US1006967A

US1006967A - Propelling mechanism for aerodromes.

Info

Publication number: US1006967A
Application number: US53187509A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel B Mchenry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-12-07
Filing date: 1909-12-07
Publication date: 1911-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1928-10-24

Description

s. B. MOHENRL PROPELLING MECHANISM FOB. AERODROMES.

APPLICATION FILI-ID DBG. 7, 1909.

1,006,967, Patented 0011.24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,wAsHxNGTDN. D. c.

S. B. MCHENRY. PROPELLING MEGHANISM PoR ABRODROMBS. APPLICATION FILED DBG. 7, 1909.

1,006,967, Patented 0011. 24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2. Fq/.a

COLUMBIA PLANQGR'APH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

s. B. MOHENRY. PROPELLING MBOHANISM POR AERODROMES. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7, 1909.

1,006,967, Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGHAPM CO.,WASH|NGTON. D, C.

SAMUEL B. MCI-IENRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IPROPELLINGJVIEGHANISM FOR AERODROMES.

Looaoev.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

Application filed December 7, 1909. Serial No. 531,875.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. MOIVIENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and `State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Mechanism for Aerodromes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters-and gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

vThis invention relates to aerodromes and has for its objectto provide certain new and useful improvements in propelling and guiding mechanism. y

A further object of this invention is to provide an aerodrome in which the same is caused to ascend and descend by alternating the direction of the propelling force and which is provided with vertical rudders at the rear of the machine for the purpose of guiding the aerodrome laterally.

With these objects in view this invention consists in the novel construction of the propelling and guiding mechanism and in the novel construction for altering the direction of the propeller with relation to the main supporting plane of the aerodrome.

This invention also consists in certain other novel details of construction and in combinations of parts all of which will be first fully'described and afterward specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an aerodrome constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of 'the same. Fig. 8 is a topplan view illustrating the mechanism, the supporting plane not being shown. F ig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the propelling mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one sprocket wheel and part of the chain of the propelling mechanism. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the propelling mechanism showing one of the propeller blades or scoops. Fig. 7 is a p erspective view of one of the propellerblades or scoops. Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the chain links Vto which the propeller scoops are pivoted. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modied form of propelling mechanism, and Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig..9.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures in which- 1 indicates the main supporting plane which as shown in Fig. 1 is arranged on a slight forward incline, the said plane 1 being curved as shown in Fig. 2.

2 indicates the main frames which enter longitudinal braces 3 in the main plane 1, said frames 2 being connected together by an upper strut 4 and a lower strut 5, while at the' bottom of each of the frame pieces 2 I arrange a wheel 6.

7 indicates the supporting wires which pass through the plane 1 to the frame pieces 2 for the purpose of bracing and strengthening the structure.

Arranged transversely of the machine and supported in boxes 8 on the struts 4 is a central shaft 9, said shaft being provided with a sprocket wheel 10 and carrying on each

end cords

11 and 12, the cord 11 being wound onthe shaft 9 in opposite direction to that of cord 12 for a purpose which will be hereinafter fully described.

13 indicates the driving shaft which as shown in the drawings is belted by means of a belt 14 to the engine 15 which may be any suitable prime mover of sufiicient power to drive the propelling mechanism.

16 indicates the propelling mechanism which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises two

sprocket wheels

17 and 18, the sprocket wheel 18 being mounted on the driving shaft 13, it being of course understood that the propelling mechanism which is now being described is duplicated on each side of the machine as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Carried on the

sprocket wheels

17 and 18 is a sprocket chain 19, which sprocket chain 19 is provided at intervals with links 20 such as illustrated in Fig. 8, said links 20 pivoting the propeller blades or scoops 21, said blades or scoops 21 being provided with pins 22 entering the perforations 23 in the links 2O as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Connecting each of the propeller blades or scoops 21 to the chain 19 is a supporting strut 24, each of said struts being pivoted both to the chain 19 and to the blades or scoops 21.

The rear sprocket wheel 18 being carried on the drive shaft 13 the entire propelling mechanism can swing on the shaft 13 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Above the endless propelling mechanism 16 is a thin light strip of suitable material 25, and at the forward point a chamber 26 is formed while a similar chamber 27 is formed at the rear, and lling the space between the two sprocket wheels 17 and 1S and within the sprocket chain 19 is a chamber 2S, all of the

chambers

26, 27 and 2S being air tight and sufliciently large to have buoyancy enough to float the entire device in water.

