US1558942A - Airplane - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 27, `1925..

UNiTEDsTATEs PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM B. STOUT, OF DETROIT, IlilHCHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR T PACKARD MOTO'R CAR COM- y PANY, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

AIRPLA'NE.

Original application led March 2, 1918, Serial No. 220,070. Divided and this application filed April 8,

1921. Serial No. 459,641. f

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. SroU, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, Wayne County, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Airplanes, of which the following is a specification.

The present application which is a division of my application, Serial No. 220,070,

-0 filed March 2, 1918, relates to airplanes and more particularly to the ribs thereof.

The principal. object of the invention is to provide a rib structure which can be manufacturedfwitli a minimum of time and labor 5 and which has maximum strength for a given weight. Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in whici'i:

Figure l is a perspective view of a metal rib constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown as having a bendable strip attached to the lower member thereof together with means for flexing this latter member to change the cambei` of the rib;

Figure 2 is a perspective View similar to Figure 3 showing a similar form of rib but with the upper member thereof provided with a bendable strip;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation takenl substantially on the` line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 54-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 0 -is a side elevation of a rib similar to that shown by Figure l except that the bendable strip is supported at three points aiid'extends substantially `from end to en d of the rib; y

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a stamped or pressedI out metal rib; and Figure 8 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on` the line 8-8 of Figure 7. Referring to Figure 7 I have shown a novel forinof rib or beam which is designed to be stamped or pressed out from sheet metal.l As illustrated, this rib is of channel'crosssection and comprises the topmeinber or-liange 33 and the bottom member or flange 34 connected by the web and preferably integral with the web. This web is formed witli'the flanged apertures 36, the

sockets secured in the socket '43 by means such as a l pin Awhile the rear end 1s free'to slide' flanges 37 of which are preferably struck out from the web and interposed between and lic substantially in the plane determined by the top and bottom flanges and constitute reinforcingmembers or rings. As shown,

these reinforcing members or rings are in contact with the flanges and with one another. In order to increase the rigidity and strength of the beam the part-s are secured together at these points of contact in anv suitable manner 'as bywelding. Of course the top and bottom members and the entire beam are constructed to-. give the proper cambcr to the rib. As is obvious, a rib or l beam constructed in this manner is exceedingly strong and rigid for the amount of ii'iaterial or weight used.

In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 I have shown a rib of the type just described, but with the .added feature of means for changing the camber thereof. Referring now to Figure 1 it will be seen'that the rib proper is of channel shape in cross section and is intended to bc formed lby being stamped or pressed out from sheet metal. It comprises the top 'flange or member 38 and the bottoml member 39, connected by the web 40, which is formed with the flanged apertures 4l. These latter flanges 41 consitiite reinforcing menibei-s or rings and are interposed between the top and bottom members and welded thereto and to each other. Preferably the flanges 41 are struck up from the web. As

clearly shown in Figure 1 the front portionof the lower member 39 is offset toward the top member 3S, thus forming a recess. At the ends of this recess, socket pieces 42 and are provided and a bendable strip 44 is arranged with vits ends mounted in said The forward end of the strip is longitudinally in the socket 42. The rib is carried by a tubular spar 27 which extends through the saine between the top and bottom members and which is formed with an aperture 28 through which extends a radial arm 30 carriedV by la tubeI 29. rotat-ively mounted in the spar. As shown, the spar is mounted in one of the aperturesl 41 being secured to the Harige 44 in any suitable manner. The strip 44 carries airbrackct or fitting 32 anda link 31 operatively connect-s4 the said bracket, and the lll arm so that rotation of the tube 29 varies the curvature of the strip 44 thereby changing the camber of the rib.

