US224510A - Vessel and machinery for aerial navigation - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Shee-tl.

- A. LhBLAGKMAN' 1 Vessel and Machinery for AerialvNayigation.

No. 224,510. Patented Fem-5,117, 1880.-

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. L. BLAC KMAN.

Vessel and Machinery for Aerial Navigation.

NO'. 224,510; Patented Feb. 17, I880.

N.PE|'ERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C

A. L/BLACKMAN. Vessel aQn'd"MachineryforAerial Navigation. No. 224,510. Patented Feb. 17, 1880.

4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

, v ASheefls-Sheet; 4. A. L. BLAO-KMAN. Vessel and Machinery'for Aeria1"Navigation.

No. 224,510. Patented Feb. 17, I880.

' .fnven-Zor:

NFETERS, PNOWLLITNOGRAPH'ERI WASHINGTON. D 0.

UNITED, STATES- PATENT OFFICE. e

ALBERT BLAOKMAROF NASHVILLE, 'rmvnnssnn VESSEL AND (MACHINERY FOR AERIAL N'AV|GAT|ON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 224,510, dated February 17, 1880.

Application filed 'J anuary 6, 1880. r v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. BLAOKMAN, of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vessels and Machinery for Propelling and Handling Vessels for Aerial Navigation; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will en able others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the ship, showing the propelling-wheel aft, the steering-screw forward, engine, and smokepipe passing out at the driving-screw, ridge A, chord O, stanchions F, chords D and E,'and keelson H. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same, showing the side screws and cylindrical shafts M, M, and-O. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the ship, showing the netting and gallery and cabin-light and ventilating-Windows. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the vessel, showing the location of the engine, propelling machinery, cylindrical shafts, and side screws. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the vessel, showing the gas-condensers, a changed position of the side screws. Fig. 6 is a broken horizontal section, showing, in detail, the driving, steering, and actuating machinery. Fig. 7 is abroken vertical section of i the same, showing the mannerof securing the machinery to the deck of the vessels hull.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in vessels for aerial navigation and it consists in a frame-work constructed of wires, rods, thin metal tubing, and cordage, or other suitable material, substantially secured at its intersections in any manner to obtain strength and lightness, the wholecovered and incased with silk, linen, thin metal, or other suitable material secured to the frame-work, presenting, preferably, the form of. the grayling or salmon fishes.

The-upper part or gas-field of the vessel is made air and gas tight by paint, varnish, or

any compound in use, and divided into a number of compartments, subdivided by partitions into chambers of suitable form and dimenwater-tanks, and

sions, also made air and gas tight, each chamber being provided with valves,stop-cocks, and suitable connectingpipes 'to adinit of the egress andingress of gas; The lower part or hullof the vessel is subdivided into one or more decks, comprising the cabin, cut into compartments, the machinery, engine and store rooms, gas-condensing compartments, &c., all substantiallystayed by braces, cross-braces, supports, and suspenders ofv metal, or any other light material that will give strength without materially impairing its biioyancy; also provided with revolving and rotating screwwheels geared to revolving shafts on its sides, a propelling-screw aft, and a revolving steering-screw forward, and the machinery forpropelling and handling the vessel, together with 'a guard and walk on the outside, gas-condensers, and automaticvalves.

My invention also relates to an improvement in the construction and combination of machinery for'propelling and managing the vessel, which consists in combined reciprocating and revolving shafts and belt-sheaths, provided withpulley-wheels, idlers, knotted gear for endless chain, yokes and levers, a

com pound steering-gear, and a cone-pulley connected through a driving-pulley by belting or shafting to the motive engine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Y

The dome-ridge A, forming an ellipsoidal curve over from the stem to the stern of the vessel, preferably of tubing, secured at the ends in metal collars a a, fixed at the nodes, is the main upper shaping-support of the ves sel. At a proper distance down from the top, and running fore and aft, the ends secured in the ellipsoidal ridge A, is a girder or chord, 1, preferably of tubing, which, in addition to staying the dome-ridge, serves as a support and stay for the gas-bags, as hereinafter shown.

