US1750529A - Aeroplane - Google Patents

Description

AEROPLANE Filed Qct. 14, 1929 s SheetS -Sheet 1 iNVENTOR p Zia 416221601161.

BY w

E. H. LANIER March 11, I930.

AEROPLANE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1929 iNVENTOR fawardflkfliefi ATTORNEY March 11, EJ-LLANERv 7 1,750,529

AEROPLANE Filed Oct. 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY E. H. LANIER AEROPLANE March 11, 1930.

Filed Oct. 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 iNVENTOR Ewardfllmze ATTORNEY March 11, 1930.

E. H. LANIER 1,750,529

AEROPLANE Filed Oct. 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [F I lrl W INVENTOR m V A [dwardflla ziwz M ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES EDWARD H. LANIER, OI MIAMI, FLORIDA AEROPLANE Application filed October 14, 1929. Serial No. 399,632.

My invention relates to the art of aerial navigation and it particularly has to do with the heavier-than-air type of craft.

Primarily, the invention has for its object to provide an aeroplane that will, by its own fixed construction and design and without the pilots aid, maintain an even keel while in flight and will volplane on an even lateral keel without the aid of a pilot or the motor.

Further, it is an object to provide a machine that will not nose dive, side slip or tail spin under rdinary circumstances, but should this happen, the machine will right itself without the pilots aid. A further object is to provide such a machine which adheres strictly to the same theory of flight, the same general construction, ailerons, rudder and elevators as used on present time planes.

Further, it is an object to provide an areoplane of great inherent stability which will be particularly useful for aerial school student passenger flights around aerial fields, and will be especially useful to develop confidence in those afraid of the present high speed planes.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an areoplane embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 5 isa vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 9 is a detail section on theline 99 of Figure 5.

In the drawings in which is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 represents the keel extending in a stream line and comprising the back-bone of the vehicle. Located beneath the keel is a suitable cabin 2 which may contain the controls (not shown) for the various operating instrumentalities (engine, ailerons, elevators, rudders). The cabin has a floor 3, a front wall 4 extending downwardly and rearwardly from the keel and of V-shape in horizontal section, thereby offering but little wind resistance, a rear wall 5 similar in form to the front wall, and side walls 2 which diverge downwardly from the keel to the flood.

Suitable landing gear is provided and comprises legs 6 diverging from the keel 1, braces 8 extending from the front of the cabin adjacent the floor downwardly and outwardly to the legs 6, wheels 9 mounted at the bottom of the legs and a tail skid 13.

It will be noticed that the keel extends forwardly to overhang the cabin and the forward end is provided with an engine base 10 for the engine 11 which drives the propeller 12.

Above the keel is a fuselage composed of a suitably braced frame work with walls covering the sides, ends and part of the top. The side walls are continuous from the front to therear in stream lines and diverge upwardly from the keel. The fore part 18 of the side walls extends forwardly and upwardly above the cabin to constitute the sides of a nose whose front wall 24 inclines upwardly and forwardly from the keel adjacent the front of the cabin to a certain level and then curves upwardly and rearwardly to comprise the short top wall 21. That portion of the fuselage body above the cabin is open at the top to constitute what I shall hereinafter term a vacuum chamber 20.

To the rear of the chamber 20 the fuselage body is closed by the side wall portions 19, a top wall 34, rear wall 44 and partition wall 43, the latter being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the keel toward the top of the fuselage body.

Along the upper edge of the outer wall which extends along the sides of the chamber 20 are flanges 22 whose purpose is to deflect the air away from the upper side edges of the chamber 20 and prevent its curling over those edges into the chamber.

The fore end of the fuselage body is braced to the extended end of the keel and motor base by struts 23, and an air stream splitting and laterally diverging member 25 is provided between the base 10 and the surface 24.

\Vings 26 have spars 27 extended from the keel, the adjacent edges of the wings being spaced from the fuselage body and keel and are provided with vertical air channel vanes 29 for a purpose presently to be explained.

The wings are braced at 7 to the legs 6 of the landing gear and at 28 to the vanes 29 and to the fuselage frame.

The machine is provided with horizontal stabilizers l4, elevators 15, a vertical stabilizer l6 and rubber 17, all being of any approved construction.

Mounted on the fuselage and preferabl on top thereof is a tail spin check vane 30 w ich is hinged at 31 and has a stop 32 to engage a fixed stop 33 when the vane opens up. The vane normally lies parallel to and in close juxtaposition to the fuselage body but it is spaced slightly therefrom by strips 36 of rubber, wood or other suitable material to prevent air suction under the same.

The vane may also be notched as at 37 to straddle the adjacent stabilizer.

