US1397470A - Hydroplane - Google Patents

Description

R. E. VENTRESS HYDROPLANE.

APPLICATION HLEU Nov`|6,1920.

Patented Nov. l59 1921,

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H. E, VENTRESSHSR..

HYDHOPLANE.

APPLICATmN FILED Nov.16, |920.

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ATTORNEY R. E, VENTRESS, SR.

HYUHOPLANE.

APPLICATION ITI-LLI.) NOV\ I6, 1920. l 1,39%470, Patented Nov. 115, 1921.

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ATTORNEY R. E. VENTRESS, SR.

HYDROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, |920. y

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HYDROPLANE.

APPucATxoN FILED Nov 1s, 19m

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INVFNTQH' ITNESSS, ATTORNEY Erica.

ROBERT EMMET VENTRESS, SR., OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

HYDRGPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application iled November 16, 1920. Serial No. 424,422.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT EMMET VEN- Tnnss, Sr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful improvements in Hydroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, particularly to those of the heavier than air type, and has for its object the provision of a hydroplane equipped with a plurality of propellers which may have their positions shifted so that they maybe maintained in any position between the horizontal and vertical whereby the propellers will not only exert a propelling action for causing the machine to travel but will also exert a lifting power which will enable the device to rise or descend vertically and also to be maintained motionless inthe air at any point desired.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character whlch might be built into an already existing aeroplane or hydroplane, there being no particular variance 'between the fusela e and wing construction of my device an that of other well known and dierent drive devices.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character provided with manually controlled means vfor ,simultaneously shifting all of the propellers and for holding them in such adjusted position.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character having novel drive means whereby the propellers may be positively driven regardless of their positions. l

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which will be comparatively simple in construction, easy to control, eilicient in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects vand advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illusf tratedl in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 isa side elevation showing the pro ellers in horizontal position,

ig. 2 is a front elevatlon thereof,

'Fig-*3 is a to plan view, j

Fig., 4 is a ront elevation showing the propellers swung into vertical position,"

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the propellers in vertical position,

Fig 6 is adetail longitudinal sectional view showing the means for shifting the propellers, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view.

Referring more particularly to the drawlngs, the numeral 10 designates the fuselage or body whichin the present instance, is shown as being of the boat type so that the devlce will constitute a hydroplane though it is to be understood that ifpreferred, the ordinary type of fuselage provided with landing wheels may be used instead. Disposed above the body 10 are theupper and lower planes 11 and 12 which are of ordinary construction and which are 'secured by the usual or any preferred struts 13 and any necessary guy wires 14. The numeral 15 designates the rudder or tail having the usual control designated broadly` by the numeral 16. The above described parts are all well known and are illustrated more or less conventionally as constituting no part of the present invention. l

In carrying out my invention lf provide pairs of upright supports 17 arranged at suitably spaced intervals between lthe upper and lower planes and secured to each up-v `right is a forwardly extending arm 18.

Braces 19 are connected with the forward extremities of these arms and with the lower portions of the uprights. Other braces 20 are connected with the uprights and with the rear portion of the lower plane so that the structure willbe effectually braced and made strong and rigid. Above and between each pair of uprights 17 the upper wing or. plane 11 is formed with openings 21 leading back fromits forward edge, for a v purpose ,to be described.

Disposed somewhat above the lower plane 12 at the front edge thereof, is a shaft 22 which is journaled through all of the supports 17 and secured upon this shaft at the sides of the uprights 17 are sprockets 23. Also secured upon the shaft 22 adjacent its central portion is a bevel gear 24 with which meshes a bevel pinion 25 carried by a column 26 provided with a hand wheel 27. The purpose of this structure will be hereinafter made apparent.

