US1714842A - Radiator shutter - Google Patents

Description

RADIATOR SHUTTER Filed Aug. 31, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 82x 5. BE/SE'L By I A ORNEY May 28, 1929. R. B. BEISEL 1,714,842

v RADIATOR SHUTTER Filed Aug. 31, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented May 28, 1929.

REX B. BEISEL. OF EAST HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CUBTISS AERO- IPLANE & MOTOR COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RADIATOR SHUTTER.

Application filed August a1, 1926. Serial' No. 132,665.

My invention relates to aircraft and is more particularly concerned with an aeroplane radiator shutter.

An object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane rudder shutter which, in all POSI- tions of adjustment, is so related to theradiator as to decrease its head resistance or drag.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a radiator shutter for aircraft, separate relatively movableshutter pieces and an operating mechanism therefor; the shutter pieces being simultaneously gradually movable from a normal open position, one each at opposite sides of the radiator, to a closed position at substantially a' right angle thereto, the shutter pieces, when closed, being extended across said radiator to provide thereby a barrier against the passage of air.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide, in an aeroplane, a radiator and a radiator shutter, the former being cowled in,

and said cowl having formed therein an open-- ing; and the. latter, the shutter, being so organized and constructed as to provide, when closed, a closure for said opening which constitutes, in effect, an actual part of said cowl.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the rawings, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion of an aeroplane having installed thereon a radiator and a radiator shutter such as the present invention contemplates;

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the radiator shutter and its operating mechanism Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; the dotted lines indicating the positionof the shutter pieces with the shutter completely closed, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the radiator shutter, wide open.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, an aeroplane of more or less conventional design is shown. plane'compliises the usual fuselage or body 10, supporting surfaces 11-11, landing gear 12, and motor mount 13, the latter including spaced engine bearers I l-14 upon which the motor (not shown) is supported at and within the forward end of the fuselage. Instead of mounting the radiator at the extreme forward end of the fuselage, as is the common Such aero-- practice in aeroplane design, the radiator,

designated as 15,is shown mounted beneath I the engine bearers l t-14 and from where it is suspended by any suitable means. Thus positioned, the radiator 15 may be adequately streamline thru the use of cowling 16 which may or may not be formed in sections as shown. This cowling 16 is adapted to completely enclose, not only the radiator 15 but the radiator shutter and its operating mechanism as well. As indicated in Fig. 2, the radiator shutter is preferably mounted forwardly of the radiator and is so organized and constructed as to constitute, with, the shutter closed, an actual part of the cowling 16 with in which it (the shutter) and theradiator 15 g are both completely enclosed.

' In the backwardly and downwardly inclined and transversely rounded portion ofthe cowling 16 an opening 17 is formed. This opening 17 is preferably so related to the radiator 15 as to admit of the air flow thereto and therethru when the shutter, designated in its entirety as 18, is open. By closing said shutter the air ordinarily entering thru said opening 17 is shut OH and the steam line of the cowl 16 finished off. As a cowl support, and also as a support for the shutter 18, frame pieces 19,20, 21 and 22 are provided, the former, said frame pieces 19 and 20 being hung or suspended from the motor mount 13.

-As distinguished from the Venetian blind type of radiator shutter heretofore commonly used, the radiator shutter 18 comprisesbut two shutter pieces 23-23. These shutter pieces 23 are preferably arcuately formed'in transverse section and are disposed, within the cowling, one each at opposite sides of and slightly in advance of the radiator 15. Thus positioned, said radiator pieces, while they act to'streamline the radiator to a slight extent, do not, to any appreciable extent, interfere with the air flow therethru. At their top and bottom edges, said shutter pieces 23-23 are reinforced by out-turned flanges 24 as shown.

' As a support for the shutter pieces 2323, a rod or shaft 25 is provided. This shaft 25, in the arrangement shown, is inclined to the vertical as indicated in Fig. 2 and is located in the longitudinal vertical plane of the machine. At its opposite ends it is adjustably. supported by extension pieces 2626 fas tened respectively to'the frame members 19 and 20. Thus supported it (the shutter) may be adjusted bodily toward and away from the opening 17 formed in the cowling 16.

