US1876620A

US1876620A - crosslnad

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Publication number: US1876620A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1932-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1949-09-13

Description

p 13, 1932- w. H. CROSSLNAD WING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Filed Aug. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./

' INVENTOR. MLLIAM H. CRossL4/v0 ATTORNEY.

Sept. 13, 1932. w; o55 A 1,876,620

WING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Filed Aug. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W J. J 1 II- 1 iii 7 1:. a VIII/ 20121771! INVENTOR. W/L LIAM H. CROSSLAND ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 13, i 1932 WILLIAM H. CROSSLAND, OI BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA WING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Application filed August 13, 1930. Serial- No. 475,028. -s

This invention relates to flying machines and has for its general object the production of a new and improved device for the prevention of the formation of ice on the plane and especially the wings thereof.

More particularly stated one of the objects of this invention is to utilize the exhaust gases of thepower plant of the flying machine to directly heat the wings of the m flying machine whereby the formation of ice on the wings is prevented or at least reduced to a minimum. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the exhaust gases of the flying machine power plant which have valve and thermostatic controlling means shown in'Figure 7.

been brought in direct contact with the wing members for heating the same can be released from the members after a certain pre'determined temperature has been reached.

Another object of this invention is to provide wings for afiying machine with mov- 4 able members associated with automatic thermostatic controls whereby the exhaust gases which have been brought in direct cont-act with the wing members for heating the same will be automatically released with rising temperatures.

- Another object of this invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the tem erature in the wings of a plane which are. eing heated by gases for the purpose of preventing the formation of ice thereon. These as well as other objects of my invention and the advantages which arise therefrom will become more apparent from the following description and the drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a to view of the wing and such body portions 0 a flying machine .as are necessary for a complete disclosure of this invention. The wing is shown partly broken away to more clearly disclose the internal structure of certain members. Figure;;2 is a front view of Figural. Figure 3 an enlarged section takenalong the line 33 of Figure 1. The raised or open position of the wing is shown by dotted lines.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, the raised or open position of the'wing being shown by dotted lines. I I a Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view showing a modified arrangement of the lifting thermostats.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, the raised position of the upper wing member being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a top view of a modification, portions of the top wing are shown broken away for the purpose of more clearly disclosing the internal structure of the valve and thermostatic control members therefor.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top View of thec. Figure 9 -is an enlarged partial'section taken along the line 99 of Figure 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawingsiwherein similar reference numerals denote similar parts reference numeral 1 denotes a flying machine of well known construction provided with the conventional fuselage 2 and a wing 3. The fuselage 2 has mounted therein the conventional well known gasoline engine power plant 4. The power plant 4 has the well known exhaust openings 5.

Attached to the exhausts 5 are lead lines 6 which are carried upward in two branches as the upright struts 7 running from the body 2 to the wing 3. The pipes 6 enter the heating element to heat the surfaces of the wing is new in the art. By the use of the I exhaust gases as the direct heating element 9 instead of the indirect heating element, as when the gases are passed through coils in the wings and the heating of the wing is accomplished by radiation from the'coils and convection currents, a greater heating v eficiency results and the wing surfaces are kept hot and therefore free from ice.

The wing 3 is composed of an upper portion 10 and a lower portion 11 hinged at 12 as shown. The lower portion 11 has fixed therein a plurality of studs 13. Mounted on each of the studs 13 and between the up- .haust outlets 5 are provided with valves 42 which open or close the exhausts to the atmosphere and the valves 43 which open or close the exhausts to the wings.

Although the method of operation is believed to be obvious from the foregoing disclosure, yet for the purpose of obviating any possible ambiguity the following detailed description is here given.

The plane is flown in the usual manner. For ordinary flying the

valves

42 and 43 are so set that exhaust gases are free to pass to the atmosphere and prevented from passmg up the tubes 6 in the wing 3. When it is desired to protect the wings against the formation of ice the

valves

42 and 43 are so set that the exhaust gases are free to pass up the tubes 6 but prevented from passing out in the atmosphere. The gases pass up the pipes 6 through the zigzag tubes 8 and escape into the wing proper through the openings 9 provided in the zigzag member 8.

