US1824453A

US1824453A - Airship

Info

Publication number: US1824453A
Application number: US220423A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nathaniel G Warth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-09-19
Filing date: 1927-09-19
Publication date: 1931-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1948-09-22

Description

Sept. 22, 1931.

N. G. WARTH AIRSHIP Filed Sept. 19, 1927 v abboaww Patented Sept. 22, 1931 vireo STATES PATENT OFFICE NATILANIEL G. wanna, OFVGIAILLIPOLIS,MOHVIO Amsnrr Application "med September 19,1927. Serial No. 220,423.

The principal object of the invention is E and-attached to the rims of the trusses thereby providing spaces between such trusses for the gas cells. By my invention, as will duly appear from the detailed-description herein the weights and stresses ofthe structure are'centralizedv-iuponthe longitudinal girder in a manner to cause the sameto become a compressionmember restraining longitudinally all compression pressures and sustaining the circular trusses, the trusses 'in turn sustainingthe longitudinal girder to prevent buckling thereof: and assisting in maintaining itsrigidity. J The structure and the-strength and lightnessthereof may be likened in abroad way'to a-p'lurality of wire wheels mountedside by side on; a single axle and tied together'at.their-rimsby a surrounding series ofglongitudina'l cables under tension and connected at the'opposite ends of the axle whereby the-tensile strains single axle in compression.

The invention is.embodiedin the example herein shown and described. *1

In the accompanying drawings 1 Figure 1 is a central vertical longtudinal section with some parts indicated; in detail. Fig.2 is a transversesection on alar fier scale showing one ofthe' wheel-like circular trusses and the central girder.

Fig. 3 is'a detail or plan v1ew-on: a larger of the cable are borne longitudinally by the scale of a fraction of the rim of a circular truss. 1' i Fig. 4. is an edge v1ew ofthe same. Fig.- 5 is an end v1ew orone'of the transverseunits formingthe-circular truss.

Fig. 6 is a detail of one method-of spoking, the rim of the circular truss with the central girder; i vFig. 7 is a detail of the bow construction for mounting, an engine and propeller.

- Fi .8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII Fig. looking to the left.

Fig. 9 illustrates'details of the construction for mounting the stern propeller.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variation of the method of spoking a transverse truss rim to the central longitudinal girder.

Fig. 11 is a face View of one of the gas lifting cells on a very small scale.

In the instanceshown the central longitudinal girder 11 is made up of three longitudinal 60 degree angle bars 12 cross latticed together to form an equilateral-triangle inend view. Around this longitudinal girder, is arranged a series of equally spaced circulartrusses 13 made up of short sections of Y girder each composed of the angle-bars latticed as described with reference to thelcentral longitudinal girder 11,

and connected to one another at the outer side by a steel plate as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and at the inner angle by a V-shaped ,fish-plate .16 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

These trussesstand at right angles to the :central girder and are of graduated diameters, they diminishing in diameter d from the middle of the ship toward each end thereof in a manner to form substantially the rounding cigar shaped structure shown. The circular trusses are all connected with the central girder by means of radial wire or cable spokes 14 that are attached to the trusse's 'at their outer ends by looping the outer end of the spoke through two holes in the plate15 and-doubling the spoke back on itself and fastening it with a suitable clamp 17. The inner end of each spoke is attached in a similar manner, and by a clamp to a ring 18 through a hole in its rim encircling and "attached to the central longitudinal girder. These spokes are all drawn to a substantially uniform tension sufiicient to maintain a substantially rigid relation of the circular trusses tothecentral longitu GO stretched and secured in a manner similar dinal girder. These circular transverse trusses take and sustain the stresses imposed on them in a manner similar to that in which the strains and stresses are borne and sustained by an ordinary wire wheel on its hub. To reinforce and better equalize the stresses borne by the radial spokes cross wires 19011 chords 'of arcs of the circular trusses are shown, these wires bracing the rim against compression or distortion. modification of spok'ing is shown in Fig. 10* where the wires or cables extend from the angles of the longitudinal truss in various directions to the rim of the circular truss thereby if desirable eliminating the weight and expense of the rings 18. 1 V

The circular trusses are maintained in their proper transverse position by means of a series of cablesiO cf 'high tensile steel wire'stretched under strong tension between the stem andstern of" the ship, the stem and stern ends of the central longitudinal girder beingequipped with conical terminal members-21 and 22 -resp'ectively through holes in which the ends of'the cables are looped and fastened with clamps 'as shown after the cables are drawn taut.

