US1674771A - Barrier shoe for aeroplanes - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1928. 1,674,771

J. s. FOX 7 BARRIER SHOE FOR AEROPLANES Filed Sept. 27. 1926 J'ublus- 5- Fox .3): g e AQ W Patented June 2%, 1928.

JULIUS S. FOX, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BARRIER SHOE FOR AEBOPLANES.

Application filed September 27, 1926. Serial No. 137,891.

ing proper speed, said barrier may be readily,

and quite suddenly released, and the vehicle permitted to rush forward with high speed, using such accumulated force or power which has been thus attained, because of entire lack of retardation by the usual extremely gradual increase of speed of the vehicle, which results from air obstruction prior to the moment when the engine has attained sufficient speed, and from the diffs culty of overcoming the momentum of the vehicle and its load while yet the force of the propeller is not great enough to overcome it.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a floor means with a shoe member hinged theretoupon a transverse hinge, so that an actuator connected to the shoe leads backward of the vehicle which rests upon the floor element while the engine is starting, and may, when proper engine speed is attained, suddenly remove the shoe as an effective barrier from the floor support, and permit the advance of the vehicle.

Vith'these and other objects in view, I have incorporated myinvention in an illustrative embodiment of the same which is described hereinafter, recited in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my barrier shoe and mounting mechanism with an aeroplane shown in position-thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame mechanism for the shoe, but with the barrier shoe in vertical, central, longitudinal section, and mounted in a manner slightly modified from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3.

My invention is here shown as mounted upon what may be a launching stage, a repair fioor, or a testing platform, the floor 5 of which may be anchored upon an outdoor space which may be level ground or uneven ground, in which latter case suitable piles 6 may be provided to positively support the the blocks 17.

of the latter.

stage. This floor 5 may be so anchored for more readily taking off of the plane therefrom or for supporting theplane in a repair shop to hold the same in position while the propeller is actuated at high speed to enable careful observation of the plane, propeller and engine while so running.

Upon the forward portion 7 of the platform or floor 5 is mounted fixedly an inclined support floor 8 whose rear end 9 is attached to the floor 5 and the front edge 10 supported in a position quite a little higher than the horizontal surface of the base floor 5. To this edge 10 is hinged by a transverse pin 11 the barrier shoe 12 which is usually of polygonal shape and is hinged at 11 upon one of its sides or longest edges. The opposite or outer edge 13 of this shoe 12 has secured thereto a strengthening bar or brace 14 whose ends 15 extend laterally from said shoe a short distance for a pun pose later to be explained.

Upon the side edges 16 of said shoe are fixed brace blocks 17 near the hinge edge thereof, and fixed upon these blocks 17 are bars 18 positioned at right angles to the plane of the shoe and to the edges bearing These arms or bars 18 are spaced somewhat from the lower or hinge edge of the shoe for the purpose of actuation A cable element 19 is attached tothe edge 13 of the shoe at each side by fixing the same to the ends 15 respectively.

The cable ends are then directed backwardly above and below the ends of the bars 18 on either side, andthence wound about a reel 20 which is mounted for rotation transverse of the rear end of the floor 5, and is provided with a crank for actuation, so that rotation of the reel will actuate the bar ends and with them the edge 13 of the shoe to lift or lower the shoe on such hinge 11. todetermine the effectiveness of the shoe 12 as a barrier.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the barrier shoe 12 has been shown as inclined, which arrangement is satisfactory, when the shoe leads forward to an adjoining, inclined platform 21'. In Figs. 3 and t. however, the shoe 12 is shown as substantially horizontal when in the lower position. and is most practicable when the shoe leads forward to a horizontal platform 21. The general structure of the two forms of barrier shoe is in the main very similar, and the actuation thereof is substantially identical. The bar 14; as well as the blocks 17 and actuating bar 18 are quite'similar in use on the dilferent forms of shoes'12 and 12?. Operation: If an aerial vehicle 22 is to be launched from the floor or'stagingji) out 8 and the rear end supported upon the main floor just forward of the reel or pulley shaft. Sincethereiare two pulleys on this shaft, the plane may readily be placed between these pulleys. The shoe 12, or 12 if this form is used, is now raised on the hinge pin 11" to an angle desired, this being'depe'nd ill? cut more orzless upon the weight of the ve hicle, its power, and the speed to be attained (of-the engine and propeller, not necessarily of the vehicle itself), before the vehicle is permitted to rush forward, first upon the platform 21, or 21, and then in aerial flight The shoe is'ret'ained in the upper position to act: asa positive barrier to the forward advance of the vehicle until the desired propeller speed is attained, after which the cable 19 is actuated by means of the parts 13 to 18 and 20",to' suddenly lower the shoe to release the plane from its barrier. It is a special advantage of my construction that such release does not require the operator to be beneath the plane but is stationed at the rear thereof, avoiding danger of accident when the plane retained while: the engine isrunning', as well as after its release. The part 21 may be a horizontal platform to receive the vehicle upon its release, or it may be a short base plate for receiving the wheels of an vehicle thereon temporarily in positioning the same for testing, for example.

