US1033699A - Experimental boat-model. - Google Patents

Description

M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912,

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

COLUMIHA PLANUGRAI'H c0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 5, 1910. 1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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M. HOVHANNESSIAN. EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

6 BHEETS SHEET 3 k m I Tt m I 2 III I I I G: II s I 5 k; K; KL' &: gar 5 57 IJ I" 1 *4 LI- I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

M. HOVHANNBSSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 5, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.,WASHINIJ10N. D. e.

M. HOVHANNESSIAN. EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1 ge a Ex Q R a PH CCLIWASHINGTON D c M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910' Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHBETSSHEET 6.

FEE.

MEGERDICI-I HOVI-IANNESSIAN,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT-MODEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed November 5, 1910. Serial No. 590,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MEGERDIOH HovHAN- NESSIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Experimental Boat-Models, of which the following is a specification.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art it is at present the custom before building a vessel of any size to make a scale model of the same and test it to determine its various characteristics, and although it is possible to cutaway or add to portions of such a model to vary its shape in order to secure certain result-s, the model itself, as well as the necessary alterations, are rela tively expensive. WVhen it is further noted that each vessel designed frequently requires a number of models which afterward have little or no value and usually are not again used, the advance attained by my invention, which relates to a device of this particular class, will be appreciated.

One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an experimental boat model which may be adjusted at will to vary the dimensions of its transverse sections, and thereby alter the shape of a single model so that it may be employed as the basis for the test and design of any number of vessels of widely different characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable boat model which shall include means for varying the width and relative shape or contour as well as the proportions of its various parts; the construction being substantially and relatively inexpensive as well as convenient to adjust.

A further object of my invention is to provide an experimental boat model, which in addition to-being provided with means whereby the shape of its transverse section may be adjusted at any desired point, shall have a shell or skin of such a nature as to automatically accommodate itself to these changes of shape; the invent-ion also contemplating the provision of means whereby this shell or skin shall be caused to take a gradual curve at such points on the surface of the hull as may require this.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 5- Figure 1, is a side elevation of an experimental boat model constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, is a plan of the model shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is a transverse section on 'an enlarged scale, illustrating in detail certain of the features comprising my invention; Fig. 4, is a fragmentary plan of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3, with the shell and sheathing removed; Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the bow of a model constructed according to my invention showing certain of the devices for adjusting its transverse dimensions; the shell and sheathing being removed. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bow of a model constructed according to my invention, showing the detail construction of certain portions of the sheathing; Fig. 7'" is a transverse section of one of the strip reinforcing pieces; Fig. 8, is a plan of the bow end of the keel showing the means of attaching the shell thereto; Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a plan and a side elevation showing the detail construction of a portion of the forward end of the keel; Figs. 11 and 12 are transverse sections of the structure shown in Fig. 9, and Figs. 13 to 2a are views illustrating the detail construction of certain of the various elements employed as parts of my invention.

In the above drawings the main portion of the supporting frame consists of a length 1 (if material preferably of T-section bent so that its forward end has the general form of the outline of the stem and its opposite end the outline of the stern of a boat, while its main horizontal portion is straight and lies immediately above the keel. The tops of the upwardly projecting ends of this main frame are connected by a horizontal bar 2 also of T-section, and at definite intervals between the stem and stern of the model, this bar and the member 1 of the.

frame are connected by vertical pairs of angles 3; it being understood that the various parts of said frame are rigidly c0nneoted together by rivets or otherwise.

Each pair of angles 3 has fixed toit a vertically placed transversely extending plate 4; so mounted that its ends terminate some distance from the sides of the proposed boat model, while its lower edge likewise terminates some distance above the bottom thereof. It will thus be understood that the frame so far described consists of a central vertical, longitudinally extending frame having the general outline of the central longitudinal section of the proposed model and provided with a number of parallel transversely extending plates. To the outer edges of each of these plates 4 I fix angle plates 5, holding these adjustably in position by means of bolts 6; there being provided an elongated horizontally extending slot in each plate 5 for each bolt so as to permit of it being moved toward and from the central plane of the model. In addition each of the plates 4 has a vertically extending slot 7 for each of the bolts 6 so that said plate may likewise be moved up or down to a limited extent. For the pur poses of this adjustment I attach to the outer of each pair of these bolts the lower end of a bolt 45 which extends upwardly and through a bracket 46 at the upper part of the plate 4. These bolts are threaded at their upper ends and provided with jam nuts as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

Mounted adjacent the bottom edge of each plate 4 and projecting toward the bottom of the model are two other angle plates 8 held to said plate 4 by bolts 9; there being formed horizontally elongated slots in the plates 8 and also curved substantially vertical slots in the plate 4 for the reception ofsaid bolts; the curves of these latter slots being preferably struck from a point lying in the central plane of the model.

