27,805. Connolly, B. Dec. 17. Aerial machines with or without aerostats; aeroplanes; launching; shock of landing, deadening; propelling; steering. - The aerial machine is raised by reciprocating hollow cones or wings, and is driven forward by similar cones arranged horizontally or by screw propellers ; or an aerostat may be provided to raise the machine partly. The body A of the machine is boat-shaped, and is provided with spring buffers 2. The springs 3 may be compressed by a cord 6 attached to a lever 4, which is released to allow the springs to lift the machine at starting. The cones are secured to shafts 9 which are reciprocated in guides 38, Fig. 5, by cranks 8 at the ends of cross shafts 7. The shafts 7 are rotated through bevelgearing from the motor shaft 16, and friction clutches 10 are placed on the shafts so that the power transmitted to the reciprocating cones may be varied. The clutches are controlled by jointed rods 11, Fig. 3, connected together by an adjustable rod 18, which is formed with a rack 20 engaged by a pinion 21 on a control shaft 22. When the shaft 22 is turned, the clutch members at one side of the machine are pressed more tightly together, while the clutches at the other side are slightly released. The pinions 21, Fig. 4, can slide on a feather on the shaft 22, and are retained in operative contact with the rod 18 by a yoke 25. The cones are formed of a number of ribs 27, Fig. 5, secured at their upper ends to a cap 26 attached to the rod 9, and are connected at their lower ends by rods 29 to a collar 30 on the rod 9. Intermediate stays 29<a> may also be used. The cones are divided by a ring 28 into two parts, and the upper part is covered with fabric, while the lower part is provided with hinged vanes 31 which open inwardly on the upward motion of the cone. A ring 33, secured by I-bolts 34 to the ribs 27, limits the amount of opening of the vanes 31. The rods 9 of the cones are guided by collars 40 on a tube 39, which is fixed to the car and passes through an opening in the cone The upper ends of the tubes are braced together by rods 43, Fig. 2, and stays 44. The screw propellers 51, Fig. 1, are driven from the motor shaft 16 through bevel-gearing, and a clutch 55 is provided to disconnect the propeller shafts. A rudder 46, Fig. 2, operated by a hand-wheel 50, is provided at the rear, and a similar rudder may be placed at the front, the two being operated in unison. Two or more horizontally reciprocating cones may be provided at the front of the car for propelling and steering. A blower driven by the motor 13 may be used to drive a blast of air under the cones, and the entire blast may be diverted to one side in case the machine tilts, so that the cones on that side work in a denser medium and restore equilibrium to the machine.