US1287938A - Lifting and balancing means for airships. - Google Patents

Description

APPLICATION FILED NINE 2Q, \SII- Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

' 3 SHEETSSHEET l.

TIME

31m); "(01/ 'rz leg T. M. E INLEY.

LIFTLNG m0 BALANCING MEANS FOR AIRSHH'S.

Patented We. 1?, 1918 N N APPLICATIDNHLED lUNE 29, I917. LE8 5,938.

3 SHEETSMSHEET 2- T. M. FINLEY.

LIFTING AND BALANCING MEANS FOR AIRSHIPS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- TMFl'i z 22 y Patented Dec. 17

APPLlCMlON FlLDJUNE29.19I7.

Prhallhl il. i lf loii -i.

THOMAS EINLEY. 0F ORAN; MISSOURI.

LIFTING AND EALfiNCING MEANS FQR AIRSHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. f7. 1918.

Original application filed June 28, 1917, Serial No. 177,816. Divided and this application filed June 29, 1917.- Serial No. 1??281'1'. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS Murrow FIN- hey a citizen of the United States, residing a'tfran, in the county of Scott and State 01' Missouri, have invented. certain new and use- 'ful Improvements in Lifting and Balancing Means for Airships; and l do hereby declare thefollowing to be a lull clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which its )pertains to make and use the same. T e'invention relates to a gyratory stabilizer and -lifting propeller and is a division of'an, application filed June 29, 1917, Serial f The object of the present invention is to infprove the construction of lifting propell'ersand pyratory stabilizers, more especially that shown and described in an application 'fil'ed'my nie April 10, 1917, Serial Number 160,980, and toprovide a simple, practical and, comparatively inexpensive construction in which the lifting eilect Will be increased and the head resistance eliminated.

A. furtheaobject of the invention is to provide a structure of this character adapted to afford an etiicieht airpocket to assist the n'lachine in hovering and capable also of forcing the air downwardly beneath the man mine to assist in providing a strong or condoused body of air to support the machine in flight and to increase the eliect of the driving propeller and, render the acrocrulser 'niore buoyant and easily propelled, and at the same time counteract theevil effects of air pockets and similar unfavorable atmospheric conditions.

A: further "object of the invention is to i provide lifting mechanism adapted to take jair from the top of the body of the machine and forcesuch air through the body to the bottonvtliercoi to rarei'y the air above the machine aiidfincrease the density of the air beneath the machine both to facilitate the :ascent of the machine and to cushion the ma'chino in descending and enable the machine to land gently without jar orvibralion. I

"With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the constriiction and novel colnhi ation of parts hereinafter fully described. ilhstratod in the accompanying dragaings and poi in [he claims here to'nggpcnded; it being; and var1- ous changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, Within the scope of the claims. may be rcsortcd'to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages ol. the invent-ion.

In the drawings: I

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a portion of the body of an aerocruiscr provided with a gyratory stabilizer and lifting propeller constructed in accordance With this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the main and auxiliary doors being closed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View through the lifting mechanism, the gyratory incinbcr being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, the main and auxiliary doors being open.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrab ing the manner of slidab y mounting the auxiliary door. 1

Like numerals of reference designate correspondingparts'in the several figures of the drawings.

in the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates the body ofjthe aerocruiser, said body being constructed as shown and described in the said application.

' of which the present application is a division. The body is provided with a vertical opening 2 designed to be located at suit able intervals as set'forth in the said application and arranged midway between the side of the body and extending upwardly from the trough. The opening is tapered upwardlyj so asto constrict the compressed air or packed air f the troughin coder that the air operated on by a horizontally dis posed rotary lifting propeller 4 will he of relatively great density. The Walls 5 of the opening are tubular and may be constructed of any suitable material, and the upper and lower terminals of the tubular walls are iiaro E as shown at 6 and 7. The-tendency of the body, explained in the aforesaid application, lo compress or condense'the air causes the same to rush into the trough and the vertical opening so that the rotary horizontally disposed lifting propeller- 4} will h tain a maximum lifting jet ectgslnd the said horizontally disposed propelleroperstes on such. air to force the same downwardly through the vertical trough 3 at a uniform maximum density and to coun- 33 and it is adapod the air to enter the upper end of thevertical opening from the top and sides so that the horizontal lifting propeller will have the same effect as operating in the open air and at the same time be arranged in the body so as to preventit from oliering any resistance to the forward movement of the machine.

