US1780565A - Aeroplane - Google Patents

Description

hNOV. 4, 1930. v A, C;t PARKER 1,780,565

AEROPLANE Filed' July 9, 1928 3 sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 4, 1930.

A. G. PARKER AEROPLANE Filed July 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 l UNITED STAT-ES ARNOLD G. PARKER,

PATENT OFFICE AEROPLANE Application mea July e, 192s. y`serial No, 291,174.

This invention relates to an aeroplane construction in whichthe cylinders of the engine are supported outside of the wing, i. e. either.

above or below the wing, the engine being an air-cooled, slide valve, internal combustion engine. The invent-ion also relates to means for supplying cooling air transversely to the cylinders of an engine, which extend parallel v to the longitudinalfaxis of the aeroplane, at right angles to the propeller, regardless of where the cylinders are supported with relation to the aeroplane Wing, and tov means for controlling theair supplied to said cylinders. The engine cylinders are arranged within parallel to the longitudinal aXis of the aeroplane, at right angles to the propeller, and a shaft also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane, drives the propeller and preferably the lharmony drive 'shaft of the engine drives tle propeller. This harmony drive shaft serves asa driving connection to the valve shaft, which is driven at half speed with relationtothe engine crankshaft.

One object of the invention is to combine the engine cylinders, which extend parallel tothe longitudinal axis lof the aeroplane, at right angles tothe propeller, with the wing of an aeroplane, so that the cylinders may be supported outsideof the wing.

Another object of (the invention is to provide means for controlling the cooling of the engine regardless of where the cylinders are supported with relation to the wing, by means of shuttersy or louvres arranged-in the cowling of the engine, and by causing the air, when the plane is Ain flight, to pass transversely' across the cylmdersn The passage ofthe air across the cylinders may be either from below 40 up or the reverse. l

With theabove and other objects in view, my invention `consists in the `parts', improvements and combinations more fully pointed out hereinafter.

Turning now to the drawings:

the line of flight and extend substantially Figure 1 is a top plan view of an aeroplane, showing the engine mounted below the wing.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the form shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailof the worm gearing 50 used between the engine and the propeller` shaft.

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation showing the engine mounted below the wing, head `on.

Figure 5 is a top plan viewof an engine 55 mounted outside the wing, and.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal,`sectional view of the engine, mounted in the fuselage of the aeroplane, and arranged so that visibility is afforded to the aviator, and showing the 5o means for air cooling the engine.

The aeroplane wing 1,` is preferably made of metal and has'the usual ailerons 1E. It is provided with covering 2, and has brackets 3, which take up the thrust of the propeller, I

spars .4, and struts 5. The wing may be embodied in a monoplane or multiplane. If embodied in a monoplane, it may be mounted above or below o'rfmidway of the fuselage.

The engine is a slide valve internal com-V A bustion engine like that shown in Patents 1,492,57 3 and 1,617,019, to C. H. Matthiessen, jr., in which both the valve shaft and the engine crankshaft develop power.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures .1 to 5, the engine is suspended from a wing by means of supports 6, which are connected at 7 to the spars 4, and arealso connected to crosspiece'S, and the engine frame at 9. Struts 10 and 11, attach the engine to 80 the spars and take up the side thrust reaction of the propeller. y

The wing may be made metallic to avoid the danger of burning the wing by an aircooled engine. Or that part of the wing on 85 which the engine is mounted'vmay be made of metal and the rest of the wing may be made of wood.

In the engine illustrated, the power developed by both the valve shaft and the- 90 i crankshaft,

istransmitted to the propeller shaft. Y As shown, the engine 12,' is provided with four cylinders 13, 14, 15 and 16which are arranged side b side. The number of cylinders may be varied. The cylinders extend in the line of flight, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane and at right angles to the propeller, and the heads of the cylinders are arranged head on, as shown in Figure 4. The cylinders are preferably provided with heat radiating fins 18, and the cooling air passed transversely to them or longitudinal fins may be used and the air passed longitudinally overthe cylinders, or spiral fins may be used and the air passed spirally over the cylinders. Y

By arranging the cylinders parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane, at right angles to the propeller and mounting the engine above or below the wing of the aeroplane, a compact structure is obtained. The air resistance offered by the engine and its cowling is thus much reduced.

As shown the engine crankshaft 19, extends in the rear of the cylinders transversely of the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane. The crankshaft extends in a substantially horizontal plane when the aeroplane is in starting position on the ground. The crankshaft carries a plurality of cranks 20, and connecting rods 21, one eachfor each cylinder of the engine, which cranks and connecting rods are reciprocated by working piston 22, in each cylinder (see Figure 1). A

As illustrated, the shaft for driving the propeller is preferably the harmony drive shaft, which serves as a driving connection to the valve shaft, the latter being driven atI half speed with relation to the engine crankshaft. The harmony driveshaft is mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aero! plane and is geared to and driven by the engine crankshaft 19, by means of worm 24, carried by the crankshaft and worm wheel 25, carried by the harmony drive shaft 23'.

i Mounted infront of the heads of the engine cylinders is'a transverse valve shaft 26,-which extends parallel to the crankshaft `and carries a plurality of cranks and connecting rods, one

each for each cylinder of the engine, for reciprocating plug v27, and sleeve valve 28, of each cylinder. Gas may be supplied from a fuel tank (not shown) through a suitable carburetor 29, tothe intake manifold 30 and inlet 31 of each cylinder, and the exhaust gases are taken away from the exhaust port 32, by means .of exhaust manifold 33, and pipe Valve shaft`26, carries a worm'35, which is engaged by worm wheel 36, carried by the harmony drive shaft"23.` The power developed by thevalvesduring the explosion cycle, will thus bef transmitted by the valve ward end, to which hub, propeller blades 38,

are secured. The propeller may be mounted behind the engine, if desired, and then serve as a pusher, instead of a puller, as shown.

