US1732040A - Dirigible airship - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 15, 1929. v. E. EDWARDS DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 15, 1929. v. E. EDWARDS 1,732,040

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYJ'.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE VAN EVERY EDWARDS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DIBIGIBLE AIRSHIP Application filed March 9, 1929. Serial No. 345,842.

My invention relates to dirigible air ships and has for its object to improve the construction of the same 'in several particulars to be hereinafter pointed out. The accompanying drawings are diagrammatic in character, no attempt being made to illustrate the details of construction, and many parts not directly associated with the invention being omitted.

Figure 1 is a central transverse sectional view of an air ship embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adjustable nose of the ship; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

In these drawings 2 designates the containers for the gas employed as the lifting agent of the ship. These containers are preferably in the form of metallic tanks con structed of thin sheet metal, of which several alloys of metals, in which aluminum is the principal ingredient, are now commercially available. Suifice it to say that the walls of the tank are exceedingly thin in order to insure the requisite lightness.

3 designates the hull, which serves as the main longitudinal frame member of the ship. It is diagrammatically represented as provided with a plurality of decks 4, forming compartments, the lowermost of WhlCh may serve as a receptacle for water ballast, another as a passenger compartment, another for freight, and another for the engine and other machinery incident to the navigation of the vessel. The gas tanks and the hull are represented as being of elongated cylindrical, cigar-shape form, prefer-.

ably pointed at both ends. The vessel represented has three gas tanks 2 and the hull 3, which may be of equal size and are uniformly disposed about a common center, the hull occupying the lower central position.

The series of cylindrical bodies, the three gas tanks and the hull, are suitably braced and supported with reference one to the so other by means that do not constitute a part of the invention and therefore are not illustrated, except diagrammatically at 24.

Surrounding the ship and encircling the as tanks and the hull are a series of broad bands 6. These serve as strengthening members and also as guiding members to hold the ship in its course during flight. Each of the bands is concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the ship. Between each of the cylindrical bodies, 2 and 3, are spaces freely open to the external air and these spaces are bridged by the bands 6 which thus serve as stationary guiding elements, disposed so as to hold the course of the ship while in flight in the line of the central axis thereof. 22 indicates a vertical fin longitudinally disposedabove the upper gas tank 3, and 23, 23 horizontal side fins projecting outwardly beyond the side tanks 2, 3. These in connection with the bands 6 will effectively hold the ship in its course. I

A second set of inner bands 7 are arranged inside and between the several cylindrical bodies, 2 and 3, of the ship, these supplementing the outer bands as strengthening and direction maintaining means. 4

Upon theiupper portion of the hull there is a platform 5, or a series of platforms, through which are the hatchways leading into the interior of the hull. Upon these platforms may be mounted the frames 29 supporting the shafts of the propellers 8 by which the ship is driven, through gearing 30. The propellers are located within the central circular space surrounded by the inner bands 7.

At the forward end of the ship there is mounted an adjustable steering nose 9 mounted just in advance of the forward ends of the tanks 2 and the hull 3. This nose consists of a conical portion 10 and a housing 13, preferably s uare, to the rear of the conical part and etween it and the ends of the cylindrical members 2 and 3. Secured to the outside of the nose are a pair of horizontal fins 11 and another pair of vertical fins 12. The nose is sup orted upon a universal joint 14 uniting 1t with a beam 15 extending forwardly from a suitable mounting or connection 31 carried by the hull, the

beam entering the interior of the nose and being rigid with the framework of the ship.

