US1346214A - Aeroplane safety device - Google Patents

Description

L. KOVACS.

AEROPLANE SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, I920.

L3&6,21 L Patented July 13, 1920.

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L. KOVACS.

AEBOPLANE SAFETY DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.28, 1920.

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LOUIS KOVACS, F THROGP, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE SAFETY DEVICE.

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Application filed February 23, 1920.

, lie it .l-znown that l, Louis .llovaos, citizen oi? the United titates, and resident of 'lhroop, in the county of Laclzawanna and tltate of flennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Aeroplane Safety Devices, oi which the following is a specili *ation.

This invention relates to emergeirzy descensional devices for aeroplanes and especially to devices for emablinp the plane to descend slowly to the ground in case it for any reasomdisabled.

The object of this invention is the provision eta lever controlled collapsible device, designed to be automatically unfolded into operative position in any emergency for making a safe descent.

A further object of this inventi n is the provision of a light, safety descensional device, normally mllapsed, which does not interfere with the ordinary operation or the plane, and which offers little wind resistance.

It is well known, that ordinarily, it the engrine oi the aeroplane shoi d stop while the plane is in the air, the operator may olplane or glide to the earth. However. should a wing be damaged or give should the operator be injured or oth rwise unable to guide the machine to the ground, serious injury is certain to occur. it is my n pose to provide a su o nce to the air for retarding the fall, advantage being taken also of the initial horizontal velocity of the plane in the operation or my device.

For the accomplishment of the aforesaid and other objects, l employ the de' Ye shown in its preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of my invention as it appears in its operative position. Fig. ,2 is a side View and partial section of a per-- tion of the mechanism used for opening; my device automatically. Fig. 3 is a front view and partial section of the same. t is a plan View of the controlling lever which sets the operating mechanism in motion, 5 is a plan view of my invention as it appears when opened to its operative position. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the same on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the practical embodiment of my inven tion, a pair of auxiliary wings 1 and 2, of strong silk or other suitable fabric is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July lit, 192th Serial No. 361.991.

supported by ribs 23 which a e spaced apart at suitable intervals throughout the length of said wings. The cross sectional shape of said wings is preferably that shown in Fig. 6, the upper part at being cylindrical. to increase to some extent, the air pressure therein, with tl e aid of the constricted opening 5 at the lower part thereof. Bods 6 suitablv attached to the body of the plane at 7. pass through ribs whereby wings l and 2 are supported. from the iuselage 8,'said wings being; connected by a series of cross bars suitably attached to said. ribs 3.

ln 7 the normal inoperative position of wings 1 and 2, ribs 53 assume the position shown by the dash and dot lines in Fig. l, fabric 10 lying in folds between said real F or normally maintaining said wing in the collapsed position, grooved pulleys l2 and 13 on shafts 11 and 14 respectively passing through the body of fuselage 8, are designed to hold line 1511015112tll3 stationary thereon.

lilechanism is provided for quickly drau inp; wings l and 2 from their collapsed post tion to their extended position as shown by Figs. 1 and 5, this being accomplished by the rotation of shaft 14: and pulley 13 thereon, whereby line 15, which is attached to int one oi"? ribs 3, dr us said rib toward shaft 14; until it can go no farther due to the tension on the fabric ll). lead: 1.6 on shaft l l is driven from series ot gears 17 attached to spring c sings s 12?, which casings can be rotated by s; ig's as 19. For winding up springs 19, the ends of shafts 2% on which gears 17 are loosely mounted are squared at 20 to receive a crank key as 22, ratchet wheels as 21 being mounted on said shafts 2% near the ends thereof.

A casing 23 supports the various shafts 2d, pawls as 25 being pivotally secured at 26 to said casing, said pawls being urged into engagement with said ratchet wheels by means of springs 27 attached at one end 28 to casing 23.

Shaft 14 is ordinarily prevented from rotating by bifurcated arm 29 pivotally supportedfrom casing 23 by bracket 30 at 31, secured'at one end to crank lever 32 at 33 and at its other end to hollow cylinder 3d, slidably mounted on shaft 14;. Pins 35 on shaft 14 normally engage notches 36 in cylinder 34:, which cylinder is prevented from rotating by arm 29, whereby said shaft 14: is also prevented from rotating. For disengaging cylinder 84: from pins 35, crank lever 2 backto their collapsed position manually,

at the convenience of the operator;

If an accident should occur while the plane is in the air, to prevent the operator from descending in the usual manner, as,

if the engine should be stalled or a wing should break, or the operator should become faint, crank lever is pulled, loosening toggle joint 37, whereby the distance between points 39 and 33 is shortened, and arm 29 rotated about pivot 31 to disengage cylinder 3-ii from pins 35, aided by spring il; Shaft 1a is now free to rotate due to the action of springs 19, through gears 16 and 17', and turns pulley 13 to operate line 15 for expanding wings 1 and 2 to their most extended position. A. large air resisting surface is thereby suddenly presented, the sudden descent of the plane being checked, and the plane is allowed to reach the ground slowly. lVhat I claim is:

1. In combination withan aeroplane, a pair of collapsible wings, one arranged on each side of said aeroplane, each of said wings being adapted for extension in the direction of the length of said aeroplane, a series of spring motors,'gears on said motors, a shaft operatively connected tosaid wings, a gear on said shaft operatively engaging said motorgears, and a control lever for causing sa1d' shaft to rotate for extending said wings.

2.-A device of the character described i comprising a pair of collapsible wings, each nr cross section approximately a semiellip... said wings being each provided with an auxiliary top compartment of circular cross section, longitudinally disposed rods attached to the fuselage of an aeroplane supporting said wings from the inner sides of said wings, and means for extending said wings. V

In a d vice of the character described, in combination with an aeroplane, a pair of collapsible wings, each in cross section approximately a semi-ellipse, each provided with an auxiliary top compartment of circiilar cross section, and each comprising a series of ribs and a flexible cover for said ribs, rods fastened to said aeroplane passing through that side of said ribsnearest the aeroplane, a pair of pulleys-shafts supporting said pulleys passing through said plane, means for driving one of said shafts, and means normally preventing the rotation of said last mentioned shaft.

4:. In a device of the character described,

in'combination with an aeroplane, a pair of collapsible wings disposed on each side of said aeroplane, each comprising a series of ribs whose cross sectional shape is approXL matelya semi-ellipse having an auxiliary top portion of circular cross section and a flexible cover for said ribs,'longitudinally disposed guides for saidwings attached to the fuselage and passing through said ribson the side adjacent to said fuselage, controllable means for quickly unfolding said wings into operative position, and means for normally preventing the unfolding of said wings.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of collapsible wings, each in cross section approximately a semi-ellipse, said wings being each provided with an auxiliary top compartment of circular cross section,

supporting guides for one side of each of said wings, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft comprising a spring capable of being wound up, a casing for said spring, and a gear attached to said casing operatively connected to said shaft, means for normally preventing rotation of said shaft, a pulley on said shaft, a second pulley disposed rearwardly of said wings, and a line attached to wing passing around said pulleys for extending said wings on the'rotation of said shaft. i

in a device of the character-described, a pair of collapsible wings each comprising a series of ribs and a flexible cover'for said ribs, supporting guiderods passing through said ribs, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means for normally preventing the rotation of said shaft, comprising pins in said shaft, a hollow cylinder engaging said pins, a lever secured to said cylinder, and a gaged from said. pins.

' Signed at Throop, in the county of Lackawanna andState of Pennsylvania this 25th day of February, A. D. 1920. V a

' r LOUIS KOVACS.

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