US1369468A - Airplane - Google Patents

Description

u. E. RANDAL-L.

AIRPLANE APPLICATION FILED JAN, 21,19I8.

Patented Feb. 22,1921;

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

0. E. RANDALL.

AIRPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. ZI. I918.

1,369,468. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- '2 wa 2,15 2 7 E7' INVENTOR I Dfimzstfimdall ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DELLE ERNEST RANDALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIAv,

AIRPLANE.

To aZZ whom it "may concern Be it known that I, DELLE ERNEST RAN- DALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Airplane, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to airplanes and particularly to means for balancing the airplane.

An object of the invention is to provide an airplane which possesses inherent stability in flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which obviates lateral oscillation due to hunting ofthe balancing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an airplane having balancing means which are-automatic in action tohold the planes at the angle of equilibrium in respect to the direction of flight. V

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present spe ification. In said drawin s I have shown one specific form of the airplane of my invention. but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form,

since the invention, as expressed in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the airplane of my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the airplane.

Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a portion of the plane supporting frame.

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the forward end of the fuselage.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation ofamononlane illustrating the application of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a biplane illustrating the application of my invention.

Automatic stabilizers or lateral balancing means have heretofore been proposed for airplanes for the purpose of holdin them in lateral equilibrium and these devices have usually assumed the form of pendulums or comparable structures mounted on the fuselage. In all prior airplanes, as far as I am aware, the fuselage has been rigidly secured Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb 22, 1921 Application filed. January 21,1918, Serial No. 212,928.

to the planes in a lateral direction, so that r the lateral balancing means have been required to effect a lateral movement of the fuselage, with its heavy load of engine, fuel,

pilot, controls and other instruments. The

movement of this heavy mass by the balancing means has caused the balancing means to hunt, causing therebya lateral oscillation or wabbling of the'airplane. In accordance with my invention, I arrange the fuselage, with its load, so that it has a free lateral movement with respect to the planes.

erally with respect to the planes and this relative movement is employed to vary the angle of incidence of the planes or portions thereof in such degree and direction to cause the planes to move to reestablish equilibrium. The balancing may be effected by warping the planes at their inner, outer or intermediate portions, by changing the position of ailerons or by any other method suitable for that purpose. In the draWingsI have shown the au omatic balancing means arranged to warp the inner portions of the planes. but it is to be understood that I do not limit mvself to this method of balancing.

The airplane of my invention consists of two structures connected together so that one has independent movement with respect to the other, one structure being the plane or supporting structure and the other being the fuselage. The plane structure comprises the frame 2 on which the plane supports, consisting in this instance of the transverse rods 3-4, are rigidly mounted. The plane ribs 5 are rigidly secured to the rods 3-4 and the planes or supporting surfaces 6-7 are formed on the ribs and cross rods. The frame 2 and the planes 6-7, therefore, form a rigid unitary structure. The frame 2 is ably arranged within the frame.

of the planes on opposite sides, so that the Mounted on the frame and positioned above the frame and in the plane of the long itudinal center line thereof, are alined bearings 1213 in which the fuselage is hung.

5 Arranged above and secured to the fuselage 8 is a shaft 14 which is journaled in the.

bearings 1213 and the supporting rods 15 are of such len th'that the fuselage is disposed Within t e frame, the frame being sufficiently wide so that the fuselage is capable of a limited swinging movement ina transverse direction within the frame. When flying a straight course, the fuselage depends vertically from its support and a 11- tilting movement of the frame causes the angle of incidence of the planes or a portion of them to be varied to bring the planes into a horizontal position, with the fuselage suspended in the center of the frame. On making a turn, the fuselage is swung outward, causing the planes to tilt to the proper angle to produce the proper banking thereof for the turn. The inclination or banking of the planes is, therefore, automatically accom- 1. I} plished and the amount of banking is proplane frame is moved to bring the frame into equilibrium. Secured to the fuselage is a longitudinally disposed rod 16 and journaled on opposite sides of the frame 2 are rods 17 having lever arms 18v which are connected to the rod 16 by the links 19. The rods 17 are provided with lever arms 21 which are connected'to the planes, so that rotation of the rods 17 varies the angle of incidence of the planes. In the present construction, the arms 21 are connected to the inner ends of the planes by the links 22, so

that equilibrium is maintained by warping an the rear portlons of the inner ends of the planes.

' Meansare provided whereby the pilot may my hand at control the warping of the planes to' alter the course of the airplane when desired and this is accomplished by manually shifting the fuselage laterally with respect to the frame, so that the planes are warped accordingly. F ulcrumed on the cross bar or cross wire 23 which is secured to and extendsacross the frame 2 is a lever 24;, which is connected at its lower end to the fuselage, so that movement of the lever'causes a shifting of the fuselage with respect to the frame.

The airplane construction is made more rigid and the fuselage is prevented from wabbling in the horizontal plane by wires 25 which connect the rear end .of the fuselage with the planes at points intermediate their ends. These Wires relieve the bearing 12 and 13 of any twisting strains and also reinforce the rear end of the fuselage.

The fuselage is provided with a tail provided with thehorizontal'and vertical rudders 26 and 27 and-the fixed plane 28.

I claim:

1. In an airplane, a frame, planes attached to said frame, a shaft Cl,1'Il8d 'a.bOV6 said frame, a fuselage suspendedfrom said shaft and arranged partly within said frame and movable laterally with respect thereto and provided with a tail extending rearwardly beyond said frame, horizontal and vertical rudder-sat the rear end of said tail, an engine and propeller mounted" on said fuselage and means connecting the fuselage with the plane whereby movement of the fuselage with respect to the frame varies the supporting power of the plane.

2. In an airplane, aframe, planes attached to said frame, spiders secured to and arranged above s'aid frame, journals carried by said spiders, a longitudinal shaft'journaled in said bearings, a fuselage depending from said shaft whereby thefuselage has a free lateral swinging movement with respect to said frame and plane warping means connecting the planes and the fuselage.

In testimon Siin Francisco, California, this 12th day of January, 1918. f

In presence of G. Pnosr.

whereof, 'I have hereunto set

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