Improvements in Propellers for Aerial and Aqueous Navigation.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
Improvements in Propellers for Aerial and Aqueous Navigation.
We, AUGUSTE ALFRED HIPPOLYTE QUENTIN, Draughtsman, of Billancourt,
Seine, France, AUGUSTO GUATTARI, Engineer, of 10, Via del Orso, Milan, Italy,
and CHARLES GUATTARI, Mechanical Engineer, of 1, Rue Trézel, Levallois-
Perret, Seine, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in propelling apparatus for aqueous or
aerial navigation. From a consideration of the results obtained in the science of
acronautics, it is evident that a successful solution of the problem of aviation
cannot be attained by endeavoring to propel against the wind, balloons whose
displacement necessarily increases in proportion to the weight to be raised. More-
over, the dimensions and speed of the screws which would be required for the
propulsion of such balloons are perforce out of all proportion (owing to the low
density of the medium in which they work) to the power of the motor which a
balloon of medium capacity is able to raise. On the other hand the partisans of
the bird-flight theory observing that in nature the bird is heavier than the air have
chiefly sought either to imitate a bird's movements or to construct a helicoptera.
Now it is practically impossible for any machine to imitate a bird, owing to its
action being subject to too-many complications to permit of maintaining its stability
against aerial currents, whilst the high position of the centre of gravity is a
permanent source of danger, the instinct of the bird being wanting to promptly
meet the ever-varying conditions under which flight is performed. A screw-
propeller which at first sight seems to fulfil the desired conditions presents other
difficulties, none the less serious. Its necessarily large dimensions renders it very
difficult to construct sufficiently strong consistently with the lightness and rigidity
which are indispensable and as it must be placed above the machine, the friction is
enormous, as the whole weight falls upon the shaft whose rotation is to a corre-
sponding extent impeded. On the other hand, as the blades of the screw act
effectively on the air only near the outer ends, the portions near the centre moving
too slowly, the same effect is produced as by the wings of an artificial bird, the
ends only of which whip, and are resisted by, the air whilst the portions near the
body do not move quickly enough to be effective. Moreover, of the two alternate
movements of a bird's wing only the downstroke is effective, the bird supporting
itself during the upstroke by floating as an aeroplane. Besides the inevitable
complications incidental to these two systems of propulsion, there is loss of power
by slip, friction of the working parts and against the air and intermittence of the
effective work. An essential condition of every flying machine, which has hereto-
fore been lost sight of, is that the machine must be self-supporting in the air in the
manner of a parachute, otherwise the least accident to its machinery would bring
about a catastrophe. The propelling mechanism of this invention differs entirely
from all others heretofore tried inasmuch as there is no rotating propeller, nor
shaft, the whole surface exposed produces the maximum of useful effect both at the
centre and circumference, the action is continuous, and the power is applied to act
directly without the conversion of reciprocating into rotary motion and therefore
without the frictional and torsional effects consequent thereon, the whole of the
power surface and velocity being utilized so that it is not even theoretically possible
to obtain a higher result.
In the accompanying drawings,
ديم

page_text: The apparatus consists essentially of two superposed planes A B formed of
louvre-like blades or pallets E jointed by one edge, the one performing the down-
stroke and acting on the air whilst the other is performing the upstroke during
which latter motion the blades E present themselves, edgewise to the air so as to
offer no resistance, the blades. closing and presenting themselves flatwise to the air
immediately the downstroke commences. These two motive surfaces A B may be
of any shape, circular for the sake of simplicity, form two parachutes, and are put
in.motion not from one end like a bird's wing but from the centre, the result being
that the whole area of the surface A or B moves up and down with same velocity.
To obtain the simultaneous but contrary motions of the two planes A B, the
sleeve C connected to the upper one, passes through the sleeve D of the lower one
these two sleeves being directly coupled, by connecting rods G, to the rods E E
of pistons IF the piston rods being connected together at their lower ends by a
rock lever jointed to the central vertical shaft on which the sleeves are guided.
The motor, whether a gas, petroleum, carbonic-acid, compressed air, steam, or other
engine, thus acts directly on the air since the piston on its down stroke draws down
the propelling surface with a propulsive effect corresponding to the pressure acting
on the piston. It will thus be seen that supposing the pressure to be 10 atmospheres
during the first or explosion stroke of the piston (the only one utilized) the velocity
to be 2 metres per second and the surface 200 square centimetres (such pressure
velocity and surface being relatively low for a petroleum engine) the available
energy is 2000 kgs. Experience has shewn that by this system of propulsion
800 grammes may be raised per kg. of energy used and per metre of surface. This
almost unique result permits of 800 kgs. being raised by the energy here available
for a surface of 30 square metres and that deducting one-half (which is excessive)
used, to compress the charge of explosive gas and to raise the other propelling
surface, to which the air offers no resistance in consequence of the vertical position
of the blades E. This is a maximum of work which it is needless to employ since
if instead of raising about 26.666 k. per square metre of surface only half that
amount be raised, viz. 13-333 k. per square metre of surface, a total weight
of 400 kgs. may be easily raised, holding in reserve energy available at a given
moment, at starting for example. By using aluminium tubes in the construction of
the apparatus, the weight of the machine, with two men, a supply of gasoline for
a long voyage, water, and all necessary supplies, will not exceed this figure, the
weights being distribed as follows-
Central tubular shaft a. and sleeves
31-000.k.
In this machine not only the support, but, what is essentially novel, the ascension,
of the machine is directly obtained without the aid of an initial horizontal motion.
It will now be easy to demonstrate the ability to travel in all directions since the
machine is by the above means placed under conditions absolutely identical with
those of the flight of birds. Thus if by ceasing to act vertically on the air, the
propulsive surface acts diagonally like the wing of a bird, the motion produced