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Journaled through the upper portions of all of the uprights 17 is a shaft .28 upon which are secured sprockets 29 located at the sides of the uprights and trained about these sprockets are cha-ins 30 which are also trained about the sprockets 23 so that when the shaft 22 is rotated by means of the hand wheel 27 the shaft 28 will be correspondingly rotated. Rotatable upon the shaft 28 between the uprights of each pair are bevel gears 3l for a purpose to be described.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 28 between each `pair of uprights is an arm structure designated broadly by the numeral 32. The outermost arm members 32 are of the same height and are considerably shorter than the central arm member. Each of these arm members is formed of suitable spaced bars 33 connected intermediate their ends by a transverse plate 34 and connected at their free ends by a transverse member 35 formed with a bearing. The numeral 36 designates another transverse plate between each pair of bars 33. Carried by each arm 32 is a shaft 37 journaled through the plates 36 and 34 and through the bearing 35- and carryin a propeller 38 of any well known or pre erred construction. Secured upon the end of. each shaft 37 toward the shaft 28 is a bevel gear 39 meshing with the adjacent bevel gears 31. llt should be stated that all of the arm members 32 are connected for 4simultaneous movement by means of rods 40.

Secured between the uprights 17 are transverse plates 4l which form bearings for vertical shafts 42 which have their upper ends carrying bevel gears 43 meshing with the gears 31. At their lower ends the shafts 42 carry bevel gears 44 meshing with bevel gears 45 carried by a shaft 46 driven from one or more engines located within the body 10. It will be understood that this last shaft may. be operated from a single engine or by a plurality of engines, or that, if preferred, each shaft 42 may be sepa rately driven by an individual engine.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the device is at rest upon the water or upon the ground or other surface, it is of course first necessary that the engine or engines be in operation. To rise the operator grasps the hand wheel 27 turns it so as to rotate the shaft 22 whereupon the shaft 28 will be correspondingly rotated by virtue of the chains 30 and sprockets 23 and 29. This will cause the arm members 32 to swing upwardly into vertical position, the openings 21 in the upper plane 11 permitting the arm members to assume this position. The propellers 38 will all then be horizontally disposedr and they will exert a lifting action for elevating the machine. By operating the hand wheel 27 to swing the arm members 32 at. any desired angle, it will be seen that the elevating ami A effect may be combined with the propelling action for causing the machine to travel. Regardlessof the position of the arms 32 it willl be seen that the propellers 38 will be positively rotated owing tothe interengagement of the gears 43, 31 and 39. vWhen the arm members 32 are in any horizontal position they will rest upon the bracket arms 18 and when in vertical position they will engage against the rear edges of the openings 21. The degree of swinging of the arm members 32 is thus limited. By properly manipulating the hand wheel 27 it will be seen that the ascent and descent, as well as the direction of travel may be readily controlled and it will also be apparent that when the propeller members are horizontal it is theoretically possible to maintain the entire machine stationary.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that l have thus provided a comparatively simple control device for flying machines which involves a novel arrangement of parts and a unique system of elevation control, the control mechanism for effecting rising and descending as well as4 travel being all controlled by a single movable element designed to be retained always withinthe grasp of the operator.

While I haveshown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that l reserve the right to make such. changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.l

Having thus describedmy invention, i claim:

1. ln an aeroplane including a body and spaced wings, pairs of uprights extending between the wings and secured thereto, a plurality of arm members journaled between the upright, means for swinging said arm members simultaneously, a shaft rotatable within each arm member, 'a propeller on each shaft, and means for driving said shafts, comprising a vertical shaft journaled between each pair of uprights, a bevel gear on the upper end of each lastnamed shaft,

maaar@ Vary the angular positions of said arm members, and means for driving the propellers in any position.

3. In an aeroplane including a body and vertically spaced Wings, a plurality of pairs of uprights disposed between and secured to the Wings, a shaft journaled through the upper ends of all of said uprights, arm members rigidly secured upon said shaft, a propeller carried by each arm member, means for partially rotating said shaft Whereby'to prising a shaft journaled through the lower 15 ends of said uprights, sprockets on said shafts, chains trained about the correspondlng sprockets, and manual means for rotating said last named shaft.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature. 20

RBIERT Ell/MET VENTRESS, Sr.

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