US1459882A - Aeroplane - Google Patents

Description

' June 216, 1923.

E. L. 660mm 7 AEROPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Slvwentoz I Filed Feb. 8. 1922 June 26,1923.

E: L. soonm AEROPLANE Filed Feb. 8. 1922 s Sheets-Sheat s SJ wue wtoz Gktovnuz folded against the under portion of the Inav V mg leg 19 having a shoulder 19 which abuts Patented June 25, 1923.

EDWARD L. soonrn,

OF COPELAND, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOB OF DIXIE-HALF T GEORGE B. M. WILL, OF GRABTREE, ARKANSAS.

Aniaoritanrij t J Application filed February 8, 1922. Serial lilo. 53%,946.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. GOODIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Copeland, in the county of Van Buren and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the'accompanying draw- I ings.

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, and more particularly to a,

device of this character which is propelled by the operator thereof.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character novel and improved propellingmeans.

A further object of the invention is. to pro vide in such a device a tail structure which may be employed not only for elevating or lowering the machine but which likewise banks the machine in making a turn.

A still further OlQJCCll of the invention is to provide in a structure or this type a pro peller mechanism which isof such a character that when in motion it would ordinarily engage the ground were the machine in flying position, and means for elevating the machine abovethe ground preparatory to a flight, such meansbeing automatically,

chine when the machine is in flight.

These and other objectsI accomplish by.

the structure shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodie ment of my invention and wherein likere;-

verse brace in with ts upper end when the ference characters throughout.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an aerodesignate like parts plane constructed in accordance with myinvention; i

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken therethrough; y

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the tensioning device employed; Figure 4 is a detail of the tail mounting; Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.;' Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Figure 5; and r 1 1 Figure 7 is a; fragmentary side elevation showing an alternative form of leg mounting. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral lO indicates the supporting plane from which extend downwardly at the central portion thereof pairs of front and rear cab or fuselage corner posts 11 and 12. To the front corner posts 1]., at a point spaced from the lower ends thereoiiis The corner members 11 are connected at their lower ends by a transverse brace 14, and the corner members 12 by a similar brace 14:".

At each side of the cab 01' fuselage struc- .ture pairs of fore and aft bracing members 15 and 16 are secured, the braces lobeing positioned adjacent the cornermembers and the braces lo being spaced therefrom, one

brace of each pair being arranged above and the other below the outwardly, extending ends of the transverse braces 13 and 13.

Externally of the corner members 11 and 12 at the outer faces thereof and at the lower ends thereof are secured fore fand aft braces 11' which are engaged with the braces 14 and 14f. Spaced'from each fore and aft brace 17 by the corner members 11 and 12 is a fore and aft brace 18 likewisesecured to the transverse braces 1e and 145*. Intermediate each pair of braces 17 and'lS is pivoted a support- .diate the ends thereoffis pivotally connected a supporting leg 20 which abuts the transleg 20 is vertically disposed. To the legs 19 u are secured springs 21 connected to the adjacent fore and aft braces 18 and to the leg 20 and brace is 18 secured a' spring 22. T he purpose of the springs 21 and 22 is toelevate the legs and hold the same in the position shown in Figure 2 when the machine is in flight 1 v i i The rear end of the lower brace 15 of each pair extends rearwardly beyond the corner post 12, as indicated at 23, and these extendedportions 23 form a support for a tail structure 24, the tail 24 being of the flexible or warping type, Secured to the braces .13 and 14 intermediate the eridstliereot is a vertically extending brace 25, and intermediate the brace 25and each corner post 11 a foot control 26 is pivoted. Each control 26 neousl ting the tail to control not only the eleva-.

7 one side of the tail may be elevated and the 'otherside depressed or bothsides simultaelevated or depressed thuspermi'ttion of the machine but banking operations aswell.

Intermediate each pairof fore and aft braces 15 extends a lever 34 which is pivotally connected thereto, the ends of the levers projecting within the cab being adapted for'engagementwith the hand, as at 35. The opposite end portions of the levers operate intermediate the fore and aft braces 16. To the fore and aft braces 16 are pivotally connected levers or propeller arms 36, the inner ends 37 of which operate intermediate the pairs of fore and aft braces 15. These inner ends are connected with the ends of the levers 34by links 38 so that the outer ends of the levers or propeller arms 36 move rearwardly when the handle ends of the levers 34 are moved rearwardly.

To the outer ends of the propeller arms 36 are secured propellers 39, being a con.- struction whichfolds as the outer ends of these arms are moved forwardly and opens for engagement against the air as the'arms are moved rearwardly. In the present instance I have shown the outer ends of the arms as having secured thereto the endsof the arm portions of U-shaped pivot members 40, the bight portion 40 thereof being arranged forwardly of the arms. To each of these bight portions is pivotally connected upper and lower U-shaped frame memhers 41 and 42 having a covering of cloth ofany suitable nature, this cloth covering being common to the frame members 41 and 42 and extending intermediate the bight portion 40 of the U-shaped support and the arm 36, and being secured to the bight portion 40 as at 43. secured to each of the U-shaped frames and to the corresponding arm 36 are flexible members 44 limiting the movement of the frames 41 and 42 when the same arrive at a vertical position as respects the flying position, of the machine.

