US1204380A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. H.CURT1SS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE23. 1910.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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wanes it ALA-LL- GLENN 1.". CUB/PISS, U3 EEAMMONDSPQBT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'TO CURTISS AERO- & IIZQTQR CQRPORATIUN, A GORPORATION OF NEW YOMQZ.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed June 23, 1910. Serial No. 568,425.

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Be it known that I, GLENN H. Conrrss, a: citizen ofthe United gtates, residing at Hammondsport, New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to a flying machine and is particularly applicable to an aeroplane or heavier-than-air machine, and it consists of certain novel parts and combinations of parts specified in the claims concluding these specifications.

My invention may be embodied in a va riety of forms, but in the drawings I have illustrated as embodiments thereof those forms which 1 now prefer.

In the forms illustrated in the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a flying machine of the Curtiss type,parts which are immaterial to the present invention being omitted, such as the rear vertical rudder and the front horizontal rudder. The balancing surfaces are shown as moved to their equilibrium-restoring position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow just above the upper main supporting surface 1-, Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of tie shoulder frame and equalizing device;

Fig. is an enlarged detail of the balancing v surfaces, showing how they may shift without changing the angle between them; Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the shoulder frame and equalizing device of Figs 2 if the balancing surfaces shi the dotted-line to the full-line positions shown in Fig. 4-; Fig. 6 is a detail of a modification; and Fig. lar to Fig. 2 but showing a further modified arrangement.

The machine shown is heavier-than-air machine of the biplane type, 1 and 2 being the upperand lower main supporting surfaces. The balancing surfaces are preferably independent of the main supporting surfaces, and are shown as two similar flat ailerons 3 and t, one at each side of the machine, and pivoted at 3 and P to the connecting struts 5, 5, between the two main supporting surfaces.

and 'Z are supports which hold the rudders respectively and front and which it is not n cessary illustrate.

t from i 7 is a rear view simi- 9 is the seat for the operator.

X, in Figs. 1 and 4, represents the normal 'rush of air toward the machine.

In the embodimentshown in the drawings, it is desired to tilt the machine baclr to normal horizontal, the balancing surface at the depressed side is thrown down so that the rush of air strikes it at a positive .of incidence in order to create lifting effect on that side, and the other balancing surface thrown up to a negative angle to create a depressing effect. In my machines up to this time this has been done by the operator, and although I do not limit myself to movement thereof by the operator, 1 prefer to move the balancing surfaces in this way, and have so illustrated my invention in the drawings. As one means of simultaneously presenting and holding the balancing surfaces at opposite angles of incidence, l have provided a movable shoulder frame 8 which incloses the operators shoulders and which operates the wires 11, 11, 12 and 1%, which run over stationary pulleys 13 to 26 and are attached to the rear edges of the balancing surfaces. The shoulder frame is connected to the seat 9 by rods or bars 10, which are pivoted at 10 and 1H, and the wires are preferably so arranged that when the operator leans toward the uptilted side of the machine, the limlancing surfaces will be thrown in opposite directions so as to present them opposite angles of incidence, with theone on the depressed side at a negative angle. and the one on the elevated side at a positive angle. This will accomplish the restoration of equilibrium.

In order to insure exactly equal resistance to the forward movement of the machine at the opposite sides under the various conditions of operation, 1 preferably employ pressure equalizers which. are, inv

the embodiment illustrated, attached to the wires operating the ailerons which equalizers. may be of any suitable construction, such, for example, as the whiflietrees 27, 28 shown in Figs. 2 and 5, or the single whittletree' 31 shown in- Fi 7, or the pulleys 27 28 shown in Fig. 6. It will he observed that in either case, with the construction and arrangement of parts shown, the ailerons'will, when idle, (before the shoulder is moved) always be in the stream line and therefore Wholly inactive; and that when they are operated in balancing the machine" the retarding force exerted by the aileron on one side of the machine .acts through a .whiffietree or pulley, or other suitable equalizing device, directly opposed to the retarding force exerted by the aileron on the other side of the machine, so that these forces must always be exactly equal, since, should from any cause a tendency to inequality exist by reason of the ailerons presenting unequal angles of'incidence. to the air, the whflfletree or pulley will turn sufficiently to permit the ailerons at the two sides to shift slightly in the same angular direction until they present exactly equal angles of incidence to the. air and, hence, to prevent any possible turning tendency of the machine around a vertical axis, even such as would be negligible and imperceptible in the operation of the machine.- v

I am aware that many variations of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed,

and I therefore do not limit myself to the.

construction heretofore'described and illustrated in the drawings.

What I claim is 1 1. A flying machine comprising a balancing surface at each side thereof the angle "of members in the same direction to move said surfaces in opposite directions.

2. A'flying machine comprising a balancing-surface at each side thereof the angle 'of incidence of which may be varied and which is pivoted forward of its center of pressure, a two-part flexible connection for operating said surfaces, an equalizing mem-.

ber interpolated in the connection for moving one ofsaid surfaces up and the other down, a second equalizing member interpolated in the connection for moving said first mentioned surface down and the other up, said members being free for equalizing motion in response to varied air pressure on said surfaces, and common means for moving said members bodily in a predetermined direction to move said surfaces in opposite d rectlons.

3. A flying machine comprising a balancing surface at each side thereof, the angle of incidence of which may be varied, a flexible two-part connection for operating said surfaces, a pivoted equalizing member interpolated in said connection for moving one I of said surfaces up and the other down, a second pivoted. equalizing member interpolated in said connection for moving said first v mentioned surface downand the other up,

said members being capable .of their equal-' izing motion in response to varied air pressure d'nJs'aiid surfaces so that said surfaces mayj'inove in the same direction and said members oppositely, and common means for bodily moving said member's' in the same directionto move said surfaces in opposite directions. I

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 20th day of June D. 1910.

eLEuN CURTISS. Witnesses GoNLoN E. Lone,

LOUIS F. EDWARDS. I

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