US1252904A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

4 A. MJHIRMER.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FlLED MAR-2T, I916.

1,252,904. Patented Jan. 8,1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- FIG. 1 4

INVENTOR A. M. HIRMER.

FLYING MACHINE A PPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. l9l6.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

INVENT OR ANDREW M. HIBMER, 0F MI-LLVALE, EENNSYLV'ANIA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

.fipecifica i n ot Letters Patent.

Patented Janrfi, 191 8.

Application filed March '27, I916. 'fierla'jl' No. 86,932,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW M. 'Hnmma, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Millvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flying-Mm chines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof.

My invention relates to flying-mach nes, and is particularly concerned with an apparatus of this character in which a buoyant supporting body has combined therewitha plurality of wings to assist the machine in rising, which wings when stationary afford means to permit of soaring, and also gradual and graduated descent. Other ob]ects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the apparatus, which s shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 2 is av plan view thereof; Fig. 3 s 'a section on the line 3--3, Fig. 1; F1g. 4 is a detail of the manner of hinging one of the wings to the buoyant body; Fig. 5 1s a plan View of one of the wings; Fig. 6 1s a sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 5; Fig.- 7 is a perspective view of the steering appa ra'tus Fig. 8 is a detail of means for locking the steering apparatus; Fig. 9 IS a further detail of the mounting of the steer ng ap+ P tu s a In the embodiment of the invention herein selected for'illustr'ation, 1 indicates *a buoyant body or gas'bag, which may be of any desired construction and covered with any desired*materialimpervrous to gas. This body or bag ispreferably divided into several compartments by suitable transverse diaphragniso so 'thatshould one portion'o'f the bag be perforated, thejentire bag will not lose ,thebuoya-nt gas. At the center of the buoyant body 1, a narrow; transverse compartment is formed by means of dis phi-agms-suclr'as 2, w'hoseedgcs i come togethjer, said diaphragms being spaced but a fewinches apart so as to permit of the mounting of the wing-operating mechan sm between them. As will be seenfrogm Fig. 3,

the edges of these diaphragms are flattened at 4 'topermit'a commun icat'ipg space between the gascontai n'ing compartments 3 on either side of this central mechanism dr m: 5 her. y j

Each of "tlrewings 6 comprises asuita-ble frame or'outline 7 and a plurality of trans verse, rigid ribs 8. The wings are preferably divided into two sections, as shown in 'Fig. 5, each section being provided with a hinged lug 9 by which the section may be pivoted 'tothe buoyant body by'means of an ear 10 secured to a hoop 11 on the outside of the body, which hoop is reinforced by an inner hoop 12, the hoops having the covering 13 of the buoyant body between them. The junctions of the sections of each wing are secured to an operating-arm 14, which is pivoted at 15 to an ear 16, secured in the side of the buoyant body-opposite the space between the two diaphragms 2. The outer end ofthis operating-arm 14 may be secured in any desired way to the wing 6."

The construction of the wing is of especial importance, and illustrates one of the essential features of the invention. It is necessary thatwhen these wings are operated by the 'mechanism hereinafter to be de' scribed that they should olfer little resistance to the air upon their upward strokes, but full resistance 11113011 their. downward strokes. T 0 this "end, therefore, the surface or bod of the wings is composed of a d0uble SEIIES Of flaps. These flaps are made of more or less flexible material, and the flaps of the lower series overlap or break joint with those of the upper series. This is clearly illustrated in the wing to the left of Fig. 53, and in the enlarged sectional view, Fig. 6. These .flaps are designated at 17. These fla s aresec'ured at oneend as at 18, to one o the ribs .8 of the Wing, the oppo site end of the flap being extended to over.- la-p'the T-head-of the adJacent rib 8. When the wing "is raised by the actuating mechanism, it will .be seen that the air pressure will force the flaps down, permitting the air to pass more or less free' ly through the wing, but the moment the ,wing 'be ins to descend, the flap will be thrown forcibly up against theT-head of the rib 8, whereby the surface of the wing will be closed. In order that *thefiexibilityof the flaps will not permit *them to bulge upwardly and permit their "fre'eends to pass from beneath the rib 8, I provide tlrenpper face of the wing with supporting "ba'c'k', formed in this case of t-rans' .i'se -19. These wires, as will be seen -"om Fig. 5, extend from one side to the 'oC-nyr of the wing, and at an incline across-the flaps-so that'each fiapis support ed tla oughoutatthe median ofits length by one or more of these wires. It is to be understood that while I have shown transverse wires of this character, the supporting members may be netting or of any other desired construction. liach of the wings is provided with one or more struts or tension rods 20 to maintain the proper curvature of the wing. This curvature, by the way, is determined by mathematical calculation so that the wing will present the greatest supporting surface possible at all angles it may assume to the body of the apparatus. Moreover, to overcome the dead weight of the wings, I provide each with a tension member 21, which s connected by means of a spring 22 to a lag or anchor :23 secured to the top of the buoyant body. Thus the weight of the wing is counterbalanced and the actuating mechanism need only overcome the resistance offered by the atmosphere.

In order to operate these wings as desired, each wing-operating arm is connected by a linl: 24 to an actuating-rod 25. This rod passes down through the lower portion of the buoyant body and connects with a pitman 26, which is cranked to a disk 27. This disk is freely mounted on a shaft 28, and has a clutch member 29, adapted to be engaged by a sliding clutch sleeve 30, which through a fulcrum rod 31 pivoted at 32 and provided with a handle 33 maybe thrown into and out of engagement with the clutch member 29 of the dish 27. It is to be understood that the sliding clutch 30 is splined on the shaft 28. In order to maintain the clutch members normally in engagement, a spring 34 is provided surrounding the shaft 28. This mechanism, by the way, is mounted upon a suitable framework 35.