The cables 20 are located equally distant apart around the periphery of the ship and are fastened to the rim ofthe circular trusses by securing them tothe junction plates 15 by ineansof clamping plates 23,

they being-bound tosaid plates by bolts. At the stern of the ship the angular bars of the centralgirders are shown as conmake roomfor an engine as shown at- 28 and an attendant therefor. The crank-shaft of the f engine is suitably equipped for coupling it"with the shaft 29 of th'e bow propeller 30, the propeller shaft being journaled in suitable brackets 31 and 32 attached to the forward end of'the conical member 21. A hood 33 of semi-ovateform is provided atthe end of the conical member 21 to close thebow and protect the engine and attendant against violent winds and the weather. 7

Between thelongitudinal cables 20- are to that in which the cables QOnare secured intermediate cables or wires for thepurpose of reinforcing the strength of the structure and for aflordingadditional support for the gas cells to prevent them from bulging beyond the frame. Further provision for confining the gas cells consists in shear wires 36 beneath which is placed gas cell wire netting, such as exampled at 87, it being understood that, as usual, such supports are provided at all points wherever the bulging of the-gas cells should be prevented.

Between the two middle transverse circu'lai trusses 'aretwo series of guys 38 of cable similar to the longitudinal cables and of suitable number, said guys crossing each other and being connected at their outer ends to the longitudinal cables at the rim of one circular truss and at their in ner= ends 'to-tl'ie central-longitudinal girder in the plane of the opposite circulartruss. The

purpose ofthis construction is to'provide an emergency terminal-for eachend portion oftheship so that if one endof the ship is crushed or damaged, as by collision, the

other half is likely to remain intact and adapted to' permit a safe landing.-'-

There can be-provided extending longitudinaily of the ship at its bottom a corridor as'indicated at lO to which suitable entrances andexits -are= provided.

The gas cells 41', see *Fig. 11, and shown in broken'linesim Figs. *1 and 2, are made of substantially circular'form-with' fiat sides and havinga radial slit oropening-so that they canbe placed betweenv transverse trusses to straddle the longitudinal girder; The upper rim of thegascells through 180 degrees is constructed of thin sheet metal a to which the pe'i'idantfabi'icportions of the cell are attached with packing and riveting. i The iiietalshe eting will be attached to the frame.

It will be observed generally vthat a very high degree of rigidity of construction is secured with my invention through the tautness f the longitudinal cables surrounding thehulh they pulling against the ends of the longitudinaL:eentral girder and bearing against the rims of the "spaced transverse circulah 'tr'ussesy: which :in turn contribute to the stiffening of the longitudinal girder,

thr'oughithe connections with it, said longitudinalgirder becoming a compression memher. The cables are drawnsufiiciently taut to'se'cure the necessary general frame rigidity and develop 'a highdde'greeof resistance through tlie tensiie strength of the cables,

contributed to by. the uniformly distributed support of the equally longitudinally spaced circular trusses bearing directly against the central longitudinal compression girder throughout its length."

. It will. be understood, l of "course, =that 1 the ship can be constructed in the main of light strong material'such for example as duralumin or such material as is generally used in gthe construction of air ships. It will also be understoodth'atgthe ship will be equipped with such accessories or features not par-,

ticularly shown as maybe needed in the ordinary operation and. navigation of the.

from the gist of the invention as claimed."

l/Vhat I claim is: 1. In an airship, a frame includlng a central longitudinal rigld unitary g rder, trans verse trusses secured at intervals to said girder, a plurality of longitudinal cables each extending from end to end of the girder and secured to the opposite ends thereof and supported on the rims of said transverse trusses and cable branches from said cables extending inclinedly therefrom and connected with the girder between adjacent of said transverse trusses.

