US856895A - Aerial vessel. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. L D MERRIGK. AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIOAIION FILED myza. 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q 5 @QQN WITNESSES mw o ATTORNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

L. D. MERRIGK. AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1906. 7 g g gnnm I i I P8 i 14 W/TNESSES a INVENTO/i ATTORNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. L. D. MERRIGK.

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1906.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 5.

"Tia- A'TTOHNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.,

L. D. MERRIGK. I

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIOATION run my 23. woe.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

W/T ESSES INVENTOH l ZycoziesJ-Merzicjb ATTORNEYS LYCORTES D. MERRIOK, or NEW YORK, Y.

AERIAL VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed ay23, 1906. Serial No. 318,335-

In all 'who'm/ may concern.-

Be it known that-I, Lrooa'rns D. MERRICK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhat tan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Im roved Aerial "Vessel, of which the following 1s a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in aerial vessels, and one of the purposes of the invention is to combine in one vessel the aeroplane and balloon systems in such manner that the two. systems will. co-operate and be under the complete control of the operator, and so that the frame of the vessel may be made of exceedingly light material, timber for example, and yet be safe and strong and capable of all the elasticity necessary for a vessel of its character.

A further pur ose of the invention is to construct 'a ske eton frame which bears a striking resemblance to the hull of a vessel,

having a keel and outwardly-extending swelling sides, departing only from such resemblance inthat the construction of the framework at the bow is nearly duplicated at the stern, and the bow is provided with means for supporting the vessel in its flight and the stern is provided with a small aeroplane acting in conjunction with the rudder 'or steering a p'aratus, which latter is so constructedt at when making a sharp turn, or

when flying in a small circle the'vessel will not cant to any a preciable extent but will maintain practical y an even keel.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide sim 1e, effective and stronglyraced padd e wheels so arranged as to equalize the weight and produce a uniform motiouwhen in o eration, since all of said wheels are driven om a single motor having a central location in the keel section of the vessel. f a It is also a purpose 'of the invention to so arrange the said paddle wheels that under all-conditions they will be accessible to all the available air, said paddle wheels being mountedto operate in hoods havin a maximum air-receiying capacity, whic addl'e wheels operate in conjunction with a jacent and rearwardly positioned sustaining devices, the air in the hoods being somewhat under compression fora given length of time.

-A further purpose of the invention is to rovide an arrangement of sustainers and lioods, which serve as so many balloons to assist in raising and sustaining a vessel while the paddle wheels act directly to. effect its propulsion.

It-is also a purpose of the invention to provide a construction of rudder that may be utilized as a brake when necessary.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

' Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecifiew tion, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the entire vessel Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through a portion of the frame and one of the paddle wheels and its hood; Fig. 5 is a section taken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 1s an enlarged horizontal section through the frame of the machine, taken below the sustainers and paddles and practically on the line 6-6 of Flg. 1 Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section throu h a portion of the frame of the vessel at t e stern, showing the main rudder in side elevation and the auxiliary or brake rudder in section; Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the vessel, drawn upon an enlarged scale, the said section being taken practically on the lines .8-8 in Figs. 1 and 3 Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 1 Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken practically on the line 1010 of Fig. 1.; Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal central section throu h a partof an end of the frame, showing t e manner in which the members of the frame are connected; Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section taken practically on the line 1212 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through the weightcarrying block emplo ed in connection with the frame of the machine and located at the bow; Fig. '14 is a diagrammatic view of the frame, illustrating the manner in which the various paddles may be driven from the mo-' -tor employed; and Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the bottom portion of the vessel looking upward, and illustrating the various positions of the lower series of aeroplanes.

Preliminary to a detail description of the construction of the improved air ship, I desire to state generally that the ship is so constructed as to permit the use ofnumerous ling the'vessel. I are distributed in the frame A- of the vessel in I ceases 'Wings of a bird, with this adyantage, the bird has but two wings of a particular description and the air ship has been arranged for a number of paddle wheels B, each having three concaved or scoop-shaped blades or beating surfaces 1), whichpress downward upon the air for about one quarter of a revolution, lifting the air ship, and thenpass' backward one-quarter of a revolution, thereby pulling the vessel forward; then the blades 1) pass under segmental hoods B, to prevent backwindage, for nearly'one-half of a revolution, and finally the blades b emerge from the hood B. and repeat the work of lifting; and propel- The aforesaid paddle wheels such manner as to establish the stability or equilibrium of the vessel, by grouping the paddle wheels in a maximum number at each end portion of the vessel and locating a minivmum number of paddle wheels amidship,

which not only upholds the vessel but by means of the arrangement of the beating .or paddle wheel blades along the outer side of the vessel, stability athwart-ship is obtained,

