GB302630A - Improvements in and relating to aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

302,630. Davies, J. P. Sept. 17, 1927. Aerostats; propelling. -Aircraft, particularly airships, are provided with an air conduit or conduits pa s s i n g through or around the envelope and fitted with openings and valves the adjustment of which controls the points of ingress and egress and the direction of flow of an air current induced in the conduit by power means so that the current can be directed upwardly, downwardly, forwardly, or rearwardly for propelling and steering the aircraft. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of an airship having a conduit b arranged in a central longitudinal plane within the envelope. The conduit has valves for closing openings b<3> - - b<6> or alternatively obstructing the flow through the conduit, and at the forward end an opening b is controlled by a valve c on a transverse axis. A chamber i is formed at the rear end communicating with the conduit by the openings b<4>, b<5> and by an opening in which is arranged a propeller d. An opening b<7> in the chamber i is controlled by valve i<1> or a vertical axis. With the valves arranged as shown air enters at b' passes into the chamber i and back into the conduit through the opening b<5> and out at the opening b<6>. The valves c and i<1> act respectively as elevator and rudder in addition to external control surfaces provided. Fig. 4 shows a balloon in which a conduit b communicates with a central hollow shaft o by openings o<1>, o<2> controlled by valves q, p, a propeller d being arranged in the shaft o. Manoeuvring valves r, r<1> are provided to direct the air current on to surfaces s, s<1> moving about vertical and transverse axes respectively. Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of an aeroplane having a central cylindrical shaft v with a propeller d and with valves 1, 2 at its upper and lower ends. The shaft v communicates with passages v<1>, v<2>, v<3> controlled by valves 4, 3 respectively. According to the Provisional Specification the air conduits may be fitted with reversible propellers. Balancing automatically.-A propeller z driven through a clutch z<1> acts as a gyroscopic stabilizer. Anchoring; shock-absorbers, applications of.- An inflated tube j, Figs. 2, 4, acts to absorb shock on landing and by forming an airtight joint with the ground co-operates with the air current controls to produce a vacuum within the area enclosed by the tube to hold the airship or balloon on the ground. Alternatively the tube may be adapted to be filled with water when the airship is floating on water.