2. In an engine propelled airship, a frame including a central longitudinal rigid unitary girder, made up of latticed longitudinal bars, said bars extended unlatticed to the forward end of the ship, a terminal member on said bars, a latticed frame of enlarged diameter around said barsto provide room for the engine and an attendant, a bracket secured to said terminal member to support the propeller shaft of the engine and also support the propeller beyond the forward end of the ship, and a hood enclosing the forward end ofsaid engine room secured between said propeller and said room.

3. In an air ship, a frame including a central longitudinal compression girder, transverse trusses secured at intervals to said girder, a plurality of longitudinal cables each extending straight away and under tension from end toend over the rims of said trusses and secured to the opposite ends of said girder, said cables initially freely movable from end to end for placing'them under tension on the rims of said trusses by overall tensioning, and distinct means for individually clamping each of said cables upon said rims afterit has been placed under tension.

4. In an air ship, a frame includinga central longitudinal girder, transverse trusses secured at intervals to said girder, and a plurality of continuous cables each extending straight away from end to end of said girder and secured under tension to the opposite ends ofthe girder and supported on the rims of said transverse trusses, and means individual to said rims for clamping said tension cables to said rims.

5. In an air ship having a central longitudinal girder, transverse trusses at intervals on said girder, and longitudinal cables supported in a. tensioned condition on said trusses, a terminal member for 1 said ship consistingof asingle' funnel shaped shell into .the interior of thezsmaller portion of which the longitudinal girder extends and is secured, the flared end of said funnel shaped member extendingtoward the body of theship and havingjsaid longitudinal cables-anchored thereto in-a planebetween theterminal-of the longitudinal girder and the middle ,of the ship.

Inan air ship, a frame including a central longitudinal girder, substantially circular trusses having hubs and rims and located at lntervals between the ends of said girder, said trusses having tensioned spokes and supporting said girders from the rims of the trusses, andchord-like tensioned bracing members connecting some points of the rims of said trusses with other points thereof.

7. In an engine propelled air ship, a frame including a central longitudinal girder, a housing forming a terminal of said girder,

a propeller beyond the end of the ship, a

shaft for the propeller supported in said housing and an. engine for driving said shaft, a propelleralso supported in said housing.

8. In an engine propelled air ship, a frame including transverse trusses, longitudinal cables and a central longitudinal girder, enlarged at oneend to form a housing, a propeller beyond the housing and a shaft for the propeller supported by said housing and an engine for driving said shaft also supported by said housing, the other end of said,

longitudinal girder having a reduced end and a conical anchorage member thereon for the longitudinal cables.

.9. In an air ship having a central longi-.

tending straight away and tensioned over the rim of said trusses and between and an chored to said end members of the longitudinal girder.

10. In an air ship having a central longitudinal girder provided with anchoring end members, transverse trusses at intervals on said girder, said trusses having rims and tensioned spokes and chord-like tensioned bracing-members connecting some points of the rims of said trusseswith other points theree 5 of, a'plurality of continuous cables extend ing straight, away over the rims of said chored to said end members of the longitudinal girder, and individual clamping memtrusses and under tension between and anbers securing said cables to said? truss rims.

11; Inflating means: for 2111311 ship convsistinghof-a plurality of'removableunits,

each consisting of a top rim portion of sheet metal "anclronstituting :a gas restraining member adapted to' form. a section of the ships external envelope, the other portions ofsaid unit being of flexible fabric.

12.. Inflating means for an airship having a central longitudinal girder, said inflating means consisting of. a plurality of removable units each comprising a top portion formed of sheet metal and constituting a a gas restraining member and also adapted to form a section of the ships external envelope, the other portions of said unit being of flexible fabric and provided with 'a recess permitting the straddling of said longitudinal girder When said unit is inflated.

NATHANIEL G. WARTH. I