US1377490A - Aeroplane - Google Patents

Description

A. A. KELLOGG.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1920

LSTYAQUG Patented May 10, 1921.

5 SHE ETSSHEET I.

A. A. KELLOGG.

V AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1920- Patented May 10, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. A. KELLOGG.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1920.

Patented May 10, 1921..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. A, KELLOGG AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1920- Patented. May 10,1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

. A. A. KELLOGG.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1920- r 1,877,490 Patented y 10,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- To all whom it my concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERTA. KELLOGG, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AEROPLAN E.

Beit. known'that I, ALBERT A. KELrocc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefuLlmprovements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification. p

4 This invention relates to aeroplanes, and particularly to a structure of this character adapted for safe landing of the plane.

The primary object is to construct a craft of this character which can be instantly converted into a parachuteto thus insure safe landing-of the plane when this may be necessitated through accident, or to suit the desire of theoperator.

A further object is to so construct the machine, that the parachute structure is includedand embodied in a manner to vary the machine but little from standard machines as now in use, and with which the invention can be readily set, shifted, and

manipulated from the operators seat, and in including means with the parachute structure whereby the travel of the same in its descent can be controlled.

Still another object is to provide for swinging the propeller to operate in a horizontal plane, upon the helicopter principle, to aid in sustainin the Weight of the machine, when a lan ing is being made with the engine still running; and, 1n arranging the aft portion of the fuselage to be opened or spread to increase the sustaining surfaces to balance the lifting force exerted by the pro eller when so shifted.

et another object is to so construct and arrange the parts that they may be included without the necessity of re-designing the standard aeroplane, and that the embodiment may be accomplished at a minimum ex ense.

ith these objects in view, the aeroplane, constructed in accordance with my lnvention, includes within the lower sustaining Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921'.

Application filed July 27 1920. Serial No. 399,300.

plane a plurality of flaps which are raisedv upwardly to open out against the struts and which leave the middle of the lower plane open and present a pocket orparachute structure in which the upper plane is the top, control means being provided within reach of the operator for holding and re-1 leasing the flaps and for manipulating the same; and, in associating with this plane structurea body or fuselage adapted to hell disconnected from the planestructure and dropped from the machine toincrease the sustaining power of the parachute.

This invention includes certain novel features of construction. and combinations of parts which will be set forth in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the aeroplane converted into its parachute. form and illustrating the manner in which the detachable portions of the fuselage are dropped.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing one end of the lower plane. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on theline-4-4= of Flg. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the upper and lower planes at one end of the .machine, showing the flaps raised.

vFig. 6 is a sectional view through the upper and lower planes adjacent the fuse-- lage, to show the means for securing the same to the plane structure.

Fig. 7 is a longltudinal sectional view through the middle portion of the body, to better show the controls.

Fi 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Fig.' 7, taken transversely through'the fusela e.

Fig. 9 .is a fragmentary perspective-view" of the flap holding and releasing means.

Fi 10 is a detail sectional view showing the uselage locking means. I

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the locking disk embodied in the locking means.

F ig. 12 is a-view in end levation-of the machine, showing the propeller shifted to rotate in a horizontal plane. 7

Fig. 13 is a sectional view transversely through the aft part of the fuselage,- illustrating an arrangement for increasing the parachute and plane surface.

In its main frame, the aeroplane strucg the fixed body portion 4.

ture is of substantially the same form and design as standard machines now in use, this structure including the upper and lower planes 1 and 2, and the body 3. The body is made up of a middle portion 4, whlch is built on and is aflixed as a part of the plane structure, and the forward and rear por-' tions 5 and 6, carried by side stringers 7. The forward portion carries the engine, by which the propeller 8 is driven, and the rear portion has the usual tail structure, generally indicated at 9, and including the rudder, elevator, and stabilizer mounted thereon. A landing gear is mounted at 10, in conjunction with the detachable portion of the body, a tail skid is provided on the rear portion of the fuselage, landing skids 12 are positioned at the ends of the lower plane 2, and in other features and respects the aeroplane structure is designed and constructed for eflicient operation. I

The upper and lower planes 1 and 2 are spaced by. struts 13, and have the usual brace wires 14 connected therebetween, these struts and brace wires being disposed to substantially inclose the space within the struts on each side of the fixed body portion 4. The struts 13 are connected with the front spar 15 at the leading edge of the lower plane, and with the rear spar 16 at the trailing edge, and in this way the middle portion of the lower plane is left free. Between the front and rear spars the middle of the lower plane is left free. Between the front and rear spars the middle of the lower plane is left open substantially as shown in Fig. 5, and flaps 17 and 18 are hinged at the forward and rear sides of the opening, flaps l9 and 20 being hinged on the plane structure at those edges of the openings opposite The arrangement of these .fiaps is such that when released from the positions shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and swung up to the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, they will substantially fill the space lower and upper planes, and will shut in that area defined by the spars 13 and brace wires 14, these spars and brace wires offering support to the flaps.

