Improvements in Balloon Steering Apparatus
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897-Accepted. 23rd Oct., 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Balloon Steering Apparatus.
A communication from abroad by PETER IRGENS BAGGE of Risor in the Kingdom of
Norway, Surveyor.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent 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 steering-apparatus consists of two main parts, which are placed in a
reciprocally fixed invariable position, so that the apparatus does not have the
desired effect, if their reciprocal position is altered.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a balloon provided with the
invention, partly in view, partly in section.
Fig. 2 shows details of the rudder.
Fig. 3 shows the mode of action of the steering apparatus.
In order to produce an artificial current of air through the vertical axis of the
balloon, there is placed a horizontal cylinder A of considerable width, below
the supporting ring. This cylinder A may be made substantially of canvas.
At one end of this cylinder (the back end) there is placed an air suction apparatus
of any known construction, which may be actuated by muscular force or by means
of a small, suitable motor. At the other end of the cylinder (the foremost end)
where the artificial air current is streaming out, there is placed a rudder c, upon
which the air current is working. The rudder is provided with two rods d, d
which are put in connection with the gondola by aid of tiller ropes e, e..
The sail B, which must be kept close by the wind in order to press the balloon
out from the direction of the wind, is placed in a fixed position above and in
the same vertical plan as the axis of the cylinder A, so that whether the wind
is coming from the right or the left it will always be in the same position com-
pared to the cylinder A, and may be kept close by the wind by aid of the rudder.
The rudder thus goes fore, and the artificial air current is a means to lessen
the speed of the balloon, thus enabling the balloon to be pressed out of the
direction of the wind, by aid of the pressure on the sail B. In Fig. 3 the great
arrows represent the direction of the wind, the small arrows represent the direction.
in which the artificial air current strives to move the balloon and the dotted line
shows the course in which the balloon is moving.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:-
The improved balloon steering apparatus consisting partly of a cylinder (A)
passing through the vertical axis of the balloon, partly of an air suction apparatus
for providing an artificial air current placed at the back end of the said cylinder
and actuated by a suitable motor, partly of a rudder placed at the fore end of
the said cylinder, in combination with a sail (B) placed in a fixed position in

page_text: the same vertical plan as the cylinder in order that the air suction apparatus
may check the balloon in its going with the wind by aid of the current of air
going from aft to fore, thereby enabling the wind to work on the sail.
Dated the 17th day of September 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.