US1171615A - Aeroplane. - Google Patents

Description

J. S. LANG.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. I9I2.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

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J. S. LANG.

AEROPLANE.

APPucmoN man MAR. 27. |912.

Patented Feb. 15,1916

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J. S. LANG.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION man MAR.21. 19.12.

Patented Feb. 15, -196.

3 SHEETSrSHEET 3- WITNEEIEEEQ JAMES S. LANG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AEROPLANE.

Specification `of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 15, 1916 Application led March 27, 1912. Serial No. 686,712.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. LANG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact ,description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The essential object of my invention is to provide improved means for facilitating the control and balance of the machine during flight and for lessening also the danger of injuring the machine when landings are V made.

My invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings in which- Figure 1 shows the machine in plan. Fig. 2 shows theA same in side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine. Fig. l is a front elevation thereof, and Figs. 5 and 6 are plans showing details of construction to which reference will hereinafter be made. Fig. 7 shows in perspective a further detail of construction to which special reference will also bemade.

In the drawings the framework of the machine consists essentially of two sections or parts, primary and secondary. The primary or main frame supports the body of the machine includingn the horizontal lifting planes, the balancing' planes and other associated parts as will hereinafter be explained, while the secondary frame forms the tail portion of the machine and carries the vertical and horizontal steering planes or rudders by which the machine is made to turn laterally either to-the right or left, or to rise or fall.

The primary frame consists of top and bottom horizontal beams 1 and 2, respectively. Connecting these sets of beams are vertical stanchions 3 and strut 4.

The secondary frame consists of horizontal top beams 5 and bottom beams' 6. Each of these sets of .beams connect, respectively, with the horizontal top and bottom beams l and 2 of the primary frame to extend backwardly therefrom and substantially at right angles thereto. The horizontal beams 5 and 6 are also connected with one another by stanchions 7 and struts 8, while the framework formed thereby is reinforced by crossed braces or wires 9.

The machine shown embodying my present invention is of the well known biplane type, 10 representing the uppermain lifting plane and 11 the lower mainlifting'plane, both of these planes being built upon the main or primary frame. Coperating with the upper main plane and arranged below the same at the right and left sides thereof are auxiliary balancing planes 12 and 13, respectively. These planes are controlled in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

At the rear end of the machine are arranged the vertical guiding planes or rudders 14. and 15, respectively, which act to laterally control the machine. Each of these rudders is arranged to swing,.being pivoted at its forward edge by hinged connections 16 to the struts 8 of the secondary frame just forward of the rear end thereof. At the extreme rear end of the secondary frame are arranged horizontal planes or rudders 17 and 18, respectively, which act to control the rise and fall of the machine. Each of these rudders is pivoted to turn about a horizontal axis, the same being secured at their forward edges to the stanchio-ns 7 at the extreme rear end of the seconda-ry frame by hinged connections 19.

Reference will now be made to the manner in which the various planes and rudders are cont-rolled and first with reference tothe auxiliary balancing planes 12' and 13. The disposition, arrangement and operation of these balancing planes are substantially as described in my copending application, filed June 6, 1911, Serial No. 630,115. Briefly, the balancing planes are' small planesarranged adjacent, parallel with andl below j lplanes are freelyy supported, the same being carried by endlessjcords 20. These cords are rectangularly arranged to run over pul' leys 21 (xed to the framework of the machine) around and between the major planes and to which cords the minor planes `are secured at the corner edges thereof. The arrangement of the cords, in other words, is such that upon the application of draft or pull thereto in reverse directions the balancing planes will be moved by the cords in reverse directions, one approaching the plane 10 as the other is simultaneously moved away therefrom depending upon the direction of the pull upon the cords.

