US1791597A

US1791597A - Vertical-rising airship

Info

Publication number: US1791597A
Application number: US231916A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jesse D Langdon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-11-08
Filing date: 1927-11-08
Publication date: 1931-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1948-02-10

Description

I Feb. 10,1931. J. D. LANGDON 1,791,597

VERTICAL RISING AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 8. 192'! 4 g V Qmxmtoz;

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JESSE n. LA'N'GDON, or- Losenennns, cum-0min vEmIcAL BIsme Amsmr Application filed November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,916.-

airship which may" alight in water with 1 safety. I

With the foregoing and other ObJGCtS m view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as

hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fi re lis a longitudinal vertical section of ti:

improved airship, portions being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the alrship, portions of'the wings being broken away- Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the airship, portions of the wings being broken oif.

The airship has a large open ended cylindrical body composed of the outer and inner shells 1 and 2, and the space between them 'may be used for passengers, baggage and freight.

A pilot cabin 6 depends from the rearpor- 'tion of the outer shell 1 with the body in horizontal position, as seen in Fig. 1, and the shell 1 has a longitudinal keel 7 extending from the cabin 6 to the forward end of the b Wings 5 extend from the opposite sides of the body to prevent rotation of the body during vertical ascent, and to enable the machine to lide in the air like an airplane,whenin flig t as seen in Fig. 1. v Vertical and

horizontal rudders

3 and 4,

respectively, are hingedly mounted atthe rear end of the-body, and .are suitably controlled byany well known means. As

shown, the control includes a lever 13 within the cabin 6 connected to the rudder 4, and the same orother lever may control the rudder 3, as well known in the art. A lon 'tudinal axial shaft 10 is 'ournaled II1 CI'OSS ars 8.mounted within the ody', and said shaft is driven by'an engine 9 at the rear end of the body. The-shaft 10 has a propeller 11 thereon Within the forward end portlon of the body, for drawing the air intothe body and forcing it rearwardly through said body for lifting or propelling the a1r-- Shi).

hock absorbing plungers or feet 15' are slidable in the tubes or cylinders '15 within the rear end of the body, for supporting the airship in vertical position on the ground, or cushioning the airship when it lands. The pilots seat 16 is hingedly suspended in the cabin 6 so that the seat will remain in the same position when the airship is in vertical and horizontal positions. In horizontal flight the pilot is seated with his back to the rear end of the cabin 6, and in vertical ascent or descent the pilot is seated with his back toward the shell Suitable parachutes 17' are nested within the pockets 17 provided in the forward end of the body, in order that said parachutes may be released in case of necessity for a forced landing. These parachutes may be of the usual kind to suspend the airship therefrom for slow'descent.

An umbrella type of parachute 18 'is mounted on the shaft 10 behind the 'propeller, so as to be opened up during descent of the airship, to catch the air which passes through the body, so as to slow down the-descent, with or wlthout the parachutes 17'.

A propeller 18 is disposed in rear of the cabin 6, to be driven from the engine 9, for

propelling the airship when it alights'in wator, the cabin 6 serving as a boat hull in order that the airship may travel on the surface of the water.

c To make an ascent, the airship is disposed on end, as seen in Fig. 3, with the plungers or feet 15 resting on the ground. The propeller 11 being operated will lift the airship,

and the wings 5 will prevent the body from rotating. When the airship has reached a desired altitude it may be brought to a horizontal position, as seen in Fig. 1, by controlling the rudder 4. The airship may then be steered by the

rudders

3 and 4 and will have a flight similar to an airplane, the wings 5 sustaining the heavier rear portion of the airship while the propeller 11 draws the for ward end of the body forwardly and sustains it in flight.

Should the engine fail or other contingency arise, the rear heavier portion of the airship will fall faster than the forward end, and the air rushing up through the body will open the parachute 18, and thereby slow down the descent. The parachutes 17' may also be released.

The airship, after horizontal flight, may also be turned to vertical position and the propeller 11 slowed down in order that vertical descent may be made, the airship landing on the plungers 15 which are cushioned to absorb the shock.

The airship may descend on the surface 0 water, and will float, the shells 1 and 2 and cabin 6 being of water-tight construction, and may be provided with suitablewindows for observation. The propeller 19 enables the airship to be propelled in the water.

. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An airship comprising an open-ended tubular body, a propeller within said body, a cabin depending from the body at the rear end thereof, and a keel depending from the body in frontof the cabin.

2. An airship comprising an open-ended tubular body, a propeller within the passage of said body, said body having provisions at one side including a keel to move in water with the body horizontal, a water propeller associated with said provisions, and rudders disposed across one open end of the body.

3. An airship comprising an open-ended cylindrical body, a propeller mounted in the forward open end of the body, anengine mounted in the rear open end of the body and connected to said propeller, and rudders mounted across the rear open end of the body.

4. An airship according to claim 3, and including a folded parachute immediately behind the propeller and adapted to be opened up within the body. v

5. An airship according to claim 3 and including an umbrella type parachute mounted immediately behind the propeller to Y be opened up within the body.

6. An airship according to claim 3, and including wings extending from the body near the rear end thereof.

7. An airship according to claim 3, wherein the body has a cabin projecting therefrom near the rear end of the body and adapted to float in water.

8. An airship according to claim 3 including a cabin projecting from the body near the rear end t ereof' and adapted to float in water, and a water propeller carried by said cabin.

\ 9. 'An airship according to claim 3. wherein the body has outer and inner surfaces, and including shock absorbing plungers slidably mounted in the rear end portion of the body between the outer and inner surfaces thereof.

10. An airship comprising an open ended cylindrical body, propelling means located within the forward open end of the bod an engine mounted in the body in rear 0 and connected to said propelling means, and rudders carried by the body at the rear end thereof, the body having a cabin projectin therefrom near the rear end of the body an adapted to float in water.

11. An airship according to claim 10, and a keel projecting from the body in front of said cabin.

12. An airship according to claim 10, and a water propeller carried by said cabin.

13. An airship comprising an open ended cylindrical body, propelling means located within the forward open end of the body, an engine mounted in the body in rear of and connected to said propelling means, rudders carried by the body at the rear and thereof,

and shock absorbing plungers slidably' name to this specification.

JESSE D. LANGDON.

Ill