The top wall 34 of the fuselage body is slotted at to receive the pivoted end of the vane 30 and brace rods 38 are pivoted to the vane and pass through ears 39 on the side walls of the fuselage so as to cooperate with the stops 32 and 33. The rods'38 have rubber bumpers 40 and stop nuts 41 as indicated.

The usual ailerons 42 may be provided on the wings.

In order to prevent rain water accumulating in the chamber 20, a suitable drain 45 is provided and in order not to break the vacuum in the chamber during the normal operation of the plane the drain 45 may be provided with a back check valve 46.

The wings 26 are preferably inclined upwardly from their inner toward their outer edges or tips as best shown in Figure 3.

The novel form of the fuselage body of the plane with a vacuum chamber in the front part, upwardly and outwardly inclined side walls longitudinally parallel with the stream line its full length, the air channel vanes attached to the inner ends of the wings longitudinally parallel with the central vertical longitudinal plane of the fuselage and no covering to the wings between the fuselage and air channel vanes, provides a construction which creates longitudinal air channels adjacent the middle of the machine when the machine is travelling on an even keel. When volplaning towards the earth, or should the machine go into a nose dive, the air currents will flow through the air channels more vertically. In either case this flow of air creates a powerful vacuum or upward pull in the vacuum chamber and in conjunction with the air pressure on the outside of the fuselage has great stabilizing effect.

Another important advantage of the vacuum chamber is that the vacuum chamber is located at the highest point, bringing the center of gravity in a vertical line directly beneath the vacuum chamber.

The arrangement of the wings at an angle with their outer ends higher than in the center also has great stabilizing effect, especially as the adjacent ends of the wings are separated from the fuselage body and keel, which permits a current of air to pass through.

\Vings which extend entirely across the wing span without a break in the center balance very delicately; an opening in the center, however, permits a current of air to pass through and greatly reduce the tendency of the wings to fight compression and get out of balance.

When the machine for any reason goes into a tail spin the tail vane opens. This vane is hinged at its forward end only and when the plane is in the forward flight it lies on the fuselage entirely neutral. and does not in any way affect the machine in flight, but should the machine stall and go into a spiral tail spin backwardly this vane will immediately open and throw the tail of the machine to the right or left, thus bringing the frontof the machine down partially sideways and as it begins to volplane it will right itself. At the same time the tail vane will immediately close down on the fuselage body in its normal position.

IVhile I have located this tail vane on the top of the fuselage body in a horizontal position. it could be located on the sides of the fuselage in a vertical position with the same mechanical construction.

The tail vane at this point of the fuselage will exert great force on account of the leverage: assuming the nose of the machine to be the fulcrum, pressure at the back will be very great and easily bring the tail to the right or left from the center of travel in falling. In a tail spin the machine does not fall in a true line with the center of gravity but spins around in corkscrew fashion, the tail inscribing a circle. It is this motion that would cause air to get under the tail vane and open it and throw the tail to the right or left of the line of fall, thus bringing the wings and front of the machine over on its side to a volplane.

As shown, the vane 30 is of greater width than that of the fuselage wall adjacent to which it lies.

In Figures 6 and 7 is shown a modification of the invention in which the fuselogo and cabin structures are a part of the same body and the vacuum chamber is mounted above the cabin as a separate body. In this embodiment the cabin is indicated by 47, the rear portion of the fuselage by48, the vacuum'chamber by 49, the wings by 50, the air channel vanes by 51, the tail vane by 52, the engine by 53, the stabilizers by 54, the elevator b 55 and the rudder by 56.

It is to e noted that in both embodiments of the invention the width of the cabin is less than the space between the adjacent ends of the wings. This is of importance for the reason that if the machine is volplaning or settling the air currents will pass up vertically through the air passages along the side of the vacuum chamber to create a vacuum or area of low pressure over the chamber even though the burbling oint has been reached on the top surface 0 the wings. In other words, when the plane is in forward motion, volplaning or settling down vertically, a vacuum Wlll be formed in the air chamber. The wings only create a vacuum in the forward motion of the machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art, it being understood, however, that I do not limit myself to precise details of construction, changes in which may readily be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In aeroplanes, the combination with a body comprising a keel, side walls upwardly diverging from the keel, a cabin beneath the fore part of the keel, said side walls projecting forwardly and upwardly from the front of the cabin, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall at the front joining said side walls, and an upwardly and rearwardly curved nose wall extending from the upper end of said downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall partly over the top of said side walls, a to wall for the part of the body to the rear 0 the cabin, that portion above the cabin being open at the top from said nose to said top wall, wings extending laterally of the keel and spaced from said body and provided at .their adjacent edges with upwardly extending vertical vanes, a rudder and elevators at the rear of said body, and a motor and propeller mounted at the front of said bod'y. a

2. In aeroplanes, the combination with a body comprising a keel, side walls upwardly diverging from the keel, a cabin beneath the fore part of the keel, said side walls project. ing forwardly and upwardly from the front of. the cabin, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall at the front joining said side walls, and an upwardly and rearwardly curved nose wall extending from the upper end of said downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall part1 over the top of said side walls, a top wal for the part of the body to the rear of the cabin, that portion above the cabin being open at the top from said nose to said top wall, wings extending laterally of the keel and spaced from said body and provided at their adjacent edges with upwardly extending vertical vanes, a rudder and elevators at the rear of said body, and a motor and propeller mounted at the front of said body, said vertical vanes being of less height above the edge of the plane than is the top of the open part of said body.

