US1990473A - Aeroplane wing - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1935. H. A} DOUGLAS 1,990,473

AEROPLANE WING Filed Sept. '12, 1931 A1- R y type.

Patented Feb. 12, 1935 warren star as rare at term AEROPLANE WING Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich. Application September 12, 1931, Serial No. 562,557 4 Claims. (01. 244 -31) My invention relates to aeroplane wings and particularly to wings adapted to contain a buoyant gas, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved wing of this In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, I have shown, for the purpose of illustration, one form which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an aeroplane provided with a wing constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical transverse section of my improved aeroplane wing, while Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view with parts broken away, taken on the line -3 of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, an aeroplane of the monoplane type having a wing structure embodying my invention is shown as comprising a fuselage 1, having a wing 2 secured to the fuselage 1 by means of tubular struts 3 and braces 4, and provided with propellers 5 and with a rudder 6 and elevators '7.

The trailing edge of the wing 2 is provided with the usual ailerons 8 controlled from the pilots seat in the usual manner. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wing 2 comprises a plurality of transversely extending frame members 9 which are either cast or stamped from a relatively light metal, such as aluminum or duralumin, and which are provided with a plurality of openings 10 to reduce the weight thereof. Extending around the periphery of each of the transverse frame members 9 is a horizontally extending flange 11 which is provided with notches or recesses 12 and 13 on the upper and lower edges respectively of the frame which are adapted to receive a pair of longitudinally extending upper beams 14 and a pair of longitudinally extending lower beams 15. The beams 14 and 15 are preferably of T- shape in cross-section with the vertical flanges thereof extending inwardly toward each other, and which reinforce the structure throughout its length. The outer ends of the upper beams 14 are curved downwardly as indicated at 16 and are secured to the lower beams 15 by meansof brackets 17. This construction provides for tapered wing tips, as best shown in Figure 8. The wing 2 is further reinforced against longitudinal bending by means of a plurality of diagonal 1 braces 18 connected at their ends to the flanges of the beams 14 and 15.

Secured to the horizontal flanges-of the beams 14 and to the horizontal flanges of the beams 15 is a metallic envelope comprising a plurality of upper and lowersheets 1-9 and 20, which are-se cured to the flanges 11 of the transverse frame 5- members 9 by means of rivets 21. The forward edges of the upper and lower sheets-19 and20 are offset inwardly as indicated at 22, and are secured to a semi-circular sheet 23 ,constituting the leading edge ,of the wing. to The transverse frame. members 9 are provided with recesses 24 adapted to receive theoifset edges 22 of the sheets 19 and 20 and asealing member 25-is preferably interposed between the edges'ofthe sheets 19 and 20 and thejcurved 15 sheet 23 in order to provide a hermetic seal where the sheets are thus joined. The trailing edgeof the wing is formed by a sheet 26 which is V shaped in cross-section and which is offset} as indicated at 27, and secured to the rearedges of the upper and lower sheets 19 and '20-by rivets 28. The transverse frame members 9 .are also recessed, as indicated at 29, to receive the offset portions 2'7 of the sheet 26 so that the outer surfaces of the wing 2 will present a flush, continuous surface. Packing members SO are-also interposed between the sheets 19 and 20 and the offset portions 27 of theV -shaped sheet 26 in order to render the joints thus formed impervious to gas or moisture. f 1 j The tips of the wing 2 are formed by sheets 31 of substantially V-shape in cross-section which extend transversely of the wing 2 and which are secured to the offsettransverseedges of the up,-

per and lower sheets19 and 20 by rivets 32. .Pack- .35-

ing means 33 are also interposed between the edges of the sheets 31 and offset portions 351 extending along the transverse edges of the sheets 19 and 20, in order to seal the joint thus formed. The beams 14 and 15 are also provided with re cesses 35 adapted to accommodate the offset joints between the end sheets and the sheets 19 and 20,

in order to insure that the outer surfaces of the wing adjacent these jointsare flush.

It will be apparent from the foregoing't hat I 4 have provided a wing structure which is of streamline configuration fore and aft; which is provided with tapered ends; which-isa Very light but rigid construction; and which is so constructed as to prevent moisture from entering the interior of the wing from the outer atmosphere, or a buoyant gas from leakingout of the wing, in the event thata buoyant gas is employed in the construction. If it is found desirable to employ a buoyant gas in order to diminish the weight'of the wing, F

such gas may be introduced to the interior of the wing through the struts 3 which communicate with the interior of the wing 2 through openings 36 formed in the lower sheets 20. The struts 3 are preferably provided with flanges 37 adapted to be bolted to the lower surface of the Wing with an interposed packing 38.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that I have produced 'a new and improved wing construction. It will be equally apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of my invention shown and described herein includes advantages other than those specifically suggested or pointed out, and further, that this particular embodiment may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and accordingly it will be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