The propeller, which is of theordinary construction, is mounted on a vertical shaft 1- force the air downwardly' through'the vertical opening for the I theair 1n the trough thefarrangementof v thecentral' portion of the body midway berectly I same, thereby reducing the density of the air purpose of lifting the aerocruiser and also for the purposeof increasing the density of beneath the body. By the vertical opening at es the air will be, taken from dipacked below the tween the si above the'body and at the body andlessen1ng the resistance of the air to the upward movement of the body and at the same time causing the air to pack beneath the body and-tend to lift and support the same. 5 I

- The effect of the lifting propeller. is controlled by or closures main and auxiliary slidable doors and 35 located at the top of the body. and adaptedjo expose the upper end of the vertical openin" to a greater or less degree as required.

Cle e s circular, are slidablymounted and are movable inwardly and outwardly-in a direction longitudinally ,of thebody and they are urgedinwardlvf'by coiled springs 36 disslidable.

on rods 37 p and interposed between the doors or closures34 and guides 38; The main doors 34am provided with central posed openings 39, and fthe'auxiliary doors are slidableto cover and'u'ncover the openings 39which are adapted to admit air to the central portion of thevertical opening 2 prior to the opening of the main doors 34 so that the air will not be delivered to thepropellers' ingjshown and' 'arranged' 'to operate 1n a dove-tailed grooveor .way' 41.

ina "thinlstreak. The auxiliary door 1s slidably" mounted on th m 1 3; by

any suitable means, a dove tailed*ri-b 40 be- Any suitable anti fricti'on, devices maybe employed to assist the movements of theslidabl'e doors or closuresand the-auxiliary door orclosurc openingv 2 into the" e mai'n d'oors or whlch are substantially semr 35 is urged in closed position bysprings42,

disposed preferably on rods 43' operating in guides 44 of the main door; butany other suitable means may be employed for mounting the springs 42twhich are of less's'trength than the springs 36, so that the'operating connections 45, connected with-*theaii xiliary doors will open the same to? the full extent of the movement of the said auxiliary I doors independently of the main doors before the main doors are moved outwardly.

This operation is due to the superior strength of the sprlngs 36, which will main tain the/main doors in their closed osition untll the auxiliary v limit of their outward movement.-

doors have reac ed the Also in the closing movement of the doors-, the.f main doors will completely close prior to the closing of the auxiliary doors, and the operating 34 and 35 are designed/to be located in the I cars of the aforesaid application and x'nay' be of any preferred form. 5

devices for controlling the doors or closures When the main doors close, the is automatically stopped to'pr'event it from upper convex faces inthe path of mner s so. The rollers 50, which are carried by the main doors, form projections and are adapted tof engage the curved arms or 'portions'49 of") IOU" thereby lift the inner forked armsto raise a slidable or movable clutchsectionor [Dem-r the levers to depress the said arms 49 her stout of engagement with a co'abting clutch section or member 52 carriediby the The slidab e clutch section'51 propeller and held. a ainst longitudinal movement. is interlocked with the vertical shafts by any, suitable means, and the propeller,- which is loose on the same when the section 5'1 is moved {into engagement with the section 52 of the clutch. The slidable clutch member 51; which'is adapted clutch section by means of 'a coiled spring stop 54, which mayconsist ofa collarq or other suitable. device. meeting edges straight at opposite 'sidesjot the vertical shaft 33 and the openings "33,-

and the auxiliarydoors 35 are providedwith through recesses 54') forming an'opening which the shaft passes when the doors: are. closed. The vertical propeller shaft ism} ries a rotary gyratory memberTor planefifi which is illustrated in the drawings as sisting of; an annulus or :riin "supported by spokes 57 extending from a hub v58 and suit,- 0k

so churning the air in the opening 2 and this operation is effected by means 6 levers 46, fulcrumedintermediate of", their ends at 47 and having inner forked portions; J 48 and outer. .curved portions 49, presenting95 to move downwardly by gravity, is: positively urged into engagement with the;1

53 disposed on'the shaft 33 and-interposed between the slidable clutch section 52' anda The main doors-have tended above the top of the bodyand-car-n:

opening. extendingthrough' the body from the bottom tosthe' top, a propeller .shaft mounted within the opening and extending above the body a lifting propeller mounted on the sa'id' shaft, and a rotary gyratory plane or member mounted on the shaft and located above the body and having an opening' of substantially the size of the opening 9 th o y,

'inclmingi,""u'pvmrdly and outwardly from the said gyratory plane or member said" opening.-

10. In an airship or his class described,

the combination of a body provided with an opening extending upwardly from the bottom of the body throughthe same to the top thereof, a lifting propeller operating with- .in the opening, means for closing the opening to,fo rm an an pocket, and a superimposed gyratory plane. having an opening located. above the opening of the body and connected with the propeller.