As shown, the relation between gears 24, and 425, is 1 to 2, and the relation between gears 35, 36, is 1 to 1, so that the harmony drive shaft, which drives the propeller serves as a driving connection for the valve shaft 26, which is driven at half speed with relation to the engine crankshaft. Y A propeller spinner 39, carried by the hub, encases the hub, as usual, and rotates with the propeller. The engine is provided with casings 40, 41, and studs 42, connect the engine casings together, thus leavin the cylinders exposed to the air currents. bridge 43, for the propeller shaft also extends between the two casings. Magnetos 44, supply the current for spark plugs 46.

eans are provided for. passing cooling air transversely across the cylinders of the engine and for controlling the passage of the air. The means for supplying and control ling the cooling air may be used with the cylinders of an engine which may be provided with either poppet or slide valve mechanism.

In the preferred form shown, the engine is provided with suitable Cowling 46, which has a central portion 47, which meets the spinner 39, so as to form a streamline, and side p0rtions 748. The side portions of the engine Cowling are provided with shutters or louvres '49. The shutters are controlled manuall bythe aviator or may be controlled automatlcally. A deflectoii'" plate 50, deilects the air,'so that it travels throughthe shutters ldownwardly across the cylinders and out of the aeroplane. As shown-the shutters are arranged in the top of the cowling but they may be arranged in the bottom of the cowhng to allow the cooling air to pass upwardlyacross the cylinders and be deflected over the wing being assisted by the vacuum produced above the wing, thus reducing the formation of ice on the wing. An advantage of the shutter construction is thatif one `of the engines of a multi-motored plane goes dead, the shutters forl that engine may be closed and by.

reason of the streamline shape of the fcowl` ing less air resistance to the dead engine'will be offered.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure6, the engine and propeller are mounted in the nose of the fuselage. The same parts are referred to by the same reference numerals. The engine is suitably supported by.

mounting 51, and the shutters are operated by onnectingdinks 52, connected to them by levers 53,so that the shutters may be opened or closedby flexible cable 54, -passing around Vas drum 55, provided with hand crank 56, which is controlled by the aviator manually or may be controlled automatically.

As shown in this Hgurelja clear v ision afforded to the aviator.

Having thus described the construction, 4the operation will be clear. It will be under- -harmony drive shaft, said cylinders being mounted at right angles to the propeller, and means for mounting the engine outside the wing of an aeroplane.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller of a slide valve engine, said engine being provided with cylinders, a crankshaft and a valve shaft, both of which shafts develop power, a harmony drive shaft geared to said crankshaft and to said valve shaft, the propeller being secured to said har- 'mony drive shaft, said cylinders being mount at right angles to the propeller, and means for mounting the engine below Athe wing of an aeroplane. Y

3. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller of an engine, Whose cylinders lie inthe line of flight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft, a shaft geared to the crankshaft, said last named shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being secured thereto, said cylinders being mounted at right angles to the propeller, cowling enclosing said cylinders and means for supplying cooling air transversely 'to said cylinders.

4. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller of an engine, whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided witha crankshaft, a shaft geared to said crankshaft, said last-named shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, means for supplying cooling air transversely to said cylinders, and a deHecting plate for guiding the air out of the aeroplane.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of an engine Whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft, a shaft geared to said crankshaft. saidlast vnamed shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being secured theretocowling enclosing said cylinders, shutters in the cowling for` admitting coolingxair,` and means for dec, Y n Hecting the cooling air to and transversely of the cylinders. f

6. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of an engineywhosecylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft, a sha-ft geared to said crankshaft, said last named shaft extending in the line ofy Hight, the propeller l A being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, shutters in said cowling for admitting cooling air, means controlled by the aviator for opening and closing the shutters and means for deHecting the air transversely of said cylinders.

7. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller, of an engine whose' cylinders lie in the line of Hi ht, said engine being provided with a cranll geared to said crankshaft, said last named shaft extending in the line of Hight, the provpellerbeing secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, shuttersin the top of said cowling for admitting coolingk air and means for deHecting the air transversely of said cylinders.

8. In an aeroplanev the combinationwith a Jwing and propeller, of a slide valve engine whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft and a valve shaft, a harmony drive shaft geared to said crankshaft and to said valve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders and means for supplying cooling air transversely to said cylinders.

9. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of. a slide valve engine Whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft and a valve shaft,'both of which develop power,

rshaft, a rshaft l iol a harmony drive shaft geared to said crank- A shaft and to said valve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight', the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, means for supplying cooling air transversely to said cylinders, and a deHecting plate for guiding the air out of the aeroplane. V

' 10. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of a slide valve enginewhose cylinders lie in\the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft'and a valve shaft, both of which develop power, a harmony drive shaft gearedtosaid crankshaft and to said valve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight, the .propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, shutters in the cowling 'for admitting cooling air, and means for de'- Hecting the cooling air to and transversely of the cylinders. y

1l. In an aeroplane the combination witha wing and propeller, of va slide valve engine whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine being provided with a crankshaft 'and a valve shaft, both of which develop power,

a harmony drive shaft' geared to said crankshaft and to said valve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight,

the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders; shutters iin said Cowling for admitting cooling air, means controlled by the aviator for opening and closing the shutters, and means for delecting the' ainy transversely of said cylinders.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. i'

ARNOLD G. PARKER.

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