US1531878A - Aeroplane motor - Google Patents

Description

March 31. 1925.

J. REITER AEROPLANE MOTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1921 Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

JOSEPH REI'IER,"OF CORONA, NEW YORK.

.nnnorrann Moron.

Application filed September 30, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, "JOSEPH Rnrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residingat Corona, Long Island, in the county *of Queens and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power mechanisms arranged in a plurality of units, having particular reference to the means for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the engines of said mechanisms.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved control means of novel construction adapted for supplying the motive fluid in alternation to certain of the units.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invent-ion are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view showing the arrangement of the different power units.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation of the change mechanism for alternately starting and stopping the different propelling units.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

I have here shown the invention applied to a number of engines, as hereshown ten, two of which numbered 18 in the drawings, are adapted to run continuously and drive, through forwardly extending shafts 19, screw propellers 20 of usual type.

The other eight engines are adapted to operate four at a time, automatic means being provided for stopping and starting each series in alternation. @ne series comprises a pair of engines 22 having rearwardly extending propeller shafts 23, and a sec ond pair of engines 24 having forwardly extending propeller shafts 25. The other series comprises a pair of engines 26 having rearwardly extending propeller shafts 27, and a second pair 28 having forwardly extending propeller shafts 29. The shafts 23, 25, 27, 29 each have a plurality of screw propellers mounted thereon, the propellers on the respective shafts being numbered 30,

Serial No. 504,307.

31, 32 and '33. The engines and propeller shafts may be supported by 1 a suitable f'rame'34. v y

For operating the two series of engines in alternationl provide the following means, see particularly Figs. 2 to 4: An electric motor 35, which may be operated from a suitable battery, drives a shaft 36 through a suitable reducing gearing which here comprises a worm pinion 37 on the motor shaft meshing with a worm gear 38 on a transverse shaft to which is fixed a worm pinion 39 meshing With a worm gear 40 fixed to shaft 36.

To control the supply of combustible fluid to the engines a cam disk 42 is fixed on shaft 86 and has its periphery equally cireumferentially divided into high and low surfaces 43 and 44. This cam disk is engaged by one end of a lever 45 fulcrumed between its ends as at 46 to asuitably fixed part and having a gear segment 47 on its other end. This segment 47 meshes with a gear 48 fixed to the stem of a throttle valve 49 controlling the feed pipe 50 from the carburettor 50 of one series of engines. Gear 48 meshes with a second gear 51 fixed to the stem of a valve 52 controlling the feed pipe 53 from the carburettor 53 of the other series of engines. A spring 45 normally ur es the lever against the cam disk 42. It will be apparent that the two feed pipes to the respective series of engines will alternately open and close automatically. The parts just described be enclosed in a box 70.

lVhen the invention is applied to internal combustion engines, such as are used in driving aeroplanes, the engines may be provided with self starters of usual type which are not here shown, and to control these self starters I provide on shaft 36 a fixed cam disk 55 similar to disk 42 and having high and low peripheral elements each extending half way therearound. Hinged at one end adjacent this disk 55 as at 56 is a contact arm 57 having an ofiset lug 58 which is pressed against the disk 55 by a spring 59. The free end of this contact arm projects between a pair of fixed contacts 60 and 61 which latter are wired to the respective series of engines.

As will be apparent, each. time shaft 36 series. With this arrangement tendency of the engines to overheat is prevented and the length of nonstop flights when the invention is embodied in the propelling plant of an aeroplane which may be made is increased.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: I

In combination with a pair of engines, motive fluid feed pipes leading to the respecive engines, valves on said pipes and means for automatically controlling said valves to cause the fluid to be fed in alternation to the respective engines, said means comprising a continuously rotating shaft, a cam fixed on said shaft, and an operative connection between said cam and said valves, comprising a lever engaging said cam and having a gear segment on one end, and meshing gears on the respective valves, one of said gears meshing with said segments.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. I

JOSEPH REITER.

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