t the hinge joints of each of the wing flaps 17 and 18 hand levers 20 and 21 are secured, and by manipulation of these hand levers, the flaps can be inclined slightly forwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. I

The flaps 17 and 18, together with the end flaps 19 and'20, are closed down within the openings at the ends of the plane 2', and to properly stretch the end flap 17 a batten 22 is provided at'its loose edge to be engaged by a strap 23 on the upper flap. By

this arrangement the lower flap is stretched and drawn taut across the opening to form substantially a continuation of the lower against between the navaeeo plane surface. The end flaps 19 and 20 may be closed down between the flaps 17 and 18, or may be laid over on top of these flaps, and to retain the several flaps in their closed position, I provide retaining bars 24, which are heldby links 25 pivoted on the structure of the lower plane 2. These re taining bars are connected at their inner ends to an operating lever 26, after the manner shown in Fig. 9, and as the lever is shifted in one direction, the retaining bars 24 will be swung out around the pivotal mounting of links 25 to rest over the flaps 18 at their forward edges and hold the same against opening, the movement of the lever 26 in the opposite direction swinging the retaining bars 24 from the position over the flaps 18. This operating lever 26 is located within the fixedbody portion 4 and, with levers 20 and 21, is placed to be readily accessible to the operator.-

The plane structure as hereinabove de- I structure, have short posts 29 and 30 hinged thereon on opposite sides of the detachable fuselage at the front and rear, these hinged posts being adapted to be closed against the posts 27, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and to swing therefrom as shown by the dotted lines. The posts 27 have socket openings 31 therein and. studs 32 are provided on the short posts 29 and 30, and fit within these sockets when the fuselage is adjusted to the proper position with respect to the plane structure.

To retain the posts 29 and 30 in position post 27, the structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is employed. This locking means includes the locking disks 33, which are rotatably mounted on the posts 29 and 30, and which have arms 34 extending therefrom through which rotative movement is accomplished. These locking disksv have cam slots 35 and 3.6 in the face thereof, and the cam slots are adapted to receive hook arms 37 and 38, which are carried pivotally on the yokes 39 mounted on the inner sides of osts 27 and held in place by connecting ro s 40. When the short posts 29 and 30 are swung up to engage the studs 32 thereof. in sockets 31 of the posts 27, thehook arms includes a shaft 41, which is mounted in suitable bearings on the detachable fuselage structure, and which has arms 42 and 43 extending laterally therefrom, an operating lever being provided in the forward part 5 of the detachable fuselage, to rotate this shaft and to consequently swing the arms.- Links or rods 45 are extended from the arms 42 and 43 and are connected with the operating arms 34 of the locking disks 33, and thus as operating lever 44 is swung to one side or the other, the several locking disks 33 will be revolved to engage and hold the hook arms within the cam slots thereof or to, force the hook arms from the retaining'engagement around the short-posts.

n the use of an. aeroplane constructed in' accordance with my invention, the several flaps in the lower wing or plane 2 will be I accident occurs,

.closed and will be maintained in this closed position during the flight of the machine.

The machine may rise and land without entirely as with standard aeroplanes now in use. However, if the engine stops or any or circumstance arises, which necessitates a landing where the momentum of the machine is not sufiicient for the usual planing descent, or where the landing space is limlted, the operating lever 26 is shifted to withdraw the retaining bars 24. As the plane falls, the force of the air against these flaps will cause the same to open to the position shown in Fig. 2. The

operating lever 44 is then shifted to release the fuselage locking means and posts 29 and 30 fall back from the posts 31 on the plane structure. -As the released portion of the fuselage contains the heavy weight of the machine and the plane structure is in the form of a parachute, the fuselage will drop as shown in Fig. 2. The operator is then sustained and is gradually lowered by the parachute portions embodied in the plane structure and a gentle landing is ,accom plished.

During the descent of this parachute plane structure, the course can be guided, shifting the flaps 17 and 18 through the use of operating handles 20 and 21, substanping the fuselage, this means a loss of this portion of the machine, and furthermore occasion may arise when it is desirable to land the machine with the engine running. To this end, the machine may be constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 12, where the an gine structure at 46 is mounted by trunnions on bearing posts 47 to be swung to a posi tion in which the propeller shaft is vertically disposed and the propeller 48 is rotated in a horizontal plane. With this shifting of the propeller, a helicopter action is accomplished and the weight of the engine is sustained. To add still further to the sussuitable means within the reach of the op-- erator.

