US1321722A - Airship - Google Patents

Description

. A. l. CROWLEY.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1918- v Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. J. CROWLEY.

AI RSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.22. l9l8- 1,321,722, v Patnted Nov. 11, 1919.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. J. CROWLEY.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I916.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Qvvuenfoi A. 1. CROWLEY;

AIRSHIP. v

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2 2. 191s.

Patented Nov. 11,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

" attozwu g ANDREW J. CROWLEY, OF FOLSOM, NEW MEXICO.

.AIBSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 22, 1918. Serial No. 224,035.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. CROWLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Folsom, in the county of Union and State of New Mexico, have invented new and useful Improvements in Airships, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device capable of navigating the air and provided wlth a buoyant member having a car attached thereto, the whole being provided with means whereby the device may be made to travel at any desired height.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means within control of the operator whereby the propelling apparatus may be made to operate in conJunctiOn with the buoyant member, in opposition thereto or partly in conjunction or partly in opposition with the buoyant member, so that the ship may be maintained at any desired height irrespective to the load which it carries. Still another object of the invention is to provide a buoyant element divided into separate compartments and run with a gas lighter than the atmosphere, the compartments being normally inter-communicating but designed to have their connection with any one compartment shut ofi' in the event that that one compartment becomes damaged.

Still another object is the provision of means. within the control of the operator, whereby he is enabled to maneuver the ship, using all of the steering apparatus either individually or in combination Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple in construction, durable and effective in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects will appear as the device is set forth in detail in the description which follows.

.To the one form shown in the drawings, the invention is not to be restricted. An actual reduction to practice may suggest certain desirable changes or alterations and these the right is claimed to make, in so far as they may be compatible-with the spirit of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved airship.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view. I Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. v

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the valve mounted one in each wall dividing {ire buoyant element into separate cham- Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the foot pedals which are operatively connected with the rudders.

Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional View of the main shaft to which the driving motor is connected.

F Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of one of the shields for thep'ropelling wheel, the

operating pinion, therefore, being also shown in this figure.

Fig 11 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing one of the rudders of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tank 1 which is substantially egg shaped and is intended to be made of aluminum or some other metal having low specific gravity. The pointed end of the tank is the forward end while the flattened end is the rear. The tank 1 is divided transversely into a plurality of compartments 2 by means of tra sverse plate members 3 which are fixed to the sides of the tank in any acceptable manner.

Each plate 3 carries at approximately. its center a valve 4: which is designed to balance the pressure in any two adjacent compartments 2. This valve 4 comprises a hollow cylindrical member 5 which is set in the plate and which is provided at its longitudinal center with a spider 6 which is integrally -'attached to it and which has a 1 that when pressure on both sides of the valve: 4 is equal the two valves 9 remain unseated.

Since each division plate 3 is provided with one of these equalizing valves 4, all of the valves 9 will remain unseated when the pressure in' all of the compartments 2 is the same. Assuming eachof the several compartments 2 to be filled with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas which has the same pressure in all of the compartments and that the pressure in one compartment is suddenly changed, such as would be the case in the event that the tank 1 was punctured at the same point-where it incloses this particular compartment, then the atmospheric air would enter this compartment and close the two valves 9 positioned therein, thus retaining the gas in the two adjacent compartments,

To afford means for filling the tank with the proper kind of gas, pipes 11 and 12 are provided, each pipe having nipples 13 which communicates one with each of the compartments 2. Each of the nipples. 13 is opened or closed by means of the valve 14 positioned therein. The two pipes 11 and 12 run inthe direction of the length of the tank 1 and are positioned on the bottom v thereof below the center of the tanks.

Assumin that the tank is empty and that it is desire to fill it with gas, a suitable air pump is attached to the free end of the pipe -11. and all of its valves 15 opened.- The free end of the pipe 12' having been connected to v the proper amount of gas all of t a suitable source of gas supply, all of its valves 14 are opened, when starting the air pump will cause the gas to be drawn into the several compartments to take the place of the air. As soon as the several compartmentsof the tank have been supplied with e valves 14 in both ipes 11 and 12 are closed and the tank will then contain the right amount and proper kind of gas to give it buoyancy.

Theobject of'providing the diflerent com- 'partments in the tank land the equalizing valves between the several compartments is to provide against danger in case of the tank being punctured at a certain point. The

equalizing valves-will then operate as before described to prevent the escape of gas from any other than the compartment damaged.

A car 15 is swung from the tank 1 by means of suitable supporting members 16.