The zigzag arrangement of the tubes 8 makes it possible to utilize to the maximum the heat which is radiated from the tubes 8 and to properly distribute the-exhaust gases throughout the wing. The real factor-for heating the wings, however, is the exhaust gas itself which is present in the wing proper. It is the heat exchange which takes place between the exhaust gases and the wing surface of the plane which prevents the formatirm of ice thereon. When the temperature in the wing body reaches a certain predetermined point the thermostats 14 expand and exert a force which tends to lift the upper wing member 10, thus forming an opening 19 (see Figure 3) through which the gases may exhaust. As can be seen. from Figures 3 and 4, wherein the expanded or open position of the upper wing member is shown by dotted lines, the thermostatic plates expand against the pressure of the spring 15. The thermostatic plates 14 here shown are of the ordinary well known ether filled type now used in incubators and may be any other type desired.

The structure hereinabove outlined enables me to get the heat desired for the wing members by use of the exhaust power plant gases as a direct heating element and provides automatic means for controlling the temperature permitting the escape of the exhaust gases from the wing whenever the temperature in the wing gets too high. When the temperature falls below a certain point the thermostatic plates contract and the wing 10 goes back to the closed position shown by the full lines in Figures 3 and 4. The springs 15 act as an aid in, overcoming any tendency of the wing member 10 to sticking in the raised position and further serve to keep the wing in the closed position. v The number of thermostats required depends on the size of the wing of the plane, on the type and size of the thermostats used, the type of hinge used in the wing of the plane, the minimum temperature at which it is desired that the wing'open and permit the exhaust gases to escape and the force of the springs 15. However knowing the size of the plane and the type of thermostatic plate to be used it is within the skill of an" r airplane designer to determine the number of thermostatic plates necessary for any particular plane of type or type of plane. For the factors determining the'number of the plates of any type are all matters which are directly dependent on the resistive forces of friction in the member 10, the moment of force of the wing section 10 acting around its pivot point as a fulcrum, and the resistive force of the springs 15. All of these are of thermostat. It is not to be taken as a limitation of the application of the disclosure herein. v

Instead of using an arrangement of thermostats of the type shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive that used in Figures 5 and 6 may be substituted; In this modification the structure of-the wing member '3, the tubes 6 and 8 is exactly similar to that disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 and for that reasoii will not be here described. This structure differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 4 in the arrangement of the thermostatic plates 14.

In this modification the thermostatic plates 14 are provided at their lower ends with rods 44 which extend downward through holes provided in the lower member 11 of the wing 3 and are held against displacement by bolts 18 and the cotter pins 21. Attached'to the bearing plate 45.

bearing cap 17 held in upper surfaces of the thermostatic plates 14 by welding or in ar iy manner desired is the he wing member 3 carries a bolt 13 similar in every detail to the bolt 13 shown in Figures 1 to 4. The bolt 13 extendsthrough suitable apertures formed in the pressure plate 45 and the upper wing member 10. The bolt 13 has mounted thereon the spring 15 held in place between the lower or wing bearing-cap 16 and the upper or stud lace by the bolt 18 and the cotter pin 21. T is structure is similar to the bolt and associated spring structure outlined in Figures 1 to 4. It is seen that a lifting unit consists of two spaced apart thermostatic plates acting through a bearing plate which joins them together. The space etween the plates in a unit is a few inches. As many units may be used as necessary.

It is obvious from the above disclosure that this modification functions in a manner ex- .actly similar to that of the devices shown in Figures 1 to 4, the only-difference being that the lifting power is furnished by a plurality of units of thermostatic plates each unit consisting of two spaced apart plates acting through a bearing plate. The raised position of this modification is shown by the dotted lines of Figure 3. The normal or closed position is shown by the full lines.

If it is desired to avoid a structure wherein the wing 3 is composed of two members hinged together a modification of the type shown in Figures 7 to 9 may be used.

In this modification the plane 1 has the usual body member or fuselage 2 and a power plant 4. It has a wing 26 of the type now in general use having an upper wing member 22 and a lower wing member 23. Pipes 8 having apertures 9 are carried within the wing as shown and are connected to the power lant 4 by means of pipes 6 in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 4. Exhaust gases from the power plant enter the wings 26 through the apertures 9 in the pipes 8. The exhaust gases may be connected to the wing or to the atmosphere as desired by means of the valves, valves similar to 43 and 42 of Figure'4 respectively and similarly placed.

