US1394630A

US1394630A - Airplane

Info

Publication number: US1394630A
Application number: US296802A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grover C Loening
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-05-13
Filing date: 1919-05-13
Publication date: 1921-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1938-10-25

Description

G. C. LOENING.

MRPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I3, 1919.

Patented 001:. 255, 192m,

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wf/umn @y 7 Arron G. C. LOENING.

AIRPLANE.

APPLlcATloN man mAYla. 1919.

mmm ont, 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1ML/Enron G. C. LOENING.

AIRPLANE.

APPLICATION msn ram/13. 1919.

1,394,630., Patented 001:, 125, 11921.,

` 4 H. I H x t .6. c. LOENING,

AIRPLANE. Y

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 19|9.

Patented oet, 25, mi.,

y4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Unirse s'r-Afras GBOVEE G. LOENING, OF NEW YORK, N'. Y.

AmPLN E.

Langeac.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patenten ocean; aaai.

Application led May 13, 1919. ISerial No. 296,802.

To 'all ywhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRovER C. LOENING, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Airplane, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to airplanes, and particularly to seaplanes 0r flying boats, though some of its features are applicable also to land planes. It embraces a novel construction and organization including numerous new parts and combinations, whereby manufacture is facilitated and cost is reduced and general improvement in the machines is effected. A leading object is simplicity, with consequent posslble economy of production, decrease in weight, increase in speed, decrease in horsepower required, decrease in fuel consumption, etc., in conjunction with a high degree of strength and stability. Another important object is to provide a construction of flying boat which combines safety for the occupants with u1uobstructed vision and ease of control. Another object is to relieve the wings of the weight of the side pontoons in Hight and of stresses transmitted through them when on the water. Still another object is to eliminate the complicationl and head resistance of ordinary bracing and. staying, and to provide a simple and advantageous form of bracing which contributes materially to vthe lift. A further object is to provide the flying boat with a launching carriage, from which the machine cannot be prematurely separated, and which is cast ofi by the pilot. It is also an object to enable the planes to be cast off in case of emergency when the machine is upon the water. Other obJects and features will be come apparent to those skilled in the art.

ln the accompanying drawings:

. Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Y

Fig. 3 is a frontA elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssection Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through one of the struts; and

7 is a sectional side elevation of another embodiment.

The bodyof'the machine comprises a hull 1, which may be constructed with laminated walls in accordance with existing practice. Instead of the usual multiplicity of fittings for carrying the overhead engine 2 and wings 3, I provide a unit hull and superstructure by extending the forward middle portions of the side walls upward to the requisite height. These extensions are designated 4, and as seen in Fig. 3 they con stitute straight continuations of the lines of the sides converging inwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the hull.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the forward part 5 of the hull is low and decked over, and the front edges of the superstructure members 4 are upwardly and forwardly inclined, so that the top of the superstructure overhangs the part 5. lThe extensions 4 are desirably formed with large side openings 8, but'their forward portions 7 present flat, solid areas of substantial extent for a purpose which will appear. In rear of the front part 5 of the yhull is the seat 8 for the pilot, with controls (not shown), and in rear of that, below the back of the wings, is the observers seat 9. The pilots seat is between the side extensions 4, where he has a direct view forward between the extensions, sidewise and downward through the openings 6, and upward through the open top of the superstructure, in rear of thel engine bed 10 about to be described.

The tops of the converging side extensions 4 are united by

simple cross-fittings

11, 12,

13, shown as channeled bars with sockets 14 toward their ends embracing the edges of the extensions` to which they are bolted.

The

ttings

11, 12, together with longitudiance, and in front of the solid parts 7 of the side wall extensions 4. The latter, being substantially straight in the longitudinal direction, act as-n areas upon the spiral current of air, thereby tending to neutralize the torque of the propeller. y

Behind the engine, supported inthe top of the superstructure, between the wings, isthe fuel tank 17 and above it the radiator 18.

Behind the gasolene tank, above the-pilots head, is the opening 19 'for upward view, heretofore referred to.

The projecting ends of the top cross-fittings 12, 13 form sockets 2() for the recep-v tion of the inner ends of the spars 21 of the `monoplane wings 3, the spars being held in tal than the struts 23, the outer ends of the

struts

23 and 24 being united by fittings 25 to form V-brackets, the bases of which are secured to the remote upper and lower portions Aof the body by the

pins

26 and 27. At the extremities of these brackets, upon the fittings 25 or upon extensions of the struts, are mounted the side pontoons 28, which unite the bracing longitudinally at each side of the machine. Additional pairs of struts 29 extend diagonally outward and upward and inward and downward between the apex fittings 25 and attachments 30 under the outer portions of thawing spars. The wings are thus braced primarily to the lower part of the hull, and in lesser degree to the superstructure, by a deep cantaliver truss, of which the height of the body at the side extensions 4 substantially measures the base. The side pontoons are carried by this bracing, and particularly by the

brackets

23, 24, substantially independent of the wings, that is to say the wings neither sustain the weight of the pontoons in flight nor receive thrust therefrom when riding upon the water. All of the braces act in both ,compression and tension.

The struts are of broad, wing-like crosssection, as shown in Fig. 6 and are set with an angle of incidence; and, all of them having a horizontal projection, lift is derived from the entire bracing, which thus affords additional wing area. In the present instance the areas ofthe horizontal projections of the struts may be about one-sixth of the wings.

