Improvements Relating to Airships and Flying Machines

Progress, Volume IX, Issue 11, 1 July 1914, Page 1158

Improvements Relating to Airships and Flying Machines

A NEW ZEALANDER’S INVENTION

Taylor's Combination Airship

The illustrations given herewith relate to the invention of Mr. Joseph Taylor, Consulting Geologist and Mining Engineer, of Nelson, New Zealand. The invention relates to what is known as "Taylor's Combination Airship," and to several of

its modifications, which Mr. Taylor claims amount practically to five fundamentally new types of aircraft. The provisional patent protection rights were taken out on August '24th, 1911, nearly three years ago; and the completed patent was dated August 7th, 1912, or about two years ago; and since then Mr. Taylor has brought his invention before the attention of New Zealand Government Defence Authorities.

In the preamble' to the "Complete Specifications for Letters Patent,'' it is said:-"I, Joseph Taylor, of Nelson, in the Provincial District of Nelson, in the Dominion of New Zealand, Engineer,, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "Improvements in and relating to Aeronautical Machines," and in what manner the same is per-

formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following, statement—- " The invention relates to aeronautics anil' provides an aeronautical apparatus, which I term a "combination airship," which combines in a single structure the principle of the dirigible airship, aeroplane, hydroplane, motor car, gyroscope, and lifting and steering propellers. ".- ,>:-.\ -■■ ■--"■'

"My invention also ' provides improvements which are applicable to machines embodying either of the above principles or a combination of them, and with or without the use of gas chambers." Elaborate descriptions are next given of the detailed parts of the drawings; after which a general summary of the advantages of this invention over other esisting forms of aircraft are set forth as follows:

"My invention provides the following advantages : —(1) In consequence of the pull being upward and at the top and the load .on the bottom floor, the airship hangs vertically and cannot possibly turn over in the air, and it rights itself automatically by the action of gravity; (2) in consequence of the enormous amount of gliding surface and parachuting arrangements it cannot possibly

fall suddenly (3) augmentors enable it to go without engines working when once up in the air, thus economising fuel; (4) it could not sink if dropped on water; (5) by means of its gas and locomotion screws, it can rise or descend vertically; (6) or it can stop, hang, glide and reverse while in the air; (7) as the gas does not quite lift the whole weight, complete control is secured; (8) being metallic throughout, it cannot catch, fire; (9) augemtors can be attached to outside as well as to planes inside, and their angle can be adjusted during actual flight; (10) no existing aeroplane can effectively utilise these augmentors, which help to lift as well as to accelerate speed; (11) it is designed for useful purposes rather than sport; (12) has large carrying capacity and is capable of indefinite expansion; (13) drivers and passengers may travel in comfort; 04) the aviators are relieved from nerve strain;

(ls) it is homogeneous in structure and can therefore utilise all power that is generated; (16)'it can be fitted with wireless telegraph, and can be adapted to generate its own electric light ; (17) it is simple in design and free from complication; (18) it can be checked or reversed in the air; (19) can alight on water for repairs ; (20) it is multiple in all its parts and functions,, thus obviating dependence upon any particular part; (21) any kind of aviation engine or motive power can be used; (22) there is little or no risk of spilling petrol, or by fire, especially when solid petrol is used; (23) a centre-board can be used to facilitate steering and stabilising ;(24) either wheels with springs or springs without wheels may be used; (25) it would be of unique convenience and value for military purposes; (26) it could not be seriously disabled by bullets; (27) gas chambers would never need deflating, thus gas would be economised; (28) rain and snow ,cannot

materially influence the weight of the airship; (2) the augmenters act from under side as well as the upper, and assist .in elevating as well as in propelling; (30) steering and stability are facilitated by the general shape as well as by the special vertical wings, and by the vertical and horizontal rudders (31) the whole machine with its various modifications is simple to design and construct, and it would be comparatively inexpensive and easy to maintain - and manipulate, without any need for trailing guide ropes, and without the use of sand or other artificial ballast."

A brief examination of the illustrations given (which are not all that Mr. Taylor has designed) will suffice to show that even in respect to outward appearance there is something very strikingly original in Mr. Taylor's invention; and great credit

must be accorded to the designer whether his plans and designs are practically feasible or otherwise. That they were true in theory at the date of the patent has since been practically demonstrated in other countries by actual construction, at least in respect to some of Mr. Taylor's special features. Among these are the four following, any one of which is sufficient to stamp the invention as one of great importance : — (1) the hydroplane principle, for enabling a flying machine to alight and travel on water as well as in the air ; (2) the augmenter, for utilising of contrary air current for the purpose of propelling forward, and for accelerating speed whilst up in the air, without the use of engines; (3) the idea of constructing an airship, or a flyingmachine entirely of metal, so as to prevent the possibility of catching fire; (4) adaptation to automatic electric lighting and wireless telegraphy. When Mr. Taylor first suggested these improve-

ments lie was laughed, to scorn. In spite of this they were integral parts of his patent; and in both these and other respects, the validity of his contentions and designs have thus since been practically demonstrated, without either him or this Dominion getting the credit.

In spite of this, however, many of the main features of Mr. Taylor's invention have not yet been even approached in any country, not even in Germany; and it seems that we are for the first time face to face with five fundamentally new types of aircraft, claiming to solve the problem of aerial navigation for commercial purposes.

Mr. Taylor explains that with regard to existing types of aircraft, they are all alike unsuitable for general commercial purposes, and still more so for

purposes of national defence. Aeroplanes, whether monoplanes or biplanes, are all too flimsy and complicated in structure to be entirely safe; and airships, even of the latest Zeppelin type, are cumbersome and uncontrollable. These types may have some small value for sporting and preliminary purposes, in the development of the art of aviation especially for military scouting and reconnoitering; but they occupy the same relation to future aircraft as the "Puffing Billy" and the paddle boats of half a century ago occupy in regard to the pres-ent-day railway engines and steamships. As an effective weapon for fighting purposes, especially for the defence of insular countries such as New Zealand, Mr. Taylor contends that nothing in the way of existing types at all approaches the main features of his "Combination ; Airship." Twenty of these, he says, could be constructed for less cost than a single Dreadnought; and if these were placed in readiness at twenty different sta-

tions around, the coast of New, Zealand, the defence problem in this Dominion would be solved at a single stroke. The warships of an invading enemy might be met out at sea, and could be sunk long before they came within striking range of our coasts.

It is now between three and four years ago since Mr. Taylor's designs were first brought before the attention of the New Zealand Government, and since then various suggestions have been made in hope that initial instruction work might be undertaken on these special lines in this country. Although raw inventions would need to be purchased in other countries, yet experimental constructions could be carried out in New Zealand as well as elsewhere; and these in any country would be necessary, seeing that the designs in so many respects

are still entirely new. The cost of such initial constructions and experiments is beyond the reach of most private individuals, but would be only a trifle to the Government, especially compared with the present annual expenditure for the purpose of organising and training this Dominion's purely land forces. Instead of availing themselves .of this unique opportunity of encouraging local invention, the Government authorities, through lack of necessary funds, have hitherto contented themselves by simply referring Mr. Taylor to the outside aviation and war authorities, who have to do with matters pertaining only to national defence. Mr. Taylor claims to have solved the problem of aerial navigation not only for defence purposes, but also for general commercial service; especially for obviating to a large extent the expense of building ships and bridges, and for saving the cost of constructing many roads and railways, connecting the cities with the backblocks. .. " "".'''