US1296876A - Skid structure for hydroaircraft. - Google Patents

Description

J. P. TARBOX.

' SKID STRUCTURE FOR HYDROAI RCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1918.

1,296,876. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

' F161, g I A INVENTOR Garden City, in the county of Nassau and JoHN r. ran eox, or eAJaDEN CITY, NEW YORK, assrenon TO CURTISS AERorLANE AND moron, CORPORATION, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

' SKID STRUCTURE FOR HYDROAIRCRAFT.

Application filed March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,689.

To-all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JoHN P. TARBOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skid Structures for Hydroaircraft, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hydro-aircraft of the character disclosed inapplication Serial #151,502, filed Feb. 28, 1917, Glenn H.

20. It often happens in hydro-aircraft, that Curtiss-inventor; and is characterized by anarrangement of runners or skids beneath the lowermost hydroplaning surface or surfaces whereby in running to shore and in hauling in and putting out the hydroplanes or hydroplaning surfaces of the craft will not be damaged or permitted to come in contact with the earth;

the hydroplaning surface or surfaces-is or are damaged in beaching the craft as well as in launching it. Especially is this true in craft having submerged hydroplaning' surfaces and in hydro-aircraft generally when attempting to beach or launch them under unfavorable weather conditions. 7 The present invention completely eliminates this danger and effectually protects the hydroplaning surface or surfaces even though the craft be handled somewhat carelessly.

\ Moreover, While the machine is undergoing surfaces which the skids protect may be as repair,'t he skids, by reason of their location, constitute supports for holding-it in a bal- "lagncled position and on a substantially even The character of hydroplaning surface or disclosed, z. e. auxiliary to the pontoon or hull bottom which is constructed in hydroplaning form, or if desired, the auxiliary hydroplaning surface or surfaces may be eliminated and the skids provided as protection for the principal hydroplaning bottomof the flotation body per se. vObviously in either case the relative positioning of the skids or runners may be varied within certain limits (also their size and shape) without departing from the spirit of the '.inven-. tion and without interfering in any way with the efficient operation of the machine.

The head resistance of' the skids'or runners,

in view of the streamline form given them, 7 is but little.

near their ends, and in suc principal hydroplaning surface as to posi-.

Of the drawingsi Figure 1 is a, side elevation of a hydroaeroplane equipped with skids or runners of the character hereinafter claimed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a flying boat similarly equipped.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation (enlarged) of the skid structure showing the manner in which the skids or runners are mounted.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a front end elevation of a modified form of skid. I In Fig. 1 a skid structure designated as an entirety 'by the numeral lO'is shown attached to the bottomsurface of the pon-, toon of a hydroaeroplane. In this embodi- Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

ment of the invention the bottom surface of the pontoon constitutes the principal hydroplaning surface of the craft. auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces 11 are disposed. These .surfaces lie respectively fore and aft of the transverse vertical plane of Beneath it 1 the center of gravity of the machine. Each surfaceis of aerofoil section and convexed downwardly with the point of maximum' convexity lyingsubstantially beneath the hydroplaninglift derived from the principal hydroplaning surface which the bottom of the pontoon itself affords.

Appropriate supports. 12 depend from the pontoon tori idly mount the auxiliary hydroplaning. sur aces 11 beneath the pontoon. The upper ends of these supports 12 are bifurcated as at 13 and extend into the pontoon for appropriate interior connection. Preferably the side keelsons of the pontoon (where side keelsons are provided) engage in the bifurcations 13 of the supports.

The supports 12 not only rigidly mount the auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces 11 but they-rigidly support the skids of runners which are designated as 15. This the supports can readily do as they extend beyond the auxiliary hydroplanin relation to the surfaces, at or tion the skids l5 symmetrically at opposite as the skids are bound to receive, metal strips 16 are provided. These strips extend throughout the full length of the runners or skids to provide metal bearing surfaces. They may be removed and replaced at will.

The skids or runners are given an ap proximate streamline form and are preferably sufficiently elongated to interconnect and extend both forwardly and rearwardly beyond the respective pairs of supports 12. The streamline form of the skids tends to minimize resistance bothin the water and in the air and their continuity fore and aft strengthensithe skid structure and the auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces as well. For added strength, the auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces may be verticallybraced as at 17 in the vertical plane of the keel line of the pontoon so that the braces will abut the surfaces at the points of maximum 'convexity.

In 'Fig. 2 of the drawings the construction and arrangement of the skid bars is identical with that disclosed in connection with the hydroaeroplane of Fig. 1. The auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces 11 however are samewhat differently located. Both ofthe surfaces, in the flying boat embodiment, are disposed in advance of the transverse vertical plane of the center of gravity rather than one in advance of and the other to the rear .of this line.

The location of these surfaces in certain definite relatioii'to the center of gravity is only preferred and may be other than as disclosed. Their location as in Fig.

'1 however necessitates a continuance of the skids or runners respectively fore and aft of the center of gravity and as this arrangement of the skids is such that they may effectually support the machine on an even keel, when beached, it is preferred. Moreover, if desired, the auxiliary hydroplaning surfaces 11 may be eliminated. In this event the skids or runners will offer protection to the principal hydroplaning surface formed by the bottom of the flotation body or bodies per 86.

to any great extent in the event that land' ing or launching is made on muddy or boggy ground. Furthermore, the fiat bot- I toms supplement the hydroplaning effectof the craft and enable it to even more quickly come to a planing position on the surface Y of the water.

While I have described my invention in detail in itspresent preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding myinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim'in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and chan es.

What is claimed is: 1. In a hydro-aircraft, a flotation body having a hydroplaning bottom surface, auxiliary hydroplanes spaced beneath the hydroplaning bottom surface, supports for the Y auxiliary hydroplanes continued beyondthe lowermost point thereof, and skids provided at the' ends of the supports to protect both the 'hydroplaningfbottom surface and the auxiliary hydroplanes in launching and beaching the craft.

'2. In a hydro-aircraft, having a hydroplaning surface, auxiliary hydroplanes spaced beneath the hydroplaning bottom surface, the arrangement ofthe hydroplanes being such that one of the total number thereof lies in advance of the re- .maining number, separate supports for the forwardly located hydroplane and the rearwardly located hydroplane respectively, each of the several supports being continued beyond the lowermost point of the particular hydroplane with which they, the supports, are associated, and skids provided at the ends of the supports to protect both the hydroplane surface and the auxiliary hydroplanes in beaching and launching the craft, the relative location of the skids being such that the craft when supported by them is held upright and on a substantially horizontal keel.

In testimony whereof I'hereunto aflixniy signature.

JOHN P. TARBOX.

a flotation body

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