GB144028A - Improvements in and connected with aeroplanes and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

144,028. Blacksher, E. M. April 15, 1919. Steering, balancing, and regulating altitude; planes and the like, construction of.-An aeroplane is provided with oppositely-revolving horizontal propellers with inclined blades, mounted below or in cavities in the main planes and driven by shaft ing and gearing or belting through a clutch from the main engine. When the propeller is housed in a concave turret, the forward edge of the turret has a shield for reducing head-on resistance. When the propeller is below the plane, the driving. shaft is above the plane and is covered in. In one form, the aeroplane is shown as a monoplane with the planes having a large dihedral and rhomboidal outline. Each wing 10 of the lower plane of a biplane has a concave spherical portion 44, Figs. 2 and 4, in which are mounted horizontal propellers 49. The blades of the propellers are inclined to their shafts 45 to clear the under surface. The propellers are driven in opposite directions by bevel-gear and shafting 40 from a bevel-wheel 25, which is mounted on a shaft carrying the driven member 21 of a clutch. The male member 17 of the clutch is slidably mounted on the engine shaft 14 of a motor 13 which drives the tractor propeller 15. The member 17 has a freely-mounted collar thereon, pins on which engage a pivoted operating-lever 37 whereby the clutch is let in, Springs 35 hold the clutch out under normal conditions. The wings carry on the under surface, forward of the propellers 49, wind-deflectors 53<a>. In a modification, Fig. 5, the propellers are mounted beneath the rhomboidal-shaped wings 55 of a monoplane with large dihedral, and curved shields 58 are attached to the top surface as a fairing for the driving shafts and gear. The planes are braced by tie-rods' 54, 57. The clutch may also be arranged with the female member attached to, or integral with, the engine shaft, and the sliding male member on the shaft, of the bevelwheel 25.