In the present construction the paddle Wheels are eight in number, three being placed at each side of the upper central portion of the frame A, and one in front and the other at the rear of the said upper central portion. of the frame. 1

In connection with the paddle wheels B and their hoods B I employ sustaining devices C, and each of said devices comprises a more or less diamond-shaped hollow body fully open at the front and at the rear, an upper aeroplane 10 and a lower aero lane '11; but in the construction of the centra sustaining devices designated as C the aeroplanes are omitted. The sustaining devices C receive and temporarily retain the distributed whirling and 'eddying air which the side paddle wheels produce, while the central sustain.- ing devices C receive and temporarily retain the air distributed by the end paddle wheels B. The sustaining devices or sustainersC and C utilize the combined currents of air by holding or. com ressing the air, between. their members an these mixed currents of air into a lifting and sustaining power, performing the same fiinctions with more direct effect than the air or gas bags of the average'air ship. It may be here stated, however, that in addition tothe aforesaid sustainersone or more gas bags or envelov s may be a plied to the upper portion 0 the frame 0 the vessel if deemed-desirable. l

The sustaining devices C and C are ar ranged at definite points in the frame A, as has been stated, and wherever practical they are shaft the next paddle wheel 13, so that they will unfailingly catch and compress the dial, preferably converting whirling currents of air thrcvm backward by the motion of the said wheels and rearrange the air into more or'l'ess straight. and steady currents forfthe. succeeding wheels to grasp and in their'turn throw back into their sustainers. The sustainersand' paddle wheels will be hereinafter described in detail.

The frame A is constructed of" light matethin yet's'trong strips of wood being employed; and in the constructionof the frame the strips overlie one on the other wherever it ,is possible or they; cross each other, the engaging strips beings'ecured together by means of light bolts rirlequivalent fastening means. In general construction the frame may be said to comprise a lower or keel section a, in which the passengers are ac commodated and the operative mechanism is located, and an upper or bodyiseetion a, which is wider than the keel section a, the latter section extending down from the longitudinal central portion of the body section a, together with a bow section a? and a stern section These bow and stern. sections are practically continuations of the central end portions of the body section at the top.

In the detail constr'ucticai of the framing of the vessel and as illustrated, it consists of longitudinal, parallel up er strips 12 and 12 located at each side of tfie center, and upper outer side strips 13 and 13 parallel with the central strips 12 and 12*, which latter strips extend some distance forward or rearward of the side strips 13 and 13 as bestshown in Fig. 14.

Parallel and vertically alineing, longitudinal central strips 14 and 14 are provided below the upper central strips B and 12, being removed a desired distance'therefroin; and in the further construction of the body of the frame, or its upper portion a, lower side strips 15 and,15 are provided, parallel with and beneath the upper side strips 13 and 13 as best shown in Fig. 8. Vertical central strips 16 and 15 are secured in any suitable or approved manner to thelongitudi as also shown in Fig. 8, andthe vertical strips 16 and 16 which are at the central portion of the bodysection a, are carried downward and constitute aportion of the framework of the keel section a, but the vertlcal strips 16 and 16 which are at the forward and aft ends of the frame extend but. a slight distance, any, below the lower horizontal longitudinal members of the frame' The side strips 13 and 15,13 and-15 are connected by ver tical strips-17 an.d,17*-,"as is also best shown in Fig. 8; and at the lower ends of the longer central vertical strips 16 and 16 of the frame, rollers 18 are mounted to turn, whereby the vessel may be readily drawn along a solid surface. Transverse horizontal strips 19 are located at the upper portion of the frame, serv ing to tie together and brace the upper porshown in Fig. 8.

