GB289829A - Flying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

289,829. Grunewald, H. May 3, 1927, [Convention date]. Ornithopters; wings, construction of; propelling; steering and balancing. -An ornithopter is supported by wings comprising flexible feather-like elements 10, 10<a> secured to articulated spars 2, 3, 4 coupled to the body frame by parallel linkages 7 so that as the main spars 2 are moved in a conical path the wings extend and partially fold, the feathers 10 open and close air passages between them, and the wing tip feathers 10a and additional feathers 10<b> execute a downward rolling movement each time the wing extends. Gliding flight may be effected by leaving the wings extended, in which case the feathers 10<b>, 10<a> are manually operated for balancing the machine. A tail composed of similar feathers can be expanded and contracted and turned about an axis transverse to a longitudinal rod 54 which can be turned about its axis. The feathers 10 comprise inclined, overlapping flexible plates 34, Fig. 13, with intermediate layers of rubber secured to ribs, the plates being corrugated and longer on one side of the rib than on the other. The rib comprises three metal members 29, 30, 31, Fig. 13, the two parts 30, 31 engaging one another at 32. The ends 36 of these ribs, Fig. 15, are secured to the spars 2, 3 and to the parallel linkage 7 bv binding. The feathers 10<a> are secured to a member 87 capable of rotation under control of a spring 38 upon the spar 4 and the feathers 10<b> are carried by a member 40 similarly mounted on the spar 4. A cable 43 passing downwardly beneath a pulley 44 effects both the periodic and the manually controlled downward movement of the member 40 which has a projection engaging a hook 39 on the member 37 so as to move also the feathers 10<a>. The pivots 5, 6 between the spars are respectively inclined backwards and forwards. The spars 2 are secured to members 11 by two bolts 12, 13, the bolt 13 being passed through any of a number of holes in the spar 2 to enable adjustment to be effected. The members 11 are universally jointed in the framing of the machine and their inner ends engage a vertical toothed ring 19 driven from an engine 26 or by pedals. Additional feathers 10<d> overlap the gaps near the roots of the feathers 10. The tail comprise a series of feathers pivoted at 50, Fig. 5 in a member 48, the forward ends of the feathers being spaced by spring 49. A cable 52 enables the forward ends to be drawn together to spread the tail. The member 48 pivots about the transverse axis on the member 54. Skids.-Spring supported skids beneath the body, and a tail skid are provided.