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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0862.PDF
JUNE 26, 19x9 Claims by Inventors THE Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors, Mr. Justice Sargant presiding, heard evidence regarding two claims on Monday. The first claim was one by the Sopwith Aviation Co. (Ltd.), for £3,950 in respect of the Sopwith-Kauper Syn chronising Gear, a gear for enabling machine-gun fire to be made through the propeller blades of aeroplanes without damaging the propellers. The Chairman said there was another claim before the Commission in connection with a swivelling synchronising gear, and he would be glad if the claimants would indicate the difference between the two gears. Mr. Baker, for the claimants, said that he had not heard of the other gear. He said that the Ministry of Munitions had admitted that 2,750 sets of the Sopwith-Kauper gear had been used, and they had agreed to a royalty of £1 per set. There were also certain renewals and repairs, but he under stood that the Ministry took the view that there was no case for increasing the royalty. He was informed that a revision of the figures showed that the number of sets of gear used was actually 3,950, and not 2,750. The Chairman pointed out that there had been no dispute in regard to the claim, but it had to come before the Com mission as the Government Department had not any general authority to make payment exceeding ^1,000. He said that the decision of the Commission would be announced to the Treasury in due course. The other claim was by Lieut.-Col. Shortt in respect of " tying-off sleeves " for kite balloons, the object of which was the saving of hydrogen gas. Mr. James Whitehead, who appeared for the claimant, said that the disputes with the Crown were ; (1) The claimant said many thousands of pounds had been saved by the use of the invention, while the Crown suggested that the saving was not nearly so great. The claimant mentioned 5 per cent, on one year's saving as the basis of award. (2) It was said there was no inventional merit, the device being an obvious ex pedient to prevent waste. (3) It was held that the saving of hydrogen gas was not a proper basis of claim. (4) It was stated that altogether 346 kite balloons had been fitted with the device, of which only 75 were inflated at one time. The figures now put in were that 120 balloons had been fitted and 45 kept inflated. The balloons to which the invention applied, added counsel, were of the B type, but he understood that it was also applied to what was known as the R type. He pointed out that before Col. Shortt's invention there was, in the course of a balloon's ascent, a considerable loss of hydrogen, amounting to about 5,000 cub. ft. if the altitude attained were 5,000 ft. That meant that the balloon's full capacity of 30,000 cub. ft. was reduced to 25,000 cub. ft., and the consequence was that, on its descent, the balloon was in a flabby condition and unsafe if left in that condition. The consequence was that what was called " topping-up " was resorted to, this process being the pumping in of hydrogen to fill the balloon up to its capacity of 30,000 cub. ft. Hydrogen gas cost about £1 per 1,000 cub. ft. Col. Shortt conceived the idea of fitting two sleeves giving external connection between the air container and the stabiliser. It was then possible to disconnect this container with the stabiliser by two sleeves and thus prevent the escape of gas. Capt. "Worthington, section director in the Kite Balloon Department of the Air Ministry, now of the Directorate of Research, gave evidence for the Crown. In his view the figures available did not show any appreciable decrease in the consumption of gas through the Shortt device. The life of a balloon was three months in winter and one month to one and a half months in summer. Mr. Watson, for the Ministry of Munitions, said that even though he satisfied the Commission there was no saving he could imagine that they might still be disposed to reward Col. Shortt for his thought and industry, in view of the fact that the device had been largely used. He suggested a small amount for each balloon. The Chairman said a royalty basis would not be applicable to an ex gratia remuneration. The Commission would consider the case. • « * K PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED The Chemistry and Manufacture of Hydrogen. By P. Litherland Teed. London : Edward Arnold, 41-43, Maddox Street, W. Price, 105. 