US1843926A

US1843926A - Aeroplane

Info

Publication number: US1843926A
Application number: US428574A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maccaskie Thomas Murdoch
Original assignee: HATHAWAY WATSON
Current assignee: HATHAWAY WATSON
Priority date: 1930-02-15
Filing date: 1930-02-15
Publication date: 1932-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1949-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1932.

l l l l l l l l I l i l l l T M CASKlE 1,843,926

AEROPLANE Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1932. T. M. M CASKIE 1,843,925

' AEROPLAN E Filed Feb. 15. 1930 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 THOMAS MURDOCH MACOASKIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS assrenoa or" one-HALF T0 HATEAWAY WATSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AEBOPLANE' Application filed February 15, 1980. Serial No. 428,574.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, and its primary objectis to rovide new and novel means for propelling t e aeroplane.

Another object is to provide new and novel means whereby-the aeroplane propeller may be electrically driven.

A further object is to provide an air-rocket tube having a spiral vane arranged inside thereof, where y the aeroplane is driven by an intense spiral air current passing through the rocket tube. r

A still further object is to provide anaeroplane which can ascend or descend vertically without the usual run-way, which can attain a still position aloft, and which is capable of being throttled down to any speed desired.

Another object is to provide an aeroplane t which has a longitudinal air-rocket tube and vertical air-rocket tube, each lot which are provided with a spiral vane, whereby the lifting and driving forces of the aeroplane are controlled by the air velocity passing through the spirally ,vaned tubes.

, Numeieus' other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The invention comprises in general a lonitudinal air-rocket tube which has an open bell-mouth at its forward end and a restricted, outwardly flaring rear end. A motor is arranged in the interior of this tube and is electrically driven. A continuous spiral vane is fixed to the inner periphery of the tube, whereby the air generated by the propeller is spirally forced through the tube at an intense velocity. As the air leaves the outwardly flaring rear end of the tube, it attains a spiral form of intense velocity to propel the aero lane forwardly. Four vertically arrange rocket tubes are provided to lift the plane vertically so that the plane may ascend or descend vertically without requiring the usual run in take-oil and landing. These vertical tubes are relatively short but are made along the same principle as the longitudinal tube; having an electric motor provided in each tube to drive the propeller and the spiral vanes for forcing a spiral current of air through the tubes. A

prime mover such as a gasoline on ine, or preferably, a Diesel engine is provide which. is operatively connected with a generator; This generator provides the necessary electric current for operatin the motors for driving the propellers. he vertical tubes are preferably arranged in series. The two forward tubes may be operated alone, or the two rear tubes may operate alone, or the four tubes may be operated simultaneously.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the improved aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a, detail top plan view.

Fig. 3.is a detail front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a plurality of longitudinal air-rocket tubes arranged on an aeroplane.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates generally an aeroplane having the usual fuseagegG, Wings 7,

landing gear

8, 8, and ruder I An air-rockettube 10 is arranged longitudinally through the aeroplane and comprises an open bell-mouth 11 which is restricted slightly at 12 to conform with the propeller 13. The propeller is driven by a motor 14 which is arranged inside of the tube and supported by 0 en frame work 15 to permit air to spiral y pass thereabout. This tube is expanded or bellied out to a relatively large diameter rearwardly of the motor as designated generally at 16 and contracts or tapers rearwardly to provide a choke effect within the tube as indicated generally at 17. The outer end 18 of this tube is flared outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A spiral vane 19 is mounted on .the inside of the longitudinally 1 tube 10 for the purpose of spirally directing an airvcurrent through the tube for driving the aeroplane. The choke or restricted portion 17 of the tube causes an intense spiral of air to pass out through the flared end 18 of the tube. The wide bell-mouth 11 of the tube permits a relatively large amount of air to be sucked in by the propeller 13 and ,theii forced through the widened body portion 16 of the tube back through the restricted portion and thence out through the flared rear end 18 of the tube.