At the foot of the ellipsoidal ridge A, running parallel'with girder or chord (his a second girder or chord, D, preferably of tubing, se-

cured at the ends in the metal collars wot at the stem and stern at the nodes. The chord D is the base of the gas-field and the main girder of the hulls deck Passing beneath the vessels bull in an ,ellipsoidal curve from the metal collars a, to a at the stem and stern at the nodes, to which it is by the ends secured, isa keelson, H, preferably of tubing, which gives form and strength to the vessels keel. To the keelson, at a proper distance from the bottom and running parallel with chord D, is another girder or chord, E, prefe ably of tubing, secured by the ends to the keelson H, to which it imparts stiffness and strength.

Secured in a substantial manner to and depending from the ellipsoidal ridge A at proper intervals from the stem to the stern of the vessel are a series of stanchions, F F F, &c., preferably of tubing, which, passing down through girders or chords 0, D, and E, to which they are made secure, take foot in and are firmly secured to the keelson H, thus uniting, strengthening, and supporting firmly in position the perpendicular frame-work of the vessel.

At right angles to the dome-ridge A, on a plane with girder or chord D, both ends of each secured in the metal collars a a at the nodes in the stem and stern of the vessel, are two corresponding ellipsoidally-curved gunwales, I 1, preferably of tubing, which give breadth to the vessel. ()n the same plane, running within and parallel to the gunwales I I, are two other ellipsoidally-curved what may be called thwarts, J J, secured at the ends to the girder or chord D. Intersecting and secured to the girder D, thwarts J J, and gunwales I l, at proper intervals from stem to stern, are a series of cross-girders, G G G, &c., which maintain the vessels beam, sustain the ceiling of the vessels hull, and support from below the base of the gas-bags.

Secured by the ends to and on the same plane with girder or chord E, and running parallel with the thwarts J J, is a second ellipsoidal frame, K K, supported from above by stays and suspender-braces c c c c, &c. Secured by the ends at proper intervals, fore and aft, to the ellipsoidal frame K K, and passing through girder or chord E,to which they are also made fast, are a series of cross-girders, b b I) I), 850., which form the support for the floor of the lower deck.

The metal collars a a, fixed in the stem and stern of the vessel, in addition to being the nodes in which the main frame of the vessel has footings, form the journal-bearinga forthe revolving shaft '1, which carries the powerful propelling-screw I? aft, and a the journal-bearing of the revolving cylinder 0, to which is attached the rotating and revolving steeringscrew forward.

Collars d. d, fixed securely to the gunwales I I, form the journal-bearin gs for the revolving cylinders M M, to which are secured the elegatif g, propelling, and depressing side screws,

The gas-bags B, B, B and B filling the entire area on both sides of the stanchions F F, 850., between the vessels deekI and the domeridge A, are constructed of silk, linen, thin metal,or other suitable materiahmade air and gas tight by paint or any other proper compound in use, and preferably divided into grand compartments, as shown by B B and B B by partitions of suitablematerial, made also air and gas tight; and as a means of protection against accident, and to provide against the loss of gas by tearing, leakage, &c., each compartment is again subdivided into chambers c f, of proper dimensions each, by preferably vertical partitions g, of any suitable material, made air and gas tight, and each chamber is, by stopcock or valve, connected, through eduet and induct tubes h h, with the gas-condensers X X, where the gas may be stored, to reduce the supply in the gas-bags, or from whence they may be refilled. Gasbags B B and B B are securely lashed at the top to the dome-ridge A, the girder or chord G, and at the bottom to the gunwale I on one side and the gunwale I on the other, and to the thwarts J J the entire length of the vessel, and may also be lashed to the stanchions F F, &c., as well as the girder or chords D, and the vessel overlaid, stayed, and supported by a substantial netting, after the improved mode of netting on balloons.

N N are two screws of very large propulsive power, constructed of strong" light framework, covered with any material that combines great strength with lightness, placed, respectively, on the light and left of the aerostat or vessel. In describing one of these wheels or screws and its connections, I describe as well the two side wheels or screws as the steeringscrew forward. The hub of the screw terminates in a shaft, L, on which arejournals k, which workinboxingsd i, fixed on or in the barrels ofthe cylinder-shafts M, M, and O. Shoulders or collars j j on the shafts L secure the screwsin position and give them bearings, upon which they revolve. Secured to the shafts L, within the cylinder, are vaults or pulley-wheels at, through which from a general driving or cone pulley or belt-wheel, Q, by means of an endless belt, R R, is conveyed a rapid rotary motion to the screw, without regard to the position the screw may be placed, by rotating the cylinder on its axis.