tion of the vertical strips 17 and 17 and the upper horizontal longitudinal strips 13 and 13, and correspondinglower transverse horizontal strips 20 are provided, which serve to tie together and brace the lower portions of the strips 17 and 17*, the lower longitudinal horizontal strips .1-1 and 14 and the central vertical strips 16 and 16% The upper. transverse strips 10 serve to connect the central standards or strips 16 and 16" with the longitudinal central strips 12 and 12, as is also shown in Fig. 8. At the forward and rear ends of the said upper section a of the frame, upper and lower diagonal strips 21 and 21 extend from the forward. and rear uprights l6 ahd 16 at the central portion of the said section a to the forward and rear uprights]? and 17 at the sideportion of the fratue, as is also best shown in Fig. 14 but which is also indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. At the upper portion of the-frame cross bars or strips 22 are provided, extending from the central longitudinal strip 12 to the opposing corresponding strip 12*, meeting the inner end portions ofthe diagonal strips 21 at the said upper portion of the body as is clearly shown in Figs, 2"and 14." Thus it will be observed that the body portion a of the frame is divided into a series-of skeleton cubical sections 1), and these sections are in three series, two outer series and a central series as is shown inFigs. 2 and 14, and the said body is likewise provided at each side of each end portion with atriarigular skeleton section D and at each extreme end with a skeleton rectangular portion D Diagonal br'aces23 extend down from the, outer or side strips 15 and 15" and the lower transverse tie strips 20 to an engagement with and attachment to side stri s 24 and 25, which constitute, in connecti n with the lower portions of the central standards 16 and 16", the structure of the keel section a; and a platform 26 is suitably erected upon cross bars 27, which connect the said lower portions of the standards 16 and 16 as is The forward and rear standards 16 and 16 are likewise connected and braced by cross bars 28 located above the cross bars 27 constituting the sills for the platform 26. The lower cross bars 27 are shown as attached to or connected with the lower'side strips 125, and the upper cross bars 28am shown as connected with the upperside bars orstrips 24 of the said keel section a. I desire it to be understood, however, that I do not confine myself to the, details of construction of the frame as set forthexcept in as much-as the various sections D, D and D? are, necessary,. and that a keel section should beprovided in connection with the body section. I

In the arrangement of the paddle wheels B and their hoods B a paddle wheel and its hood are located in each end skeleton cubical cubical sections D at the side portions of the body of the frame. A paddle wheel and its hood are also located in each central end cubical section D of the structure of the body as is shown in Fig. 2, the rcn'iaining skeleton cubical sections being each provided with a sustamer C, as is also best shown 1n Fig. 2,

but which is also illustrated'in'l ig. 3. The

forward frame section D is supported by braces 29, which extend down to the keel section a, and similar braces 30 are provided for the rear frame section.

I employ a wedge-shaped aeroplane 31 at the bow of the vcssehwhich performs the same functions as the sustaincrs C and C, since it catches and holds the wedge of air beneath it, which air has a tendency to force the bow upward. The aeroplane 3.1 is made of fabric, or thin light metal, or other suitable pliable material, and is stretched over a ridge stri 32, extending from the central portion of the forward upper cross bar 19 to the next inner corresponding cross bar, as is best shown in Fig. 2. The outer edges of the said aeroplane are secured to the bow braces 29. A second aeroplane 33 is located at the stern of the vessel, serving to stand out at such .point but to a lesser degree than does the bow aeroplane 31, the general effect being that of having the stern of the vessel/a trifle lower than the bow, giving the vessel in action a similar position to that of a screw steam ship when pr ,erly loaded, wherein a certain amount of Gihg is obtained for the screw to act on the water, andto that end the stern aeroplane 33. is flat. It maythus be observed that since. the bow points higher than the stem the paddle Wheels B may each takehold of a fresh, unused, unbeaten quantity of air. This rear aeroplane 33 is suitably secured to thecentral strips 12 and 12 and the rearmost and next inner bar 19.

With reference to the detail construction of the paddles Band their immediately asso-, ciate factors, transverse or cross bars 34 are made to extend from side to side of the up )er section a, of the vessel about midway etween the sections D and I), being secured o the upright or standard strips withwhic they engage in any suitable or approved manner; and lon 'itudinalbeams or strips'are tween the longitudinal main strips 13, 13;

15, 15?, 12, '12 and 14 and 14 as is best shown in Fi s. 1, 3 arid- 8. The transverse strips 34 are ocated about centrally between the upper transverse main 'strips l? and the lower main strips 20, as is shown best in Fig. 8. The longitudinal intermediate strips are in sections, namely, a single member 35 intervenes between parallel and spaced members 35 as is best shown in Figs. 1 aud t), the spaced members 35 occurring wherever a sustainer C or C is ,to be located in a section D or D of the body.

