IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR OR IN CONNECTION WITH BALLOONS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR ILLUMI- NATING AND SIGNALLING PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Constantino Kinnear, of Coleman Street, in
the City of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR OR
IN CONNECTION WITH BALLOONS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR ILLUMI-
NATING AND SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Constantino
Kinnear at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th October
1881.
FREDERICK CONSTANTINE KINNEAR, of Coleman Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR OR IN CONNECTION WITH BALLOONS, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE for IlluminaTING AND SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to construct or provide balloons, especially the
so called captive balloons with certain improved appliances in the manner heroin-
after described.
The balloon proper used for the purpose of this Invention may be of any
ordinary form and material, and in some cases, for greater security, be divided into
two or more compartments or parts. The car is for lightness and safety made of
light waterproof material, and with whalebone or other strong and light framing,
but with proper disconnectible ballasting, thus affording security in case the balloon
falls into the sca. In connection with the balloon, and according to the first part
of my Invention, I employ suitable framework which may be in the form of a
girdle round the balloon, and on which I cause a strong light to be projected for
the purpose of displaying devices for signalling purposes and the like; the frame-
work may be arranged as transparencies. The light employed is the electric
light, and according to this Invention two or more electric lamps are used. The
Invention further consists in the employment of jibs or frames projecting some

page_text: distance from the car, and made by preference of bamboo, and having adjustable
reflector appliances, and serving to carry the said lamps.
I supply the electricity from secondary batteries or storage reservoirs in the
car; these buttories are charged from a generator when on the earth; or in case of
a captive balloon the batteries or the lamps themselves are charged or supplied
with electricity as required by means of an electric conductor or cable which is
carried up along the rope. By suitable adjustable deflecting appliances on the car
a strong light may also be thrown on to any object on the earth. For signalling
from the balloon, in case it is employed for military or scientific purposes, I employ
by preference revolving or flash signals in connection with the electric light.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Constantine Kinnear in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th April 1882.
FREDERICK CONSTANTINE KINNEAR, of Coleman Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR OR IN CONNECTION WITH BALLOONS, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE FOR ILLUMINATING AND SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to construct or provide balloons, especially the
so called captive balloons, with certain improved appliances in the manner herein-
after described. The balloon proper used for the purpose of this Invention may
be of any ordinary form and material, and in some cases, for greater security, be
divided into two or more compartments or parts. The car is for lightness and
safety made of light waterproof material, and with whalebone-or other strong and
light framing, but with proper disconnectible ballasting, thus affording security in
case the balloon falls into the sea. In connection with the balloon, and according
to the first part of my Invention, I employ suitable framework which may be in
the form of a girdle round the balloon, and on which I cause a strong light to be
projected for the purpose of displaying devices for signalling purposes and the
like; the framework may be arranged as transparencies. The light employed is
the electric light, and according to this Invention two or more electric lamps are
used;
the Invention further consists in the employment of jibs or frames projecting
some distance from the car, and made by preference of steel or bamboo, and having
adjustable reflector appliances and serving to carry the said lamps. I supply the
electricity from secondary batteries or storage reservoirs in the car; these
batteries are charged from a generator when on the earth; or in case of a captive
balloon the batteries or the lamps themselves are charged or supplied with elec-
tricity, as required, by means of an electric conductor or cable which is carried up
along the rope.
By suitable adjustable deflecting appliances on the car a strong light may also
be thrown on to any object on the earth. For signalling from the balloon, in case
it is employed for military or scientific purposes, I employ by preference revolving
or flash signals in connection with the electric light.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown an example of a captive balloon
constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 1 is a side view of the balloon with car and other attachment; Figure 2
is a plan of the car, and Figure 3 a cross section through same.
The balloon A may be of any ordinary or suitable form and construction, and
from it is suspended a car or frame work B, which for lightness and strength
may be made of steel bands or tubes; this framing is covered on the sides with
glazed calico or other suitable transparent fabric or material. The car or framing B
serves to carry lamps C, C, in this case two in number, within it, for the purpose
of illuminating the transparent covering just named, and on which any desired
advertisement, letters, signs, or signals are displayed; from this car or framing B
I also project jibs or frames D, in this case four in number, which for lightness
and strength may be made of steel, and serve to support the lamps E. The balloon
is held by the cable F, and stayed and held by three or more guy ropes. G, H, H,
are the cables for the ascending and descending electric current, which serves to
light the lamps; I is a girdle round the balloon, and consists of light framing
covered with transparent material or fabric; this girdle is attached to the balloon
netting, and on it are displayed any desired advertisement, letters, signs, or signals.
The lamp C serves mainly to illuminate the framing B from within, and the
lamps E serve mainly to illuminate the girdle I, but also the balloon itself. The

page_text: lamps E should have reflectors O to throw the light upwards as required. In some
cases and for smaller balloons I may use lamps lighted by means of gas conveyed
thereto by a flexible tube, or I may use the "Brin" light, that is, gas and oxygen,
ench being conveyed to the lamps by flexible tube.
The balloon may be surmounted by a flag staff K, which is attached to the valve
piece; flags may also, as shown, be attached to the jibs D.
The car or framing B need not be of the shape shown, but may, for instance, be
cylindrical in plan and with slanting sides. In some cases for very large balloons
it may be formed with an inner basket or car proper for holding an attendant
whose office it would be to change the advertisements or signals as required, or for
holding other persons also.
"
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, and
the mode in which the same may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim,-
First. The combination with a balloon of frame work appliances for the purpose
of displaying advertisement signals, and other announcements by means of lamps
carried thereby, substantially as set forth.
Second. The construction of-the frame work B, D, and I for carrying the said
advertisements and lamps, substantially as shewn on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Constantine Kinnear, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.