According to my present invention the stress or pull upon the cords 20 for controlling the balancing planes is eifected through a brace of levers 22. These levers are arranged just forward of the operators seat 23 which is centrally located above and just forward of the rear edge of the bottom major lifting plane 11 and between it and the steering wheel 42li arranged in front of the seat. The levers 22 are parallelly arranged in an upright position, one at the right and the other at the left of the steering wheel. At their bottom ends each of the levers is pivoted to one of the struts 4A, at the bottom of the main frame by hinged connections 25 and in a manner whereby the levers may be turned laterally. The levers are connected to one another to move laterally together, the same being joined by a crossbar 26 pivotally secured thereto. Connecting with the upper ends of the respective levers are cords 27 which extend from the respective levers in reverse directions to connect with the cords 20 carrying' the balancing planes with the effect that as the levers are moved in reverse directions the balancing planes through the connecting cords 27 and 20 will have a relatively corresponding and simultaneous movement. The disposition and arrangement of the levers 22 are also such that they may be moved laterally in reverse directions by the arms of one sitting in the operators seat and holding the wheel. As recited above, the levers are located between the operators seat and the wheel, one at the right and the other at the left of the wheel. Extending inwardly from each of the respective levers is a.- hookshaped projecting member 28, forming an arm rest. In other words, these members 28 are so adapted that as the arms ofthe operator are extended to grasp the wheel they will lie at about the points of the elbows in the rests so that by a sidewise motion of the arms the levers may be laterally moved for controlling the balancing planes.l

The steeringwheel 24 is mounted upon a post 29. This post extends through a block 30 .and is loosely mounted to turn therein.

' The post is held against longitudinal movement with respect to the .block by clamps 31 fixed to the post just above and below the block. The block 30 is provided with trunnions 32`extending laterally therefrom and these trunnions are mounted to turn in bearings 33 secured to cross-pieces 34 which are interposed between struts 4 at the bottom of of the machine as the part of the post projecting below the block is moved toward the rear of the machine, or vice versa.

It is by means'of the post 29 and wheel secured to it that the rudders are controlled.

As above explained, two rudders 14 and 15 j are provided for controlling the lateral movement of the machine, and, also, two rudders 17 and 18 for controlling the rise and fall of the machine. Such number of rudders are employed for the following reasons, for it is apparent that the machine might be controlled by means of two rudders, one for controlling the lateral movement of the machine and the other its rise and fall. 1f single rudders were used to control each of these movements of the inachine such rudders would have to be relatively large in order that the machine might be controlled under the variable atmospheric.

influences to which it would be necessarily subjected. The difficulty with a single large rudder,4however, for such purpose is that under normal conditions the action of the rudder is so powerful that it becomes unduly sensitive and if moved too far tends to unbalance the machine. To obviate this I have provided two relatively small rudders and arranged whereby one only of these rudders may be operated to control the machine under normal conditions, both rudders being brought into play only under abnormal conditions when a very powerful guiding inlinence is required.

The manner in which the respective rudders are controlled from the post and lwheel will now be described, reference first being made to the means for opera-ting the rudders 14 and 15 by which the machine is laterally controlled. Fixed to the post 29 just above the block 30 in which the post turns and upon which it is pivotally mounted is a pulley 35. Passed around this pulley is a cord 36 which frictionally engages the pulley in such manner that as the pulley is turned the cord will wind onto-and off of the same. The cord 36 extends back in a manner whereby the ends thereof may con nect respectively with the rudders 14 and 15 for operating the one or the other of these rudders as the wheel 'is turned in reverse directions. The cord 36 may connect with the respective rudders in any suitable manner.

According to the construction shown.

