US2004256A - Aerofoil - Google Patents

Description

Ju'ne 11, 1935.

5. TREY ETAL AEROFOIL Filed Nov. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l WWII/WES: Serge 71mg, Mlliam Howard and fllamnder flies/81h,

111m ATTORNEY June 11, 1935. s. TREY ET AL 2,004,255

AEROFOIL Filed Nov. 24, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I /II// will/11111910, I,

7mm ATTORNEY and fllexander (Ice/$5" June 11, 1935. s. TREY ET AL I AEROFOIL Filed Nov. 24 1950 3 Sheets-Shget 3 w 6 WWZ mm ATTORNEY Patented June 1 1, I 1935 1 UNITED STATES PAT EN OFFICE AEROFOII d d Serge :Trey and William Howard, CollegePoint,

and Alexander Chessin, Brooklyn, N. Y, Application November 24, 1930,"Ser ial No. 497,708

' Our invention relatesto aeroplane wings and, more particularly, to aerofoils having rotors at their leading edges.

Theinvention has several purposes in View, the

I principal objects being: inoreasedlifting capacity a more eificient form of propulsion, avoidanceof "accidents to the propelling means by confining it within the wing structure, ability to regulate the ratio of lift to dragypossibility of hovering in the air, diminished danger, of nose dives andtail spins,

- and greateriover-all efiiciency of the plane.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of an aeroplane" embodying our invention; Figure 2'is 1 a side elevation of the same device; Figure 3 is a top View of a similar aeroplane but withthe addition of a standard propeller; Figure 4 is a vertical 7 'cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 5, i

l the latterbeing a top view of the aerofoil shown lage and 2 are the wings of an aeroplane flAt rotated by means of the worm 26.

:the leading edgeof the wingor aerofoil Zis a hollow, cylindrical rotor 3 provided along its peripheral surface with slots d. The axleFi of the rotor 3 is mounted in'a housing 6 within the fusej cases where additional speed is desired "(see lage l and is rotated by means of a train composed of the beveled gears 1 and pulleys 8 and 9,

the latter being rotated by thetengine Ill. The

axle 5 is supported in bearings Hheld bymeans of braces I 2 and M, the braces I2 and 14' being secured, respectively, at 13 and 1.5, tothe side plates I6 attached to the aerofoil 2. The aerofoils 2 are further connected to the fuselage l by means of rods I! which are fixed, at one end, to the side plates I 6. At the other end, the rods I] pass throughslots l8 in, the fuselage I andjare provided with flanges l9 having ears .20 and 2|. From the ear 2!], a wire 22 passesover apulley 23 onto the drum 24 uponwhich it is wound, and thence to the ear 2| To. the druml l is fixed, coaxially therewith, a worm gear25 which is e-latter is operated by means of the handle 21., l I

, At the leading edge of the aerofoil 2, over the rotor 3, is a scrolled hood, 28, at the end of which is an aileron 29 mounted to turn on an axle 30. The inclination of the aileron 29 isflcontrolled in any suitable manner. As an illustration, there is 30 Claims. (cred--18) d d i shownh ere an arm 3! rigidly afiixed, at oneend,

to the aileron 29, and, at the other, 32, secured to a spring 33attached to theside plate [6 at 34., From the end 32 of the arm3l, a wire or'cord 36 passes over pul1eys3'l, 38 and 39, to a point of the control stick 40. Anosepiece 4| may be added for a proper formation of the leading edge.

The slotted rotor 3, as shown, has a central plate 42 and two end rings 43, to which are attached in any suitable manner, as by rivetingor to flow tangentially to the rotor, and they are so fspaced as to make the slots 14 wider at the area "of intake, marked by the letter i in Figured, than at the area of outlet, marked bytheletter 0. r

In speakingfof the area of inlet or of outlet,flit is surface. The central plate 42; is integral with spot welding, or botlnthe blades, made in two parts, 44' and44. The blades 44', 44", are so curvedas to cause the centrifugally expelled air .j to be understood, of course, that the areaconsideredisthat of a cross section normal (i. e. perpendicularto the tangent) to the slot boundary the axle 5 of the rotor 3 andwith the reinforcements 45. l The curved conical shape of the reihforcernents 45 facilitates the suctionof air into the cylinder from itsjopen'ends. The side plates 15 are provided with openings conforming to the I open ends ofthe rotor, i. e. they have circular holes of a diameter'equal to the eter of the rotor 3, sot hatlthe side plates l6 cover the ends of the rotor blades 44", 44".

