US1514046A - Helicopter - Google Patents

Description

Num 4 ,9 i924.

AT1 WE? R. B. Hl

BELILGDFTER @riginal iF-ilfekd Aug. '13

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Nov. 4, 1924. v 1,514,046 y R. B. HINKLY HELICOPTER "Original Filed Aug. 15 1923 2 Shrubs-Sheena,I '2

WITNESS:

Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES RAY B. HINKLY, CF LUVEBNE, MINNESOTA.

HELICOPTER.

Application led August 13, 1923, Seriell No. 657,002. Renewed August 19, 1924.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RAY B. HINKLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Luverne, in the county of Rock and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Helicopters, .of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to aeroplanes, and has for its object, the provision of means whereby the plane can ascend and descend perpendicular, thereby requiring but a small area or space for landing.

More specically stated, the invention embodies amongst other features a stationary lower plane and a movable upper plane, the latter being associated with means formoving the same toward and away from the stationary plane while the machine is ascending, the respective planes being made up of hingedly mounted vanes or shutters. The vanes of the upper plane are automatically opened when the upper plane is elevated to allow the air to pass through the -plane so that said upper plane can rise without any material air resistance, the shutters or vanes being automatically closed as said upper plane is lowered, thereby providing a large area or bearing surface so that the air pressure can elevate the machine.

In the drawings forming part of this ap plication, like numerals of .reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one `of the planes showing the vanes or shutters thereof closed.

Figure 5 is a view similar` to Figure 4 showing the vanes or shutters partly opened lloy full lines and fully opened by dotted mes.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the operating shafts of the upper plane.

Referring to the drawings lin detail, Aindicates generally an aeroplane of any suitable construction, which includes a lower plane B upon which is mounted a suitable supportingstructure 10 and held stationary with embodies an upper plane The machine also C which is mounted on spaced uprights 11, the latter being mounted to slide through bearings 12 formrelation to the fuselage.

ing part` of the supporting structure 10 above referred to. This plane G is adapted to be moved in a vertical plane toward and awa from the stationary plane B when the mac iine is in operation, or in other words when the machine is ascending perpendicularly. Any suitable means may be employed for controlling the movement of the upper plane C, but I preferably make use of a plurality of spaced parallel shafts including a power shaft l14 which may be driven from a motor or in any other suitable manner, and shafts 15 disposed at either side ofthe power shaft, and each of which supports a sprocket wheel 16. An endless chain 17 is trained over theysprockets 16 and also trained over a larger sprocket 17 carried by the power shaft 14, so that the shafts 15 are rotated in unison from the power shaft. Each shaft 15 is provided with a crank portion 18, the latter being connected with the adcilacent upright support for the upper plane through the instrumentality of'a connecting rod 19. Manifestl when the power shaft is in operation, t e upper plane C is reciprocated toward and away from the stationary plane B, but by stopping the rotation of the power shaft 14 in any suitable manner, the upper plane C can be held against vmovement in either its upper or lower position.

' It will be noted that each of the planes B and C respectively, is made up of aplurality of vanes or shutters 20 which are pivoted as at 21 on suitable brackets 22 carried by supporting rods 23. It is of course to be understood that any number of these vanes or shutters can be used for each plane, and

can also vary in size Without departing from the spirit of the invention. When the vanes or shutters are closed they lie horizontally in overlapped relation as clearly shown in Figure 4, but swing downwardly in-to dferent positions when open as shown in Figure 5. These pivoted .vanes or shutters when closed provide a proper area or bearing surface for the air pressure to allow the machine to be raised and when opened reduce the air resistance while the plane is ascending. In practice, the plane C is continuously moved toward and away from the plane B as long as the ower shaft'14is rotated, which of course 1s while the plane is being elevated. When the plane 'C is thus moved upwardly, the air pressure automatically opens the vanes or shutters to the positions shown in Figure 5, thereby allowingthe air to pass through this plane and subsequently open the shutters of the plane B in a similar manner. Just as soon as the upper plane ceases to move upwardl the pressure of air below will automatically cause the vanes or shutters to assume a closed positlon to provide a proper bearing surface for the air pressure necessary to ele-y vate the machine.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do g not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to When desired asl fall Within the scope of what is claimed,

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

An aeroplane adapted to ascendand de# scend perpendicular?, said aeroplane 1ncluding a stationary oWer plane, means supported by said lower planes and including spaced vertically extending sleeves, a movable upper plane, rods passing through said sleeves and .connected to the upper plane, means for reciprocating said rods to reciprocate the upper plane, each of said planes including a plurality of pivoted vanes adapted to overlapvvhen in closed position, and the vanes of each said planes adapted to automatically open as the upper plane is elevated and adapted to automatically close when said upper plane reaches the limit of its upward movement. Y v

lIn testimony vvhereof I aix my signature.

RAY B. HINKLY.

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