GB128423A - Improvements in Airships. - Google Patents

Abstract

128,423. Thomas, G. H., and Tippen, F. J. July 3, 1918. Propelling.-An air-ship is provided with one or more auxiliary engines and propellers normally housed within the contour of the air-ship, but adapted to be brought out into an operative position for propelling, or to be detached from the airship for lightening purposes. Fig. 2 shows an engine A and propeller B carried by arms F hinged on the member J of the keel of the air-ship, and capable of occupying the operative or inoperative positions shown by full and dotted lines respectively. Additional stays K are attached to the keel by movable elements such as a slide-block N, Fig. 9, or a screw-and-nut connexion Q, Fig. 10, to a bracket R on the keel, or a detachable ball-and-socket connexion U, T, Fig. 11, controlled by a winch cable V, to allow for the folding movement. In modifications, the engine and propeller may be folded into a pocket in the envelope, or may be arranged to move parallel to themselves during folding. The folding is effected by worm or other gearing. By removal of the attachment pins H, the whole structure may be dropped. Steering.-By means of the arrangements shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the engine and propeller may be fixed in any position intermediate the operative and inoperative positions.