US1358246A - Captive monoflier - Google Patents

Description

R. R. RADABAUGH.

CAPTIVE MONOFLIER. APPLIcATHSN FILED FEB. 1a, 1915.

1,358,246. Patented Nov. 9,1920.

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CAPHVE MONOFUER.

APPLICATION man FEB. 1a, 19 8.

1,358,246. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

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A TTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY R. RADAJSAUGH, OF LOI\TG BEAOH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONOFLYER COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CAPTIVE MONOFLIER.

Application filed February 18, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RoY R. RADABAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Captive Monofiier, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus of the type embodying captive airplanes. In the ordinary construction of devices of the above character, particularly such'as are employed as passenger conveyers, it is the common practice to suspend carriages by cables from an overhead revoluble frame in such manner that on rotating the frame the carriages will be caused to swing outwardly and upwardly under the action of centrifugal force; the carriages traversing a circular course on an even keel and at a side inclination on a plane governed by the speed of rotation of the overhead frame. The height attained by the carriage under the action of centrifugal force is pro portional to the load of the carriage and its occupants relative to its speed of travel and in order to elevate the carriage to a given height it is necessary for it to travel at a certain speed.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a counterbalancing means in devices of the above character for assisting the centrifugal action whereby the carriage may be elevated to a given height, all other conditions being equal, at less speed of travel than can be attained by the cable suspension construction referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the carriage may be manually controlled by a passenger and caused to rise and fall, or dip and be caused to have an undulating movement when in motion.

Another object is to provide means whereby the carriage will be maintained in a substantially horizontal position transversely, irrespective of its height or plane of travel.

A further object is to provide details of construction whereby strength combined with lightness is attained, and safety secured.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 1s a view in side elevation of an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Serial No. 217,821.

amusement apparatus, showing the invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the airplane suspending means.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective illustrat- 111%1'116 pivotal mounting of the hanger.

1g. 4: is a detail in sectional elevation showing the pivotal connection between the airplane and the hanger.

Fig. 5 is a view of the same in side elevation.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the airplane.

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective illustrating the airplane wings or ailerons and their control means.

More specifically 9 indicates a stationar frame or tower on the upper end of which is mounted a revoluble frame 10 attached to a vertical shaft 11 arranged within the tower and connected at its lower end to suitable driving and control mechanism 12 by which it may be rotated to revolve the overhead frame. The overhead frame embodies radial spokes 13 connected together at the outer ends by rails 14; a coupling member 15 being provided at the juncture of the spokes and rails. Truss rods 16 lead from the coupling and connect with an extension 17 on the shaft 11,'providing a substantial support for the overhead frame. The coupling 15 is provided with a depending lug 18 to which a rigid depending hanger 19 is pivotally connected to swing radially of the overhead frame by pivot pins 20 connecting the lug to a yoke 21 attached to the upper end of the hanger. The yokie is formed with an inwardly projecting 'sleeve 22 to which a counterbalancing arm 23 is fixed; the arm 23 normally extending parallel with the spoke 13 between guide members 24: on the latter. A brace 25 extends at an angle between the hanger and the counterbalancing arm to give additional support to the latter. The counterbalancing arm is of such length and weight and if necessary its outer end may be provided with additional weight whereby it will operate as a counterbalance for the load to be carried by the hanger. The lower end of the hanger is fitted with a collar 26 having opposed lugs 27 on which pairs of depending links 28 are pivoted. The lower ends of the links are spread and are pivoted to a bar 29 to form a Wt) M brace bar 30 connects with the bar 29 andextends upwardly between the pairs of links. As a means for limiting the swinging movement of the bar 29 and also for safety purposes, cables 31 extend at an angle between the outer ends of the bar 29 and connect -with the overhead frame, these cables hav- ,ing sufiicient slack to permit the desired rocking movement of the bar. Extending lengthwise of the bar is a shaft 32 revolubly supported in bearings 33 on which shaft an airplane body 34 is rigidly supported by hangers 35; the shaft and bearings forming a pivotal mounting for the airplane whereby it may be normally maintained in a horizontal position transversely irrespective of the position assumed by the hanger. As a means for insuring the airplane remaining in its horizontal position transversely, a drag cable 36 is arranged parallel with the hanger and spaced therefrom on its inner side and connects at its upper end with the spoke 13, and at its lower end with the inner plane of the airplane, thus forming with the hanger a parallel motion "suspension for the airplane' The airplane is provided with side planes 37 on the rear edges of which are hinged vertically swinging ailerons 38 which are connected together by a crank bar 39 across the cock-pit. The ailerons are normally maintained in upper position by springs 40 and are limited in their downward movement by a stop 41 po sitioned in the path of the crank bar 39.

In the operation of the invention, on rotation of the overhead frame the pivoted depending hangers with the airplanes thereon will swing outwardly under action of centrifugal force which is assisted by action of the counterbalancing arm, as the hanger swings outwardly the airplane will remain horizontal transversely of the cable 36. When the operator desires to impart an undulating movement to the airplane'while in flight, the ailerons are depressed by the crank bar so as to catch the air, and which ailerons by reason of being of considerable area will direct the nose of the airplane upv ward; the link suspension of the airplane permitting this movement.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is manifest that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without de parting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In acaptive airplane, a rotary overhead frame, an airplane, dependent parallel motion hanging means suspending said air- 1 plane from the overhead frame for main taining the airplane horizontal transversely, means operable from'the airplane for imparting undulating movement to the airplane when in motion, and means for counterbalanoing the depended airplane. I

2. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a series of swinging hangers thereon, airplanes suspended on said hangers pivoted for longitudinal and transverse movement relative to the hangers, means for automatically maintaining the airplanes horizontal transversely, and manually controlled means for imparting an undulatory movement to the airplane longitudinally while in motion.

3. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a series of swinging hangers thereon, airplanes suspended on said hangers pivoted for longitudinal and transverse movement relative to the hanger, means for automatically maintaining the airplanes horizontal transversely, manually controlled means for imparting an undulatory movement to the airplane longitudinally while in motion, and means acting on the hangers for counterbalancin the airplanes.

4. fn a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a series ofswinging hangers thereon, airplanes suspended on said hangers pivoted for longitudinal and transverse movement relative to the hangers, means for automatically maintaining the airplane horizontal transversely, and manually controlled means for-rocking the airplanes longitudinally.

5. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a series of swinging hangers thereon, airplanes suspended on said hangers pivoted for longitudinal and transverse movement relative to the hangers, means for automatically maintaining the airplane horizontal transversely, manually controlled means for rocking the airplanes longitudinally, and means for limiting the rocking of the airplanes in either direction.

6. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a rigid depending hanger, an airplane pivoted on said hanger for transverse and longitudinal movement, a cable connecting the frame and airplane for holding the latter 1' 5 horizontal laterally, and a pair of cables connected to the frame for limiting the longitudinal pivotal movement of the airplane.

In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a rigid depending hanger, an airplane pivoted on said hanger for transverse and lon- 4 gitudinal movement, a cable connecting the frame and airplane for holding the latter horizontal laterally, a pair of cables connected to the frame for limiting the longitudinal pivotal movement of the airplane, and means acting on the hanger for counterbalancing the airplane.

8. In a captive airplane, a rigid depending hanger,

a rotary frame, an alrplane piv- Elli oted on said hanger for transverse and longitudinl movement, a cable connecting the frame and airplane for holding the latter horizontal laterally, a pair of cables connected to the frame for limiting the longitudinal pivotal movement of the airplane, and manually controlled means for tipping the airplane longitudinally when in motion. I

9. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a rigid depending hanger, an airplane pivoted on said hanger for transverse and longitudinal movement, a cable connecting the frame and airplane for holding the latter horizontal laterally, a pair of'cables connected to the frame for limiting the longitudinal pivotal movement of the airplane,

means on the hanger for counterbalancing the airplane, and manually controlled means for tipping the airplane longitudinally when m motion. I

10. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a depending hanger thereon, an airplane body suspended on said hanger and pivoted for longitudinal movement, connected ailerons on opposite sides of the airplane body, yieldable means for normally holding said ailerons in an upper position, means for moving said ailerons to cause the airplane body to rock on its pivotal mounting when in motion, and means for maintaining the airplane body horizontal transversely.

11. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a depending hanger thereon, an airplane body suspended on said hanger and pivoted for longitudinal movement, connected ailerons on opposite sides of the airplane body, yieldable means for normally holding said ailerons in an upper position, means for moving said ailerons to cause the airplane body to rock on its pivotal mounting when in motion, means for limiting the rocking movement of the airplane body, and means for maintaining the airplane body horizontal transversely.

12. In a captive airplane, a swinging hanger, a pair of links suspended from the hanger, a bar pivotally supported by the links to swing relative to the hanger in the direction of the length of said bar, and an airplane pivotally supported on said bar for lateral movement relative to said bar.

13. In a captive airplane, a swinging hanger, a pair of links suspended from the hanger, a bar supported by the links to swing relative to the hanger, an airplane pivotally supported on said bar for lateral movement, and means for limiting the lateral movement of the airplane whereby it will be maintained horizontal transversely when the hanger is swung from the perpendicular.

1a. In a captive airplane, a swinging hanger, a pair of links suspended from the hanger, abar supported by the links to swing relative to the hanger, an airplane pivotally supported on said bar for lateral movement, and means for limiting swinging movement of the bar.

15. In a captive airplane, a swinging hanger, a pair of links suspended from the hanger, a bar supported by the links to swing relative to the hanger, an airplane pivotally supported on said bar for lateral movement, means for limiting the lateral movement of the airplane whereby it will be maintained horizontal transversely when the hanger is swung from the perpendicular, and means for limiting swinging movement of the bar.

16. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a pair of rigid members joined at right angles to each other and pivoted at their intersection to the frame with one of the members depending vertically and the other extending horizontally, and an airplane on the dependent member counterbalanced by the horizontal member.

17. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a pair of rigid members joined at right angles to each other and pivoted at their intersection to the frame with one of the members depending vertically and the other extending horizontally, an airplane on the dependent member counterbalanced by the horizontal member, and a brace connecting the tubular members and supporting the outer portion of the horizontal member.

18. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a pair of rigid members joined at right angles to each other and pivoted at their intersection to the frame with one of the members depending vertically and the other extending horizontally, an airplane on the dependent member counterbalanced by the horizontal member, a brace connecting the tubular members and supporting the outer portion of the horizontal member, and truss cables reinforcing the dependent member. 19. In a captive airplane, a rotary frame, a depending hanger thereon, an airplane body suspended on said hanger and pivoted for longitudinal movement, connected ailc-' rons on opposite sides of the airplane body, yieldable means for normally holding said ailerons in an upper position, and means for moving said ailerons to cause the airplane body to rock on its pivotal mounting when in motion.

ROY R. RADABAIGII.

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