The tail end of the wing is provided with a plurality of valves 34. Each of the valves 34 is controlled by a thermostatically controlled valve rod 33. The valve rod 33 is ournalled at 28 in a strut plate carried by the struts 24 and at 46 in the plate 27 carried by the struts 24. The boss 46 of the plate 27 has formed therein a guide slot 48 in which the pin 47 ear ried by the rod 33 may move vertically. The rod 33 has fastened thereto the yoke 32 which bears against the thermostatic plates 14 carried by the plate 27. The thermostatic plates 14 have rods 38 attached to. theirinner ends. The rods extend through suitable apertures inthe plate 27. They are held againstv displacement by means of the spring arms 39 manner as carried by the rod.33. The spring arms 39 terminate in loops 41 which are received in grooves 41 cut in'the rods 38. (If desired the rods 38 may be replaced by studs similar to 44 in Figure 6 and held against'displacement by nuts 18 and cotter pin 21 as shown in Figure 6.) The rod 33 carries at its lower end a valve closing member 35 which normally rests against the valve seat 37. The member 35 is threadably mounted for movement an adj ustment on the rod 33 which is threaded at its lower end for position by the nuts 36 and 49. A spring 31 is carried on the rod 33 between-a lower pressure plate 30 which bears against the nut 36 and an upper presure plate 29 which bears against the plate 27 i The operation of this modification is also believed to be obvious but for the purpose of obviating any possible misunderstanding the description of the disclosures of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the valve 43 being closed and the valve 42 being open whereby the gases exhaust to the atmosphere. If it is desired to heat the wings the valve 42 is closed and the valve 43 opened. The exhaust gases now pass up into thewings through pipes 6 and escape into the wing structure through the apertures 9 in the pipes 8. The exhaust gases come in contact with the wing surfaces and heat the same. When the temperature reaches a predetermined point the heat in the wing causes the plates 14 to expand and exert a lifting pressure against the yoke 32. This is communicated to the rod 33 to which the yoke 32' is firmly attached. The rod is raised against the pressure of the spring 31 thus opening the valve 34. The dotted position of the

members

32, 14 and 35 in Figure 9 show the valve in the raised position. The closed position is also shown in the same figure by full lines. The closed position of member 32, however, is not. shown in this figure since to do so would tend to confuse the disclosure. It is seen that in the disclosure of Figures 7 to 9 a plurality of thermostatic plate units are used each unit consisting of two plates as shown. The number and size of units desired depend on the size of plane, the temperature at which it is desired to open the valves, the type of thermostatic plate used, the pressure of the spring 31 and such elements of friction as need be considered. This can easily be determined mathematically or determined experimentally once the other factors involved have been determined. The pressure of the spring 31 may be adjusted by manipulating'the nuts 36 and 49 and the closing member 35.

The above disclosure is by the way of illustration only and not by the way of limitation this .purpose. It is held in outlined in connection with the v ture herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

For instance the type and size of thermo-,

static expansion plate may be varied Or the manner of attaching the thermostatic plates to the wings may be varied: Or the number of thermostatic plates used at any one bolt or point may be varied: Or the manner of making the hinged wing may be varied: Or the type of valve used in the disclosures of Figures 7 to 9 may be varied: Or the materials of the component parts may be varied: Or instead of heating the wings of a heavier than air flying machine the same principle can be applied for the purpose of heating a lighter than air machine of the dirigible type Or instead of having a gasoline engine power plant now in common use a coal steam power plant or any other type of power plant having exhaust gases or developing hot gases may be used: Or instead of using valves of the type shown for controlling the path of the exhaust gases either to the atmosphere or wing compartment any other type of valves may be used: Or the location of the said

valves

42 and 43 may be changed. These as well as other changes are all contemplated by me as within the scope of my invent on. For this reason it is my desire that the claims which are hereto appended for the purpose of defining my invention be limited only by the prior art.

Definition: The term waste gases, as used in the specificat on and claims is defined as the gases which are given ofl either as an exhaust from gasoline, coal steam or any other power plant in which there are exhaust gases or any other type of hot gases developed in any type of power plant that may be used in airplanes whether of the heavier than air ty e or the dirigible type.

I Iaving described my invention what I claim as new and useful is: y

1. Means for heating a surface of a flying machine and preventing the formation of ice thereon consisting of the combination of a cell formed by the surface to be heated as one of the bounding members, means for supplying waste gases from the flying machine power plant directly to the said cell and means actuated by fluid'actuated'expansion plates for permitting the escape of the said waste gases from the said cell after the temperature within the cell reaches a predetermined point.

. 2. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a compartment formed by the bounding surfaces of the said wing, means for supplying waste gases from the said flying machine power plant to the said wing compartment, andmeans actuated by fluid actuated expansion plates for permitting the escape .of the waste gases from the said wing comof its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at its other end within the wing compartment in a plurality of zigzag members, the said zig zag members having a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe may escape into the said wing compartment, means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the direction of the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and temperature controlled means for permitting the escape of the said waste gases from the wing compartment after a predetermined temperature has been reached.

4. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hiriged together, the said Wing members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, a pipe having one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at its other end within the said wing compartment in a zigzag member, the said zigzag member having a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe may escape into thesaid wing compartment,

means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the direction of the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and temperature controlled means carried intermediate the said upperand lower wing members for raising the said wing members rel- ;atively to each other whereby an opening is formed between at least one of the edges of the saidwing members for permitting the escape of the waste gases after a predetermined temperature has been reached in the wing compartment.

5. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the said wing 'members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, a pipe having one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at its other end within the said wing compartment in a. zigzag member, the-said zigzag member having a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe may escape intoithe said win compartment, means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gaseseither in the direction of thesaid wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and a fluid actuated expansion plate carried in per and lower wing members for raising the said wing members relatively to each other whereby an opening is formed between at least one of the edges of the said Wing members for permitting the escape of the waste gases after a predetermined temperature has been reached in the wing compartment.

6. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the said wing members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, a pipe having one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at its other end within the said wing compartment in a zigzag member, the said zigzag member having a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe may esc ape into the said wing compartment,

means carried by the saidpipe for'controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the direction of the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and fluid actuated expansion plates carried byone of said wingmembers and adapted to contact with the other wing member and force the said second D of a heavier than air flying machme, having wing member away from the said first wing member whereby an opening is formed between the said wing members for permitting the escape of the said waste gases after a predetermined pressure has been reached.

- 7. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a compartment formed by the bounding surfaces of thesaid wing, a pipe having one 0 its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at its other end wtihin the wing compartment ina plurality of zigzag members, the said zigzag members having. a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the. pipe may escape into the said wing compartment, and means actuatedby fluid actuated expansion plates for permit-.

ting the escape of waste'gases from the said wing compartment after the temperature 'within the said compartment reaches a prepower plant, consisting of the combination.

of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the said wing members bounding and forming a compartment in said wing, means for, supplying waste gases from the flying machine power plant directly to the said wing compartment, and temperasaid "compartment intermediate the said upcompartment after the temperature has,

reached a predetermined point.

a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of thecombination of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the said wing members bounding and forming a compartment in said wing, a plurality of pipes having one of their respective terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and terminating at the other of their respective ends within the said wing compartment in a plurality of zigzag members, each of the said zigzag members having a plurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe may escape into the said wing compartment, means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the direction of the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and fluid actuated expansion plates carried by one. of said wing members and adapted to contact with the other wing member and force the said second wing member away from the said first wing member whereby an opening is formed between the said wing members for 9. Means for, heating the wing surfaces of minating at the other oftheir respective f ends within the said wing compartment in a plurality of zigzag members, each of the said zigzag members having a plurallty of openings formed therein through which the Waste gases in the pipe may escape into the said wing compartment, means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the directionof the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and temperature controlled means for moving one of the said wing members relatively to the other wing member whereby an opening is formed in said wing compartment for permitting the escape of the waste gases from thesaid wing compartment when a predetermined temperature is I reached, the said means consisting of a plu- "i'ality of pairs of fluid actuated expansion plates carried by the lower wing member, a .pressure'plate carried-by each of the said pairs of expansion-plates and adapted to thrust against the inner surfacev of theupper wing member, a guide bolt carried. by the.

said lower Wing member for each pair of said expansion plates and extending through the said pressure plate and the said upper wing member, a wing contacting cap mounted upon each said bolt, a spring mounted upon each said bolt and adapted to bear against the wing contacting cap, a nut contacting cap mounted on the said bolt and contacting with the upper surface of the said spring, and a nut holding the assembly of the spring and caps in place.

11. Means for heating the Wing surfaces of a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a compartment formed by the bounding surfaces of the said wing, a pipe having one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant and the other of its terminals terminating within the said wing compartment in a plurality of zigzag folds, the said zigzag members having a plurality of apertures formed therein through which the waste gases in the said pipe may escape into the said Wing compartment, and temperature controlled means for permitting the escape of the said Waste gases from the said wing compartment after a perdetermined pressure has been reached, the said means consisting of a plurality of valve openings formed in the said wing member, a movable valve rod for each valve opening, a valve closure means adjustably carried by the said valve rod, a yoke carried by the said rod, a pair of fluid actuated expansion plates mounted in said Wing-{member for exerting a pressure against each said yoke member, resilient means carried by each said rod intermediate the said expansion plates and the said valve seat for opposing the forceexerted by the said expansion plates and normally pressing the valve closure means against the valve seat, and means for adjusting the pressure initially exerted by the said resilient means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. OROSSLAND.