US2203150A - Kite - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1940. |RV|N 2,203,150

KITE' Filed Oct. 21, 1938 INVENTOR Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a kite and more particularly to a kite that is provided with an elevator.

An object of this invention is to provide a knite that has an elevator creating a lift for the kite.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kite that has a pilot portion.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a perspective view of a kite with the harness removed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the kite.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the kite showing the frame and the cords before covering.

Figure 2 has been drawn to a larger scale than the other figures.

In the past it has been common practice to provide a kite having a substantially trapezoidal shape, with a suitable sheet material covering member mounted upon a suitable frame, there being practically no attempts to deviate from this conventional structure.

'In the present embodiment the kite, in addition tothe sheet material covering member, is provided with a pilot portion and an elevator,

the pilot portion being aligned with the main body portion, but spaced therefrom, so as to provide a slot or a gap between the pilot portion and the main body portion of the kite, which slot functions as an air passage. In addition to the pilot portion, the kite is provided with an elevator united to the pilot portion and extending into the air passage, so that the air passing or flowing through the air passage is deflected downwardly, thereby causing a lifting action on the kite, tending to pull the kite upwardly. In order to stabilize the kite, it is preferably curved, or convexed, with the crown of the curvature facing the wind. The slot may also tend to eliminate undesirable eddy currents along the crown of the kite, which eddy currents may tend to unstabilize the kite. By eliminating parasitic eddy currents, the resulting kite has greater stability than the conventional kites formerly used. This invention is related to the disclosure in my copending application Serial No. 185,384, filed January 17, 1938, for Kite, ripening into Patent No. 2,134,282, issued October 25, 1938, in that both disclosures include an elevator, creating lift upon the kite. v

Referring to the drawing, the frame includes a longitudinally extending rib or frame member in and a transversely disposed rib or frame member i2. These members are preferably held in curved position by a system of cords |4a., Mb,

Mo and Md, interconnecting the ends of the frame member IE] to the ends of the frame member 12, as best seen by referring to the skeleton showing in Figure 4. By properly tightening the cords l4 extending through the slots IS in the ends of members [0 and I2, these members'are held in-a curved relation, so as to provide a curvature, tending to stabilize the kite in flight.

The transverse member l2 has the ends drooping downwardly, the middle portion being higher i-ll) than the ends when the kite is disposed in the normal vertical position. The kite proper is covered by a sheet of suitable covering-material l8, such as paper or the like, extending over the lower end of the rib- Ill. The covering material I8 is suitably attached to the cord portions Ma, and Nb and wrapped around or suitablyattached to the transverse member l2. The covering material l8- has one curved edge and two straight edges. the main body portion of the kite. The structure described thus far compares very favorably with kite structures used in the past, excepting the sheet of material, instead of terminating in a point or apex at the top of the kite, terminates in a curved portion.

In addition to this structure, the kite is provided with a leading pilot portion and an elevating portion, which includes a sheet material member 20 carried by the upper end of the rib Hi, the cords Mo and Mel and supported upon the transversely disposed cord 22, terminating in the ends of the transverse member I2 and supported at its center on the rib I0. This rib l0 projects through an aperture 25 to permit the rear portion of member 20 to be deflected inwardly, and terminates in a substantially straight portion 24. The part 20b between the cord 22 and the edge 24 is angularly disposed with respect to the balance of the sheet material, so as to form a trihedral surface or a trihedral covering. The cord 22 and th transverse member l2 are arranged in such spaced relation that a gap or air passage It constitutes what may be referred to as 26 is formed between the main body portion [8 tor 24.

in the area where the currents separate.

sides of the elevator portion 20b, thereby causing the kite to ascend more rapidly and steeper. In addition thereto, the elevator permits the use of a heavier frame structure and heavier materials in the kite, without sacrificing the efliciency thereof, as compared with conventional kites. It has been found that the kite will fly in a much lower wind than conventional kites. A suitable harness 28 may be used for attaching the kite to the cord 30. In order to steady the kite, especially in high wind and irregular wind, the kite is preferably provided with a tail 32.

