GB121393A - Improvements in Heavier than Air Flying Machines. - Google Patents

Abstract

121,393. St. Louis, G. C., and Pearson, C. Feb. 6, 1918. Aerial machines without aerostats; cars; planes, construction and arrangement of; propelling.-An aerial machine comprises a car 3 fitted with wheels adapted to be driven from the engine and hung by rods 2 from a frame 1 upon which is mounted a box plane 22 with its greater dimension in the direction of flight, and a propeller 21. The sides of the plane 22 are inclined inwards from the bottom upwards, the inclination gradually increasing from the front to the rear, and side flaps 84 are fixed along the top edges. The sides extend below the bottom surface of the box-plane as shown at 32, so as to form horizontal lower edges, and a central fin 75 having an horizontal upper edge is fixed on top. The bottom surface is formed with openings 27, Fig. 4, which may be more or less closed by flaps 28. Steering and balancing; stopping way; parachutes.-The box-plane 22 is adjusted in inclination about pivots 34 and at the same time is moved longitudinally to maintain its centre of pressure vertically above the centre of gravity. The pivots 34 are carried by rods 33 movable longitudinally in bearings 35, 35<a> and fixed to hangers 37, 37<a> engaged by worms 43, which also gear with pinions 42, 42<a> of different diameters mounted on screwed shafts 38, 38<a>. The shafts engage sleeves 39, 39<a> provided with pins engaging slotted guides 41, 41<a> fixed to the lower edges of the plane. The worms 43 are operated by means of bevel-gear 44, chain gear 45<a>, and handwheel 49. The area of the bottom surface of the box-plane 22 is varied by flaps 28, Fig. 4, normally pressed over the openings by means of cables 30 and levers 31. A rear elevator 76, Figs. 1 and 2, is operated by means of a cable 78 and lever 81. The rudder 24 is adjusted simultaneously with the front land-wheels 4 by means of a steering-column 8. Side planes 51 hinged at 52 within the box-plane may be swung inwards, either together for stopping way or for acting as a parachute in the case of a sudden descent, or singly for use as rudders. The movement of the planes 51 is effected by means of rack-and-pinion gears 56, 58 coupled by chain gears 62 actuated by means of shafts 64, bevel-gears 70, and handwheels 73. Land-wheels; shock of landing, deadening.- The land-wheels 4, 5 are carried by springs 6, 7. The rear wheels 5 may be driven through a clutch 13 and shaft 14, and the front wheels 4 may be steered as described above.