The apparatus is provided with an operators car 36, which is suspended fro-m the buoyant .bod by strut-rods 37, which are attached to t 1e buoyant body and the car in any desired manner and form a framework for the rigidsupport of, the car on the body. This. operators car is preferably provided with an operators seat 38 in convenient position to control the propelling and steering mechanism of the, device.

In order to propel the apparatus, Ipro vide the usual propeller 39 mounted on a shaft 40, the forward end of which shaft has a pinion 41 which meshes with a gear 42 on the driving shaft 43 of a suitable motor 44. This motor may be electrically operated from a storage battery or from a gas motor. The motor, of course, is.c0n trolled in any desired manner;

A compact and convenient manner ofopcrating the wings is connected with this motor in which a gear-45 on the shaft 28 of the wing-actuating disk 27 meshes with the same pinion 41that operates the propeller. And by the employment of the clutch 29, 30, the propeller and wings may be simultaneously operated, or when the clutch is disengaged the propeller may be actuated while the wings remain stationary. Therefore, when the apparatus has reached the desired height, the driving mechanism may be unelutched from the wings and the apparatus permitted to float through the atmosphere with the wings affording a further support while stationary.

In order to guide the apparatus in its flight, I provide it with a rudder 46 of any desired construction, such as those well known to persons versed in aviation. This rudder is mounted on a shaft 47, which is carried in a universal joint support 48 in the forward end of the operators car. The rear end of the shaft 47 is provided with a steering wheel 49. It is obvious, therefore, that the rudder may be rotated in any di rection, and also that it may be tilted up and down to determine the upward or downward course of the machine. In order that the rudder may be readily held in any of its adjusted positions for upward or downward flight, I provide a locking rack at the rear end of the shaft 47 near the handle 49. This is shown in Fig. 7. A dashboard 50 is mounted transversely of the car in fIOllb of the operators seat. On this is mounted a square metal frame 51, at one side of which is mounted a shaft 52 journaled in the frame 51, having hinged thereto a locking-plate 53 provided with locking notches 54 adapted to engage the shaft 47. This plate 53 is engaged by a spring 55 to hold it in locking position, but said plate is also provided with a treadle 56 by which the operator may move the plate 53 out of locking position and then raise or lower the steering shaft 47 to any desired extent. The mechanisnr just described enables the operator to hold the steering rudder in any desired position while his hands are free to manipulate other parts of the operating mechanism.

In order to support the apparatus when on the ground, the same is'provided with a.

pair of running wheels 57, and with a front wheel or pair of wheels 58. To steer the apparatus when on the ground, the front axle is provided with a shaft 59 by which the axle is pivoted to the car and the upper end of the shaft 59 is provided with a gear 60 meshing with .a second car 61 on a steering-rod 62, having a hand e 63 by which the front wheels may be turned and the vehicle or apparatus steered. I

WVhile I have herein described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to bev understood that the same may be altered in details and relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is: 1. A flying machine comprising a wingsupporting frame, a plurality of wings hinged thereto, an operators car, and a mo tor in said car connected with said wings to raise and lower the same to assist in the rising flight of the machine, said wings having valves permitting the passage of air therethrough on the rising stroke and adapted to present a closed surface to the air on the downward stroke, said valves each comprising a plurality of flaps secured at one end of the frame members of the win 2. A flyin machine comprising a wingsupporting l rame, a plurality of wings hinged thereto, an operators car, and a motor in said car connected with said wings to raise and lower the same to assist. in the rising flight of the machine, said wings having valves permitting the passage of air therethrough on the rising stroke and adapted to present a closed surface to the air on the downward stroke, said Valves comprising a plurality of superposed layers or flaps which break joint with each other, one end of each of said flaps being secured to the frame members of the wing whereby the free ends of said flaps may be deflected in permitting passage of air, and means to sustain said flaps in closed relation upon the descending stroke of the win 3. A flying machine comprising a wingsupporting frame, a plurality of wings hinged thereto, an operators car, and a motor in said car connected with said wings to raise and lower the same to assist in the rising flight of the machine, said wings having valves permitting the passage of air there'through on the rising stroke and adapted to present a closed surface to the air on the downward stroke, said valves comprising a plurality of superposed layers or flaps which break joint with each other, one end of each of said flaps being secured to the comprising transverse members secured to the wing frame above said flaps and adapteddto engage the flaps intermediate of their en s.

4:. A flying machine comprising a hollow buoyant body divided into several separate compartments whereby when the walls of one compartment are pierced, the other compartments will retain their buoyant medium to maintain the machine afloat, a plurality of wings secured to said buoyant body, an operators car, a motor therein, an operating compartment within said buoyant body and connections between said motor and said wings located within said compartment.

5. A flying machine comprising a hollow buoyant body, a plurality of wings hinged to said body, an operators car, a motor in said our connected to operate said wings, a steering member mounted on said car, a steering shaft extending from said steering member to the operators position within said car, and means to hold said steering shaft in different adjusted positions to determine the rising and descending course of said car, said means comprising a hinged plate having a notched edge adapted to engage the steering shaft within the notches thereof, and a treadle for shifting said plate to release the same from the steering shaft.

In testimony whereof, I the said ANDREW M. Humans, have hereunto set my hand.

ANDRPBV M. HIRMER. Witnesses JOHN F. VILL, S. F. ARMSTRONG.

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

Washington, D. C.

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