It is further to be observed that myimproved construction isadapted for retaining the vehicle behind the barrier shoe While running the engine short periods for observation and testing the same. Such floorli with the incline 8 and the barrier shoe may advantageously be installed in a repair shop or factory for observation, though not connecledwith any flight platforn'l, an d not used there for more than telmjiorar'y testing, For this purpose, though, the structure is very useful. 1

The relative width of the shoe'compared with" the vheight of the vehicle wheels, is not intended to bejlimit'edflto that shown in the drawings, but may be of any convenient width to produce the effective height when raised, as may berequired".

Having now described" my inv'entionwhat I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patentof theUnited States is as follows 1 A barrier shoe comprising a flat plate having hinge members on one of its "longer edges-,a brace block secured to ori'e of the shorter-"edges of" the plateand a cross bar fixed upon the extreme end of said block, a

brace member secured to the edgegof the plate oppo ite; the hinge members and extending slightly beyond the outline of the plate, and'braci'ng cable members connecting the ends of said cross bar with the extended end of the brace member. 7

2. Barri-er mechanism for aeroplanes comprising an elongated support platform having a flat section and a front section inclined upwardly from the rear in fixed relation, a flat surfaced shoe hinged to the forward edge of said inclined section on a transverse axis for oscillating movement upwardly to a position above the level of said front section, and means, including a'winding element mounted transversely'of the platform at its extreme rear end, and an actuating connector between the windingelement and shoe, for actuatingthe latter upon its hinge. 3. Barrier mechanism for aerial vehicles comprising a fixed supporting platform having an upwardly-inclined" forward section in fixedrelation to the main platform, a shoe plate hinged to the forward ed'geof said inclined section on a transverse axis, a transverse block extending laterally from the shoe 7 at a point adjacent the hinge, a bar mounted on said block at an angle to the plane of the shoe and block, a cable element secured to the forward part of said shoe and guided by the ends of the bar, and extending rearwaidlyto a point on said platform beyond the intersection of the platform and inclined section, and means at said point for actuating said cable element to'move'the shoe plate on said hinge.

1-; Bari'er mechanism for aeroplanes comprising a supporit'platform, an inclined forward section inclined upwardly from an in; terinediate part ofthe platform and in fixed relation thereto,a barrier shoe plate hinged tothe forward edge of the inclined section for pivotal movement on a transve'rseaxi's, fixed brace meanssupported upon said main platform forward of the hinge, to receive thereon the forward end oflthe shoe when the latter is in its. lower position, atransverse inding' clement mounted for rotation or oscillation at the rear end of the platform, means for actuatiiigsaid element, an endless cable'element' attached to the forward end of the shoe and passingover the winding. element, and means attached'to sa d. shoe plate at its lateral edges for separatmgthe two strands of said cable element as; they pass rearwardly over the hinge, so that actuating means will swing the shoe plate upwardly to present a barrier to the advance of a ve'-' hicle resting on said inclined section, and remove said barrier whenthe' shoe islo'weredl In witness whereof I', have hereunto set m hand' this 22nd day' ofSeptember; 192

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