US1039251A

US1039251A - Air-craft.

Info

Publication number: US1039251A
Application number: US643653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick Brackett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-07-11
Filing date: 1911-08-12
Publication date: 1912-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1929-09-24

Description

F. BRACKETT.

AIR CRAFT. APPLICATION FILED AUG.12 ,1911.

1,039,251. Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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F. BRAGKETT.

AIR CRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12,1911.

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F. BRAGKETT.

AIR CRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK BRACKETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AIR-CRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Original application filed July 11, 1910, Serial No. 571,428. Divided and this application filed August 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BRACKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful improvements in Air-Craft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial navigating apparatus, is a divisional application of application filed July 11, 1910, for an air craft, Serial No. 57 1,428, and has particular reference to an improved apparatus of this character combining sustaining aeroplane features with a novel balloon structure, the improved device having for its primary obj ect to provide means for supporting in midair an aeroplane structure when the sustaining or driving element, usually in the form of a motor driven propeller, becomes inactive by breakage or by the will of the operator, or supporting in mid-air a balloon structure when the gas becomes exhausted from the supporting gas container.

Another object of this invention is to construct an apparatus admitting of a very flexible control and being comparatively light in weight, such advantages being incident to an aeroplane structure and an apparatus possessing the buoyancy of a balloon which will float and support the craft without the operation of the propelling means.

A further object of the invention is to provide this improved aerial craft with sus taining planes made up from a plurality of separable and interchangeable component elements admitting of the knocking down and assemblage of the apparatus for easy transportation and construction, as well as adapting the elements for adjustment singly and in groups.

It is further designed by this invention to provide an aerial craft combining all of the good features and advantages of the aerial and balloon structures, and in which are eliminated all of the disadvantages possessed by each type singly.

It is also designed by this invention to include in this improved apparatus a novel construction of car or frame and to provide adjusting means between the several planes of the apparatus and the frame, whereby the latter is supported at various distances between the planes.

With these objects in view the invention broadly consists of a number of planes Serial No. 643,653.

adapted for supporting a frame work or car which is adjustably suspended from the planes, each of these planes being given a curvature incident to the structure of the planes on an aeroplane, and forming these planes of a number of gas containers which are arranged in horizontal relation to provide an assembled plane of the desired size. The improved craft is also provided with a propelling mechanism of any adaptable form and improved steering apparatus, the latter being retained as the subject matter in the above referred to application of which this is a division.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter particularly pointed out in the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and in the appended claims.

In the drawings disclosing one embodiment of this invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved aerial craft. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through the adjacent corners of the plane elements showing the connecting means for the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the connecting means. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the connecting link employed. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged perspective view of one corner of the car or frame. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional. view of one of the elements or containers. Fig. 7 is a similar view disclosing a modified structure of the element or container.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings, 10 are the elements from which the planes of the apparatus are formed. These elements are in the form of gas containers, are preferably arranged in three superimposed and spaced rows of four each, are rectangular in cross section, and have their ends reduced wedge-shaped. The ends are thus formed preferably by convergence of the top and bottom of the containers, to offset the resistance of the air to the movement of the craft.

It will be seen from Fig. 7 that each of the elements or containers is in the form of a supporting frame or shell 11 of aluminum or other light metal or fiber, and is provided with an inner gas bag or lining ofsilk or other suitable material 12. If desired, the container may he of any other suitable form, such as is disclosed for instance in Fig. 7 in which the supporting frame 11 is formed of lattice Work or stamped material, and. is surrounded by the gas bag or body of silk 12.

The under or bottom side 13 of each of the containers is curved in the direction of flight of the machine, as is clearly disclosed in Fig. 1, and is shaped in accordance with the rules used in constructing the supporting planes of heavier-than-air machines. It will be noted that for each row of plan-es there is an aggregate supporting surface of relatively large area. This surface may be made of such an area that the craft may be supported by it alone without the assistance of the gas in the containers, and the capacity of the containers is adapted to be such that they will hold suiiicient gas to support the machine when it is not being propelled. This proportion may be varied at Will, and in connection with war crafts it is preferred that they be made as herein specified.

Each container 10 is provided at its ends, and at spaced intervals throughout its length, with straps 14 preferably completely encircling the container at such points, and being looped at the edges of the container to provide flexible connecting portions. These loo-ping or connecting portions are each provided with a square link, disclosed to advantage in Fig. 4, the links each being offset outwardly at its corners for the reception of diagonal supporting cords 16 extending diagonally between the links 15 of each container. The cords 16 are used as braces or supports, and light rods or other devices may be employed in lieu of the cords if desired. The adjacent corners or edges of the containers 10 are connected together by snap rings or connecting links 17, as is disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. The snap rings Or links 17 engage through the connecting links 15 and engage in offset portions formed mid- .way of the ends of the upper bars of the links for the purpose of holding the loops or straps 14 in alinement with one another. Cords 16 are passed through eyelets 16 in each strap 14 on the tops of the containers 10, the cords 16 passing around each group and being tied or otherwise suitably secured to the frame or car of the craft to hold the component elements in groups forming the planes, and to hold the planes in their respective positions. Any other suitable means maybe employed for fastening these planes and groups of containers together.