Ad'jacent each of the plates 4 and adjust ably hung from a bolt 10 mounted in the top frame member 2 is a vertically extending bar 11 rigidly held in position under normal conditions by bolts 12 passing between the angles 3 and through suitable openings in the plate 4. Slacking off of these bolts 12, however, permits the moving up or down of this bar 11 by means of the adjusting screw 10. Said bar has extending through it a number of parallel horizontally placed adjusting screws 18, each provided with collars on either side of the bar 11 and a square portion 14 whereby it may be revolved in said bar as a bearing while being held from longitudinal movement. Their outer ends are threaded and have mounted on them cylindrical sleeves 15 slidable in and guided by those portions of the angle plates 5 which extendv at right angles to the plate 4'. The outer end of each of the sleeves 15 is provided with an enlarged portion 16 having a shoulder 17 and a jam nut 17 for the reception of a head 18 which may be described as of a substantially H-shaped section whose two parallel members have each one end extended inwardly to fit between the shoulder 17 and said nut 17 of one of the enlargements 16.

Each angle plate 8 (Fig. 3) has fixed to it a series of substantially U-shaped pieces 19 each having pivotally attached to it a block 20; there being, also blocks 21 pivotally mounted in the outer portion of each of the heads 18. All of the blocks 20 and 21 supported by any one of the series of bolts 13 and pieces 19 belonging to one of the plates 4, are grooved or recessed for the reception of a flexible shell-supporting rib 22 formed of a number of relatively thin flexible bands preferably made of steel. and extending down one side of the model, across the bottom thereof and up the opposite side, as shown. F astened outside of and parallel with each of these flexible ribs is a flexible strip 23 made with its edges gently curved or beveled inwardly from a central vertical transverse plane. pon these flexible strips is mounted the sheathing proper of my boat model and this consists of a series of thin and relatively flexible strips 25 each extending in a practically continuous length from one end of the model to the other, although, as a matter of fact, each of them may be made in a number of sections suitably connected. Said sheathing strips moreover are spaced apart as shown in Fig. 7 and in addition to being connected to the encircling strips 23 by screws or otherwise, they are provided at two or more points where they curve more or less abruptly with re-inforcing elements 27. Each of said elements is preferably made of sheet metal of channel shaped section having a longitudinally extending recess or opening co-inciding with a similar slot in the sheathing strip, for the reception of a screw by which this latter strip is held to, the adjacent encircling strip 23. By this means a limited longitudinal movement of the sheathing strips is permitted relatively to the encircling strips 23 and in order to facilitate the bending or curving of the sheathing strips as well as reinforce them, the side portions of these reinforcing elements 27 are kerfed or notched as indicated at 28, although in some cases this may not be necessary. The composition of these sheathing strips is of course immaterial and while I preferably make them of wood, it is obvious that other materials may be employed without departing from my invention. Over these sheathing strips 25 and constituting the shell of my boat model, I provide a covering 29 of flexible elastic material such as thin sheet rubber or the like; this having a relatively smooth surface, capable of conforming to the outline of the vessel as defined by the various strips and their supporting ribs, and of such proportions as to be capable of accommodating itself without wrinl'cling to changes in the dimensions of the various parts of the boat.

WVhile the outside shell'or covering 29 of the vessel may be held in place by various means,

I preferably accomplish this end either by stretching it over the surface provided by thesheathing strips 25, although at the bow and stern I preferably hold it in place screws 31 by the means illustrated in Fig. 8, using a wedge shaped bar kept in position by whereby said rubber shell or covering is confined in a wedge shaped recess in the end members of the frame.

At the bow and stern where the width of the boat model is so small as to render the parts shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 unsuitable for its adjustment, 1 provide the devices shown in Figs. 6 and 21 to 24 inclusive. For this purpose I mount between the upper and lower frame members 2 and 1,

1 a vertical post 33, providing it with a series of openings whose axes lie parallel to the general line of the boat. In each of these openings 1 mount a short rod 34 which is held from turning by a key or other device and which has fixed to one of its projecting ends a short cross piece 35. To each of the ends of the cross piece is pivoted a lever 36 having at one end a head 37, which with the other similar heads lying in the same transverse plane of the boat model, serves to support one or more of the flexible ribs 22 and a flexible encircling strip 23 to which the longitudinal sheathing strips are fastened as before described. The opposite ends of the levers 36 are provided with any suit-able device whereby they may be turned at will on their pivot pins 38 and for this purpose I have provided an adjusting screw 39 having right and left hand threaded portions respectively passing through nuts 40 movablyiattached to the levers 36. The screw 39 has mounted upon it between the two nuts 40 a wheel 41 preferably resting upon the bar 34 whereby it may be turned at will for the purposes of the above adjusts ment.

Connecting that part of the frame 1 which forms the keelshown in Fig. 8 with the main portion thereof, which as above in dicated is of T-shaped section, is a portion illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive consisting of two bars 42 mounted so as to lie at an angle to each other and serve as a transition structure between the sharp edged and substantially vertical bow, and the flat under. portion of the member 1. For the purpose of adjusting the angle of these two pieces I provide them with lugs 43 and 44 designed to be drawn together or allowed to be spread apart by any suitable device such as the ordinary bolt shown, a right and left hand thread screw or the like.

