US2165757A - Propelling and lifting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1939. H, E, MoLAUGHLlN 2,165,757

PROPELLING AND LIFTING MECHANISI Filed June 2, 1958 HmmWMM,l

,7 f77-Caf V y y me/whom Hel/3h@ /VL Patented Jul, 11,1939 2,165,757

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,165,757 PROPELLING AND LIFTING MECHANISM Hugh E. McLaughlin, New York, N. Y. Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,451 3 Claims. (Cl. 24d- 19) This invention relates to propellers and, parmore or less diagrammatically, a propelling and ticularly, to a combined propelling and lifting lifting mechanism embodying the present invenmechanism for air vehicles, for instance, aerotion;

planes. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line s One object of the invention is the provision of 2 2 of Fig. l; a simple and eicient propeller construction, by Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the means of which a high degree, both of tractive line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and and lifting force, may be exerted. Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Another object of the invention is the provision A portion of the fuselage or frame of the aerolo of a lifting and propelling mechanism consisting plane or other vehicle is illustrated more or less El) essentially of a propeller of the rotary type diagrammatically at l0, the same consisting of which will function with maximum eiliciency. elongated members disposed longitudinally of the A still further object contemplated by the invehicle. Journaled in these members Hl is a shaft vention is the provision of a propelling and lifting il, to which power is supplied from any suitable lu mechanism wherein upward movement of the source. In the present illustration, shaft Il is l5 propeller blades is utilized for exerting propelling adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise direcforce, thus increasing the efli'ciency of the appation, as indicated in Figs. l and 3. ratus. Mounted on shaft Il are a plurality of pro- Another object is the provision of a propelling peller blades i2 of paddle-like formation, the El, and lifting mechanism, wherein the propeller individual blades preferably being flat or plane- 20 blades during the major portion of their upward surfaced. In order to increase the lifting and movement will exert a propelling force and during propelling effect of the rotating blades, they are their forward, downward and rearward moveadapted to pass through a casing or housing for ment will exert both a lifting and propelling force. substantially one-half a revolution. This casing More specifically, the invention contemplates a or housing is located substantially entirely above fcombined propelling and lifting mechanism comthe members i ll and is substantially semi-circular prising a series of rotary propeller blades adapted in cross-section, as viewed from the side thereof. to pass through a housing located above the pro Forwardly of the propeller shaft l l the casing or peller blade shaft, said housing being open at the housing is closed at its periphery by an outer wall 3 rear of the propeller shaft and formed with rai3 and, extending radially inwardly at opposite 3Q dial, outwardly extending side walls, between side edges of said outer wall, there are side walls which transverse vanes are provided whereby air ifi. Thus, the side walls and the outer wall I3 forced upwardly during the upward movement of jointly form a threesided casing which is of a the propeller blades will impinge against `the cross-sectional area and contour corresponding to 53 transverse vanes and exert a propelling force the contour and surface area of the individual y while, on the other hand, the casing, forward of propeller blades i2. This so-called closed portion the propeller shaft, is provided with side walls of the casing or housing extends approximately `extending radially inward and is closed at its throughout 90 of the circular path of the properiphery. The cross-sectional area of this closed peller blades or what, for convenience, might be w portion of thel casing corresponds to the surface termed the upper, forward quadrant of the circuof the individual propeller blades and the blades lar path of the blades. The rear extremities of "d move forwardly and downwardly through this the side walls are of tapered or reduced height, as closed portion, with the result that the air forced at lila, so that comparatively large openings I5 forwardly by the blades impinges against the outare provided at the sides of the housing. The

,l5 er wall of the housing or casing and exerts both outer wall i3 extends a short distance to the rear 1,.; a lifting and propelling force at its exit at the of the propeller shaft but terminates a considerlower end of the casing. able distance above the structural members l0, With these and other objects in view, the inso that the casing is open throughout this latter vention consists in certain details of construction portion or at the rear thereof. However, this 50 and combinations and arrangements of parts, all rearward portion is provided with side members 5,9 as will hereinafter be more fully described and I6 but, in this instance, the side members extend the novel features thereof particularly pointed radially outward from the path of the propeller out in the appended claims. blades, as distinguished from the side walls I 4 In the accompanying drawing which extend radially inward with respect to the 55 Figure 1 is a side elevational View, illustrating, propeller blades and shaft. 55

