US1949888A - Means for assisting in the mooring of zeppelins and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1934. N. STATHAM MEANS FOR ASSISTINQ: IN THE 'IOORING OF ZEPPELINS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV; 27, 1931 M ATTORNEY I Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BIEANS FOR ASSISTING IN THE MOORING OF ZEIPELINS AND THE LIKE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to methods and apparatus for assisting in the securing or mooring of lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like and aims to 6 devise means of the general character specified which are simple in construction, which may be easily and conveniently fabricated and assembled, and which are highly convenient and successful in use, the methods being characterized by their ease and convenience in practice, their simplicity and accuracy, and their uniform success when used by moderately skilled persons. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, in part, be pointed out in detail 16 hereinafter and will, in part, be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

In the accompanying specification I have described, and in the annexed drawing more or less diagrammatically exemplified, several illustrative embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof 26 herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, nor is the apparatus necessarily restricted to its use with the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods, nor are such illustrative embodiments of the methods necessarily restricted to their use with the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus.

Referring to the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention, and with particular reference to the drawing illustrating same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention as used in connection with a zeppelin or blimp which makes use of the same;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus taken at right angles to the side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a por- 4 tion of said apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of a portion of the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of one form of grappling means which may successfully be used with the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention.

Before describing in detail the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention, it may be desirable briefiy to refer to the prior art in the field to which the present invention belongs. Heretofore, it has been customary, in assisting in the securing or mooring of lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like,

to suspend from such an air-ship a rope carrying an anchor or other suitable weight. Enough rope would be let out from the air-ship to permit the anchor or other weight to drag upon or near the ground, where it would be seized by the members of a large crew and then the airship would be led to the hanger or other place where it is to be moored.

This arrangement, which works passably enough when it is intended to secure or moor the air-ship to a place near to the ground, will, in the first place, not be suitable where it is necessary to restrict greatly the area within which the air-ship must be secured, as in cities, 76 or even still more, where it is desired to secure or moor such an air-ship to the tower or other portion of a high city building, such as a modern skyscraper. Here, it has been customary to permit the rope carrying a hook, anchor 80 or other weight to be suspended from the airship and to direct the flight of the air-ship towards the skyscraper or other suitable structure where are located one or more persons with hooks or other means for seizing the rope. Here, due 86 to the variety of air current resulting from the chasm-like streets, it has been found very difficult to direct the air-ship close enough to the tower of the skyscraper or the like to permit the operators there to seize the rope carrying the 90 hook, anchor or other weight. Often, many timeconsuming and otherwise expensive efforts must be made and sometimes none of these efforts, however troublesome and expensive, are successful.

I have discovered a new method and correspondingly new means for easily effecting the securing or mooring of such an air-ship. For this purpose, the air-ship, as it approaches the tower of the skyscraper to which it is desired to secure or moor it, is directed either against or with the wind so as to avoid, as far as possible, those side currents which would make its control very difficult. Carried by the skyscraper are a plurality of angularly disposed arms which are preferably rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane. This permits the plane in which the angularly disposed arms are located to be rotatable into a position substantially at right angles to the line or direction to which the air-ship is approaching the tower. It may here be stated that such an angle should be chosen for the arms as will facilitate the sliding of the light lead line afterwards referred to easily on one arm or the other towards the junction or intersection of the arms where the light lead line may be seized or grappled in the manner afterwards described in detail.

As the air-ship approaches the target, say, within three, four or five hundred feet, the light lead line carrying a suitable weight is shot from the air-ship. Many methods may be used for doing this, either a pistol gun or some other suitable means, and either spring means or pneumatic means or any other suitable means may be used for projecting the light lead line. It may here be stated that the line is so aimed as to lie within the angle between the adjusted angularly disposed arms referred to.

The result of this operation is that the line, carrying the weight on its outer end, and being assumed to be sufliciently long to have its weighted end pass beyond the angularly disposed arms, but within the angle defined by such arms, falls on to one arm or the other and thus, due to the angular position of such arms, slides to a point adjacent the intersection of said arms. Here, let us assume that there is an opening or other suitable means through which a grappling hook may be passed. The grappling hook should preferably be so made as to include a plurality of hook members which are spring-expansible, or otherwise suitably arranged, so as to receive readily between them the light lead line which may now be seized by the operator and drawn in. The light lead line, of course, is attached at the end which is on the air-ship to a heavy mooring or securing line, which is quickly drawn into the target and the air-ship thus securely fastened to the tower, a mechanically operate winch being used for this purpose.

This completes the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the methods of the present invention. It will be noted that the method is easy and convenient to practice, is exceedingly simple, quite accurate, and lends itself to uniform and immediate success in securing or mooring lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like. The usual hit-and-miss methods employed in the past are obviated and a tremendous saving in time, and thus in cost, is readily effected.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, and assuming, for example, that the air-ship is to be attached to the tower of a modern skyscraper, such, for example, as in New York, to the tower of the Empire State Building, 10 indicates the tower of the building, having the cupola 11 embodying the girders 12 and 13 which carry the target 14 comprising the apparatus of the present invention. While various types of apparatus may be employed which are satisfactory for the purposes of the present invention, I prefer to use an apparatus of the general character shown in the drawing and comprising, for example, a collar or thimble 15, which has the flanges 16 and 17, defining between them the space 18, in which rotates a ring or annulus 19, which carries the arms 20 and 21, which are angularly disposed with relation to each other.