In some instances the adjustable sleeves 15 with their attached parts may be constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in which case the head 18 is of the modified form shown and results in a shortening of its general length.

It will be understood that while the longitudinal mid ship section of the boat model is unalterable, its transverse dimensions may be varied widely within predetermined limits, it being obvious that the lines of the sides of the boat may be altered by adjusting the various rods or bars 13 to vary the relative distances at which the heads 18, and therefore the various portions of the ribs and strips mounted thereon, lie from the central plane of the boat. The shape of each rib and consequently the contour of that portion of the shell of a boat adjacent thereto may be varied as desired by manipulating these bars, and similarly, by shifting the position of the bolts 9 in their various slots, the forms of the bottom portions of the ribs and of the adjacent portions of the shell may also be altered. Other adj ustments may be made by slacking the bolts 6 and moving the angle plates 5 in or out or up or down as desired, the rubber covering forming the shell stretching to permit of an increase in the dimensions or contracting when any part of the structure is drawn to-' ward the central plane of the boat.

From the above description, it will be obvious that a single experimental boat equipped with my invention may have its shape, as determined by its transverse dimensions, varied within all of the limits required in practice, so that a single model may be made to serve for the design of any number of boats.

It is to be understood that under certain circumstances I may provide but a portion of the boat model with means for adjusting its shape or transverse section, as for example, the break water alone of the model may be made as illustrated in the drawings so as to permit of its adjustment to suit various forms or shapes of the bow. The means for accomplishing this end are the same as have heretofore been described and constitute part of my invention; it being understood that my claims are to be interpreted with this understanding.

I claim 1. The combination in a variable boat model, of a flexible shell, and a series of in dependently adjustable devices within the shell whereby the shape of the shell can be transversely varied and rigidly maintained to give said model any of a number of different contours.

2. An experimental boat model having a frame including transverse members;means for adjusting and rigidly maintainingthe lengths of said transverse members; and an elastic shell mounted on said members.

3. An experimental boat model having a supporting frame including relatively flexible ribs; an elastic shell mounted on said ribs; and adjustable means for altering the shape of said ribs and for rigidly holding them in any given shape to give said shell any of a number of different operative forms.

4. An experimental boat model consisting of a supporting frame including a series of substantially parallel flexible ribs; a flexible shell mounted on the ribs; and longitudinally adjustable members for varying the shapes of said ribs and rigidly retain.- ing them in any adjusted shape to give said shell any of a number of diflerent operative forms.

. 5. An experimental boat model consisting of a central longitudinally extending supporting frame; a plurality of series of longitudinally adjustable, transversely extending bolts carried by said central frame; a flexible rib carried by each series of the belts; and a flexible shell supported on said? r1 s.

6. An experimental boat model consisting of a frame having a series of ribs mount ed in substantially parallel transverse planes; sheathing mounted on said ribs; a flexible shell mounted on said sheathing; and means for adjusting and rigidly re taining the sheathing and the shell to give the same any of a number of different contours.

7. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame; a series of ribs therefor mounted in substantially parallel planes; a sheathing composed of a series of longitudinally extending strips adjustably connected to said ribs so as to be free to move longitudinally relatively thereto; and a shell mounted on the sheathing.

8. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame; a sheathing mounted thereon and consisting of a series of sub.-v stantially parallel strips of flexible material adjustably connected to the frame so as to be free to move longitudinally rela-. tively thereto; and a flexible shell over saidv sheathing.

9. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame including a keel having tWo members at an angle to each other and capable of adjustment to vary said angle; With a sheathing; and means for adjusting the contour of said sheathing and Copies of this patent may be obtained rOr'HivJQQaa Washingt rigidly retaining it in any of its adjusted positions to vary the transverse dimensions of the model.

10. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame including a support: ing structure; a series of transversely extending plates fixed to said structure; ribs carried by said plates; a flexible sheathing mounted on said ribs; and means for ad-v justing the shapes of the ribs and rigidly holding them in any of a number of adjusted shapes to give the sheathing a num: ber of different contours.

T m n n n xper men al boat model of a main supporting structure; a series of transversely extending structures structures; adjustable screws operative on said sleeves; ribs connected to the sleeves; a sheathing mounted upon the various ribs;- yvit'h a. flexible shell mounted on said sheath: m

32. The combination in experimental boat model of a supporting structure; a number of series of heads mounted thereon; adjusting means for moving and rigidly retaining said heads at any given distances from the central longitudinal plane of the structure; a rib pivotally attached to the heads of each series; With a shell mounted on said ribs. 13. The combination in an experimental boat model of a supporting structure; a plurality of series of heads mounted there,- on; adjustable means for rigidly retaining said heads at any given distances from the central longitudinal plane of the structure; a flexible rib movably connected to each of the series of heads; and a flexibleshell mounted on said ribs.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification; in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MEGERDICH HO VHANNESS IAN,

Witnesses:

BROWN, Jr., WILLIAM E. BRADLEY.

each, b y a qdressing the Gommissioper of @Patents,

on, I). c.

mounted thereon; sleeves carried by the said

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