US1052986A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. L. TUCKER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1911.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1911.

Patented 'Feb. 11, 1913.

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amvewkw J. L. TUCKER FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1911.

- Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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JOSEPH L. TUCKER, OF HELENA, ALABAMA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.11,1913.

Application filed August 12, 1911. Serial No. 643,751.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. TUoKnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Helena, in the county of Shelby and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, the object of the invention being to provide a machine which will ascend or descend in a vertical path, and hence may be started in flight straight from the ground or a landing station; which is capable of hovering or standing still in the air so that observations, etc., may be made; which is simple of construction and reliable and efiicient in action; and in which the lifting Wheels employed are adapted, in the event of accident, to act as parachutes, to insure a safe descent to the ground.

The invention consists of the ,novel 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 side elevation of a flying machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the lifting wheels and its supporting means. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the drive gearing. Fig. 7 is a detail section of one of the lifting wheels.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a car or platform provided with suitable launching and landingwheels 2 and supporting the aviators seat 3 and driving motor 4. From this car rises a frame formed of vertical and horizontal rods, bars or tubes 5 and 6 properly connected and braced to form a staunch andrigid structure.

Arranged centrally at the front and rear of the machine and supported by the frame are masts 7 and 8 on which are revolubly mounted tubular shafts 9 and 10, each provided at its upper and lower ends with disks o-r heads'll and 12, the lower head 12 carrying a beveled gear 13. Supported by the tubular shafts are lifting wheels 14: and 15, each comprising a hub 16, spaced superposed rims- 17 braces 18 connecting the rims and an annular series of blades 19. 4

The blades 19, into any number of which the wheel may be divided, are of segmental form and fixed to the hub and rim in any suitable manner. In the present instance I have shown each wheel formed of four blades, and, as shown, each blade is inclined downwardly and rearwardly from its leadmg; or front edge to its trail or rear edge so as to present the necessary angle of incidence to the air for supporting effect. The leading edge of each blade alines with or slightly overhangs the trail edge of the preceding blade and its trail edge has hinged or otherwise movably connected therewith a flap 20. This, flap 20 normally lies in the plane of the blade for the free passage 0 the air between the juxtaposed edges of the blades. When, however, the motion of the wheel is arrested, as from the sudden stoppage of the motor, or the speed of the wheel decreases below sustentation limit and the machine beginsto fall, the pressure of the air from below forces the flaps into position to close the air passages between the blades, by which the wheel is converted into a parachute. As a result, the two lifting wheels will support the machine and allow it to descend slowly to the ground, thus insuring a safe landing. Braces 21 stay and support the frame of each lifting propeller from the y disks or heads 11 and '12.

Extending longitudinallyof the machine is a driving shaft 22 carrying large and small sprocket Wheels 23 and 24. These sprocket wheels are respectively connected by chains 25 and 26 with small sprocket wheels 27 and 28 loosely mounted on the motor shaft 29. The sprocket wheels 27 and 28 have friction faces adapted to be engaged by the cone surfaces 29 and 30 of a double friction clutch 31 slidabl'y keyed on the shaft and shiftable by a sliding shipper bar 32 connected with a controlling lever 33 carrying a locking pawl 34 to' engage a rack 35. When the lever is in neutral position the cones will be out of ongagement with both sprocket wheels, thus disconnecting the shaft 22 from the shaft 29, the said shaft 22 being provided with bevel gears 36 engaging the bevel gears 13 on the shafts of the lifting wheels, whereby when said shaft 22 is driven the lifting wheels or propellers will be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions at the same rate of speed.

By adjusting the clutch so as to engage the friction face 29' with the sprocket wheel 27, motion will be communicated through the chain 25 and sprocket wheel" landings may be easily made.

-30 into engagement withfthe sprocket wheel 28, motion will be\communicated throu h y from the 43, which carries a shiftable by a sliding the chain 26 and sprocket wheel 24 to t e shaft 22 to drive said shaft and the lifting wheels at a higher rate of speed, or at a sufficient velocity to elevate the machine, so i that it may be caused to ascend straight u ground or other supporton whic it rests. i

Suitably journaled on the frame the front or rear of the machine are driving propellers 37, to the hub of each of which is secured a bevel gear 38, the said gears 38 meshin with gears 39 on the ends of a transverse rive shaft 40. This shaft 40 carries a bevel gear 41 meshing with a bevel gear 42 on a short longitudinal shaft sprocket wheel 44 connected by a chain 45 with a sprocket wheel 46 loose on the motor shaft 29. The sprocket wheel 46 has a friction face adapted to be engaged by the cone surface 47 of'a clutch 48 slidably keyed on the shaft and shipper rod 49 which an operating lever 50 at either 7 rod is connected with g having a locking pawl 51 to'engage a rack 52, through which and out of action at clutch mechanism the propellerdrive gearing may be thrown into will. These levers 33 and 50 are arranged so as to be conveniently operated by the aviator from his position in the seat 3.

For the purpose of balancing and steera balancing and steering plane 53 is pivotally mounted toswing vertically on a horizontal axis at a v nected by- 63 on a shaft 64 whee 65, whereby the rudder point about midway of the length of the frame. The axis of this plane carries a pulley -or"'sprocket wheel 54 which is cona rope on chain 55 with a pulley or sprocket wheel 56 on a shaft 57 to which -is connected a controlling wheel 58, whereb the plane may be conveniently adjusted.

vertical rudder 59 is disposed at the rear of the machine to swing laterally for horizontal steering, said rudder being provided with laterally extendin crank arms 60 connected by links 61 wit a short chain section 62 passing around a sprocket pinion may be adjusted.

Having thus what I claim is: r

A fi-ying machine comprising a frame structure, vertical shafts carried thereby and provided with beveled gears, rotary lifting and sustaining ropellers carried by said shafts, a motor aving' a lon 'tudinally extending shaft, 'a longitudina tending drive shaft provided at its 0p ends with beveled gears meshing wit the beveled gears von the vertical propeller shafts, high and low speed gearing connecting the motor shaft with the drive shaft, clutch devices operative to connect said shaft-s through either set of gearing, a third longitudinally extending shaft in ear with the motor shaft, a transverse sha t in ear with said third longitudinally exten ing shaft, longitudinally extending propeller sha'ftsfon opposite sides of the aforesaid longitudinal shafts transverse shaft, and driving propellers on said longitudinally extending propeller shafts.

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

J. D. RU FIn', ,J. F. LAMBERT.

described the invention,

y excarrying, a tiller or hand and ingear with said osite

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