It will be understood that the several operating levers, and, in. fact, all controls and parts as set forth are herein shown in dependently of the usual control for the aeroplane; but, in practice, these controls might be embodied in or connected with the control levers and control mechanism by which the machine is operated. Further,

while I have described specific embodiments and have mentioned only certain possible modifications, it is to be understood that in practice I 'do not wish to limit myself entirely to the details as herein set forth, but mayresort to any practical modifications falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An aeroplane including with spaced upper and lower planes, the lower plane having an opening in its center, flaps hinged at edges of the opening to be swung down to close the same and to swing up to provide a parachute structure of which the upper plane forms the top.

,2. An aeroplane including with spaced upper and lower planes, the lower plane having an opening in its center, flaps hinged at edges of the opening to be swung down to close the same and to swing up to provide a parachute structure of which the upper plane forms the top, and releasable means to hold the flapsin' the closed position. V 3. An aeroplane including w1th up er and lower planes spaced'one above-the ot er, the lower plane having openings in its center at each end, flaps hinged at the. forward and rear sides of the openings, and other flaps hinged at the ends of said openings, the arrangement .of the various flaps being such that when swung down they close the openings of the lower plane and when swung up these flaps provide a parachute structure in which the upper plane forms. the top.

4. An aeroplane including with upper and lower planesspaced one above the other, the lower plane having openings in its center at each end, flaps hinged at the forward and rear sides of the openings, other flaps hinged at the ends of said openin the arrangement of the various fia s fling such-that when swung down they 0 ose the openings of the lower plane and when swung up these flaps provide a parachute structure in vwhich the upper plane forms the top, and operating levers associated with the flaps hinged at the forward and rear edges of the openings by which said flaps can be selectably moved and adjusted to direct the drifting course of the machine.

5. An aeroplane including with upper and lower planes spaced one above the other, struts and brace wires by which said planes are connected, the lower plane having openings at each end within the space defined by the struts and brace wires, flaps hinged at the forward and rear sides of the openings, and other flaps hinged at the ends of said 0 enings, the arrangement of the various flaps being such that when swung down they close the opening of the lower plane and when swung up these flaps stand substantially vertically against the struts and brace Wires to provide a parachute structure in which the u per plane forms the top.

6. aeroplane including with upper and lower planes spaced one above the other, struts and brace wires by which said planes are connected, the lower lane having openings at each end within t e space defined by the struts and brace wires, vflaps hinged at the forward and rear sides of the openings other flaps hinged at the outer ends of sai openings, the arrangement of' the various flaps being such that when swung up they close the opening of the lower plane and wires to provide a parachute structure in when swung up these flaps stand substantially vertically against the struts and brace which the upper plane forms the top, releasable means to hold the flaps in the closed position, and operating lever bywhich the releasable means is actuated, and operating f levers associated with the flaps at the forvWard and rear edges of the openings by which said flaps can be selectably moved and adjusted to direct the drifting course of the machine.

7. An aeroplane including with spaced upper and lower planes, the lower plane having an opening in its center, flaps hinged at edges of the opening to be swung down to close the same and to swing up to provide which the fuselage is connected with. the

plane structure to be released and dropped to lighten the parachute structure.

8. An aeroplane including with upper and lower planes spaced one above the other and having a body portion associated therewith substantially at their longitudinal center, the lower plane-having openings in its middle portion on each side of the body, flaps hinged at the forward and rear sides and the outerends of said openings, the arrangement of the various flaps .being such that when swung'down they close the openings of the lower plane and when swung up these flaps provide a parachute structure in which the upper plane forms the top, a detachable fuselage structure including forward and rear body portions, and releasable means by which the detachable fuselage structure is secured inconjunction with the plane structure in line with the body portion thereof.

l 9. An plane including with spaced upper and lower planes, the lower plane having an opening in its center, flaps hinged at edges. of the opening to be swung down to close the same and to swing up to provide a parachute structure of which the upper plane forms the top, a fuselage associated with the plane structure having its forward end extending in advance of the engine.

10. An aeroplane including withspaced upper and lower planes, the lower plane having an opening in its center, flaps hinged at edges of the opening to be swung down to close the same and to swing up to provide a parachute structure of which the upper plane forms the top, a fuselage associated with the plane structure having its forward end extendin in advance of the planes, a

propeller an operating engine furnishing driving power for the machine mounted in this forward extension, a mounting for the propeller and engine by which the propeller is shiftable to revolve in a horizontal plane to accomplish a helicopter sustaining lift against the weight of the engine, and movable sides on the after part of the fuselage to be opened to extend at an angle downwardly and to increase the parachute sustaining surfaces of the aeroplane.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT A. KELLOGG.

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