The ring or annulus 15 may be fixedly secured on the flange portion 17 within the flanged portions 22 and 23 of the girders 12 and 13. The ring or annulus 19 may be rotatably located within the channel space 18 of the ring or annulus 15. While not here shown, I may provide suitable gear for rotating the arms 20 and 21. It may here further be stated that the arms 20 and 21 may be disposed at substantially a right angle, the one to the other, or any other suitable angle which will make it certain that the light lead line shot from the air-ship towards the target 14 will slide quickly down arm 20 or arm 21, as the case may be, on to the annulus 15 in position to be seized by any suitable grappling means which may be used.

At 24 in Fig. 6 of the drawing, are illustrated grappling means which may, for example, comprise the spring hooks 25 and 26, having the inner hooked ends 27 and 28, and which includes the handle or supporting member 29 and the lower manipulating portion 30. The apparatus referred to may, if desired, be present within the opening 31 of the annulus 15, in which case, the inner hook portions 27 and 28 of the hook members 25 and 26, respectively, and such hook members themselves will be present above the upper surface of the annulus 15, between the angle defined between the arms 20 and 21, such hook members 25 and 26 being made of spring metal and being ordinarily distended, the one from the other, and being disposed, with respect to each other, at approximately an angle of about 90.

The air-ship, here generally designated by reference character 32, may comprise a zeppelin, blimp, balloon or the like and is here shown as a zeppelin or blimp having the gas bag 33, the rudder 34 and the carriage 35, which may contain the motors, accommodations for passengers, and the like. Within the carriage 35 is a light lead line, generally designated by reference character 36, which carries at its free end the weight 37 and at its inner end may be secured to a heavier mooring or securing line 38. The airship also contains any suitable means, such as a gun, revolver or the like, which may be operated either by spring or other suitable mechanical means, or by pneumatic pressure, for firing the light lead line 36, carrying the weight 37, between the arms 20 and 21 of the target 14.

This completes the description of the construction of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Its operation will, it is believed, be reasonably clear from the foregoing description, but may be briefly summarized as follows: As he approaches the mooring point, the navigator of the air-ship 32 manipulates the same so that it will move either directly into the wind, or with the wind, towards the target 14. The operator having charge of the target 14 rotates the arms 20 and 21 so that the plane in which they lie will be substantially perpendicular or normal to the direction to which the air-ship is approaching the target.

The person on the air-ship having charge of the light lead line 36 and the heavier mooring line 38, together with the projecting means, which will hold the light lead line 36 carrying the weight 37, now takes careful aim at the target 14 so as to permit the line 36 carrying the weight 3'7 at its forward end, to pass between the arms 20 and 21. The light lead line 36 will fall, therefore, on either the arm 20 or the arm 21. These arms being so angularly disposed with respect to each other as to cause the light lead line 36 quickly to slide towards the annulus 15, the rope 36 will pass between the hook members 25 and 26. Thereupon, the operator may pull the grappling member down by means of the manipulating poriSU tion 30 attached to the supporting portion 29, and thus seize hold of the light lead line 36.

Said line carrying at its end nearer the airship the heavier mooring or securing rope 38, the continued hauling in of the light lead line 36 will soon bring the heavier mooring or securing line 38 within reach. The line 38 may be hauled in by a mechanically operated winch 39. The air-ship may thereafter be moored or secured by the suitable manipulation of the heavier line 38 and the task is completed. Thereafter, by suitable means, such as rope ladders and the like, passengers, mail, baggage and freight may be discharged from the air-ship 32 in a most convenient and expeditious manner.

This completes the description of the operation and use of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. It will be noted that the air-ship may thus be readily and conveniently moored or secured with comparative ease. The apparatus for doing this will be found to be altogether simple in construction, easy and convenient to fabricate and assemble, and highly convenient and successful in use. By its use, many economies may be affected,

,which should greatly increase the use of such air-ships for the transportation and delivery of passengers, baggage, freight and mail in the very heart of large cities, where hitherto their use for this purpose has been inconvenient and unsuccessful.

Other superiorities and advantages of the apparatus of the present invention will readily occur to persons skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. It may here be stated that the arms 20 and 21 may be so arranged as to be permitted to be brought into close position when not in use, that is, these arms may be moved into close vertical position by any suitable gearing or other moving mechanism when not in use, rather than kept spread apart at an angle of about 90 degrees, as when required for mooring the lighter-than-air airship.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, ballons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with said target for directing a. line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means passing into said opening for grappling said line.

2. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target, means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means passing into said opening for grappling said line.

3. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, means associated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality of spring-expansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grappling said line.

4. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target, means associated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality of spring-expansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grappling said line.

5. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality of spring-expansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grappling said line.

6. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularly lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target, means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality of springexpansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grappling said line.

NOEL STATHAM.

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