11. In an airship of the class described, the combination of a 'body provided-with an opening extending upwardly from the bottom of the body throughthe same to the top thereof, a lifting propeller operating within:

' propeller operating within the opening, slidable closures located 'the'body and having an above the propeller for controlling the admission of'air to the opening and its passage therethrough, and a superimposed gyratory plane located above opening registering with the opening of the body. 13. In an airship of the class described, the combination of a body having an opening extending upwardly through the body, a

' propeller operating within the opening, and

'. doors arranged. to cover and uncover the said opening and provided with auxiliary doors or closures to efiect a preliminary admission of air to the said opening.v p 14. In an airship. of the class described, the combination of a body having an opening extending upwardly through the body, a propeller operating within the opening, maini'doors-arranged to cover and uncover the said'openingand having openings, auxiliar y. doors mounted on the main doors to coverand uncover the openings thereof, and operating mechanism for the said; doors:

,15.7In an airship of the class described, the combination of a body having awed ing extending upwardlyt rough the a propeller operating with n the opening, maingdoors arranged to cover and uncover said apertures, springs for urging combination of a body combination of a body the said opening and having openin s, auxlhary doors mounted on the maixr oors to cover and uncover the openings thereof, and

operatmg'mechanism having means 'for effecting a preliminary opening and closing of the auxiliary doors.

16. In an-airship of the classdescribed, the

operating mechanism for the said doors, said combinationof a body having an openlng extending upwardly through the body, a

propeller ogerating within the opening, slidoors arranged to cover and oncover the said opening and rovided with apertures, auxiliary doors sli ably mounted on the maindoors to cover and uncover the the auxiliary doors to their closed position, superior able mainv springs for actuating the main doors to move the same to their closed positiomand operating mechanism connected with the aux iliary doors and adapted to effect a preliminary opening and closing of the same through the successive action of the said springs.

out of operation, and means for closing the upper end of the opening and for simultaneoperating the clutch to'stop the proously peller when the opening is closed. In an airship of the class described, the

combination of a body having an opening extending upwardly through the body from the bottom to the top, within the opening, aclutch connected with the propeller for throwing the same into and out of operation, a lever connected with the clutch, and means for covering and uncovering the upper end of the said opening and for simultaneously 3 operating the clutchto start the propeller when the'opening is uncovered and to stop the propellerwhen the opening is covered. I I

19. In an airship of the class described, the I having an opening extending upwardly through the bottom to the top, a propeller operating within theopening, a clutch connected with the propeller for throwingthe same into and out of operation, a lever connected with the clutch, and a slidable'closure for the said opening providedwith means for engaging and operating the lever. F

20. Inanairship of the class described, the having an opening extendingthrough'it from theitop to the bottom, a' propeller operating withinjthe open- I 17. In an airship of the class described,the combination of a'body, having an opening V a propeller operating the body from a.clutch connected withathe propeller andhaving a mova urgingthe movable member-in one direction, a lever connected with the" movable member,

and" a slidable closure for the opening havble member, a springfor ing meansfo'r engaging-the sziid lev'grfor movlng the member against the act-1011 of the spring; 1 21. In an airship of the class described, the body provided with an opening ext-ending throughit fronythe botcombination of :1,

tom to thotop, a shaft mounted in the openpng, a horizontal lifting propeller arranged on the shaft, & clutch propeller and having a slidablef member movable to clut'chthe propeller to the shaft and unclutch it from the same, a spring for urging the movable memberin one dire'ction,

connected with the' I faces of the levers in the closing "lave rs connected with'ith e' 'movabl' x 'hember v presenting curved faCQS," 15 7 and sli'dable c'losuresproi'ided with rollers f and havmg arms arranged to. engage and disengage the curved V and opening r vmovements of the said closures.

in.pr arefen ce twow itnessg's'. V a

' Witnesses! I r M. I. LEWIs,-' BENNEH Joins.

n testimony whereof I affixmy sig nd ture

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