In constructing my vessel, when I so desire it, I permit the cross-girders G Gr, 850., to so extend beyond the sides of the vessel that I may be enabled to construct thereon a light gallery or corridor on the sides of the Vessel, reached from the doors fore and aft by steps, as seen in the drawings.

M, M, and O are hollow sleeves, tubes, or cylinder-shafts of any required diameter, in which side screws, N N, and the steeringscrew are secured. These shafts have journalbearings in the collars d d and the node-collar a, as well as in the shaft-hangers n n a, secured to the frame-work above. On the inner end of these shafts or tubes is firmly secured a corrugated rack, 0 0 0, on which the endlesschain belt p p 19 works, and by which, through the wheel V, beveled gearing w, proy'ided with a friction-cluteh, w, and the pulleys y y y, the cylinders, tubes, or shafts are revolved; also with a double-flanged muff or collar, 1 r r,

straddled by a lever, q q q, used in moving-the shaft or tube laterally when it becomes necessary to slacken or tighten the belting, or in starting or stopping the screws to'them respectively attached. Two'i'dlers, s s, are fixed. at the entrance of these shafts, between which, the belting It R R passes while conveying motion from the drum or cone-pulley-Q to the side screws, N N, and the steering-screw O.

The revolving shaft T, which carries the propelling-screw P, has journal-bearings in the collar (1. in hangers n n, and'receives its motion on a pulley, 2, through an endless belt',z,

from a pulley, l, on the driving-shaft, onwhich is also a loose pulley, to which'the belt may be transferred when it is desired to stop the propelling-wheel.

NV is the motive engine. surrounded by fireproof casings, carrying a shaft or the workingbelt 1., which conveys the power from the engine to pulley 3 on the driving-shaft. 4, journaled in hangers a n Z is an endless driving belt, conveying power and motion to the perpendicular conepulley or drum Q,which carries the endless belts RR 1%, through the cylinders or tubes M,

M and 0 around the vaults m m m "ivin motion to the side screws, N N, and the steering-screw O. p

The deck of the 'vessels hull, the ceiling of the cabin, the'part-itions, and floorings may be of any light substantial'material, though I prefer to underlay the floors with asubstantial netting. In the hold,.fore and aft of the engine-room, I 'provide fuel-bunkers, water tanks at u, and gascond'ensers X X. These latter are connected with'the gas-bags above the cabin-deck by suitableinduct and educt pipes h It.

In sailing, operating, andhandling, my vessel having been provided with the necessary ground tackle and grappling-s before'starting, gas sufficient to give buoyancy to-the vessel and cargo, allowing ample space for expansion" when inthe higher altitudes, is admitted'into the gas-bags, equally distributed through the .various chambers, and a reserve quantity stored in the gas-condensers. The side screws and steering-screw wheels are turned so as to impact the air toward the earth and give an. upward tendency to the vessel. The machinery having been arranged as pointed out, the engine is started, conveying to thescrews a rapid rotating motion, which carries the vessel upward and forward, and when in the upper air it is obedient to the steerin g-screw to guide and the propelling-screw to drive it forward.

When desiring to return again to earth, by turning the wheel V the side screws and steer-' ing-screw are turned so as to impact the air above, thus carrying the vessel downward to the earth. These screwsarealso used for propelling purposes.

Having now fullydescribed my invention, what I esteem as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is,

.1.A vessel for aerial navigation divided into ahull and algas-field, constructed on one 'generalframe-work, of tubing orother light material inclosedwith silk,linen, thin metal, or other equally light substantial substance, resemblinglin form the grayling or the salmon fishes, having the gas-field divided into. compartments and subdivided into chambers, the

hull divided into rooms, the whole arranged. I

3. Avessel for aerial navigation constructed as shown, having the propelling, raising, and

loweringscrews on the sides, a steering-screw forward and driving-screw aft, provided with internal propelling power and machinery, gascondensers, and a 'iartments for the accommodation of passengers and freights, substantially as shown, and for the purposes described.