16 designates a cross shaft screw-threaded at its middle portion in a nut member 32 carried by the beam 15; and 17 indicates a vertically disposed shaft the middle portion of which is screw threaded and engages with the nut member 32. At the ends of the shafts 16 and 17 are heads 18 that have bearing engagement with wear plates 19 carried respectively by the side walls and the top and bottom of the square housing portion 13 of the nose. This housing constitutes a cabin that may be occupied by the steersman of the ship. 20 is a wheel fast upon the shaft 16 by which it may be turned, and 21 a similar wheel fast upon the shaft 17. It will be seen that whenever one of these wheels is turned, the shaft to which it is secured, by reason of its engagement with the nut member rigidly supported with reference to the hull or framework of the ship, will he moved longitudinally and the head 18 at the end of theshaft which is being advanced will bear against the wall of the housing 13 and cause the. nose to turn upon its pivot. A turning of the horizontal shaft in one direction will cause the nose to point toward the right and a turning in the opposite direction to point toward the left, whereas the turning of the vertical shaft will cause the nose to be elevated or depressed accordingly as the shaft is rotated in one direction or the other. As the nose is provided with the external steering fins 11 and 12 its turning upon its pivot will operate to direct the ship in the course that it is desired it should take. I have represented the wheels 20 and 21 as similar to a stecrsmans wheel upon a ship and these may be operated by an operator or operators within the housing 13. However these parts are merely typical and for them may be substituted if desired mechanically operated steering gear as will be understood.

28 indicates a hose, of which one or more may be used, intended to be let down from the hull when the ship is about to make a landing upon water, and through which water may be pumped into the water ballast compartment of the hull thus serving to weight the ship so that it will be caused to easily settle upon the water where it will rest, the hull portion thereof being more or less immersed during the period it is at rest.

While I have in the accompanying drawings illustrated a dirigible air ship in which are incorporated three-gas tanks and a single hull, all cylindrical in shape and of approximately the same diameter, I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to an air ship in which are only three gas tanks, as the number of these may be varied from what i shown; and also that the size of the hull relative to the size of the gas tanks may be varied, without departing from should this be required or for gas serving directly as part of the lifting agencies of the ship.

What I claim is:

1. A dirigible air ship comprising in its construction a series of gas tanks and a hull, these elements being disposed about the longitudinal axis of the ship and spaced apart with the hull arranged lowermost, a series of bands encircling these parts and uniting them and a series of inner bands concentric with those of the first series and uniting the said elements.

2. A dirigible air ship comprising in its construction a series of gas tanks and a hull, these parts being arranged about the longitudinal axis of the ship. encircling bands uniting such members and assisting in bolding them in fixed relation with each other, the hull being in the lowermost part of the ship, and means for propelling the ship supported above the hull and located in the space surrounded by the aforesaid elements of the ship.

3. A dirigible air ship comprising in its constru'ction a set of relatively long gas tanks and a relatively long hull, these elements being arranged about the longitudinal axis of the ship with the hull in the lowermost portion, means for holding these elements in fixed relation to each other, including a set of inner bands uniting the inner portions of the said elements one with the other, and means for propelling the ship through the air supported bythe hull and above the same, located in the space bounded by the said inner bands, said elements being spaced apart to permit airto pass freely to the ship-propelling means both from the front and sides.

4. A dirigible air ship comprising in its construction a nose pivotally connected with the frameworkthereof, the nose having a forward pointed end provided with exterior air vanes or fins, and a housing to the rear of the pointed portion serving as a cabin or shelter for the steersman, and mechanism within the said housing by which the nose may be turned with reference to the body of the ship to direct its course.

5. A dirigible air ship corn rising in its construction a series of gas tan s and a hull, these elements bein more or less similar in shape and arrange about the longitudinal axis of the ship, means for uniting these elements and holding them in fixed relation to each other with the hull located in the lowermost position, a frame element extendnig forwardly from the hull, a nose having a universal pivotal connection with the said frame element, air vanes or fins carried by the nose, screw threaded shafts supported in screw threaded bearings carried by the forwardly projecting frame element, such shafts being arranged at right angles one to the other and having engagement with the nose at their respective ends, and means whereby the shafts may be turned in their bearings to cause them to move longitudinally and through such movement turn the nose upon its pivotal support and thereby direct the course of the ship.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VAN EVERY EDWARDS.

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