US1718391A - Flying machine - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1929. J. TETLOW FLYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 25. 1925 A T TORXE Y.

June 25, 1929. J nanow 1,718,391

FLYING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1925 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR; 0250M firflowr A TTORNE Y.

June 25, 1929. TETLOW 16718.39!

FLYING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 3 m 'EXTO-R.

I BY

A TTORXEX Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEWIS J. TETLOW, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed July 23,

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes or flying machines of the type in which two or more supporting wings or planes are employed with the usual propeller,

car, and internal combustion engine, in-

stalled therein, for driving the propeller and carrying the operators.

An object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane structure so as to overcome the possibility of the machine falling to earth should the supporting planes assume an inclined position which prevents the machine from righting itself again. It has been found from experience that the placing of members between the upper and lower supporting planes in inclined positions does not overcome this serious defect in aeroplane construction since they do not accomplish the desired result.

Broadly, one of the objects of my improvements consists in the placing between the two planes a plurality of semi-tubular members which are attached to the underside of the upper plane and with their lower edges resting on supports which permits the members as a whole to yield upwardly and assume a bowed position. These members are arranged with their inner surfaces facing outwards towards the ends of the wings and with their front and rear edges located in vertical planes which correspond with the front and rear edges of the supporting wings. These members are preferably formed with perforations throughout their entire area; the construction and arrangement being such that should the machine as a whole assume an inclined position the semi-tubular members will assist in righting the machine and prevent its falling to earth in a sidewise manner.

My improvement further consists in pivotally mounting the two supporting wings on the car, whereby the wings may be automatically returned to their original position by means of springs which are attached to the lower surface of the lower supporting wing at one of their ends and to the supporting wheeled truck at their other or lower ends. Two or more pairs of these springs may be employed and of different expansible strengths. These springs cooperate with the semi-tubular members to assist in righting or bringing the wings back into their original horizontal position thus insuring the safety of the machine.

A further object consists in extending the 1925. Serial No. 45,607.

supporting wheel truck a sufficient distance ahead of or in front of the car so that in landing the blades of the propeller will not be broken, as is often the case when a machine lands by reason of the ends of the blades striking the ground. The usual steering apparatus for raising and lowering the machine dip'inglflight is employed and for directing it a y.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the machine as a whole showing the wheeled supporting frame work, the, two supporting wings, the spring connections between the lower wing and the wheel supporting frame work also the perforated semi-tubular members which are interposed between the upper and lower wings and one of the pivotal supports for the supporting wings. The dotted lines represent the wings in difierent positions.

2 is a side elevational View of the machine showing one of the interposed semi-tubular perforated members between the upper and lower wing, the ball and socket joint connections between the upper supporting wing and the top of the car, also the springs between the lower supporting wing and the wheeled supporting truck.

F igu 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the perforated semi-tubular stabilizing members, and

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section when considered on the lines 44 of Fig. 1, showing the ball and socket connections between the upper supporting wing and the top of the car, also the stabilizing springs between the lower supporting wing and the-wheeled supporting truck.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the car; 2 the propeller which is located at the forward end of the car; 3 the wheel supporting truck formed of the longitudinally arranged angular shaped side bars 4cfllld5 and cross bars 1 and 5. Rotatably supported by the channel bars are the four supporting wheels 6. Located bet-ween the truck 3 and the lower side of the car are the ear supporting posts 7 four of which are employed, the shape of which is shown in Fig. 1. The lower ends of these posts are secured to the angular shaped bars 1 and 5 and their upper ends to the sockets 8. The two supporting wings or planes are indicated at 9 and 10. 11 and 12 designate two post members that are secured to the upper surface of the car 1 as shown in Fig. 1 and their upper ends are formed with spherical or ball like surfaces or portions 13 and 14. Secured to the wing 9 are socket members 15 and 16 by means of the washers 17 and the nuts 18. Attached to the upper wing 9 and lower wing 10 are the be extended as indicated at 23. and the other set will be compressed as indicated at 22. The recoil of the spring 23 will operate to return the wings to their normal full'line positions. These inclined positions being indicated by the dotted lines shown in Fig. 1. Should the wings 9 and 10 assume the inclined positions 9 and 10 the set of springs ,will be extended asindicated at 22 and the set of springs 23 will be compressed as indicated at 23 The recoil of the springs 22 assisted by the compressed springs 23 will automatically return the wings to the original full line positions. When the wings assume these inclined positions they will turn on the ball and socket joint connections 13, 14, 15, and 16 shown in Fig. 4, as centers.