A pair of vertically arranged air-

rocket tubes

20 and 21 are arranged at the forward part of-the aeroplane and another pair of vertical air-rocket tubes 22 and 23 are arranged at the rear part of the aeroplane, Fig. 2. Each of these tubes are made similar to the longitudinal air-rocket tube 10, and

have a bell-mouth 24, a restricted forward portion 25 just rearwardly of the bell-mouth,

' an expanded or belly portion 26' which commences rearwardly of the restricted portion 25, and a choke or contracted portion 27 between the belly portion 26 and the bottom outwardly flared end 28. Each tube has a motor 29 arranged therein which is supported on an open support 30 for driving the propeller 31. Each of these tubes is provided with a spiral vane 32 extending rearwardly from the motor 29 similar to the vane 19 in the longitudinal tube 10. These vanes cause intense spiral air currents to be forced through the tubes to create lifting power for the plane. It is preferable that the propellers in the two

forward tubes

20 and 21 are synchronized and operate together, while the rear propellers operate together in the rear tubes 22 and 23. The front tubes may operate alone, or the rear tubes may operate alone, or all four tubes may be operated simultaneously. When the propellers operate in these tubes, air is caused to spirally pass through the tubes at an intense velocity for lifting the i plane. A plane provided with these present tubes may ascend or descend without the usual run-way for take-off or landing. In other words, from a standing position, the plane may rise vertically and descend in the same manner.

ranged just below the wings 7 as shown in;

Fig. 4. In this latter embodiment, the

vertical tubes

20 and 21 are provided and in cases where the plane is relatively large, the rear tubes 22 and 23 may also be included.

It is known that attempts have been made to provideplanes with tubes and to force air blasts through the tubes; but none of those planes had helical or'spiral vanes arranged therein, In practice, it has been found that the spiral vane formation causes an intense spiral air current which drives and lifts the plane. These spiral vanes act similar to the rifling of a gun barrel. A mortar, having a relatively short barrel, can eject a projectile only a relatively short distance, while a longer, rifled and choked barrel can drive the same projectile several times as far. This same principle is true in air craft construction, and by providing a relatively long, choked air-rocket tube and rifling it by using spiral vanes, the driving force of the plane is considerabl increased. This driving force is providedby forcing a current of air spirally through a choked tube. The air leaving the tube 1s in the form of spiral currents having a cyclone effect which provides the m0- mentum to drivethe plane.

A plane constructed in accordance with the present invention is capable of rising and descending vertically without the customary run-"way in taking off or landing. These spiral vanes and the choking of the tubes, provides intense air currents for driving the plane and for controlling it, and creates an exceptional force for driving the plane at a high speed. The location and operation of the propellers in the various tubes, provides a flexible control for the plane, permitting it to operate at various s eeds and to attain a still position while alo The invention provides means for flexibly controlling an electrically operated plane, and the location and construction of the tubes provides a great factor of safety, as it can ascend and descendvertically and its speed can be controlled at any height.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts ion without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificin any of the advantages thereof, and the rig t is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: i I

1. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, a flared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent the bell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, and a relatively large body portion intermediate the choked portion and the restricted portion and merging therewith. v

2. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, a flared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent the bell-mouth, a choked portion ad acent the flared end, a relatively large body portion intermediate the choked'portion and the restricted portion and merging therewith, and a spiral vane arranged in said tube.

3. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, a flared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent the bell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, a relatively large body portion intermediate the choked portion and the restricted portion and merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in sald tube, and a propeller arranged within the tube at the restricted portion thereof.

4. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, a flared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent the bell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, a relatively large body portion intermediate the choked portion and the rep stricted portion and merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in said tube, a propeller arranged within the tube at the restricted portion thereof, and a motor rearwardly of 5 said propeller for driving the propeller.

5. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, a flared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent the bell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent g the flared end, a relatively large body portion intermediate the choked portion and the restricted portion and merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in said tube, a propeller arranged within the tube at the restricted 2:, portion thereof, a motor rearwardly of said propeller for driving the propeller, and means for supplying electrical current to said motor.

6. In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted passages therein at opposite ends, and a pro eller arranged in a restricted passage in said tube at one end thereof.

7 In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted ends of a predetermined diameter, anda :m central portion of a diameter greater than the ends and merging therewith.

8. In an aeroplane, a tube having one of its ends of a predetermined diameter and the other end of a diameter smaller than the first end, the body of the tube between the ends being larger than at the ends.

In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted portions intermediate its ends, and a central body connected to and merging with the restricted portions, the central body portion being larger in diameter than any other part of the tube.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

so THOMAS MURDOCH MACCASKIE. 4