this is accomplished as follows: That portion of the cord which connects with the rudder 14 is divided into two parts 37 and 37a in order that this portion of the cord may connect with the rudder 14 at different points. The part 37 of the cord is extended back and around a pulley 38 arranged upon the under side of one of the bottom horizontal beams 6 of the secondary frame at the rear endof the machine on the left side thereof and adjacent the outer side or face of the rudder 14, and thence passes inwardly to connect with the outer side or face of the rudder at the point 39. The part 37a of the cord passes around a pulley 40 arranged on the under side of the bottom left-hand beam 6 of the secondary frame; thence passes upwardly and over a pulley 41 arranged upon the top left-hand beam 5 of the secondary frame; thence is extended backward and around a pulley 42 arranged upon the same beam adjacent the side or face of the rudder 14, and thence passes inwardly to connect with the outer side or face of the rudder 14 rat the point 43. That portion of the cord a pulley 48 arranged on the under side of the bottom right-hand beam 6 of the secondary frame; is thence extended upwardly to pass over and around a pulley 49 arranged f upon the top beam 5 of the secondary frame on the right side of the machine, and is thence extended backward and around a pulley 50 arranged upon the same beam adjacent the side or face of the rudder 15, and thence passes inwardly to connect with the side or face of this rudder at the point 51. With the parts thus arranged it will be o-bserved that as the steering wheel 24 is turned in one direction -or the other either the o-ne or the other of the rudders 14 or 15 will be turned. Moreover as one rudder is turned the other -rudder will be left toassume a passive position which of course would be an inoperative position during the running of the machine. Arrangement is made, however, so that as the o-ne or the other of the rudders is turned theotli'er'rudder will also be moved to turn with it after the first rudder, directly inliuenced, has .been moved a certain amount, and this is accomplished by connecting the rudders through a loose ilexible connection 52. I prefer that this connection be so arranged that the rudder directly operated will have moved through an arc of about five degrees before the other rudder is influenced to move with it, so that under normal conditions only one rudder need be used for turning the machine, both rudders being brought into operation only under abnormal conditions and when exigencies arise. p

Referring to the operation of the rudders 17 and 18 which control the rise and fall of the machine and which in turn are controlled by the pivotal-movement of the post 29, attention is first directed to the links 53 and 54, respectively, which are loosely mounted upon the post 29 at points respectively above and below the block 30 upon which the post is pivotally mounted. These links are held against movement along the post by means of clamps or collars 55 arranged above and below each of the links. Connecting with the links 53 are cords 56 and 57 which extend back to connect with the rudder 17. The arrangement of these cords is as follows: The cord 56 extends back a'nd around a pulley 58 arranged at the bottom of the secondary frame at its extreme end and upon the leftside thereof. The cord 56 after passing around this pulley extends upwardly and connects with the side or face of the rudder 17 at the point 59. The cord 57 is extended back and around a pulley 60 arranged at the bottom extreme end of the `'secondary frame on the right side thereof. "After/passing around this pulley the cord is" extended upwardly to connect with the side or face of the rudder 17 at the point 61. Connecting with the link 54 are cords 62 and 63. These cords connect with the rudrder 18 in the following manner: The cord 62 passes backward around a pulley 64 arranged upon the bottom horizontal beam 6 vof the secondary frame at the left side of the machine; is thence extended upwardly around a pulley 65 arranged upon the upper horizontal beam 5 of the secondary frame at the left side of the machine; is thence extended backwardly and around a pulley 66 arranged'at the extreme top, end of the secondary frame at the left of `the machine, and thence extends downwardly to connect with the rudder 18 at the point 67. The cord 63 extends from the link 54 backwardly and around a pulley 68 arranged upon the bottom horizontal beam 6 of the secondary frame at the right side ofthe machine; is thence extended upwardly and around a pulley 69 arranged upon the top horizontal beam 5 at the right side of the machine; is thence extended backwardly and around a pulley 70 arranged at the extreme upper end of the secondary frame on the right side thereof, and is thence extended downwardly to connect with the rudder 18 at the point 71. With the parts thus arranged itfwll be seen that as the post 29 is pivotally moved in one direction or the other either one or the other of the rudders 17 or 18 will be turned or de- Iiected, the ,rudder 17 being moved downwardly as the top end of the post 29 is moved forward, and the rudder 18 being moved upn wardly as the bottom end of the post 29 is moved forward. As either one or the other of the rudders 17 or 18 is positively moved by the aforesaid movement of the post, the other rudder owing to the slackening of the cords connecting with it will assume an inoperative passive position during the running of the machine. Arrangement is made, however, as in the case of the rudders 14: and 15, above described, that as one or the other of the rudders 17 or 18 are positively moved the other rudder may be moved with it, supplementing its action, after the first rudder, positively operated, has been moved a certain amount. This is accomplished by connecting the rudders 17 and 18 by a flexible connection 72. I prefer that both rudders shall be drawn into a position to become operative only when one of the rudders has been moved through an arc of about five de grees, the other rudder being then drawn into operation with it. In other words, such movement that during the normal operation of the machine but one rudder need be operated, both rudders being operated simultaneously in the same direction only under abnormal conditions and in cases of emergency.