It will be obvious that when the handle portions 35 are reciprocated the outer ends of the propeller arms 36 will likewise be reciprocated. In moving forwardly in flight the sections 41 and 42 will be folded downwardly against the sides of the propeller arm 36 and in moving rearwardly the en- Vertical posts 46 are provided at each side of the cab, which posts are rotatably mounted at their lower ends in the braces 15 and at their upper ends in the plane structure 10. Rigidly securedto the posts and normally extending rearwardly there from are fabric covered frames 47, and the posts are each'provided with a handle 48 by means of which they may be engaged to oscillate the posts and bring the frames 47 at right angles to the line of flight, braking the forward motion of the machine by their engagement with the air. The'cab, will, of course, be provided withthe usual operators sea-t S so arranged as to allow the operator to engage the controls 26 with-his feet and" place the operating mechanism for the propellers and braking apparatus within easy reach. I

In the operation of the machine preparatory to flight, the legs 19 and 20 are engaged with the round, elevating the machine the required distance and permitting the operator to actuate the propellers 89. When the flight is commenced, these legs are, as hereinbefore stated, automatically drawn up and assume a position paralleling the flying position of the machine and accordingly afford substantially no head resis'tancer If it is desired to bank, say for example to the right as in making a rightturn, this may be accomplished by oscillating the right hand foot control 26 to elevate the right hand side of the flexible tail element 24 tending to depressthis side of the machine, or this may be accomplished by simultaneously operating the foot controls, the right hand foot control to elevate the right hand side of the tail structure and the left hand foot control to depress the left hand side. If it is desired to simultaneously bank and elevate or depress the machine the pedals are both actuated to elevate or depress the tail as the case may be, one of the pedals being further actuated than the other to give the de sired banking effect.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that entire strain of maintaining the tail in adjusted positions may not fall upon the operator, the guides 29 are preferably in. the form of spaced headed elements 29 having a spring pressed plate 29* mounted thereon and bearing against the flexible controls 28 binding them between the plate and the associated corner posts 12.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated an alternative form of leg mounting by means of which the legs are drawn out of the way so that they do not in any manner interfere with the landing of the machine. In this form of mounting the braces .18 are secured to the corner posts 11 at a point spaced from the bottom thereof and the lower ends of the braces 11 are provided with guide members, 11 receiving the legs when in the supporting position and preventing movement thereof. The transverse brace 14 is likewise secured to the corner braces 12 at a point spaced from the bottom thereof so that when the legs 19 are drawn upwardly by the spring 21, they are spaced above the lower ends of the corner braces and do not engage with the ground.

While in the illustration of my machine I have shown the same as being provided with a single supporting plane, it will be obvious to those familiar with the art that a plurality of such planes may be provided if so desired. I furthermore do not wish to be limited to the construction employed for positioning the machine for initial flight as other meansmay be employed if the same are found desirable or necessary. The work ing parts of the machine when constructed will be formed of any desired material, light wood or metal being preferred. Many other changes of a similar nature being possible in the construction of the machine as hereinbefore set forth without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to the specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In an aeroplane, the combination with a supporting plane and a fuselage, of spaced pairs of spaced braces arranged at each side of the fuselage and extending fore and aft thereof, a lever extending intermediate each outer pair of spaced braces and pivotally connected thereto and provided at its outer end with propeller mechanism, the inner ends of said levers operating intermediate the inner pairs of spaced braces, other levers extending intermediate the inner pairs of spaced braces and havingportions ali'ord ing handles extending within the fuselage,

the outer ends of said levers operating intermediate the outer pair of spaced braces,

and a link connection between the inner ends of the first named levers and the outer ends of the last named levers.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a supporting plane, of horizontal pivoted.

levers arranged beneath the supporting plane, means for oscillating said levers, a support secured to the outer end of each of said levers and extending in advance thereof with; respect to the line of flight of the aeroplane, upper and lower frames pivotally connectedto said support, a fabric cover ing for said frames, and a connection between the levers and the frames limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

, 8.. In an aeroplane, the combination with a supporting plane, horizontal pivoted levers arranged beneath the supporting frame, means for oscillating said levers, a support secured to the outer ends of each of said levers and extending in advance thereof with respect to the line of flight of the aeroplane, upper and lower frames pivotally connected to said support, a fabric covering for said frames, a connection between the levers and the frames limiting the pivotal movement thereof, and means connecting said lower frames and said supports norniallymaintaining said lower frames in en gagement with their associated levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDWARD L. GOODIN.

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