Figure 2 illustrates a construct-ion similar to that shown by Figure l except that the bendable strip is carried by the upper member of the rib. In this form of the invention the channel shaped stamped metal rib has its upper member 4G at the forward portion thereof offset towards the lower member 46 to thereby form a recess. At the ends of this recess ,the rib is formed with socket pieces 47'and 48 and a bendable strip 49 is lmounted withl its ends seated in the said be formed in a similar manner, as shown in' Figure 4. Likewise the sockets 43 and 48 i may be formed by bending up a piece intetegral with the rib as illustrated in Figure 5. ln Figure G I have illustrated a stamped -metal rib having one of its flanges offset vtowards the other for the greater part of its length to forma recess in which is arranged a bendable strip supported at three points. be attached to either the top or bottom mem ber, T have shown only the latter form. The lower member 50 of the rib is offset towards the upper member 51, as shown, and adjacent the nose of the rib there Vis provided the socket piece 52, and at the tail end the socket 53. Midway between thesetwo sockets is a sup-port 54. The bendable strip is mounted in these sockets and support, being held securely in the support 54 by a pin 5G, but free to slide inthe sockets 52 and 53. For the purpose of changing the camber of the rib I have shown the bracket 32 attached to the strip at a point intermediate the socket 52 and support 54. This bracket 32 is the same as that already described and is adapted to be moved towards and from the rib by any suitable mechanism, preferably the same 'as described in connection with Figures l and 2. It will be observed that the movement of the bracket 32l will fleX the strip 55 between the socket 52 and support 54 and will also cause an opposite curvature of the portion of the bracket between the Support 54 and socket 53. The socket `52 and 53 and support 54 may be formed inthe same manner as the `sockets described above.

It is apparent that the connection between the rotatably, mounted tube 29 and the bendable member of the rib may be made in Various ways. As shown in Figures 1 and Although the bendable strip may as arches in resisting bending of the rib vertically. rlhus the added rigidity because of the rings is greater than if the same amount of metal were used in the plane of the web. rMoreover the metal of the web bent up to form the portions of the flanges 3T and 4l that are adjacent the marginal flanges of the ribs, is .farther from the neutral axis of the ribthan if said metal remained in the plane ot' the web. Hence the moment of inertia of the cross section (such as shown in Figure 8) is increased, and the resistance to Vertical bending also increased This feature is clearly apparent 'from an inspection of Figure 8. If the metal forming flanges 337 were not pressed out but remained in the plane of the web V35, the moment of inertia-of the section would be less than that of the section oit Figure 8, wherein the flanges 37 are disposed as farfrom the neutral axis of the beam as possible.

The rings or flanges 37 and 4l considered eitherwith or without the web portions in effect constitute struts between the top and bottom members of the rib.

-F rom the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided ribs especially adapted for quantity and standardized productions. The metal ribl or" this invention can be manufactured by automatic machinery, there being a minimum of hand labor required. Futhermore, if the rib is stamped out of' sheet metal it can be produced in a fraction of the time required for thc old style wooden rib. The tedious timeconsuming steps of selecting and bending thewood, shaping the parts, gluing, etc., are entirely eliminated; also the period of a year o-r more required to season the Wood.

The feature of changing the camber is not claimed herein, the same constituting part of the subject matter of my prior appli-- cation, Serial No. 220,070.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by' in the plane determined by said members.

2'. A rigid metal rib for airplanes comasesina prising top and bottom members and rigid reinforcing' rings interposed between, in contact with and joined to, and arranged in the plane determined by said members and also joined to each other.)

3. Ametal rib for airplanes 'comprising a web having a fla eat the top and bottom edges thereof const1tuting top and bottom members, said web formed with flanged apertures, the latter anges being interposed between and welded to said members and lacting to reinforce the same and stifen the web.

L A metal rib for airplanes comprising a web having a Iiange at the top and bottom edges thereof constltuting top and bottom members,` said web formed with circular flanged apertures, the latter flanges being interposed between and welded to said members and acting to reinforce the same and stifi'en the web. l

5. As an article of manufacture, a metal beam of channel cross section having a web and top' and bottoni flanges, the web being formed with a plurality of flanged apertures the 'latter flanges being interposed between and in contact with -said top and bottom ianges and acting to reinforce said top and bottom flanges and stilen the web.A

` 6.` As an article of 'manufacture a stamped sheet metal beam of channel section having reinforcing members struck up from the web, interposed between and welded to the flanges thereof. i

7. As an `article of manufacture, a

- comprising Va. web, longitudinal marginal anges struck up at an angle thereto and .circula-r reinforcing members struck up from .the web and interposed between and/in contact with said flanges* 10. As an article of -manufacture, an integral airplane rib made fro-msheet material comprising aweb, longitudinal marginal anges struck up at an angle thereto and arch-shaped reinforcing members struck up from the web and in contact with and interposed between said flanges.

*11. As an article of manufacture,pan integral airplanerib made from sheet material comprising a web, longitudinalA marginal flanges struck up at an angle thereto v and reinforcing members struck up fromthe web and interposed between and welded to said flanges. y Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature. v

Images