4. Rotating screws having shafts provided with journals, collars, and vaults o'r pulleys having bearings in and carried by revolving cylindricalshafts with a lateral movement, for propelling, raising, and lowering, as well as steering, vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

5. Rotating screws having shafts provided with journals and collarbearings, sustained by and operating iii-cylindrical revolving shafts, and carried by endless belts, for propelling, raisin g, and lowering, as well as steerin g,'vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

6'. Combined revolvingFcylindrical shafts and belt-sheaths which revolveon their; own axes, as well as having a lateral movement to loosen. or tighten the machinery-belts, provided with racks 0, idlers s s, a double-flanged muff or collar, 1", a lever, q, for-conveying the lateral movement to the shafts, and journalboxin gs it supported in journal-bearings and hangers, for carrying and revolving screws for raising, lowering, and propelling, as well as steering, vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

7; Rotating screw secured to a shaft'extending under the gas-field to the central. ma-

chinery, having hearings in the node at the stern of the vessel, and secured to chord D, substantially as shown and described.

8. Rotating screw secured to a shaft ex-' tending under the gas-field to the central machinery, having bearings in the node at the stern of the vessel, and secured to chord D, provided with and operated by endless belts, propelling vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described. v v

9. A verticalcone-pulley receiving a driving-belt froma driving-shaft connected with a motive engine and carrying three endless belt-s, one to the right and one to the left of the vessel and one to the bow, for driving the side screws and the forward steering-screw, substantially as shown and described.

10. In combination, the cone-pulley Q, endless belts R R R, idlers s s, cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, vaults m, screw-wheels N, N, and 0, working in journal -bearings z i, for propelling, lowering, raising, and steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

11. In combination, driving shaft and pulley-driving belt, with cone-pulley Q, endless belts R R R, cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, idlers s s, vaults m, screws N, N, and O, rotating on journals j j in boxings t' 'i, for propellin g, lowering, raising, and steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

12. In combination, propelling-engine W, endless belt, driving-shaft and pulleys, driving-belts Z and z, with pulley 2 on shaft '1, and the driving-screw for propelling vessels for aerial navigation, and with cone-pulley Q, endless belts R R, passing through revolving cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, vaults m, and screws N, N, and O, for raising, lowering, and steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

13. In combination, the propelling-engine V, endless belt, driving-shaft, pulley, powerbelt Z, with cone-pulley Q, endless belts R R R, laterallyanoving and revolving cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, pulleys or vaults m, and rotating screws N, N, and 0, for raising, lowering, and steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

14. In combination, propelling-engine W, endless belt Z, pulley 4 on driving-shaft 3, endless belt 2', pulley-wheel z, revolving shaft '1, hangers n n, journal-bearings a, and driving-screw P, for propelling vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

15. Corrugated pulley 0 on the revolving cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, in combination with endlesschain belts p, corrugated pulleys, friction-clutch :17, wheel V, and bevelgear 10, for revolving simultaneously the cylindrical shafts M M, changing the direction of screws N N to positions for raising, lowering, or propelling the vessel, and the steeringscrew 0, for steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

16. Corrugated pulley wheels 0, wheel V, and friction-clutch m, in combination with endless-chain belts p, corrugated pulleys 0, cylindrical shafts M, M, and 0, screws N, N, and O, for handling vessels for aerial navigation. substantially as shown and described.

17. Levers q and double-flanged muffs or collars r, in combination with and for the purpose of conveying a lateral motion to cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, for throwing in and out of gear the endless belts R R R in starting, stopping, slackening, and tightening the belts that convey motion to screws N, N, and 0, used in raising, lowering, propelling, and steering vessels for aerial navigation, substantially as shown and described.

18. In combination, the cone-pulley Q, endless belts R R R, idlers s s, cylindrical shafts M, M, and O, vaults m, collars 1, levers q, racks 0, chain-belt p, corrugated pulleys, friction-clutch 00, wheel V, and bevel-gear 10, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own improvements Ialfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. BLAUKMAN.

\Vitnesses THOMAS J. BURKE, D. H. GLASSIE.

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