Patents for Inventions. Abridgements of Specifications Relating to Aeronautics. A. D. 1815-1866

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 Excerpt: ...whole engine is enveloped in varnished silk, and the condensed steam runs into a reservoir, whence it is pumped up into the boiler by a feed pump. To the end of the piston of an ordinary steam cylinder two levers are pin jointed; these levers, in conjunction with links and a cross piece, actuate rods that belong to the wings. The wings are under the governance of the aeronaut by means of cords. The seat of the aeronaut is suspended from the cylinder. The whole of the flying engine, except the wings, seat, and oil reservoir, is enveloped with oiled silk stretched out in a wide flat form; the steam is confined in this casing. An interior envelope of oiled silk surrounds the boiler and steam cylinder, and fits closely to the before-mentioned envelope at top; it extends to the bottom of the boiler and cylinder, and is there left open. The apparatus is guided by shifting the relative positions of the centre of gravity and centre of pressure of the wings. Elastic legs break the fall on alighting. Modifications of the apparatus and different details of construction may be adopted, provided the principles above set forth are adhered to. The engine may also be adapted to carry several passengers. Printed, it. d. Drawings. A.D. I860, May 3.--N 1114. HENRY, Michael (a communication from Louis Coignard).-- Improvements in the mode of and apparatus for propelling, turning, and changing the direction of ships, balloons, and other bodies. Propulsion is effected by driving a fluid into a tube or channel connected to the body to be propelled. In its exit from the tube the fluid presses forcibly against the internal side of the said tube, and, by reaction, motion is communicated to the body in a rectilinear direction opposite to that in...