS FOR SCIENTIFIC, MILITARY, OR OTHER PURPOSES."
'
In captive or stationary ballons as hitherto employed their height and position
is governed by a single retaining rope run out or wound up on a suitable drum
below, which allows considerable, inconvenient, and disagreeable lateral oscillation
about its fixed centre on the earth, thereby rendering observations from the car
extremely difficult and in some cases dangerous.
My Invention relates to an improved method of safely guiding, steadying, and
controlling such captive or stationary balloons by such means as will eradicate the
previously cited dangers and annoyances. For this purpose I employ a small
balloon of any ordinary construction, without a car, fixed on the earth by a rope in
the ordinary" captive" manner, and I secure its perpendicular relation by staying
it to the earth by suitable guys attached to the major diameter of the balloon.
By this means the rope and small balloon at the end of its tether is maintained in
a vertical position, and the rope then serves as auxiliary means for guiding the
ascent or descent of a secondary or passengers' balloon. This secondary and larger
balloon is of any known construction, and fitted.with the usual valves, car, and
other appendages, but in addition thereto I provide a light tubular guide of stout
fabric or other suitable material, passing up through its vertical axis, and of such
dimensions as to permit the rope of the primary balloon passing freely through it,
while the extremeties are fitted with rings or thimbles or other anti-frictional
bearings, and which confine the friction of the rope to these parts.
The guide tube is suitably stayed, and made perfectly gas-tight in itself and
upper connections, while below an annular space is maintained at the neck of the
balloon between the guide tube and fabric of the balloon, through which the process
of inflation is effected.
The ascent or descent of the passengers' balloon is actuated and governed upon
this vertically suspended guide rope by means of a rope and windlass or other
known convenient or suitable motor.

page_text: As an additional safety precaution I fix immediately below the neck of the small
primary balloon à permanent stop, which would effectually check the ascent of the
secondary balloon if its down haul should be slack or break.
The guide-rope may be marked at definite points of linear measurement similar
to a "log-line," so that the occupants of the car can readily determine their altitude
without the use of instruments, and the ascent or descent of the passengers' balloon
may be immediately arrested at any such marked elevation as desired through the
intervention of an adjustable clip sliding on the guide-rope, and capable of being
actuated from the car.