US1005941A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHKET l. E

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS E. J. CRAWFORD.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1910.

WITNESSES. I

'E J. CRAWFORD.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 13150.28, 1910.

1,Q,941 Patented Oct. 17,1911,

' z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mummy ATTORNEYS with a safety device soas descent whichmlght 1n ure .vide auxiliary EDGAR JOHN CRAWFORD, OF-SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FLYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters l atent,"

v 1 Patented 001;. r7, 1911.

Application filed December 28, 1910. Serial N6. 599,737.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known "that I, EDGAR J. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-'Machines, of which the following is a specifica ti on.

My invention flying machines,

relates to improvements in and it cons1sts in-the com- 5 l binations, constructions, and arrangements l herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a lighter-than-air machine which is provided to prevent a rapid l the aviators. This safety device is in the natureiof a para- 1 chute which may be shifted so as to sustain the fiying machine so that its descent will be gradual.

A further object of my invention is to prosustaining devices in the shape of wings with means for tilting them to cause the device to ascend or descend. l

A further. object of my provide means for ridding the heavier parts, in case an accident occurs, thereby insuring a safe descent.

A further-object of my invention. is to pro- Vide novel forms of apparatus for accomplishing the objects specified above.

Other objects and advantages will appear invention is to l the airship of 'in the following specification, and the novel l l l l features of the device will be particularly'l pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the acconr l panying drawings, forming part of this application in'which Figure 1; is a side view of the flying mal chine, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line 3 3 1 (if Fig. 1, Fig. i is a section along the line} l-Ae of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detailed view 1 showing the means for disengaging the en- 1 gine from its support, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the supporting frame for the engine, Fig 7 is a detailed sectional view showing a portion of the parachu e lifting means in its nor position, and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the lifting means in its operated position.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown therein a main frame consisting of the bottom members 1, the top members 2, the uprights 3,,and the brace rods i. In the upper part of this frame is a cigar ,lass 21.

shaped gas bag or balloon 5. This balloon is designed to be filled with some light gas, such ashydrogen, and is the main lifting and sustaining element. Arranged to fit over the upper half of the balloon, and normally in close contact with it, is'a parachute 6 of the shape shown in the drawings. This parachute has a frame 7 (see Figs. 7 and 8) around its lower edge which is arranged tor a lie immediately above the upper frame members 2 of the main frame. The frame 7 is arranged to be secured to the frame 2 by means of the hooks 8 on the frame 2 which engage the pins 9 and the frame 7 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In these figures it will be seen that there are hollow cylinders 10 which project downwardly from theframe members'2 and in which are carried spiral springs 11, the upper endsof which are secured to the frame 7. The purpose of these springs will be explained later. Toward the forward part of the machine are the side wings A and B. These wings are pivoted on the armsa and I) (see Fig. l) Each arm has projecting from it an upwardly extending brace member such as b anda dmvnwardly ext-ending brace member 12 these brace niembcrs being connected with the wing proper by means of the inclined brace rods 7) shown in Fig. l. Secured to the rod 6 are the upper and lower arms 12 and 13, respectively. To the rod 12 is secured'an upper link i l which extends rearwardly and connects with an arm 15 on the rear elevating rudder 16. A lower link 17 extends fron'i the arm 13 rearwardly and connects with the arm 1% on the elevating rudder 16. Secured also to the shaft or rod 7) are the arms 19 and 20 which are connected by the respective chords l9 and 2O with the wind- The latter is manipulated.by the hand wheel Underneath the balloon proper at the rein of the frame the rudder 23. As will be seen from Fig. $3, il 'isrrudder is pivotedon a cross member 2-3; and provided with arms 23 and 23'. The former is connected by means of the flexible chord to the foot lever 26, while the arm is connected by a chord 27 to the foot lever 28.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown the engine at E. This engineis provided with a friction disk 29, arranged to engage the fric' tion disks 30 and 31. (see Fig. 3) upon the respective shafts 3 and 33. the former hearing the propeller $4: and the latter the propeller 35, which turn in opposite direct-ions.

The mounting of the engine. is an important feature. Itv will be noticed that there is a supporting frame 36 (see Fig. 6 having tongues 37 at the four corners arranged to enter openings in one of the bottom members 1 on one side and a slidable member 1 on the other. The slidable member 1 is connected by the toggle joints 38 in such a manner that when the latter ar'e'pnlled by means of the chord 39 the slidahle member 1 is ioved outwardly thereby permitting the frame 36 and the engine E to drop clear of the machine, this being permitted by the frictional drive for the shafts 32 and 253. In order to operatethc toggle joints 38, I provide the lever ll) to which the chord 39 is attached. A lever all is also provided and to this lever is attached a chord l2 (seeFig, 1) which runs under a pulley 43 (see Fig. 3) and thence upwardly and l connects witl a chord 44 extending between the llOOkS 8 toward the front and rear ends of the device.

*From the foregoing description of the va- I rious parts the device the operation there- 'of may be readily understood. In order to add lightness to the device I provide a floor of netting 45. \Vhen all is in readiness the engine is set going and' the prope lcrs, as stated, revolve in opposite directions and tend to propel the device forwardly. The band wheel is turnedso as to cause the wings A and B and the rear tail or wing 16 to assume an inclined position, thereby clevalingthe device, The device is steered to the right and to the left by manipulating the foot levers or pedals 26 and The turning of the hand wheel 22 in the opposite direction will cause the machine to descend. It will be seen that the wings A and 13, as well as the tail member 1.6, constitute sustaining as well as g uidin members. 4

in case of an emergency" such as the bursting or ripping of the gas bag which might cause the precipitous descent of the machine. the operator can pull the lever H. This will cause the hooks 8 to become j detaghcd from their pins 9 whereupon the springs 11 will pnsh'the parachute u 'iwardly above the balloon, as indicated by dotted l lines in Fig". The air can now get be I tween the parachute and the balloon andl acts as a sustaining'mcdilun for the parathus privcnting the i'n'ccipitons chute,

downward movement of the balloon. In

case this should not be sufficient, the operamodifications as fairly fall within the spiritand the scope of the invention.

l claim: i

1. In a flying machine, a ,QftlS bag, a frame therefor, a parachute above said gas bag and nlrmally in close contacttherewith,- a series of springs carried by said frame,

housin' s therefor said nin s being con U 7 k: K/

nected at one end to said parachute and being normally compressed within said cas mas, and means carried upon said frame for releasing said springs and thereby project-- ing' said parachute away from said-gas 2. In a flying machine, a gas bag, a frame therefor, a 'iarachute' above said gas bag and normally in close contact therewith, a series of springs carried by said frame,

housings therefor. saidsprings being connected at one end to said parachute and being normally compressed within said casinn's, a series of hooks on said frame for holding said parachute and means carried by said frame and including a lever and flexible connectionsfrom said lever to said hooks for actuating the latter to release the springs thereby causing the projection of the parachute away from the gas bag.

- 2-3. In a flying machine, a gas bag, a main frame secured thereto, anengine carried by said frame, propellers connected with said engine for driving the machine, and means for purl hitting the engine to drop from the main frame. meanscomprising a supporting frame. means inclut'ling a slidable member for holding said supporting. l'rmuc in place, tragic joint ('()llli((l((l-Will] said slidable member, and means for moving said toggle joint to causc'a movement of said slidable mcmhcr away from said suppr'irling frame.

EDGAR JUIIX lli-l'l UllD. lVitnesscs:

(Tins. li-z'rnovrrsur, .lonx Ji'nr.

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