6d. net. Tour of Brazilian Commercial Delegates, June ,1919. Federa tion of British Industries, 39, St. James's Street, S.W. 1. NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED AERONAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU, LTD., 30, Bedford Row, W.C.—A company limited by guarantee, with not more than 150 members, each liable for £1 in the event of winding-up, to unite for mutual advancement and protection of certain persons, companies and firms carrying on business as manufacturers of and dealers in and agents for aeroplanes, air ships, balloons and parts thereof, to obtain and distribute status information, to promote or oppose legislation, to collect debts, etc. The subscribers are :— R. H. Tetley (Palmer Tyre, Ltd.), F. M. Luther (Beardmore Aero Engineering Co., Ltd.), J. Riendt (*) (British Emaillite Co., Ltd.), G. A. Mansfield (Motor, and Aircraft Supplies Co., Ltd.), R. Delpach (Triplex Safety Gear Co., Ltd.), J. F. Inshaw (Auster, Ltd.), W. A. Jewell. The first members of the Ceuncil are to be nominated by the subscribers. HANDLEY PAGE TRANSPORT CO., LTD.—Capital £200 000, in (,1 shares, of which 100,000 are preference, entitled to a cumulative preferential dividend of 7 per cent, and two-fifths of the surplus profits available for dividends. First directors : F. Handley Page and T. Page. * Signature very doubtful, m m m m Aeronautical Specifications Published Abbreviations:—cyl.=cylinder; I.C. =intemal combustion: m.=motor«. APPLIED FOR IN 1916 The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc. Published June 26, 1919 13,686. J. VIAL. Sights for bomb-dropping from aircraft. (127,276.) APPLIED FOR IN 1917 The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc. Published June 26, 1919 3,246 and 3247. MAISON BREGIJET and J. L. ROUTIN. Chronotele- metrical apparatus for anti-aircraft guns. (127,290) ^27,291) (127,292.) F. E. COLLINSON. Altimeters. (127,295.) G. P. BRAGC-SMITH, L. B. DESBLEDS, and AERONAUTICAL INSTITUTE OF GREAT BRITAIN. Girder structures for aircraft. (127,299.) T. E. ELLOR and Sir H. FOWLER. Aero engines. (127,3°°-) F. COCHRANE. Fabrics having property of invisibility. (127,301.) VICKERS, LTD., R. K. PIERSON and T. S. DUNCAN. Tail skids. (127,307.) Sir W. BEARDMORE and T. C. W. PULLINGER. Water-jacketed engine cylinders. (127,310.) H. B. DUDD. Means of applying tape, etc., to wings of aeroplanes. (127,311.) Soc. ANON, DES ATELIERS BRILLIE FRERES. Regulating aiming of guns at aerial targets. ^27,314.) Sir H. FOWLER and P. SALMON. I.C. engines for aircraft, etc. (127,326.) H. R. RICARDO. Driving gear for propellers. (127,328.) T. ANTOINE. Pedal control for aeroplanes, etc. (127.332.) ^ A. H. GLEDHILL. Apparatus for releasing bodies from aircraft. (127,337.) T. S. RUSTON and A. E. L. CHORLTON. I.C. engines. (127,346.) MAISON BREGUET and J. L. ROUTIN. Chronotelemetrical apparatus for anti-aircraft guns. (127,348.) APPLIED FOR IN 19M The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc. Published June 26, 1919 DUNLOP RUBBER CO., C. MACBETH and W. H. PAULL. Wheels. (127,373.) W. W. CHRISTMAS and CHRISTMAS AEROPLANE CO. Aeroplanes. (127,402.) C. H. VAN ASPEREN. Aerial lifting devices. (127,418.) A. W. WILLMER. Fire extinguishing apparatus for aircraft (127,500.) • M * * NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. IN order that " FLIGHT " may continue to be pub lished at the usual time, it is now necessary to close for Press earlier. All Advertisement Copy and Blocks must be delivered at the Offices of " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, not later than 12 o'clock on Saturday in each week for the following week's issue. 2,918, 4,760. 4>952. 5,029. 5,039. 5,066. 5,"4. 5.245- 5,256. 5,524- 5,553-5,671. 5,786. 5.974-8,698. 7,321. 9.5I9- 19,335- 36, FLIGHT and The Aircraft Engineer GREAT QUEEN STREET. KINGSWAY, W.C. 2. Telegraphic address : Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone : Gerrard 1828. FLIGHT SUBSCRIPTION RATES will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates :— UNITED KINGDOM. 3 Months, Post Free 6 ,. .. 12 s. 7 28 d. 1 1 2 ABROAD. 3 Months, Post Free 6 12 s. 8 16 33 862 These rates are subject to any alteration found necessary under war conditions. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain etch issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance as above. u ,
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