page_text: will be oblique to the axis and the surface acting as an aeroplane moving with the
acquired velocity utilizes the resistance. of the air which by its vertical reaction
counterbalances the weight of the machine, whose velocity. is the higher the greater
the surface and the weight. This result is easily obtained by inclining the
apparatus as shewn in Figure 2 by means of a lever H connected with shrouds or
stays I which at, say, eight points of the circumference connect the propeller with
the car which is suspended freely from the tubular shaft a and represents the
dead weight and which always retains its vertical position the centre of gravity
being placed very low. This lever H works in all directions, on a ball and socket
joint J and is provided with a powerful brake which comes into action immediately
the lever is moved a fraction of a turn by the handles K and with a conical screw-
thread which separates the parts of the ball centre on which it works and causes it
to bind in its socket and thus retain the parts in the position set. The steering of
the machine is thus effected by means of this lever by which the position of the
propeller may be instantly modified, thus shifting the centre of gravity, causing
the machine to move in any desired curve.
In order that the blades E when
vertical shall not resist the wind and interfere with the propulsion, the propeller
is provided with a vertical rudder L extending from the circumference to the
centre.
The sleeve C is provided with a shoulder and is fitted to turn freely in a
socket C so that the propeller A can turn freely about its centre like a weather-
cock so as to always present the blades end on to the wind, whereby the resistance
of the latter to the propulsion of the machine is avoided.
The opening and closing of the louvre blades E is effected by connecting them
in two series to rods M respectively coupled by links levers O and links N to
rods P which abut against a shoulder Q, thus causing the blades E to open when
the propeller rises and close when it descends so as to act on the air, the motion of
the propeller itself favoring this action of the blades which naturally tend to open
when it rises and close when it descends, the blades to this end being not quite
vertical when open but inclined slightly inwards, towards the centre of the machine.
The propellers with all blades closed, thus constitute a double parachute, and by
opening the blades to a regulated extent, by mechanism operated by the aeronaut,
the velocity of descent may be controlled at will.
The apparatus constructed as above described is designed for aerial navigation
but by modifying the parts for transmitting motion it may also be applied for
propulsion on water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In an aerial or aqueous propeller, the combination of two or more double
motive or propelling surfaces A. B preferably circular and acting as parachutes
arranged parallel and symmetrically with regard to the common connecting shaft
constructed of jointed feathering blades E, the two propellers A B being actuated
by a motor in such manner that the one rises whilst the other descends, whilst they
always remain perpendicular to the central shaft.
2. In the herein described propeller, the feathering blades which present them
selves edgewise to the air so as to encounter no resistance when the propeller rises
and which close flatwise so as to present an extended surface to the resistance of
the air, these motions of the blades being horizontal in the case of a propeller
working in water.
3. The combination, with the herein-described propeller, of the sleeves CD
sliding on the central tubular shaft and by which the two parts A B are coupled to
the respective pistons.
4. The rudder L for turning the propelling surfaces end wise to the wind, the
rudder acting like a weather cock.
5. The combination, with the propeiler shaft and car suspended therefrom, of

page_text: the shrouds I and operating lever H whereby any desired inclination may be given
to the propeller shaft, substantially as specified.
1002
A. A. H. QUENTIN.
A. GUATTARI.
C. GUATTARI.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.