The angle of the elevator 20b may be adjusted by adjusting a cord 34, disposed intermediate the straight edge 24 and a suitable portion of the vertical rib l6. By adjusting the cord 34, the effective opening of the air gap may be decreased or increased.

This kite assembly may readily be sold in kit form, the sheets l8 and 20 being cut to proper dimensions, the sheet 20 being provided with a suitable aperture 25, through which the rib It! extends. A reenforcing member 35 is preferably cemented to the sheet 2!], so as to reenforce the material surrounding the opening 25. When assembling, the ribs Ill and I2 are properly positioned and deflected to the proper curvature by the cords Ma, Mb, Mo and Mel. 'A suitable brad, adhesive, staple or other fastening mechanism not shown, may be used to secure the center of the transverse member I 2 to the proper position on the vertical rib Ill. The cord 22 may then bepositioned, having its ends attached to the ends of the transverse member l2; but before doing so and before attaching the cords Ma, Mb,

Mo and Md, the upper end of the rib I0 is passed through the aperture 25 in the sheet 20. After the transverse members Ill and I2 and the cords Ma, Mb, Mo and Md and the cord 22 have been properly secured together, the main body portion of the kite may then be covered by the sheet I 8 and the pilot and elevator portion by the sheet 20. These may be glued or cemented in position. After thus assembled, the harness 28 is secured in position, together with the tail 32, when the kite is ready for flight. The adjusting cord 34 may be eliminated, or it may be adjusted to proper position, depending entirely upon the usage to which the kite is to be put and the conditions under which the kite is to be operated.

The transverse slot 26 across the widest portion of the kite has another function in addition to providing an air current acting upon the eleva- Without the use of the elevator 24, the transverse slot 26 functions to steady the kite.

-By referring to the drawing it is apparent that the transverse slot 26 is near the crest of the arcuate portion of the kite, that is, the crest with respect to the air currents. Without the transverse slot, the air currents striking the face of the kite are divided, some of the air currents being deflected upwardly over the advance edge of the kite and the greater portion deflected rearwardly, so as to escape over the rearwardly extending portion of the kite.

It is well known aerodynamic phenomena that currents dividing and deflected in opposite directions, result in a vacuum or a low pressure point Undoubtedly, this low pressure area results in eddy currents. Let that be as it may, the low pressure area along the crest of the kite tends to unstabilize the kite. If the direction of the air changes or if the angle of the kite changes or if the velocity of the air changes or if the relative movement of the kite changes with respect to the air currents, this vacuum or' low pressure area will shift relative to the body of the kite. What is going to happen? The kite will then be tossed or heaved due to the change of this low pressure area relative to the face of the kite. When the kite begins to heave, it undoubtedly swings too far. Then this low pressure area will tend to correct this movement and the kite will swing back, again swinging too far.

By providing the transverse slot 26 across the crest of the face of the kite, the low pressure area is practically eliminated, if not entirely eliminated. If there is a low pressure area, it will be defined by the edges or the boundary of the slot. The low pressure area will not change. It will remain in the same place. Thus, the transverse slot steadies the kite. This has been found to be a very desirable feature. However, in order to steady the kite, the slot should be placed near or at the crest of the kite, that is, the crest of the kite relative to the on-rushing 'air currents.

1. A kite including a body portion provided with a transversely disposed slot extending throughout the width of the body portion and a horizontally disposed elevator extending at an angle with respect to the main surface of the kite, said elevator cooperating with-a portion of the body to form a trihedral surface, the rear edge of the elevator projecting downwardly, said elevator extending throughout the width'of the kite for deflecting at least a portion of the air currents passing'through the slot downwardly so as to provide a differential of air pressures on the two sides of the elevator thereby lifting the kite.

2. A kite including a convex body portion having a substantially segmental spherical curvature, said body portion having a single transversely disposed slot extending throughoutthe width of the body portion, said slot being disposed near the crest of the kite whenin flight so as to steady the kite in flight.