- This car may be made in any desirable formbut preferably is provided with longitudinal side members 17, 18 and 19, the side members 19 and 18 beingat the top and bottom edges of the car respectively and each of the members 17 being carried mid-way between each pair of members 18 and 19. The side .of the car is attached to these threemembers which obtain on each side of the car and the front and rear ends of the car are aflixed in any appropriate manner to the ends of these members, the'bottom of the car comprising an appropriate flooring attached between .the two bottom members 18.

The forward and rear ends of the car shafts 20 are rotatably mounted, being journaled in suitable bearings formed in the members 17. These shafts 20 carry on their ends which project from the sides of the car the propelling wheels 21. Rotatably mounted directly above the shafts 20 there are shafts 22 which are journaled in the members 19 and also project from the sides of the car. Shields 23, which are semi-circular in elevation and of a width slightly greater than the width of the propelling wheels, are provided. The sides 24 of these shields overlie the sides of the propelling wheels and have suitable eyes formed at a point concentric with the curved portions of the shields, these eyes loosely engaging the shafts 20 on either side of the wheels.

The shafts 22 carry at their ends the pinions 25, which mesh with teeth 26 formed on the circular surface of the shields 23 at the edges adj acent the sides of the car. The pinions 25 are intended as means for shifting the shields 23 around the shafts 20 as a pivot, so that they may be made to cover the front half, top half, or rear half of the propelling wheels 21. To limit the shields 23 to an angular movement not morethan 180 degrees, the projections 26 are formed on the circular portions where a series of teeth 26 terminate. This arrangement precludes the shields from reaching a position where their teeth will be thrown out of engagement with the teeth of the pinion 25. Within the car the two shafts 20 are connected together by a chain 27 which engages a sprocket 28. Likewise the two shafts 22 are connected together by'a chain 29 which enages a sprocket 3O affixed to each of these s afts.

An engine 31 is positioned in the forward end of the car and a similar engine 32 in the rear thereof. Each oftheseengines is so arranged as to drive the shaft 20 which is nearest it. Any of the conventional methods may be employed for this purpose but the drawings, show the engines as being belted to their respective shafts 20 by means of belts 33, and suitable clutches 34 being carried on each shaft 20, so that either engine may be utilized to drive both shafts, the inactive engine being cut out by means of the clutch. The object of this arrangement is to provide two separate and independent means for driving the propelling wheels, so that one may be used in the event of damage to the other, or both may be used for propelling purposes' in case of any demand for great driving power.

The shafts 22 and their attendant pinions 25 are intended to be rotated by means of the power which rotates the shafts 20. On the forward shaft 20 there is mounted two loosely turning; pulleys 35. The shaft 22 directly above this shaft carries two-tight pulleys 36 alined with the two loose pulleys aforesaid. A twisted belt 37 connects one pulley 35 with the pulley 36 directly above it while the straight belt 38 connects the other two pulleys 35 and 36. While the two pulleys 35 are mounted normally for free angular movement on the shafts 20,

this mounting is accomplished in such a way as to preclude the movement of the pulleys 35 on the shaft 20 in the direction of its length, plates 39 being set in the hubs of the pulleys 35 and slidably engaglng the clrcumferential slots 40 ,formed on the shaft 20. The two pulleys 35 are mounted in spaced relation to each other on the shafts 20 and a thimble 41 loosely engaging the shaft is positioned between them. This thimble is provided with conical ends 42 designed to enter and frictionally engage conical counterbored portions 43 formed in the hubs of the pulleys 35. The counter-bored portions of the two pulleys face each other and therefore obtain on either end of the thimble 41 which is designed to have slight longitudinal movement so that it may frictionally engage either one or the other of the pulleys 35 but not both at the same time. A shifter fork 44 pivotally mounted on the standard 45 positioned on the bottom of the car loosely engages the thimble 41 and affords means for shifting it into engagement with one or the other of the pulleys While this thimble 41 has longitudinal movement on the shaft 20 it is prevented from angular movement thereon by a-feather 46 affixed in the shaft 20.

' they are The shaft 20 is intended always to move in the same direction and it will be observed that the thimble 20 and the two pulleys 35 afford means through the instrumentality of the belts 33 and 38 for transmitting the equivalent of this motion or the reverse thereof to the shaft 22. Thus the two shafts 22 are put in motion so that they will shift the shields 23 but completely oscillate the forward half of the propelling wheels 21, the top half of the propelling wheels or the rear half thereof.