Astandard propeller 46 may be added in some Figured);

Referring more particularly tqFigures 7 and 8, a combination, of a smooth rotorwith a slotted smooth rotor at its leading edge isin everyfway similar to the aerofoil disclosed in the copending application of oneof the present applicants,

Ser. No. 295274. The rotor has alsmooth portion '3' in the middle and two slotted portions 3 at the ends. The slotted portions areidentical with the rotors shown in Figures 4 andj5Q The aerofoil extends overthe fuselage, as against the construction shown in Figure '1 with the aerofoils situated on each side of theffuselage. The wing ,is pivotinternal diami [rotor is shown. The portion ofthe wing havinga ally connected at to.thes trut14l,,.and, at 50, I

to the rod 49 operated by a hydraulic jack 5l The sections of the wing having slotted rotors are separated from the section having a smooth rotor by side plates [6 similar to the end side plates Hi.

In all of the figures, the profile of the aerofoil is in accordance ,withthe constructiondisclosed in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 295274, i.'e.,

the upper surface of the wing has a concave portion adjacent the rotor followed by a convex portion ending at the trailing edge. The lower surface of the 'aerofoil, as shown, has a convex camber which is one of the forms specified in the above mentioned application although not illustrated therein.

It will be noted that, in the case of the combination slotted and smoothrotors, the profiles of the sections 2 and 2- of the aerofoil have the same general characteristics and conform to the construction disclosed in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 295274, but they need not be identical in shape, or of the same dimensions.

It should, further, be noted that the form .of

the profile of the wing does not cons itute a partof the present invention which is independent of the profile and may be combined with a wing oi any shape, although it is preferred to have the aerofoil profile as shown, i. e. with an upper surface-having a concave'portion adjacent the rotor, followed by a convex portion ending at the trailing-edge, and an under surface having a convex camber, because of the higher efliciency of such a profile when an aerofoil is provided with a rotor at its leading edge.

While a centrifu al blower has been shown 'here, located at'the leading edge of the aerofoil,

.it-should be understoodthat we do not mean to limit ourselves to this particular embodiment of our invention. The means for creating the air stream over the. topsurface of the aerofoil need not-be located at the leading edge, so long as the createdstream is made to emanate from under the hoodand'is directed over the top surface of the aerofoil. Toillustrate this point, we have shown, in 'Figure 9, somewhat schematically, an arrangement wherein the stream of air is created elsewhere than at the leading edge. As shown in Figure 9, the air: stream is created by a compressor- 52lwithin the fuselage i and isled into the aerofoilbyv means of the manifold 53, whence it passesthrough the channel 54, at the leading edge of the aerofoil, under the hood 2,8 and over the top surface of theaerofoil-E; However, the centrifugal blower at the leading edge, and, more particularly, the slotted cylindrical rotor, appears tobe the most efficient and, therefore, preferablefor n of the means for creating the air flow over the, top surface of the areofoil.

The main objects of our invention have been xnentioned'in the preamble. Experiments in our tunnel, inthe cityof New .York, have shown that the lifting capacity of an aerofoil embodying our invention isfar in excess of that obtainable in wings of standard construction. This is due, for the most part, to the scientifically correct aerodynamic conditions. The greatly increased air velocity over the top wing surface is accomplished withoutanyburblingior vortices. The propulsion is more effective, also, because the displacement of air is where it produces the maximum results. When a standard propeller is used, the displace ment of. the air is cylindrical, whereas, in the aerofoil embodying our invention, the displacement is in sheet form over the top surface of the wing. Besides, by confining the propelling means Within the wing structure, the danger of accidents to a propeller is eliminated. Another safety feature is the greatly diminished chance of a nose dive. or tail spin. This is due to the fact that, in a-wing embodying. our invention, the center of pressure does not materially. change its position whenthe angle of incidence is changed. In the standard wings of today, the center of pressure trated it-in several .ernbodirne ts t moves in a direction such as to enhance the tendency developed by the plane, i. e. the center of pressure moves forward when the tail of the wing dips, and. it moves backward when the nose of the plane dips; in other worcs, the center of pressure moves in a direction such at to de-stabilize the plane. In a wing embodying our invention, the center of pressure either remains stationary or, if it moves at all, itdoes so in a directien towards stabilization of the plane. Among the objects of the invention was tioned t1 e ability to regulate the ratio of lift to drag. This is accomplished by the arrangement shown in the drawings whereby the wing may be inclined relatively to .the fuselage. In this arrangement, the fuselage remains horizontal, if so desired. As the angle between the wing and the. fuselage increases, the lift increases, while the drag decreases. At a certain angle, which depends on the specific structural features and diman i n f he pl n there wil be o p opulsion at all, only lift, i. e heplane will hoverin the air. For an experimental wing built in connection with h ov ment oned unnel xperimen h hovering nslewa bout 7.