Attached to the links 17 of the lowermostcontainers by detachable snap hooks 18 is a car structure on which is mounted the propelling motor 20, and from which the craft is controlled. It will be noted that the snap hooks 18 consecutively increase in length from the rear to the forward end of the craft in order to support the craft in a true horizontal plane beneath the inclined supporting planes. This car is a frame structure formed of light, strong material and is diagonally braced by struts 21. The longitudinal members 22 of the frame meet the transverse members 23, the vertical members 24 and the diagonal members 21 at the corners of the frame, as shown in detail in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the transverse members 23 lap against the inner sides of the vertical members 24, and that the longitudinal memhere 22 lap against the outer sides of the vertical members 24 and pass beneath the ends of the transverse members 23, while the diagonal members 21 extend between the longitudinal members 22, the endmost diagonal member 21 being braced at its foot against the projected end of the transverse member '23 at each corner of the frame. The longitudinal members 22 are held apart by intermediate vertical members or bars 25 receiving the ends of the intermediate diagonal member 21. and the inner ends-of the endmost diagonal members.

The means for propelling the craft comprises preferably three propellers, one of which is directly connected to the motor 20, while the other two are geared to the motor 20, as is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, all of said propellers being ournaled in the frame of the car. It is, of course, understood that any number of propellers may be employed, and that the same may be arranged as desired. Above the car and on each side of the air craft is a series of steering vanes 26 supported in a frame 27 carried upon the upper ends of the uprights 28 extending from the car or frame. The original application, of which this is a division, has retained this specific steering mechanism, and reference is made to the same for the specific details thereof.

From the foregoing construction it is apparent that when the craft is in operation should the propelling mechanism 20 become inoperative for any reason the gas carried in the containers 10 is suificient to sustain the craft in mid-air and to prevent the falling or overturning of the same. On the other hand when the gas leaks from the containers the craft may be propelled safely to the ground as an aeroplane structure, since the containers are given such form as to provide planes by reason of their peculiar grouping. It is also seen from this structure that the snap rings'17 may be detached from the links 15 to disconnect the straps 14 and admit of the knocking down or separation of the containers, admitting of the same being conveyed separately from place to place where it is desired to construct-or set up the apparatus. It is noted that the diagonal braces or struts 21 are inclined forwardly and that their extremities engage against the corners formed between the

vertical members

24 and 25 and the longitudinal members 20 so that the thrust of the propellers upon the frame or car is received practically longitudinally of the struts 21, thereby reinforcing the frame and obtaining the greatest possible strength of the struts incident to their peculiar positioning.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. An air craft comprising a plurality of gas containers, each one of said containers being formed of an elongated and pointed element substantially rectangular in crosssection and being curved longitudinally, means for securing said gas containers side by side in superposed groups to provide planes, and propelling means for the planes.

2. An air craft comprising a plurality of plane-elements each one of said elements being formed of an elongated gas container having Wedge-shaped ends and flat sides, means for grouping said containers in superposed and transverse series, and propolling means suspended beneath the planeelements.

3. An air craft comprising a plurality of elongated and pointed gas containers being substantially rectangular in cross-section, securing means for the gas containers for holding the same side by side in separate groups to form planes, said gas containers being curved longitudinally throughout their lengths whereby the planes are curved in the direction of the line of flight, and propelling means for the planes.

4. An air craft having a gas container formed of an elongated and pointed element substantially rectangular in cross-section and being curved longitudinally throughout its length.

5. An air craft comprising a plurality of gas containers substantially rectangular in cross-section and tapering at their ends, said containers being curved longitudinally throughout their lengths, means for grouping said containers to form planes, and propelling means for the planes.

6. A plane for air craft comprising a plurality of gas containers arranged side by side and tapering at their opposite ends, said gas containers being curved lengthwise in the line of flight, and means for holding the gas containers together.

7. An air craft comprising superposed planes, each of said planes being formed of a plurality of gas containers, straps encircling the gas containers and being looped at the edges thereof, and connecting links securing the loops of the gas containers to group the same together.

8. An air craft comprising a plurality of gas containers, straps secured about the gas containers at regular intervals throughout their lengths and being looped at the corners thereof, and links engaging through the loops to group said containers together.

9. An air craft comprising a rectangular body structure composed of a plurality of gas containers, straps encircling the gas containers at regular intervals throughout their lengths and being looped at the edges thereof, links joining the looped portions of the straps to group the containers together, a frame structure suspended from the lower gas containers, and propelling means mounted upon the frame structure.

10. An air craft comprising a rectangular structure embodying a group of gas containers of elongated form having tapering ends, straps secured about the containers and being looped at the edges thereof, and links connecting the loops to hold the containers together.

11. In an air craft, a plurality of separate gas containers having fiat sides and wedge shaped ends, independent straps carried about the gas containers at regular intervals throughout their lengths and being looped at the corners thereof, and links detachably engaging the loops to group the gas containers in various horizontal and vertical series as desired.

12. In an air craft, a plurality of separable and interchangeable gas containers, said containers comprising elongated bodies having flat sides adapted to fit closely together when the bodies are assembled, loops carried at the edges of the containers and adapted to register with one another, and detachable links engaging through the loops to hold the containers in groups, whereby planes of the desired width and number may be formed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK BRAOKETT.

Witnesses:

JAs. J. MAWHINNEY, G. M. Sruonnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G."