3. In aeroplanes, a fuselage including a keel. a cabin extending downwardly from the keel, said fuselage having an open top chamber extending over the cabin and having a top plane surface from said chamber to the tail end ofthe fuselage, means to deflect the air stream over said open chamber to create a suction above said chamber, wings spaced from said fuselage and extending laterally, a rudder and elevators mounted at the rear of said fuselage, substantially as shown and described.

4. In aeroplanes, a fuselage including a keel, a cabin extending downwardly from the keel, said fuselage having an open top chamber extending over the cabin and having a top plane surface from said chamber to the tail end of the fuselage, means to deflect the air stream over said open chamber to create a suction above said chamber, wings spaced from said fuselage at approximately the keel level and extending laterally, a rudder and elevators mounted at the rear of said fuselage, substantially as shown and described.

5. In aeroplanes, a fuselage including a keel, a cabin extending downwardly from the keel, said fuselage having an open top chamber extending over the cabin and having a top plane surface from said chamber to the tail end of the fuselage, means to deflect the air stream over said open chamber to create a suction above said chamber, wings spaced from said fuselage and extending laterally, a rudder and elevators mounted at the rear of said fuselage, and a tail spin check vane mounted to lie on and be parallel with the fuselage when the vehicle is in forward flight and having provisions to open up at an angle to the fuselage when the vehicle is in tail spins.

6. In aeroplanes, a fuselage of approximately' V-shape in cross section having approximately the fore half open at the top and the remainder closed at the top, said fuselage having an air deflecting nose including a surface to deflect the air upwardly and over the open part of the top onto the closed part thereof to produce an area of low pres sure in and over the open portion of the fuselage, *wi'ngs at each'side of the fuselage and at the fore part thereof, stabilizers, elevators and a rudder at the rear part of the fuselage, a cabin located below the open top of the fuselage, and a motor and propeller at the front of the fuselage.

7.1 In aeroplanes, a fuselage of approximately V-shape in cross section having approximately the fore half open at the top and the remainder closed atthe top, said fuselage having an air deflecting nose including a surface to deflect the air upwardly and over the open part of the top onto the closed part thereof to produce an area of low pressure in and over the open portion of the fuselage, wings at each side of the fuselage and at the fore part thereof, stabilizers, elevators and a rudder at the rear part of the fuselage, a cabin located below the open top of the fuse- -lage,'and a motor and propeller at the front of the fuselage, said nose also having a downwardly and rear-wardly inclined front surface.

8. In aeroplanes, a fusela e of approximately V-shape in cross section having approximately the fore-half open at the top and the remainder closed at the top, said fuselage having an air deflecting nose including a surface to deflect the air upwardly and over the open part of the top onto the closed part thereof to produce an area of low pressure in and over the open portion of the fuselage, wings at each side of the fuselage and at the fore part thereof, stabilizers, elevators and a rudder at the rear part of the fuselage, a cabin located below the open top of the fuselage, and a motor and propeller at the front of the fuselage, said nose also having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front surface, and said wings being spaced from the fuselage and provided with air channel vanes at their edges adjacent the fuselage for the purpose specified.

9. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally.

10. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface. said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the' chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, and wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, said win body an having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends.

11. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air'stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the bodyand keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally,-

said keel extendingforwardly of said nose, and a motor and propeller mounted on said forwardly extended portion of the keel.

12. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprisin a keel, a hollow body structure on the kee the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an u wardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the bod a cabin beneath the chambered portion 0 the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, said Wings being spaced from-the keel and body and having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends, said keel extending forwardly of said nose, and a motor and propeller mounted on said forwardly extended portion of the keel.

13. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, and wings extending from adjacent the keel laterall said wings being spaced from the keel an body and having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends, said body having side walls -upwardly diverging from said keel and said vanes being located in vertical planes, substantially as shown and described.

14. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and s being spaced from the keel and. p

rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber; elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent thekeel laterally, saidwingsbeing spaced from the keel and body and having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends, said keel extending forwardly of said nose, and a motor and propeller mounted on said forwardly extended portion of the keel,said body having side walls upwardly diverging from said keel and said vanes being located in vertical planes, substantially as shown and described.

15. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, and a tail spin check plane hinged to said body to the rear of said open top chamber and lying flat along the body when in forward flight and opening up at an angle to the body in tail spins.

16. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air defleeting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, said wings being spaced from the keel and body and having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends, and a tail spin check plane hinged to said body to the rear of said open top chamber and lying flat along the body when in forward flight and opening up at an angle to the body in tail spins.

17. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air defleeting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a .rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, said keel extending forwardly of said nose, amotor and propeller mounted on saidforwardly extended portion of the keel, and a tail spin check plane hinged to said body to the rear of said open top chamber and lying flat along the body when in forward flight and opening up at an angle to the body in tail spins.

18. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which thevupwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, said wings being spaced-fromthe keel and body and having air channel vanes at their adjacent ends, said keel extending forwardly of said nose, a motor and propeller mounted on said forwardly extended portion of the keel, and a tail spin check plane hinged to said body to the rear of said open top chamber and lying flat along the body when in forward flight and opening up at an angle to the body in tail spins.

19. In aeroplanes, a fuselage comprising a keel, a hollow body structure on the keel, the front end of which structure has an air deflecting nose comprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and an upwardly and rearwardly directed surface, said body having an open top chamber at the front over which the upwardly and rearwardly directed surface deflects the air stream to evacuate the chamber, elevators and a rudder at the rear of the body, a cabin beneath the chambered portion of the body and keel, wings extending from adjacent the keel laterally, a tail spin check plane hinged to said body to the rear of said open top chamber and lying flat along the body when in forward flight and opening up at anangle to the body in tail spins, and means on the body beneath said tail spin check bar to hold same spaced a sufficient distance from the body to avoid formation of a vacuum between said body and said tail spin check bar.

20. In an aeroplane, a keel, a motor and propeller mounted on the keel, a tubular body located on and over the keel, a cabin located beneath the keel, wings extending laterally of the keel and spaced therefrom, said body having that portion above vthe cabin provided with an open top and that portion extending forwardly of the. cabin provided with a nose having downwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and rearwardly directed surfaces whereby the air stream is divided and a portion is forced downwardly and laterally, and another portion is passed upwardly over the open top part of the tubular body for the purposes specified.

21. In an aeroplane, a keel, a motor and propeller mounted on the keel, a tubular body located on and over the keel, a cabin located beneath the keel, wings extending laterally of the keel and spaced therefrom, said body having that portion above the cabin provided with an open top and that portion extending forwardly of the cabin provided with an air deflecting nose, and that portion above the cabin having upwardly diverging side walls, whereby the air currents create an area of low pressure above the open top.

22. In aeroplanes, a fuselage body comprising an elongated tubular structure having an open top chamber in its fore part, means to direct the air currents encountered in forward flight to create an area of low pressure above the chamber, a passenger carrying body beneath said chamber wings, and the usual lateral and vertical stabilizers and flight controlling elevators and rudders and vertical air passages between the side of said fuselage and the adjacent ends of said win s.

23. In aeroplanes, an elongated bo y, stabilizers, a rudder and elevators for said body, win s for said body, landing gear beneath sai bodv, said wings being spaced apart from the body, and a vacuum chamber located between said wings and open at the top, the walls of which chamber are so inclined as to deflect the air currents over and away from the open top of said chamber and produce an area of negative pressure above said chamber.

24. In aeroplanes, a body, stabilizers, elevators and a rudder, wings spaced apart from the body and provided with air channel vanes, an open to chamber between said wings, the walls 0 which chamber are arranged to deflect the upward air currents so as to produce an area of low pressure over said chamber.

25. In an aeroplane, a body including a cabin, wings extending laterally from the cabin but spaced apart to provide air passages, elevators, and a rudder at the rear of said body, said body having an.open top chamber above the cabin between the wings and having an air deflecting nose at the front of said chamber,for the purposes described.

26. In an aeroplane, a body including a cabin, wings extending laterally from the cabin but spaced apart to provide air passages, elevators, and a rudder at the rear of said body, said body having an open top chamber above the cabin between the wings and having an air deflecting nose at the front of said chamber, the side walls of said chamber diverging upwardly, and said wings at their adjacent ends having air channel vanes, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

27. In an aeroplane, a body including a cabin, wings extending laterall from the cabin but spaced apart to provide air passages, elevators and a rudder at the rear of said body, said body having an open top chamber above the cabin between the wings and having an air deflecting nose at the front of said chamber, the side walls of said chamber diverging upwardly, and said wings at their adjacent ends having air channel vanes, and means to prevent the air currents from curling over the side walls of the said chamber.

, EDWARD H. LANIER.

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