' 1. An aeroplane wing structure, comprising: a plurality of transverse continuous ribs, each having a continuous'flange extending about the periphery thereof; a plurality of T-shaped recesses formed in said rib and bordered by said flange; a plurality of T-shaped longitudinally extending members disposed withinsaidrecesses,the stem portions of said members being disposed in the'corresponding stem portions of said recesses, and'the flanged portions of said members bearing against the head portions of said recesses, whereby pressure exerted on said members is transmitted to said rib flanges and distributed throughout said rib.

2'. 'An aeroplane wing structure, comprising: a plurality of transverse ribs, said ribs being provided with a plurality of first recesses formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof intermediate the leading and trailing edges of said wing, and a plurality of second recesses formed in theupper and lower surfaces thereof adjacentthe leading and trailing edges of said wing; a plurality of upper and lower longitudinally extending members disposed in said first recesses so as to be flush with the surface of said rib, said members extending beyond said ribs and being joined at this point, and said members being provided with recesses at a point spaced inwardly of the ends thereof; main covering sheets extending from said second recesses ad jacent the leading edge to said second recesses adjacent the trailing edge of said wing, covering sheets enclosing the leading edge of said wing and comiec ted to said main covering sheets, said connections being disposed in said second recesses adjacent the leading edge of said wing to present a flush exterior surface; covering sheets enclosing the trailing edges of said wing and connected to said main covering sheets, said connections being disposed in said second recesses adjacent-thetrailing edges of said web to present a flush exterior surface; and covering sheets enclosing the ends of the wings and connected to'said main covering sheets, said connections being disposed in the recesses formed in the longitudinally extending members to present a flush exterior surface' 3. An aeroplane wing structure, comprising: a plurality of transverse ribs, said ribs being provided with a plurality of first recesses formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof intermediate the leading andtrailing edges of said wing, and a. plurality of second recesses formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said wing; a plurality of upper and lower longitudinally extending members disposed in said first recesses so as to be flush with the surface of said rib, said members extending longitudinally beyond said ribs and being joined at their ends, and said members being provided with recesses at a point spaced inwardly of the ends thereof; main covering sheets extending from said second recesses adjacent the leading edge to said second recesses adjacent the trailing edge of said wing, covering sheets enclosing the leading edge of said wing and connected to said main covering sheets, sealing means interposed in said connections to make the same fluid-tight, said connections being disposed in said second recesses adjacent the leading edge of said wing; covering sheets enclosing the trailing edges of said wing and connected to said main covering sheets, sealing means interposed in said connections tornake the same fluid-tight, said connections being'disposed in said second recesses adjacent the trailing edges of said wing; covering sheets enclosing the ends of the wings and connected to said maincovering sheets, seal-' ing means interposed in said connections to make the same fluid-tight, said connections being disposed in the recesses formed in said longitudinally extending members; and said cover members cooperating to provide an envelope adapted to contain a fluid. 1

4. An aeroplane wing structure, comprising: a plurality of transversely extending continuous ribs, each formed with a rounded leading edge and a tapered trailing edge to present a streamline contour, and provided with a flange extend-- ing about the periphery thereof, said ribs' also being provided with a plurality of first recesses formed in the upper and lower surfaces inter mediate the ends thereof, and aplurality .of second recesses adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said rib, said first and second recesses being bordered by said flange; a plurality of upper and lower longitudinally extending flanged members respectively disposed in said recesses,

and having the ends thereof tapering andjoined to provide tapering wing ends, and provided with recesses at a point spaced inwardly of said ends; main covering sheets securedto the flanges on said transverse and longitudinalmembers intermediate the ends thereof; covering sheets conforming to the shape of the leading edge of said rib'and secured to said rib flanges and' connected to said main covering sheets, sealing means being interposed in said connections to make the same fluid-tight, and said connections being disposed in said second recesses adjacent the leading edge of the wing; covering sheets conforming to the shape of thetrailing edge of said rib and secured to said rib flange andconnected to said main covering sheets, sealing means being interposed in said connections to make the same fluid-tight, and said connections being disposed in said second recesses adjacent the trailing edges of i said wing; and covering sheets conforming to the tapering ends of said-longitudinal members and secured to said flanges thereon and connectedto said main covering sheets, sealing means being interposed in said connections to make the same fluid-tight, and said connections being disposed in the recesses formed in said longitudinally extending members, said cover members thereby providing a hermetically sealed envelope suit able to provide a supporting plane.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

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