US720838A - Aerial device. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 17. 1903. 0. A. NEEDHAM. AERIAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 720,838; I PATENTED FEB.1'7, 1908.

G. NEEDHAM.

AERIAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27 1902.

R0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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Fries.

{PATENT I CHARLES A. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. I

AERIAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nol 720,838, dated February 17, 1903.

Application filed May 27, 1902.

boat fitted to travel along the said way or track.

A further, object is to provide a device of the above character in which the elevated structure comprises a straight track, a zigzag track, and turn-tables at the opposite ends of the structure for shifting the ho'atfrom one track to the other track.

A still further object is to provide certain improvements in the construction, form, and arrangement of the several parts, whe reby the sails of the boat may be manipulated to cause thewind to propel the same along the elevated structure, the boat being fitted to travel either in an upright position or in an scale.

inclined position, according to the direction of the wind and the strength of the same.

' A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents my improved aerial device in side elevation, a portion only of the elevated structure being shown. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the device on a reduced Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the elevated Way or track, the boat being sho'wnjn endfelevation in itsverti'cal position Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the boat in its tilted position. Fig. 5 is an, enlarged side viewof the bpat and a part of modified form of ievated structure, aportion of the track DB1, ng broken awayitol show the arrangement of the antifrictionm ollers upon which the boat rests. Fig. ii is .a detail vertical transverse sectionshowing the b'oat in full lines in itsverticalposition and in dotted lines in its tilted positions, and Fig. 7

is a detail view of a modified form of-way or track.

The elevated structure which I have shown herein comprises the following parts: A

Serial No. 109,149- (Nomodel-l I straight way or track 1 audit zigzag way or track 2 are provided, which ways or tracks are supported at the desired distance from the ground by posts or pillars 3, arranged at suit-' able intervals. The opposite ends of the tracks 1 and 2 are brought in close proximture I provide turn-tables 4 and 5, having tracks 6 and 7, which may" be rocked for 1 or the track 2, as may be desired.

In the form shown in Figs, 1 to 4, inclusive, the boat is denoted by 8, and it is provided with a mast'9 and suitable and 11.

The boat is fitted to travel. along the elevated structure by the following arrangement: Each side of the'boat is provided with a plurality of pairsof upper and lower rollers 12 and 13, spaced 2. short distance apart in position to engage the upper or lower sides of the rails of the track. In the present instance I have shown the boat as provided withtwo sets of. upper and lower rollers cal position, the upper traction-rollers on both sides of the boat rest upon the rails of the track. When the'hoat is tilted by the pressure of the wind, the upper rollers along one side of the boat are caused to engage one of the rails of the track and the lower rollers along the other side of the boatare caused to engage the other rail of the track.

In the formshown in Figs. 5 and 6 I have gagement with the track, the balls 14 being fit! d te have a limited rolling movement in raceway's 15 in the rails of the track. In this form the boat is provided with a depending portion 18,: the lower end of which is provided stoprails 18 or 19 for limiting the tilting movements of the boat.

By the arrangement of the straight and zigzag tracks the boa is enabled when there is wind to he propellhdalong the tracks by manipulating the sheets leading to the difierent sails.

boat can uot'be propelled back and forth along the .-straight track, it will permit the boat to be propelled along the straight track in one ity to each other, and at each end of the struo-' propelling-sailslO- w'i th an antifrietion-roller l7, fitted .to engage If the wind is in such a direction that the bringing them into alinement with the track When the boat is traveling along in a vertishown the boat as having a ball-bearing endirection and then propelled along the zigzag track after it has been shifted onto the same by one of the turn-tables. v

It so desired, the tracks may be made undulating, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to cause the boat to rise and fall as it is forced along the track by the pressure of the wind.

It is evident that numerous changes might be resorted to in the construction, form, and

structure having a straight track, a zigzag track and a sail-boat fitted to travel along the same.

2. An aerial device comprising an elevated structure having a straight track, a zigzag track, a sail-boat fitted to travel along the same and turn-tables for bringing the boat into communication with one or the other of thetracks;

3. An aerial device comprising an elevated way or track and a sail-boat fitted to travel along the same, the said sail-boat having a tilting movement on the way or track and means for positively limiting the tilting movement of the said boat.

4. An aerial device comprising an elevated Way or track, a sail-boat fitted to travel along the same and an antifric'tion connection between the boat and track comprising a set of upper and lower rollers on each. side-of the boat in position to engage the top or bottom sides of the rails of the track. v

5. An aerial device comprising an elevated way or track, a sailboat fitted to travel along the same and an antifriction connection between the boat and'track comprising a plurality of sets of upper and lower rollers on each side of the boatin top or bottom sides of the rails of the track.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of May, 1902.

CHARLES A. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, HENRY THIEME.

position to engage the

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