Having referred to the operation and manual control of the machine, reference Will now be made to that phase of my invention which pertains to the automatic balance or stability of the machine during Hight. It will be observed that the bottom main lifting plane 11 of the machine is turned upwardly at either end thereof to provide upwardly inclined lifting surfaces 7 3. The advantages of these surfaces is that when the machine has become laterally overbalanced or displaced from its true normal horizontal position, by reason of the inclination of the bottom plane as aforesaid an increased lifting infiuence upon the machine will be given by the lower displaced end of the plane and a lesser lifting inuence will be given by the higher displaced end thereof, thereby tend ing to restore the plane and the machine to its true normal horizontal position. :It 1s especially to be observed, however., -that these inclined surfaces 7 3are provlded'only upon the bottom plane in order that they may lie or be as near as possible that horizontal plane in which lies the center of gravity of the machine, and this for the following reasons: WVhile a maJor plane having ends inclined as aforesaid tends to maintain the plane and machine in a normal horizontal position, yet these surfaces of the plane are apt to be struck by sudden lateral gusts of air'. If these inclined surfaces are arranged some distance'above thecenter of leverage, tend to overturn the machine. By

providing these lifting surfaces, however, in the bottom main lifting plane which lies within or near the center of gravity of the machine, any tendency upon the part of air striking these planes to overbalance the machine will be directed in a direction-toward the center of gravity of the machine when the horizontal component of the force will become dissipated in laterally moving the entire machine instead of tending to overturn the same. In other words, the danger of using these inclined surfaces by reason of sudden lateral gusts of air is reduced to a minilnum and the advantages thereof retained, viz; that of automatically restoring the planes of the machine to their normal horizontal position in case of displacement.

Referring now to the ground support of the machine and the means employed for safeguarding it against injury when alighting. Secured to the bottom horizontal beams of the secondary frame at the forward end thereof are spring members 74. These bars are made substantially bowshaped with a downward conveXity. The bars extend also some little distance forward of the front of the machine. To these bars are secured wheels on which the machine may run.y Though these bars are yielding, yet owing to their relatively small size and the manner in which they connect with the secondary frame, they would of themselves afford but little support to the machine in case it should violently Contact with the ground. The bars are, however, yieldingly reinforced and supported in the following manner: As before described, the y horizontal beams of the secondary frame are extended to meet and become secured to the horizontal beams of the primary frame. At the points where these horizontal beams meet at the front of the machine the pri- 'mary frame is provided with stanchions vwhich together with the horizontal beams are bound togetherl by metal fittings. Of these fittings 76 represents the fittings to which the'stanchions and beams are secured at the bottom of the frame and 77 those to which the stanchions and beams are secured` at the 'top of the frame. Flxedly connecting with the bottom ones 76 of these fittings are bent spring bars 78 which extend outwardly from the fittings to bend downwardly and connect, respectively, with the spring bars 74 by hinged connections 79. AThe bars 7J: are also yieldingly supported and reinforced by mea-ns of uprights or posts 80. These posts lat the bottom ends thereof are hinged to the respective bars 7 4: by hinged connections 81. From these hinged connections the posts extend upwardly through the respective fittings 76 and 77. Below the respective fittings 77 each post has arranged thereon a collar 82 and between these collars and the Iittings 77 encircling the respective posts, are arranged compression springs 83. The posts are tied together and reinforced by means of crossed braces 84. From the top ends of the respective posts there extend wires or other connections 85 which are secured to the bottom front horizontal beam 2 of the primary frame at the ends thereof and also at intermediate points. The operation of these parts is as follows: When a landing is effected the contact of the machine with the ground will tend to compress and accordingly extend the spring bars 7l and 78, the bars 74 springing inwardly toward the bottom of the machine. This action is resisted, however, by the springs 83 becoming compressed against the fitting 76 at the top of the primary frame, for as the bars 711 are sprung inwardly toward the bottom of the machine the posts 8O will be moved upwardly compressing the springs 83 which accordingly resist the displacement" of the bar 74. As the posts are moved upwardly a supporting draft will also be exerted through the connections 85 upon the bottom horizontal beam 2 which forms the front of the primary frame, and inasmuch as the entire frame of the machine connects with this bar, the force of the impact will accordingly be taken up and distributed through the entire frame.