As will appear from Fig. 7 each of the propelling blades or paddles'is rounded or curved in such manner as to have a better gripping action on the air. Arranged in rear of the device, as shown in Fig. 1, and behind each of the propelling mechanisms is a vertical rudder 29, each rudder 29 being pivoted on a rudder stock 30 which passes up through the rear air chamber 27 and is provided with a lever 31. Connecting both levers 31 at their rear ends is a connecting rod 32 to which connecting rod 32 is connected an operating arm 33, said operating arm 33 passing through a large circular aper- ,ture 34 (Fig. 2) and extends forwardly a short distance. Connected to the forward end of said operating arm 34 are the two

operating cords

35 and 36, the cord 35 passing to the right hand side of the machine over pulleys 37, the end 38 of the cord being connected to a ring 39 for the purpose of ready manipulation of the cord by the aviator, the operating cord 36 passing to the left hand side of the'machine over pulleys 40, the end of which cord is connected to the ring 41 for the purpose just described.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a modified form of propelling mechanism is shown in which the endless chain 19 is dispensed with and the paddles or blades 42 are carried on the drive shaft 13. Air tight chambers or compartments 43 are provided both in front and in the rear of the propeller as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the planes 25 have fixed thereto upon the lower side a rear plane 44 which is arranged just above the vertical rudders 29 and which plane serves to support and steady the aerodrome.

Disposed in the lower horizontal strut 5 which braces the main vertical braces 2 is a transverse shaft 45 upon which is carried an operating wheel 46 and a sprocket wheel 47. 'A sprocket chain 48 .passes over this sprocket wheel 47 to a similar sprocket wheel 49 on the central shaft 9.

The

cords

11 and 12 passing from the central shaft 9 are connected to straps 50 carried on the propelling mechanism 16 as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus fully described the several parts of this invention its operation is as follows: The propelling mechanism 16 on each side of themachine being pivoted on the drive shaft 13 the entire propelling mechanism and rudders can be thrown up or down as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In order to accomplish this the operating wheel 46 on the shaft 45 is rotated and through the medium of the sprocket chain 48 t-he same rotation is imparted to the central shaft 9. This rotation causes t-he

cords

11 and 12 to be wound or unwound on the shaft 9 according to the direction of the rotation of said shaft. In the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the rotation of the central shaft 9 is such that it winds up the cord 12 and unwinds the cord 11. This causes the propelling mechanism and rudders to be inclined in the position shown in dotted lines, while obviously if the direction of rotation of the shaft 9 is reversed the propelling mechanism and rudders will be thrown in a position oppositely or reverse to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This control of the propelling mechanism and rudders has absolutely no eifect upon the propulsion of the aerodrome for the reason that the propeller chain and propeller blades or scoops are-actuated in the same way no matter what the position of the propelling mechanism and rudders is relatively to the main supporting plane 1. By means of this construction the aerodrome is caused to ascend or descend at the will of the aviator, and when it is desired to propel the aerodrome in a straight line the propelling mechanism and rudders are brought into position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 while the aerodrome can be causedto descend by throwing the propelling mechanism into the opposite position. In order to guide or vsteer the aerodrome laterally the

cords

35 and 36 are employed, and by this means the arm 33 is caused to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which throws the rudders intothe positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, while the rudders can be thrown into the opposite positions by operating the cord 35. By reason of the air tight compartments as before described the aeroplane will float should a descent be made on water, while the wheels 6 will allow the machine to bestarted over any smooth surface such as a platform or field. By operating the propelling mechanism and throwing same into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the aerodrome will be caused to ascend and will continue to ascend so long as the propelling mechanism and rudders are in this position; while the descent is accomplished by operating thek propelling mechanism so that it will be pointed downwardly instead of upwardly. By this construction a rapidfascent or descent or a gradual ascent or descent can be effected at will, and as will appear from the drawings the center of gravity of the aerodrome being considerably below the supporting plane l all possibility of the aerodrome turning over is eliminated, and should the propelling mechanism fail to work at any time the machine will settle gradually and descend without injury to the aviator or occupants of the aerodrome.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An aerodrome including a supporting plane, lateral planes, a driving shaft mounted in the frame work of the first referred to plane and having said lateral planes pivoted thereon, said lateral planes having an inclined plane fixed thereto at their rear ends, propelling mechanism, and adjusting means for said lateral planes with their rear inclined plane.

2. An aerodrome including a supporting plane, lateral planes, a driving shaft mounted in the frame-work of the first referred to plane and having said lateral planes pivoted thereon, said lateral planes having an inclined plane fixed thereto at their rear ends, a rudder pivoted under said inclined plane and arranged in a corresponding inclination therewith, means for actuating said rudder, adjusting means for said lateral planes, and propelling mechanism.

3. An aerodrome including a supporting plane, lateral planes, a driving shaft mounted in the frame-work of the rst referred to plane and having said lateral planes pivoted thereon, said lateral planes having an inclined plane fixed thereto at their rear ends, a rudder pivotally supported in position and arranged in a corresponding inclination with said inclined plane, a propeller actuated from said shaft, means for transmitting motion to said shaft and adjusting means for said lateral planes, together with said inclined plane and meansV for actuating said rudder.

4. An aerodrome including a supporting plane, lateral planes, a driving shaft mounted in the frame-work of the rst referred to plane and having said lateral planes pivoted thereon, said lateral planes having an inclined plane fixed thereto at their rear ends, a rudder pivotally supported in position and having a corresponding inclination with said inclined plane, means for adjusting said lateral planes together with said inclined plane, actuating means for said rudder, a propeller including transversely curved blade-members, means for actuating said driving shaft, said driving shaft transmitting motion to said propeller.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL B. MCHENRY.

Witnesses:

G. L. ToALE, i B. E. WEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.