Th p p lsi nz effect d theut p pe ler. p p p a na by dere opinsanesative dr s- How v er sno h-ine to p v n one from ddi ta ar rrop lle o th dev ce. as is illustrated in Figure 3; as, for instance, in the case Where a ti nal spe d is esir d- Having ully des rib d our nve tion and ill nd s a in ha t ese illust a ions sen e in ded s onsi ered o her y se ski e n h art we cla n f i m ris s m a s. t and W thin e adine dse ere ffw e t n a stream of ai a hood xtendin om a d eedins ed o d r ct nssa d s ream ver he o ur a e Gf d aerofoil, a d n-ei eronion he an 91 a d n a o ei-leomp is nsmean stand it in the leading edge thereof for creating a stream of a h odxexte dinsfmm a d ead neede for directing said stream ,over the top surface of said aerofoil, an aileron-at the end of said hood, and mea s o h n in h nel r a ionn a d ai e n- A aerofoil comprisin me ns s and W in the leading edge thereoifor-creatinga stream of air, a hoodextending fron said leading edge for directingsaid stream over the top surface of p said aerofoil, and side plates on said'aerofoil projecting'beyonditssurfaceand extending at least as .far as thesurface of said ho od.

4- A e o il c mp sin a nt i u al blower at its leading edge, a hood over said blowerior directing the air actuated by said blower over the topsurface of said aerofoil, and an aileron at the end of. saidhood.

5. An aerofoilcornprising acentrifugal blower atitsleadingedge, a hood; over saidblower for A directing the air actuated by saidblower over the top surface-of said-aerofoil, and sideplates on said aerofoil projecting beyond-its surface and extending at least as far asthe surface of said hood.

6. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge,

a rotor open at its ends for the admission of air thereinto and provided with openings along its peripheral, surfacefor the passage ofsaid air,

ands ead ove sa d ro o f r i e iins id i 7. An aerofoilxcomprising, at its leading edge,

8. Anaerofoil comprising, at its leading edge,

a rotor open at its ends for the admission of air thereinto and provided with openings. along its peripheral surface for the passage of said air, a hood over said rotor for directing said air from said peripheral openings over the top surface of 1 said aerofoil, and side plates on saidaerofoil projecting beyond its surface and extending at.

least as far as thes'urface of said hood, said plates being; provided with openingslconforniing withthe open ends of said rotor. i

9. An aerofoil comprising, i at its leading edge,

a r otor open at its endsforth'e admission of air thereinto and provided with openings along its peripheral surface for the passage of said air, a scrolled hood over saidrotor fordirecting said air from said peripheral openings over the top surface of said aerofoiLan aileron at the end of" said hood, means for changing the inclination of said aileron, and side plates on said aerofoil projecting beyond its surface and extending at least as far as the surface of said hood, said 'plates'be- 1 ing provided with openings conforming to the openends of said rotor.

10. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, an open end, hollow, cylindrical rotor with slots along its peripheral surface, and a hood over said rotor;

11; An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, an open end, hollow, cylindrical rotor provided with slots along its peripheralsurface, a scrolled hood over saidrotor, and an aileron at the end of said hood.

12. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge,- an open end, hollow,- cylindrical rotor provided with slots along its peripheral surface, a scrolled.

hood over said rotor, and sidep'lates on said aerofoil projecting beyond its surface and extending at least as far as the surface of said hood, said plates having openings conforming to the open ends of said rotor.

13. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge} anopen end, hollow, cylindrical rotor provided with slots along its peripheral surface, a scrolled hood over said rotor, an aileron at.the end of said hood, side plates on said aerofoil projecting beyond its surface and extending at least as far as the surface of said hood, said plates having openings conforming to the open ends of, said rotor, and means for changing the inclination of said aileron.