Referring now to the perforated semi-tubular members 24:, a detached perspective view of one being shown in Fig. 3. These members are formed with oppositely disposed openings 25 in their upper and lower edges to receive the spacing bolts 19 and 20 (see Fig. 2). The lower edge 24' of these members rests upon the upper ends of the tubular members 26 which are loosely mounted on the bolts 19 and 20. Inter-posed between the opposite edges 24 and 27 are the coiled springs 28. These springs are not under tension. The semi-tubular members 24: are each formed with perforations 29. These members are composed of thin enough material so as to permit them to bend and assume the dotted line positions 24 shown in Fig. 1. The spiral springs 28 will then be compressed. This operation occurs when the wings assume the inclined dotted line positions, sometimes termed side skidding and spinning. The perforations then permit the pocketed air under compression in these members to escape therethrough.

The passing of the air through these perforations operates to prevent the machine from falling sidewise or side skidding and spinning. At the same time the compressed air in the curved members 24: serve to reright the machine or bring it back again to an even keel which operation isassisted by the two sets of springs 22 and 23 one set of which is extended and the other set of which is under compression, as the wings'turn about the ball and socket joint connections 13, 14:, 15, and 16.

Another important feature of the present invention is that the semi-tubular members 2%, as shown, in Fig. 1 extend only about onehalf of the distance between the wings 9 and 10 whereby the air will have free access below the lower edges 24: and the upper surface of the lower wing 10. This arrangement of the members 2% does not therefore impede the progress of the machine through the air. Again, the curved members 2 1 having their axis arranged parallel with the car 1 does not impede the movement of the machine. W here the machine is directed in a curved direction the members 24L will assist in making the machine follow the course intended. The outer curved surfaces 24 of the members 24L will permit the air to pass freely through the space between the upper and lower wings either when the machine is righting itself or moving on a straight or curved course.

The wheeled supporting frame 3 extends forward beyond the end of the car 1 a suliicient distance to prevent the blades of the propeller 2 from striking the ground when landing is made. This extension of the wheeled supporting frame is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 wherein is shown the part 3 with the forward set of wheels attached thereto.

At the present time it is usual to provide only a single pair of supporting wheels at the forward part of the car with the result that in making a landingthe propeller blades are broken by striking the ground.

The supporting planes or wings are firmly trussed as shown in Fig. 4 by means of the pieces 30, 31. and 32. The rear part of the car is supported by the brace 33. The usual steering vanes are indicated at 3 1, 35, and 36.

An important feature of my improvement is that the perforated semi-tubular members 24: serve the purpose of eEect-ually permitting side skidding and spinning which is a very dangerous position for the machine to assume. The members 2 1 will pocket the air to a certain extent and thus prevent the machine from assuming this position.

What I claim is:

1. A flying machine having in combination, a wheeled supporting truck, a car body rigidly supported on the truck, supporting wings pivotally attached to the'car body, springs interposed between the said truck an d'the wings for maintaining the wings in their normal positions but permitting them to oscillate or tilt relative to the horizontal plane and semi-cylindrical members between the wings to prevent side motion.

2. In a flying machine, in combination, a car body, truck means for supporting the car body, a plurality of wings for support-' ing the machine during flight, means interposed between the Wings for preventing a downward side motion of the machine consisting of resiliently mounted semi-tubular members.

3. In a flying machine. in combination, a car body, truck means for supporting the car body, a plurality of wings for supporting the machine during flight, means interposed between the wings for preventing a downward side motion of the machine consisting of resiliently mounted semi-tubular members, with the inside surfaces of the said members facing towards the ends of the wings' 4. In a flying machine, in combination, a car body, truck means for supporting the car body, a plurality of wings for support ing the machine during flight, means interposed between the wings for preventing a downward side motion of the machine consisting of resiliently mounted semitubular members, with the inside surfaces of the said members facing towards the ends of the wings, said members being formed with perforations for providing a surface to retard the flow of air along their surfaces.

5. In a flying machine, a pair of supporting wings, means attached to the wings to prevent side skidding of the machine consisting of curved shaped members with springs interposed between the edges of the said members.

6. In a flying machine, a pair of supporting wings, means attached to the wings to prevent side skidding of the machine consisting of perforated curved shaped members.

7. In a flying machine, in combination, a wheeled supporting truck, a car body attached thereto, a pair of wings pivotally attached to the car body, wing righting means between the said truck and the wings for maintaining them in a normal position and for restoring the wings should they move about their pivotal attachment, means attached to the wings for assisting said wing righting means and to prevent side skidding of the machine.

8. In a flying machine, in combination, a pair of supporting wings, means for connecting the wings together, means for pivotally supporting the wings on the car body, stabilizing devices interposed between the wings comprising a plurality of bendable semi-tubular members having their upper edge located below the lower surface of the upper wing and their lower edge spaced from the upper surface of the lower Wing to permit the air to readily pass below the said devices, a coil spring located between the opposite edges of said devices and said devices being formed with perforations to permit the air to pass partially through the openings and along the inner curved surfaces of said devices.

LEWIS J. TETLOW.

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