Mounted on the shaft 25, intermediately of its ends, are four pairs of arms 27, two of said pairs of arms being grouped at one end of said shaft and-the remaining two similarly grouped at the opposite end.- One pair of arms of each said group extend right and left in diverging relation to support at their outer ends the shutter pieces 23, and at their inner ends each said pair of arms has formed thereon a collar 28 thru which the shaft 25 extends. In this way the shutter pieces 23-23 are similarly and adequately supported. By moving said arms simultaneously from the full line position indicated in Fig. 3, to the dotted line position therein indicated, the shutter pieces 2323 are similarly moved from a wide open to a compltely closed position. While the shutter pieces 2323 are curved in transverse sec tion, the curvature in eachinstance, instead of being described from the axis of the shaft 25 as a center is of a radius corresponding to that of the forward transverse curvature of the cowling 16. Being thus formed, said shutter pieces 2323, when completely closed, not only completely close the opening 17 in the cowlin but they merge substantially uninterruped ly into the transverse curvature thereof as indicated in Fig. 3.

The operating mechanism for the shutter 18 includes a control lever 29 and a quadrant 30 confined to the cockpit space provided in the machine. From the control lever 29 a rod 31 extends forwardly for connection with one arm 32 of a suitable bell crank having duplicate opposite arms positioned one each at opposite sides of the machine. From these latter arms, designated as 33-33, separate rods 34 extend forwardly within the space enclosed by the cowling 16. At their respective forward ends the rods 34 are each connected with suitable linkage 35 duplicated at opposite sides of the machine, which linkage (see Figs. 2 andd) is in turn connected, one each with suitable cross-frame members 36 provided for the shutter pieces 2323. By exerting either a push or pull on the control lever 29 the shutter pieces 23-23 are either simultaneously moved toward or away from the cowl opening 17 to shutter or'unshutter the radiator as desired. Moreover, as a means for yieldingly resisting the backward movement of the shutter pieces 2323, springs 37 may be provided, one for each shutter piece,

said springs being fastened to the shutter pieces 23-23 and to the shaft 25.

A radiator shutter characterized as above set forth, regardless of its position of adjustment, offers but little resistance compared to an unshuttered radiator of the dimensions required. It not only fairs in the radiator amass-a is'so organized and constructed as to admit of any degree of opening desired. When com- I pletely closed, the shutter 18 enters into and forms an integral part of the radiator cowling, and when opened, the spaced shutter pieces tend to direct the air flow thru the radiator.

lVhile l have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritor scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is:

l. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a motor mount, a radiator supported beneath the motor mount, cowling within which'the radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein, on the underside thereof, an opening, a radiator shutter enclosed within said cowling and movable to cover and un-' cover said opening, a support for the radiator carried by and hung beneath the motor mount behind said opening and within said cowling, and mechanism operable to open and close said shutter.

2. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a radiator, cowling within which the radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein an opening, a shaft extending crosswise the opening, arms mounted for rotation on said shaft and extending radially out therefrom, and arcuate shutter pieces carried by said arms and movable therewith about said shaft as'an axis to cover and uncover said opening.

3. The combination, in an aeroplane, of; a radiator, cowling within which the radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein an opening, a shaft extending crosswise said opening,arcuate shutter pieces carried by and rotatableabout said shaft to cover and uncover said opening, and a yielding means for urging said shutter pieces toward a closed position of adjustment.

4. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a.

radiator, cowling within which the radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein an opening, a shaft extending cross;= wise the opening, arms mounted for rotation on said shaft and extending radially out therefrom, arcuate shutter pieces can ried bv said arms and movable therewith about said shaft, as an axis to cover and uncover said opening, and a yielding means encircling said shaft and engaging said arms for urging said shutter pieces toward a closed position of adjustment.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

REX B. BEISEL.

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