The hood B for a paddle wheel B is located in the section designed for it, and consists of end arches 36 and one or more intermediate arches 37, which extend from one transverse intermediate 'bar 34 to the other as is best shown in Fig. 4, and a covering37 preferably of a strong fabric is sec'uredto the said arches, to one of the cross bars 34 and to the members 35 or 35 of the longitudinal intercated at the section in which the mediate bars, whichever member may be 10- addle wheel is to be placed. The hoods are therefore segmental in cross section, and each hood at its forward'bottom portion is provided with-an opening 38 extending practically from end to end as the hood is closed at its ends, through which opening air is freely admitted as the vessel advances. The paddle wheel B, as is best shown in Fig. 4, consists of a triangular hub 39 which is secured upon a shaft 40, and said shaft 40 is made to turn in bearin s 41 properly secured to the in- .termediate si e strips crossing the said sections D and D as is best shown in Fig. 9.

. The blades 1) are three in'number, one of the said blades being provided for each face of the triangular hub 39, and each. blade consists of end members 42, which members extend outward flush wlth one of the faces of the hub 39, being connected by a bow member 43,

' and a bow 44 connects the end members 42 at points 'near their bow members. A body equivalent thereof is secured to the bow portions 43 and 44 and to the side members 42,

and also to the hub 10 in any approved manner, so that the said plates are dished orscoop sba'ped, being practically triangularin cross sectionas is shown clearly in Fig. 4. The entire paddle wheel is strengthened by means of wire ties 46, which pass entirely around the wheel, being twisted around the bow portions of the blades, and the ends of the ties are then suitably connected.

The body portions of the blades 1), of the paddles B, the covering for the hoods B and the sustainers and C, are made of canvas, rubber, silk, or a combination of dili'erent pliable materials, or of verylight metals such as aluminium, since it is necessary that the material employed shall be as light as possi ble consistent with strength.

At the upper and lower central ortions ol" each hodv section D and D in \v iivh a she minor ls located, a longitudinal ridge polo nr strip 47 is firmly secured to adjacent ma n narrower at such points.

sustainer i's-stretched more or less tightly over the upper and lower ridge poles or strips 47, and the twin rne nbers of the auxiliary or 'intermediatfe longitudinal strips on the frame, as is shown particularly in Figs. 1, 3 andS. The sustainers are therefore dia mond-shaped in general cont-our, being fully open at the front and at the back soas to receive the air forced thereto by an adjacent advanced paddle wheel, and to direct the air to the next succeeding paddle wheel.

Each sustainer C is made in two sections 481and 48 of equal size,'and each section is secured in a firm manner to a corresponding member 35" of the said intermediate side strips, of the frame as best' shown in Fig. 8', so that air will fully enter the sustainers through the openings 49 between the frame members 35. i In order that the air may also freely enter the sustainers from the sides of the frame sections in which they are placed, and

from the top and the bottom, their side edges are inwardly tapered from the ridge supports 47 to their point of attachment to the frame members 35' as shown in Figs. 11 and 3, being Beneath each 'sustainer C a substantially fiat horizontal aero plane 50 is secured to the frame, and an u pper aeroplane 51 is likewise prpvided for each sustainer (l, which latter aeroplanes extend over thetop of the frame fromoneside to the other the end portions 52 of the extended transverse aeroplanes are carried down at thesides of the upper sections of; the frame and are secured to Outriggers 53, forming'a portion of the frame as particularly shown in Fig. 8. Thus it will be observedthat all the air, from whatever source it may come, en I tering the section in which the sustainer is located, is directed thereto and utilized thereby.

to the sustainers C, and may or may not have their side portions o en, and the upper aeroplanes are omitted ut lower aeroplanes 54 are provided. The various sustainers C- and C are in the same horizontal plane witheach other and with the paddle wheelsand their hoods; and empty sections D are provided at the central portions of the body a of the frame, which latter sections are more or less covered at the top by the upper aeroplanes 51 as indicated in Fig. 2. These empty sections in the frame occur between the sustainers C and promote the-proper circulation of ai r to and from the sustainers and the paddle wheels. The ridge poles47 for the standards C are secured in suitable bearings $35, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and correspond'ng bearings are provided for the ridge bers of the frame and the fabric bod of a at each side of the body section a. of the All of the paddle wheels B are driven from one'motor 59, and this motor is located on of the keel section a of the frame. :0-

