US1012006A - Stabilizing mechanism for flying-machines. - Google Patents

Description

- H. W. PIKE & R. E. JOHNSON. smmuzme MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1911. I 1,012,006, Patented Dec. 19, 191-1.

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Be nus ZJkIZSOZ -H. w. PIKE & R. E. JOHNSON.

STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1911 1,012,006. I Patented Dec.19,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3mm I fiariyWB/Yeqq WM lierzasfilrowam 7 To all whom it may concern:

, UNITED/STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY w. PIKE AND RENUS E. JOHNSON, or OSCEOLA, NEBRASKA.

STABILIZING MECHANISM. FOR FLYING-MACHINES.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed April 18, 1911. Serial No. 621,836.

Be it known that we, HARRY W. PIKE and RENUs E. JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Osceola, in the county of Polk and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stabilizing Mechanism for Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specificationj This invention relates to automatic stabilizing mechanism for flying, machines, the objectin view being to provide simple and effective gravity-controlled means for operating stabilizing devices whereby the lateral stability of the machine may be maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide stabilizing means of the pendulumcontrolled type in which the tendency of the pendulum weight to oscillate after the machine is right'ed is prevented.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing the application of the inyention to a biplane structure, the parts appearing in normal position. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 ofr-Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a foreand-aft section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

scription, we have for convenience employed the term stabilizers to designate and in; clude ailerons, sliding or pivoted wing tips, warping tips or any other devices which are or may be used for lateral control.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the machine, and '2 the stabilizers. Arranged upon the machine at a suitable point between the stabilizers is a track rail support 3, provided with an upper arcua'te track surface 3' and arranged in a direction at right angles to the line of flight. As shown, the stabilizersare connected for movement in unison by sets of cords or wires 4 and 5 in such manner that when one stabilizer swings downwardly the other Wlll swing upwardly and vice versa.

Arranged upon the support 3 below the track surface 3' is a pivot member 6, preferably in the form of a hook having an upturned elongated bill. Mounted for pivotal movement upon thehorizontal shank of this hook is a pendulum rod 7, having an elongated slot 8 through which the hook extends. The lower end of this rod projects 'below the frame of the machine and is of proper weight to be controlled by the actionof gravity, so that the rod will maintain a perpendicular position when the machine tilts laterally in either direction. 1

The upper end of the rod is provided with a bracket 9 carrying a wheel or roller 10, or its equivalent, to run u on the track surface 3, whereby the pen ulum rod is ada t-.

ed to be elevated when. the machine tilts laterally in either direction from the horizontal, owing to the increase in distance between the lvOt point of the lever and the surfaces of the track over which the roller travels. A pin 11 projects from the front of the lever and receives a ring or coupling member 12, to which the ends of the controlling cords or wires 5 of the stabilizers are connected.

When the machine is traveling horizontally in flight, and is completely balanced in a lateral direction, the roller rests upon the central portion of the track surface and the upper end wall of the slot 8 in the pendulum rod}; rests upon the shank of the pivot hook. In this position of the machine the stabithe direction toward'the nptilt'1ng side of the machine, whereby the eordor wire 5 'lizers are, of course, in a neutral position,

' tilts laterally ineither connecting the rod. with the stabilizer at the downtilting side of the machine is drawn upon to swing said stabilizer upward. This operation causes the stabilizer at one side of the machine to be moved in one direction and the stabilizer at the opposite side of the machine to be moved in the reverse direction, for restoring the lateral balance, and at the same time the relative change in position of the rod on the track surface causes said rod to be elevated, whereby on the restoration of the machine to a horizontal position the rod will slide downward on its pivot. The same operation ensues when the machine tilts in the reverse direction, except that the rod and stabilizers move in the reverse directions to that above described,'the rod. being in a similar manner elevated and sliding back to normal position when the machine is righted. This elevating and lowering motion of the rod in the tilting of the machine is permitted by the slot and pin or slip joint connect on 6 and 8 between the same and the'support 3, by which on each successive relative tilting and upward travel of the rod and the subsequent return of the parts to normal position, the tendency of the rod to swing laterally is convcrted into a downward sliding motion of the rod through the force of gravity by which such lateral tilting motion is prevented. Hence, the return of the rod to normal position will be easy and gradual, any tendency of the rod to lateral swinging motion through centrifugal force overcome in banking the machine on making a turn, and oscillation of the .stabilizers through such movements of the rod upon the righting of the machine prevented, the advantages of which will be apparent. It will, of course, be understood that under some conditions it is desirable to hold the rod from movement to prevent operation. of the stabilizers when the machine moves out of lateral balance, in which event actuation of the stabilizers may be avoided by manually holding the rod in fixed position. The rod also may be employed as a lever under normal conditions for controlling the stabilizers.

The track rail 3 is preferably provided with a slot t to receive a retaining pin 4;", which is adapted to hold the wheel or roller 10 in contact with the track and prevent it from jumping oil the track when the machine is subjected to jolts or vibrations. A retaining wheel or roller 41 may be mounted upon the pendulum rod to engage the under side of the track for the same purpose. Either one or both of these retaining devices may be employed, as desired. The pendulum rod is preferably constructed oi two sections united by a hinge or other joint 8, so as to allow the track and upper portion of the rod to tilt in a fore and aft direction with the machine without att act ing the pendulum weight.

Having thus described the invention, we claim 1- 1. In a flying machine, stabilizers, an areuate guide, a pendulum, a member carried thereby and traversing said guide, connec' tions between said pendulum and the stabilizers, and a. pivotal support "for the pendulum adapted to permit the same to have vertical shifting motion.

2. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivoted for relative lateral swinging and vertical sliding movements, connections between the pendulum and stabilizers, a track support, and a guide member carried by the pendulum to traverse said track support.

3. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivotally mounted upon the machine for relative lateral swinging and vertical shifting movements, a curvedtraclt support extending on an arc eccentric to the pivotal support of the pendulum, connections be tween the pendulum and stabilizers, and a guide member on the pendulum and traversing said track support.

l. In aflying machme,stab1l1zers, a pivot ,member upon the machine, a pendulum rod .mounted to swing laterally upon said pivot :member and to slide vertically thereon, connections between the pendulum rod and. the

stabilizers, and means for elevating the rod Jon each actuating movement and permitting descent thereof upon return of the parts to normal position.

5. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pivot member upon the frame of the machine, a

transversely extending track above said 'pivot i'nember, a pendulum rod mounted to swing laterally and slide vertically upon said pivot member, a guide upon said rod to traverse said track, and connections between the rod and the stabilizers.

6. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivotally mounted on the machine for relative lateral swinging and vertical sliding movement-s, a track support having pair of guide portions, connections be tween the pendulum and stabilizers, a member on the pendulum traversing one of said guiding surfaces of the track support to eii'cct the vertical shifting movements of said pendulum, and a guiding member on the q iendulum tlilVQlSlligietllG other guiding surilace off the track support to prevent displacement oftlie first-named guiding mem ber. I

7. In a flying machine, a gliding structurc, stabilizers mounted thereon, a hook.- shaped pivot mei'nber upon the ,gliding strut-lure having its bill directed upward, a pendulum extending above and. below said pivot member and formed with a longitudi nally slotted portion receiving and engaging the shaft of said pivoted member, a curved arcuate support upon the gliding structure above the pivot member, a guide roller upon the upper end of the pendulum traversing said support, and guiding means betweenthe pendulum and track support for preventing displacement of said roller.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY W. PIKE. RENUS E, JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

F. H. BALL, W. F. 'KEPUR.

Copies of this natent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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