The action above described takes place in a modified way under normal conditions of landing or in cases when the wheels upon which the landing is made are not disrupted or displaced. The construction, however, becomes most important in cases where the .violence of impact tends to disrupt the landing wheels from the machine or so distort their position that the full force of the impact will come upon the bars 74 which will then operate as skids.` In such case the fall of the machine might tend not only to break these bars but also wrench the entire machine, but by taking up and distributing the force of the impact as aforesaid throughout the entire frame of the machine little damage can follow if the landing be properly eected, regardless of the violence of such landing.

Owing Vto requirement for division the landing mechanism is not claimed herein, but it is my purpose to claim the same in a separate application for Letters Patent.

Having thus fullydescribed my-invention` I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In an aeroplane, the combination with a main lifting plane, of auxiliary balancing planes arranged adjacent the working face of said main plane on opposite sides of the machine, connections arranged to support said auxiliary planes and upon and by which said auxiliary planes may be moved in reverse directions, a brace of pivotedlevers 7() parallelly arranged and connecting with one another whereby the same may be moved in unison, and connections attached respectively to said levers and extending therefrom in reverse directions to connect with 75 said connections first above mentioned, whereby said auxiliary planes may be moved simultaneously in reverse direction as said levers are pivotally moved.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with the operators seat, of a steering wheel arranged in front of said seat, an operating lever located between said seat and said wheel, said lever being provided with means whereby it may be moved in reverse directions by the arm of one seated in said seat and grasping said wheel.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination with the operators seat, of a steering wheel arranged in front of said seat, a brace of pivoted levers parallelly arranged and connecting with one another whereby the same may be moved in unison, said levers being located between said seat and said wheel and upon opposite sides thereof, each of said levers being provided with means whereby they may be moved in reverse directions by the arms of one seated in said seat and grasping said wheel.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination with the operators seat,`of a steering wheel arranged in front of said seat, a brace of pivoted levers parallelly arranged and connecting with one another whereby the same may be movedin unison, said levers being located between said seatI and said wheel and upon opposite sides thereof, whereby said levers may be operated b v the arms of one grasping the wheel, said levers being each provided on the inside thereof with arm rests adapted to receive the arms of the operator positioned as aforesaid.

Y 5. An aeroplane having rudders pivotally arranged in pair, means connecting said rudders whereby the same may be moved simultaneously in the same direction after one of said rudders has had a predetermined movement, and means for controlling said'k rudders whereby the separate rudders may be moved in reverse directions or both rudders moved simultaneously in the same direction as one of said rudders after such rudder has had a determinate movement as aforesaid.

6. An aeroplane having a sety of vertical direction after one of said rudders of either after such rudder has had a determinate set has had a determinate movement, and movement.

means for controlling each of said sets of rudders whereby the separate rudders of JAMES S LANG' 5 either set may be turned in reverse direc- Witnesses:

tions or both rudders in either set turned in JoHN E. R. HAYES,

the same direction as one rudder of the set M. E. FLAHTJITY.

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