pulley of this motor 59 to a line shaft 62,

the platform 27 at about the central ortion chain belt 60 is shown carried from the driving which is supported in suitable bearings beneath the body portion a of the frame, as is shown in, Figs. 3 and 8, the belt passing over a pulley 61 on the said shaft62, and the said shaft 62'is provided with double grooved pulleys 63, one at each of its ends.- "The grooved section of each pulley 63 is connected by belts 65 with pulleys 65 on the shafts of the forward side paddle wheels as is shown in-Fig. 14, and each shaft 40 of the said paddle wheels is provided with a second pulley 66, and these extra pulleys 66 are connected by belts 66 with pulleys 67 located-onthe shaft 40 of the foremost and centrally located paddle wheel. The other grooved sections of the pulleys 63 on the line shaft 62 are connected by belts 68 with double-grooved pulleys 69 secured on the shafts 40 of the intermediate side paddle wheels as also shown in Fig. 14,- and the other grooved sections of the sald pulleys 69 are connected by belts 70 with-pulleys 71 secured upon the shafts 40 of the rearmost side paddle wheels, and the shaft of each of these paddle wheels is provided with an auxiliary pulley 72. The said auxiliary pulleys 72 are connected by belts 73 with pulleys 74 secured on the shaft of the central rearmost paddle wheel, as is also shown in Fig. 14. But I desire it'to be understood that I do not confine myself to the above described system of driving the paddle wheels, since the line shaft 62 ma be omitted and the driving of said paddlew eels 'ma be effected by coupling them directly wit the drive shaft of the motor.

It is frequently necessary to balance the vessel, since the force of the wind on one side may be much greater than that on the other. To thatend I provide a balancing mechanism, which consists of a shifting pulley E,

shown in detail in Fig. 13, which comprises a sheath or bod 75, having chambers at its ends, which ciambers open at the sides of the frame, and in the up er chamber a friction pulley 76 is mounte to revolve and in the lower chambera corresponding pulley 7-7 is mounted. At the central portion of the body or sheath of the pulley E, an a erture' 78 is produced through which a bai 79 is passed, which bail is attached to a counterbalancing" weight 80; A cable 81 isjattached at one end to one .mcmb'er, the right-hand -member for example, of the forw'ardfdiagonal braces 29, as is shown in Figs. 3. and 6, and

this cable is then. assed over the lower pulle'y 77 in'the blocli or sheath E and thence rearwi'trd; through a guide 82 carried by the left-hand longitudinal brace beam 28 of the keel section If-of the frame. The cable is then continued rearward and is gassed over a drum 83, suitably mounted an I adapted to beyop' erated by hand or otherwise,.an d is then returned forward and again passed through the guide 82 and is carried upward and forward and passed over a guide pulley 84 attached to the upper portion of the lefthand forward 'diagonal brace 29 as is also shown in Fig. 6. From this guide pulley 84 the cable is carried downwar and rearward and is passed over the upper pulley 76 in the block or sheath E and isagain carried upward and forward, but to the right, and is secured at a oint 85 to theright-hand forward terminal brace 29, the last point of attachment 85 being preferably opposite the point of, attachment of the aforesaid guide pulley84. In the o eration of this portion of the regulating mec ianisrn for the vessel, if the drum 83- is turned in one direction the block or sheath E will be carried downward and inward toward the center of the vessel and in direction of one side of the vessel, thus carrying the ends of the counterbalancing weight 80 in direction of, that side. Should the counterbalancing weig t 80 be needed at a point farther from the center of the vessel to produce a'properequilibrium, or at the opposite side of the: vessel to restore it to equilibrium, .it is simply necessary to turn the drum 83 in'an op qsite direction, whereupon the sheath E Wil be carried upward and will be moved in directionof the opposite side of the vessel. i

The steering is' accomplished through the medium of two rudders, a vertical or erpendicular rudder F and a horizontal ru der F, both of which are particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Both rudders are constructed with light frames and a cloth or fabriclhody although li ht metal maybe em loyed as a. body, The per )endicular rud er F is secured to a suitable post 86, which is mounted in pro er bearings at the stern of the vessel,

and tie said perpendicular rudder is provided with angular arms 87 at each side ex-.

tending rearward from the rudder 0st. ;At

the rearwardly-extending pointe orti'ons of the said arms the trunnions 89 oft e horizontal rudder F are fulc'rumed, the said horizontal rudder F having a longitudinal central opening 88 therein, so that the horizontal filVOtflf movement, and the two rudders me e operated by the navigator of the vesse throu h any wellknown means. The object'of t iis construction is to provide a means for moving the horizontal rudder F in a vertical direction to obtain a variable angle with the side faces of the perpendicular rudder F without interfering with the action of said rudder F, rendering, the joint action of the two rudders particularly effective when turning the perpendicular rudder to the right or to the left,

, since the horizontal rudder F may .then be placed at any desired angle to the perpendictermed an additional rudder designated as F but which is in reality a brake rudder.