The pins 22 connecting the inner ends of the wings to the superstructure, and the similar pins connecting the lowgelr, inner ends of the wing struts 29 to the fittings 25, are of zuick-detachable character, so that in case o necessity the wings can be cast adrift, leaving the hull floating upon the water steadied by its out-riggers.

At the rear end of the hull, the side walls are extended integrally upward to form fins 32, to which are attached the stabilizer 33,

elevator 34, and twin rudders 35.

The hull is provided with an attached launching carriage and means for casting it off. This vis accomplished in a simple manner by seating a bent axle 36 in a groove 37 across the bottom of the forward mid portion of the hull, where it is held by cables or other suitable connections 38 passing to points of support within. By means of a trigger 39 accessible to the pilot the connections can be released and the axle and launching wheels 40 dropped olf. In this way the boat cannot become displaced from its carriage before it-has been successfully launched, as-has heretofore occurred with disastrous results.

Fig. 7 illustrates a pusher modification of Y the invent-1on. Similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the other views, with super-character a. The side extensions 4a lack the forward fin pro# jections 7 of the other form, and at the top it is sufiicient 4to connect them by two crossfittings (not shown). The engine bed is formed substantially as before, but upon the rear portion of the superstructure. The engine 2a is reversed, and the'propeller 16 is at the back of the wings. The forward part of the hull is constructed as a double cock-pit with seats 8"L and 9a for pilot and observer substantially in the usual locations.

The fuel tank 17aL is located between the side extensions 4a, back of the pilots seat.

What I claim as new is:

1. A seaplane having, in combination, a hull-body and superstructure, monoplane wings attached at the top of the superstructure, brackets comprising members unitedto the upper part of the superstructure and to the hull, respectively, and extending outward and united at points beneath the wings,

bers bracing the ywings from said brackets,

said several members acting in both tension and compression and being of lift section.

3. A seaplane having a hull-body provided with integral upward extensions of its sides forming a superstructure, an engine bed arranged on the top of saidv superstructure, monoplane wings attached at the top of the superstructure, V-brackets comprising members united to the upper part of the superstructure and to the hull, respectively, andextending outward and united at points A superstructure, and a pair of monoplanel vthe top to vform an enginebeneath the wings, pontoons carried by said brackets, and members bracing the wings from said brackets.

4. A seaplaneA having, in combination, ax

hull-body and' superstructure, monoplane wings attached at the top of the superstructure, brackets comprising members united to the upper part of the superstructure and to by integral upward extensions of the sidesA of the hull, an engine bed on the top of the wings joined with the top of the superstructure at the sides of the engine-bed. v

6. A seaplane having a unit hull an superstructure, the latter formed by integral upward extensions of the sides of the hull, an engine-bed on the top of the superstructure, monoplane wings joined at the sides of the engine-bed, and inclined struts acting in both tension and compression connecting the outboard portions of the wings with .the lower portion of the hull.

7. In a seaplane, a hull having integral upward extensions of its side walls, and cross-fittings connecting saiil extensions at 8. In a seaplane, a hull having upward extensions of its sides, cross-fittings connecting said extensions at the top, and wings attached to said fittings.

9. A seaplane having a hull with upward extensions of its sides, and cross-fittings between the tops of said extensions forming part of an engine-bed and-'affording wing attachments. 4 y Y 10. In a seaplane, the combination of a hull having upward extensions of its sides,

'and a cross-fitting between said extensions at the top, said cross-fitting forming part of an engine-bed and also having wing attachments.

11..In` a seaplane, the combination .of a hull having integral upward extensions of .l itsside walls with engine 'bearers upon the tops of said sides, and cross-fittings connecting said bearers.

12. In a seaplane, the combination of a hullhaving upward extensions of its sides,

with engine bearers upon" the tops of said sides, a cross-fitting connecting said bearers,

and wing attachments on the ends of the lit-A ting.

13. In a seaplane, the combination of a the wings can be cast off from 'the body and s pontoons leaving the latter united upon the water.

15. A seaplane having a hull with a notch the bottom, a launching carriage comprislng an axle seated in sald notch, and means in the plane for holding the axle in the notch and for releasing the same when desired.

16. A flying boat, comprising a hull, in-

tegral upward extensions of the side walls of the hull forming a superstructure, monoplane wings attached to said superstructure, diagonal strut bracing between the wings and hull, a forwardly located overheadiengine on the superstructure, and a propeller in front of the wings.

17. In a ying boat, the combination of a hull, a superstructure comprising upwardly projecting and forwardly overhanging extensions of the sides of the hull, a forwardly located engine bed on the tops of said extensions, an engine and forward propeller driven thereby, and wings attached tothe superstructure. v

18. In a flying boat, the combination of a hull, a superstructure comprising upwardly projecting and forwardly overhanging extensions of the sides of the hull, a forwardly located engine bed on the tops of said extensions, an .engine and forward propeller driven thereby, and monoplane wings attached to the superstructure at opposite sides of the engine bed. I

19. A fiying boat, comprlsing a hull, a superstructure comprising upward extensions ofthe sides of the hull presenting flat forward lin areas, wings attached to the superstructure, a forwardly located engine ,bed thereon, an engine, and a propeller in front of said wings and fin areas.

20. A flying-boat, comprising, in combination, a hull having converging sides, exten:

structuredirectly at opposite sides of the engine bed.

GROVER C. LOENING.