US1241860A - Plane for flying-machines. - Google Patents

Description

J. S. LANG. I

PLANE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 913.

1,241,860. Patented 0% 2,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l. S. LANG.

PLANE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

umcmou mm ocr. 23. m3.

1,241,860. Patented Oct 21917.

2 8HEETS-SHEET 2.

u a M7 UNITED STATES Parana? OFFICE.

JAMES S. LANG, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PLANE FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

Application filed October 23, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. LANG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Planes for Flying-Machines, 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.

My invention relates to an improvement in planes for flying machines and especially to the main lifting planes thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a plane which by reason of its form or the arrangement of its parts is adapted to assist in automatically maintaining the stability of the machine and especially when the machine is being subjected to gusts of wind striking the machine and plane at an oblique angle with relation to the line of its flight and which might otherwise tend to overturn the machine.

For the purpose of illustrating my improved plane I have shown the same applied to a flying machine of the biplane type although it is equally applicable to other types of flying machines.

The drawings are simply diagrammatic, only those parts of the machine being shown as are necessary to illustrate the form and relative application of the plane forming the subject-matter of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine, and

Fig. 4 is a plan of a modified detail of construction to which special reference will hereinafter be made.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the body of the machine, 2 the engine, 3 the propeller, 4 the upper main lifting plane, and 5 the lower lifting plane. At the tail of the machine 6 and 7 represent, respectively, elevating and steering planes, both of a type commonly employed. 8 is the landing gear. All these parts are thus generally referred to for the purpose of show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 796,835.

ing the relative arrangement and disposition of the main lifting planes 4 and 5.

The main lifting planes 4 and 5 are supported by a frame structure consisting of ribs 9 and interposed struts 10 bound together and connecting with the body of the machine to be supported by it in the customary manner.

Each of the main lifting planes 4 and 5 comprises correlative portions 11 and 12, respectively, lying on opposite sides of the longitudinal center or axis of the machine and extending laterally and outwardly therefrom with a forward inclination with relation to the transverse axis of the machine. In order to accomplish the object of my invention, the forward inclination of the correlative portions of the plane or planes should be such that the entering edges 13 thereof will have an angularity of at least 15 with relation to the transverse axis of the machine, although such angularity, as will later be explained, depends upon the relative size and inclination of the righting tips at the ends of the correlative portions of the planes, my preference being thatthe relations of the parts be such that the entering'edges of the correlative portions of the plane may have an angularity of approximately 30 with relation to the transverse axis of the machine and by approximately I .mean between 20 and 40.

At their inner ends I prefer that the portions 11 and 12 of the respective planes be connected by a common or central plane section 14, although the plane sections 11 and 12 may be connected in such manner that the inclined entering edges 13 thereof will meet in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the machine as shown in Fig. 4. I prefer, however, the structure shown in Fig. 1 on account of constructional advantages.

Each of the correlative portions 11 and 12 of the upper main lifting plane 4 is provided at its outer end with a fixed laterallyextending and upwardly-inclined righting tip of which 15 represents the righting tip to the plane section 11 and 16 the righting tip to the plane section 19.

The operation of main lifting planes is as Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

with an equal and uniform application.-

Any lifting action upon the respective righting tips 15, 16, is also uniform. The lateral balance of the machine will accordingly be maintained. In case the machine settles, the righting tips 15 and 16 assist in maintaining it in its normal position of equilibrium or balance, the pressure of air against these tipsbeing substantially equal on both sides of the machine.

' It will now be assumed that a gust of air strikes the planes [of the machine obliquely or at an angle to the line of its flight. It will also be assumed, for purposes of illustration, that the resultant of the gust and the relative backward movement of the air due to the progress of the machine is from the right side thereof in the direction indicated by therespective arrows a, 6; a 6 etc. Under these circumstances the resultant air pressure will on one side of the machine exert a lifting influence on the righting tip 15, plane section 11 and substantially one half of the intermediate section 14. On

the other side of the machine it will exert'a' lifting influence on the remaining half of the plane section 14, on the plane section 12, and a very slight lifting influence, if any, upon the righting tip 16. Moreover, if the resultant air pressure is sufficiently oblique, it will exert a depressing influence upon the top side of this righting tip.

With the conditions as assumed, the tendency of the resultant air pressure might, if the planes were otherwise formed than as described, be to overturn the machine or at least unbalance the same by lifting the right side thereof. According to the formation and arrangement of the respective planes, however, no overturning or unbalancing eflect will be produced for the following reasons: Owing to the relative angular in-' clination of the sections 11 and 12 of the respective planes, it will be observed that the projection of the plane sections 11 on the right sideof the machine to the resultant air pressure is very much less than the projection of the plane sections 12 on the other side of the machine. In other words, the projection of the plane sections 11 to the resultant air, pressure will be that between the arrows a, 6, a 6 while the projection of the sections 12 on the other side of the machine will be that lying between the arrows (1 6 a 6 (see Fig. 1). Therefore,

ert a very strong influence upon the righting nsaneeo righting tip 16 on the other side of the machine, yet the projection of the plane sec tion 11 being so much smaller than that of the plane "section 12, the tendency will accordingly be for the pressure upon the section 12 on the left side of the machine to counteract any tendency to overturn or unbalance the machine.

If the resultant air pressure engaging the" machine was in the direction indicated by the arrow at, 6 it would exert a very strong lifting influence upon the righting tip 15 and without doubt a depressing influence upon the righting tip 16 on the other side of the machine. Its influence, however, upon the .plane section 11 would be relatively slight inasmuch as the projection of this plane section would be that lying between the entering and trailing edges of this secis my purpose to so form the planes that the relative projection of the respective plane sections on either side of the machine to a resultant wind pressure shall in all cases be such that a counteracting influence will be exerted to overcome any tendency on the part of such resultant pressure to overturn the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pattent of the United States 1. A lifting plane for flying machines having correlative portions lying on opposite sides of the longitudinal'center of the machine and projecting respectively outwardly and laterally therefrom, each with a forward inclination with relation to the transverse axis of the machine, and fixed laterallyextending and upwardly-inclined righting tips attached respectively to the ends of such correlative portions, the for ward inclination of said portions being such that the entering edges thereof will have an angularity to the transverse axis of the machine of at least 15.

2. A lifting plane for flying machines having correlative portions lying on opposite sides of the longitudinal center or the machine and projecting respectively out wardly and laterally therefrom, each with a forward inclination with relation to the 1,241,seo

machine of approximately 30 dependent upon the size and inclination of said righting tips.

JAMES S. LANG. Witnesses:

JOHN E. R. HAYEs, M. E. FLAHERTY.

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