. to retar denly stop the vessel.

This brake rudderF is located below the platform or bottom 26 of the vessel, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and when not in use is brought'to a horizontal position'beneath the said platform, and when carried vertically downward from the latform, or at any desired an le thereto wdl proportionately serve d the progress of the vessel should it be too .rapid, or should it ,be desirable to sud- This brake rudder F is made of any suitable light material stretched over a proper frame. The frame has trunnions which are mounted usually in blocks 90, extending downward from the lower sills of the vessel as best shown in Fig. 7. Each trunnion is provided with an attached lever 91, terminatin at its outer end in a pin projection 92 and t ese levers 91 are below spaces 91, between the latform or bottom properof the vessel an the lower side sills as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Each'lever 91 is provided with a handle 93, adapted when the brake lever F is in a vertical or operative osition shown in Fig. 7, to extend up throng the said spaces 91 so that the handles may be readily grasped, either one or the other, to lift the brake rudder when de-- sired, or to change its angle with reference to the bottom of the 'vesse When, however, the brake rudder F is in its inactive or upper position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the levers 91 will occupy a vertical position and the brake rudder a horizontal osition. The said brake rudder may be helilin such position as long as desired by means of hooks 94 carried by the frame, which hooks will then engage the pin projections 92, the latter bein in a vertlcal position as shown in Fig. 6. t will be understood that but one of these hooks is necessary to accomplish the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted in the frame, means for driving the paddle wheels, and susvidcd at its extreme forward portion wit.

taining devices between the paddle Wheels, which receive, temporarily hold and rectify the disturbed currents of air and direct them to the following hoods and paddle wheels, as described.

2. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, a series of paddlcwheels mounted in the frame, hoods over the paddle wheels, and sustaining devices which receive the currents of air from the paddlewheels, temporarily retain the air and direct it to other paddle wheels and their hoods, as described.

3. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, paddle wheels mounted to revolve in the frame, stationary hoods for the paddle wheels, and sustaining devices between the hooded paddle wheels, which sustaining devices serve as receivers and conductors of the currents of air delivered to them by the paddle wheels,

as described.

4. In aerial vessels, askeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted in the frame, means for driving the paddle wheels, sustaining devices located between the paddle wheels to receive the air therefrom, which air is directed to the upper portion of the said retainers, and aeroplanes located above and below the said retainers.

5. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted in the frame sub-'- stantially diamond-shaped sustainers located between the paddle wheels, receiving air therefrom and compressing said air, the air from the paddle wheels being directed upward within the sustainers, an aeroplane sta tionarily located beneath each sustainer, and elongated aeroplanes" stationarily located above said sustainers, extending down at their outer sides and spacedtherefrom, as

. described.

6. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted to revolve in said.

frame}, means for revolving said paddle dle Wheels, open at the front and at the rear,

i which sustainers are made in an upper anda lower section, the opposlng ends ofthe sec tions being contracted, spaces intervening between the opposing ends of the sections, and aeroplanes stationarily located above and below thesustainers.

7. In aerial vessels,'a skeletdn frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted to revolve in said frame, substantially diamond-shaped sustaincrs locatrd between the said paddle wheels and receiving the air therefrom and air direct from the atmosphere, which sustainers are open at the ront ml at the .Y'l ar,

aeroplanes locate (1 above and below thc.sus

tainers and at the forward and rear portion,

of the frame, the said framd being also proarched aeroplane and at its extreme rear pm tion with a fiat aeroplane.