, from the position shown in the f1gure,

In order to increase the propelling effect of the blades I2 during their upward movement, at which time they normally exert a depressing influence, a number of more or less horizontally disposed vanes are located between the side wall I6 at the rear of the housing. These vanes, in-

'dicated at I1, are preferably arcuate in crosssection and extend radially outward between the side walls I6. The inner ends of the vanes I'I are spaced circumferentially and, as will be apparent, as the propeller blades I2 move upwardly, air forced upwardly by the blades at this time will escape between the side walls I6 and, of course, impinge against the several vanes I'l. The force of this air impacting against the several vanes Il and diverted rearwardly will exert a propelling influence on the housing and the housing being rigidly secured to the fuselage of the vehicle, this propelling action will be transmitted to the vehicle as a whole. In other words, instead of air lifted by the blades I2 tending to lower the vehicle, the same is utilized for increasing the propelling action of the apparatus, whereby the efficiency thereof is considerably increased.

As each blade passes forwardly beyond the last of the series of vanes I'l, it enters the tunnel or casing formed by the side walls I4 and the outer wall I3 of the housing, and the air in advance of each blade is forced against the outer wall I3 and being driven downwardly exerts a lifting and also a propelling force as the vehicle advances. It will also be appreciated that, during the movement of the blades between the point where they emerge from the casing to a point more than 90 therefrom, which might be described as being a 'point rearwardly of the shaft II, the effect of the moving blades is to drive the machine forwardly and, to a like extent, also elevate or lift the vehicle.

To better explain, or accentuate, the eiciency of the present mechanism, the effect of each blade will now be described by reference to the particular blade B -in Fig. 3, assuming that said blade is rotating in a. counterclockwise direction At rst the blade will exert a lifting action by reason of the fact that it is driving the air downwardly. This effect will continue until the blade has reached a substantially horizontal position. After the blade passes below the horizontal, it will continue to exert the lifting action and also the forwardly driving action, although it is then in the open. These combined actions will continue until the blade reaches a perpendicular position below the shaft II. From this point it d will continue to exert a forwardly driving action but, as it starts to move upwardly, the normal tendency would be to depress the casing and vehicle. However, this tendency is overcome by the presence of the several vanes II and the opening at the rear of the casing, because this construction causes the air that is pushed upwardly by the blade to impinge against the vanes I'l and to be diverted rearwardly thus tending to propel the vehicle and neutralizing or overcoming the normal tendency of the upwardly moving blade to exert a depressing force. Thus,

the mechanism operates with maximum efliciency both as regards its propelling and lifting actions.

If desired, a shield I8 may be provided over the casing, particularly at the forward portion thereof, so as to give a stream-lined effect and thus reduce resistance in the forward motion of the vehicl-e.

What I claim is:

1. In a lifting and propelling mechanism for air vehicles, the combination of a rotary shaft,

propeller blades mounted on said Shaft, a casing comprising arcuate side walls a substantial portion of which are above said shaft and an outer wall extending approximately one-half the length of the side walls, said casing being open rearn wardly of the shaft, the side walls of the closed portion of the casing extending radially inwardly with respect to the outer wall and the side walls of the open portion extending radially outward,

and circumferentially spaced vanes disposed transversely between the side walls of the open portion of the casing.

2. In a combined lifting and propelling mechanisrn for air vehicles, a rotary shaft, a series of propeller blades on said shaft, a casing through l which said blades pass in the upper forward quarter of each revolution, said blades being exposed during substantially the lower half of each revolution, and said casing being open at its sides at the rear of said shaft, and means extending rearwardly from said casing above the shaft for deecting air rearwardly from the open portion of the casing.

3. In a combined lifting and propelling mechanism for air vehicles, a rotary shaft, a series of propeller blades on said shaft, a casing located substantially entirely above said shaft, said blades being exposed below said casing throughout substantially 180, said casing comprising opposite side walls and a peripheral wall with open- L ings in the sides and periphery of said casing at the rear of the shaft, and circumferentially spaced vanes extending from the open rear portion of the casing, said vanes being arranged horizontally with respect to the side walls of the casing.

HUGH E. MCLAUGI-ILIN.

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