14. An aerofoil, comprising, at its leading edge, an open end, hollow, cylindrical rotor provided with slots along its peripheral surface, the areas of the transverse sections of said slots being greater at the intake end than at the outlet end. a

15. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, an open end, hollow, cylindrical rotor provided with curved slots along its peripheral surface, the transverse sections of said slots gradually diminishing in area from the intake endto the outlet end. i

16. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge,

provided convex camber. l i

20; An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, a rotor open at its ends for the admission of air and said blades being so spaced as to be nearer an open end, hollow, cylindrical rotor provided *with blades along its peripheral surface, parallel to the axis of saidrotor and having curved trans- .verse sections, the curyature of said blades being suchas to direct air tangentially to said rotor, 1

one. another at the discharge end than at the ingress end. l

17. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, an open end cylindrical rotor provided with blades along itsperipheral surface, parallel to the axis of said .rotor 'andhaving curved transverse sectionspthe curvature of said blades being such as 1 'to direct airtangentially to said rotor, and said blades being so spaced as to be nearer one another at the discharge end than at the ingress end, and means for directingair from the open ends of said rotor into the space between said blades.

1910p aerofoilcomprising, at its leading edge, an open endcylindrical rotor provided with slots alongits peripheralsurface, a scrolled hood over said rotor, an aileron at the end of saidhood,

means for changing the inclination of said aileron, and side plates on said aerofoil projecting beyond its surface and extending at least as far as the surface of said hood, said plates being provided with openings conforming to the open ends of said rotor, the upper surface of said aerofoil havby a convex portion ending at the trailing edge, and the lower surface of said aerofoil thereinto and provided with openingsralong a 18. An aerofoil comprising,atits leading edge, an open end cylindrical rotor provided with slots having. a concave portion adjacent said rotor fol- ,lowed by edge. I

-ing a concave portion adjacent said rotor followed having a portionof its peripheral surface for the passage of said air, and a scrolled hood over the portion of said rotor having said peripheral openings for directing the air from said peripheral openings over the top surface of said aerofoil.

21. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, a rotor open at its ends for the admission of thereinto and providedwith openings along the end portions of its peripheral surface for the passage of saidair, and scrolled hoods over said 9 end portions of the rotor for directing the air from said peripheral openings over the top surface i of said aerofoil. e 22. An. aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, a rotor open at its ends for the admission of air thereinto and provided withopenings along the sage of said air, scrolled hoods over said end portions of the rotor, side plates on said aerofoil, and plates separating the portions of said aerofoil corend portions of its peripheral surface for the pasresponding to the end portions of saidrotor from 23. An aerofoil comprising, at its leading edge, a rotor openat the ends for the admission of air portion of its peripheralsurface for the passage of said air, a scrolled hood over the portion of said rotor having said peripheral openings, an aileron the remaining portion of said aerofoil, all of said .1

thereinto and provided with openings along a i at the end'of saidhood, and side plates separating the portion of said aerofoil corresponding to the portion of said rotor having said peripheral openings from the remaining portion of said aerofoil, said plates projecting beyond the surface of said aerofoil and extending at least as far as the surface of said hood, and having openings conforming to the open ends of said rotor.

24. The combination with a fuselage, of an aerofoil in variable angular relation thereto, comprising means for creating a stream of air at its leadedge, a hood extending from said leading edge for directing said stream over the top surface of said aerofoil, and means for changing the direction of said stream by varying the inclination of said aerofoil relatively to said fuselage.

25. The combination with a fuselage, of an aerofoil in variable angular relation thereto and comprising, at its leading edge, a centrifugal blower, a hood over said blower for directing air from said blower over the top surface of said aerofoil, and means for changing the direction of flow of said air by varying the inclination of said aerofoil relatively to said fuselage.

26. The combination with a fuselage, of an aerofoil in variable angular relation thereto and comprising, at its leading edge, an open end cylindrical rotor provided with slots along its peripheral surface, a scrolled hood'over said rotor for directing air from said'slots over the top surface of said aerofoil, and means for changing the direction of flow of said air by varying the inclination of said aerofoil relatively to said fuselage.

27. An aerofoil comprising means for creating a stream of air at the leading edge thereof, said air being admitted at the outer ends of said leading edge, and a hood over said leading edge for directing said stream over the top surface of said aerofoil.

28. An aerofoil comprising a centrifugal blower at its leading edge provided with means for adrnitting air at the outer ends of said leading edge, and a hood over said blower for directing the air actuated by said blower over the top surface of said aerofoil.

29. An aerofoil comprising mechanical means at and within the leading edge thereof for creating a stream of air, said air being admitted at the outer ends of said leading edge, and a hood over said leading edge for directing said stream over the top surface of said aerofoil.

30. An aerofoil comprising a centrifugal blower, at and within its leading edge, provided with means for admitting air at the outer ends of said leading edge, and a hood over said blower for directing the air actuated by the blower over the top surface of said aerofoil.

SERGE TREY. WILLIAM HOWARD.

ALEXANDER CHESSIN.

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