" partments, hooded. paddle wheels and susand open at the front and at the rear and pro-v the same tamers in alternate engagement. located witlnn the said compartments, the said sustainers being substantially diamond-shaped vided with means for admitting air at its side portions, means for driving the addle wheels, a forward arched aeroplane at t e upper forward portion of the frame, a flat aeroplane located at the upper rear portion of the frame, triangular aeroplanes located at the forward and rear portions of the said vessel outside of the line of paddle wheels. and sustainers, and flat aeroplanes located one above and the other below each of the sustainers.

9. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, aseriesof vertically alining upper and lower hooded paddle wheels, the hoods having forward and bottom openings only, means for rotating the paddle wheels, and substantially diamond-shaped sustainingdevices between said hooded paddle wheels, which sustaming devices present wedge shaped upper, lower and side surfaces, said sustaining devices being open atthe front and rear and their front and rear edges being tapered in opposite directions from the top to the central portion of thesides and the bottom to points at the sides, all arranged for operation substantially as described.

10. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, a se ries of vertically alining upper and lower hooded paddle wheels, the hoods having forward and bottom openings only, means for rotating the paddle wheels, and substantially diamond-shaped sustaining devices between'sa'id hooded paddle wheels, which sustaining devices present wedge-shaped upper, lower and side'surfaces, said sustaining devices being open at the front and rear and their front and rear edges being tapered in opposite directions from the top to the central portion of the sides and the bottom to the same points at the sides, all arranged for operation substantially as described, the said sustaining devices being constructed in an upper and a lower section having spaces intervening their 0 posing ends, and means for rigidly holding t e sustaining devices in the \said frame.

11. In aerial vessels, an operating medium consisting of a hood closed except at its bot- .tom and forward portions, and a paddle wheel mounted to revolve partially within and partially without the hood, which addle wheel consists of a triangular hub an triangularly-arran ed'scoop shaped blades secured tothe hu 12. In aerial vessels, an operating medium consisting of a hood closed except at its bottom and forward portions and a paddle wheel-mounted to and partially without the hood, comprising a devices, eachcomprising a revolve partially within shaft, a triangular hub upon the shaft, and blades secured to the corners which blades have substantially concave'd under and convexed outer surfaces. as set forth. '13. In aerial vessels, an operating mech anism consisting of a hood closed except at its bottom and forward portions, and a paddle Wheel mounted to revolve partially within and partially without the hood, comprising a shaft, a triangular hubupon the shaft, and blades secured at the corners of the hub, which blades are scoop-shaped, having con caved under and convexed outer surfaces, and triangular external skeleton bracings for the wheel, having attachment to the outer longitudinal portions of the blades of the Wheel.

14. 'Inaerial vessels, opposing opcrating devices, each comprising a hood and a pad tially diamond-shaped and open at the front and rear, as specified.

15. In aerial vessels, opposingoperating hood and a pad dle wheel mounted to turn partially within and partially without the hood, a sustaining device located between the operating devices, and in communication with both, which sustaining device is substantially diamondshaped, is stationary and is open at the front and at the rear, whereby to present upper and lower side exterior surfaces, the front and rear edges being inclined inwardly and downwardly from their upper portions to a central line, and inclined upwardly and inwardly from the bottom to the said. central line, said sustaining device being also provided with side openings, and means for directing the air from the paddle wheel with force against the upper section of the sustaining device.

16. In aerial vessels, a body frame, a bow and a stern projection from the upper portion of said frame, a flat aeroplane carried by the stern projection and a bowed aeroplane car ried by the bow projection, the convex'ed surface of the said forward aeroplane being uppermost, for the purpose described.

17. In aerial vessels, a body frame, a bow and a stern projection from the upper portion of the said frame, a fiat aeroplane carried by the stern projection, and asecond aeroplane carried by letter aero lane is downwardly arched, said how aeroplane being triangular in general contour and widest at the rear, the said bow aero lane also having its front and rear reac ies inclined from its. center inwardly to its-terminal portions, as specified.

18. In aerial vessels, a frame, a .rudd'er post at the rear of said frame, a vertically disol' the hubs,

the bow projection, which posed rudder secured to said post, an auxdi iury horizontal rudder slotted to receive the main rudder and pivotany supporfied thereby, whereby the auxiiiary rudder may turn 1 5 with the main rudder and may be shift-ed to vary lts anguhrnty wlth respect to the mum rudder, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony where-o1 I have signed my name to this specifirmtieu in the presence of two subscribing wrtnesses.

LYGOKTES D. MERRICK. Witnesses:

J Furs. Ac KER, JNO. M Rrr'rrm.

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