. jAs a means for guiding the airship, rudders 47 are provided. These rudders are designed to stand vertical and are pivotally mounted between the legs of S-shaped brackets 48 positioned one on either side of the car at the rear end thereof. These brackets 48 are designedto be attached to the car in any acceptable manner and each has formed at the center of its vertical portion a bearing in which a shaft 49 is journaled, the shaft 49 carrying at one end a 'bevel gear 50 which meshes with a double sector 51 carried on the rudder. The two shafts 49 extend longitudinally along the side of the car terminating near the forward propelling wheels where supported on suitable bearings 52 attachedto the side of the car, bevel gears apart. A bell crank lever 58 and passes through suitable bearings formed inopposite sides thereof, exterior to which it receives the bevel gears 55 which mesh with the 'bevel gears 53 carried by the two shafts 49. The shaft 55 is so formed as to provide two cranks 56 and 57 which are 180 degrees pivotally connects with the crank 56 while a different shaped bell crank lever 59' pivotally connects with the bell crank lever 57. Both these levers at their free ends are provided with treads 60 in order that they may be operated by the feet. Both the levers 58 and 59 are pivoted to the top ends of the shoulder arms 61 whose lower ends are pivotally attached on the floor of the car.

It will be observed that the pressure applied on the tread of either of the levers 58 will operate to rock the shaft 54 in a direction depending pressed. The rocking movement imparted to this shaft 54 bv means of the connections between the shaft and the rudders 47 will on which lever isoperate to swing the rudders to either one side or the other, thus guiding the ship in the direction desired. i

A seat 62 is shown for the use of the operator that when he is occupying this seat his two feet may be made to engage the members of the The shifter lever 44 is then within reach of his right hand while the levers 63 which operate the clutches 34 connected with the two engines respectively are within reach of his left hand.

Assuming the ship to be moving, the operator can, by means of the shifter lever 44, operate the shafts 22 so that the shields 23 maybe made to shroud any desired portion of the propelling wheels 21. If the shields shroud the propelling wheels on the back, the latter moving in the direction of the arrow X will aid the tank 1 in lifting the car. If they shroud the propelling wheels on the front, the movement of the wheels will tend to lower the car, since they churn the air in this position tending to force the car down. If the shields are in a position so that they shroud the top of the wheels, the turning movement of the latter will tend to move the car forward. It will be observed that the shields can be shifted to positions intermediate to those described, in which case the propelling wheels will operate to move the car forward and upward or forward or downward, depending upon the relative positions of the shields.

' Longitudinal bars 64 are carried by the levers 58 and 59 respectively.-

car and are positioned on the-outside of the propelling wheels 21, the ends of the shaft 20 rotatably connecting with these bars which are suitably held in place by braces 65 projecting into the sides of the car at its center and at its ends. Stifi'ened wings 66 are appropriately connected with the tank 1 and extend out over the propelling wheels 21 having their lower edges appropriately connected to the bars 64 aforesaid. These wings aid the tank in keeping the car in the air offering a very considerable resistance to any tendency of the car to suddenly fall.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In an airship, a buoyant tank, a car swung from the buoyant tank, propelling Wheels for the car, driving mechanism for the propelling wheels, means conjoined with the propelling whereby they may be shrouded on the forward half, the rear half or the upper half, and connections between the driving -mechanism and the sad means whereby the latter may be made to perform any of the aforesaid functions as desired.

2.- In an airship, a buoyanttank, a car swung from. the buoyant tank, propelling wheels at the forward and rear and right and left hand sides of the car, a shield for each propelling wheel, means whereby the several wheels are interconnected, and devices conjoined with the shields and having connection with the aforesaid means to permit the shields to shroud the forward half, the rear half, or the upper half of the propelling wheels.

3. In an airship, a buoyant tank, a car swung from the buoyant tank propelling wheels for the car positioned at the forward and rear and right and left hand sides thereof, shafts journaled in the car at its forward and ,rear ends each carrying two of the propelling wheels, connection between the two shafts, a shield for each propelling wheel, mechanism conjoined with each shield to operate the latter so as to shroud various portions of the propelling wheels, means connecting said mechanism with one of-the aforesaid shafts, and a driving motor for each shaft having such connections therewith that either or both motors may be used to drive the propelling wheels.

4. In an airship, a buoyant tank, a car swung from the buoyant tank, transverse shafts journaled in the sides of the car near the forward and rear ends thereof, propelling wheels carried on each end of each shaft, a connection between the two shafts, a pivotally mounted semi-circular shield for each propeller wheel, all of said shields having teeth formed on their circular surfaces, second shafts positioned transversely in the car near the forward and rear ends thereof, pinions carried at the ends of the said second shafts and meshing with the teeth formed on the shields, a connection between the two second shafts, means connecting the forward first named shaft and the forward second named shaft whereby the direction of rotation of said second shafts maybe in accord with or opposed to the rotation of first named shafts, and means for driving the first named shafts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW J. CROWLEY.

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