3. A kite includinga frame having arcuate horizontal and vertical ribs, a convex body por tion supported upon said ribs, said body portion being provided with a transversely disposed slot extending throughout the width of the kite and an elevator associated with the slot, said elevator extending at an angle with respect to the main surface of the kite, the rear edge of the elevator projecting downwardly so as to deflect at least a portion of the air current passing through the slot downwardly so as to create a differential of I aligned with the main body portion so as to lie substantially in a segmental spherical surface common to the main body portion, the pilot portion being disposed in spaced-relation from the main body portion so as to form a transversely disposed slot extending throughout the width of the kite between the main body portion and the pilot portion, said slot being disposed near the crest of the kite when in flight so as to steady the kite.

5. A kite including a main body portion and a pilot portion extending ahead of the main body portion, the pilot portion being aligned with the main body portion. the pilot portion being disposed in spaced relation from the main body portion so as to form a transversely disposed slot extending throughout the width of the kite be tween the main body portion and the pilot portion, said siot being disposed near the crest of the kite when in flight so as to steady the kite, and an elevator integral with the pilot portion cooperating therewith to form a trihedral surface, said elevator being disposed across the slot with the rear edge of the elevator projecting downwardly so as to cause the air current flowing through the slot to be directed downwardly thereby lifting the kite when in flight.

6. A kite having a main body portion and a pilot portion, said kite including a pair of transversely disposed ribs one of which is vertically disposed, the other horizontally disposed, a cover for the lower portion of the kite, said cover having the upper edge secured to the horizontally disposed rib, and a covering member for the pilot portion attached to the ends of the transversely disposed rib and overlying the upper end of the vertically disposed rib, the covering member being arranged in spaced relation with respect to the central portion of the horizontally disposed rib so as to form a slot extending across the kite between the pilot portion and the main body portion.

7. A kite having a main body portion and a pilot portion, said kite including a pair of transversely disposed rib members one of which is horizontally disposed and the other vertically disposed, at least one of said ribs being convexed, a covering for the main body portion of the kite, said covering being supported by the lower portion of the vertically disposed rib, the upper edge of the covering being attached to the horizontally disposed rib, and a covering for the pilot portion supported by the ends of the horizontally disposed rib and overlying the upper end of the vertically disposed rib, said covering having a rearwardly extending portion cooperating therewith to form a trihedral surface, the rear edge of which projects downwardly, said rearwardly extending portion being disposed in spaced relation from the main body portion of the kite so as to form an elevator for lifting the kite when in flight.

8. A kite having a main body portion and a pilot portion, said kite including a pair of transversely disposed arcuate ribs one of which is substantially horizontally disposed and the other substantially vertically disposed, a covering for the main body portion of the kite overlying the lower end of the vertically disposed rib, the upper edge of the covering being attached to the transversely disposed rib, and a substantially trihedral covering for the pilot portion overlying the upper end of the vertically disposed rib, the lower portion of the pilot portion being deflected rearwardly and downwardly in spaced relation from the horizontally disposed rib so as to form a slot between the pilot portion and the main body portion, said deflected portion having the rear edge deflected downwardly so as to function as an elevator creating a lift on the kite when in flight.

9. A kite having a main body portion and a pilot portion, said kite including a pair of transversely disposed arcuate ribs one of which is substantially horizontally disposed and the other substantially vertically disposed, a covering for the main body portion of the kite overlying the lower end of the vertically disposed rib, the upper edge of the covering being attached to the transversely disposed rib, a trihedral covering for the pilot portion overlying the upper end of the vertically disposed rib, the lower portion of the pilot portion being deflected rearwardly and downwardly in spaced relation from the horizontally disposed rib so as to form a slot between the pilot portion and the main body portion, said deflected portion having the rear edge deflected downwardly so as to function as an elevator creating a lift on the kite when in flight, and means for adjusting the angle of incidence of the deflected portion.

10. A kite having a main body portion and a pilot portion, said kite including a pair of transversely disposed ribs one of which is substantially horizontally disposed and the other substantially vertically disposed, a covering for the main body portion supported by the lower end of the vertically disposed rib, a cover for the pilot portion supported upon the upper end of the vertically disposed rib, one of said covers being fixedly attached to the horizontally disposed rib, the other having the extreme outer corners attached to the horizontally disposed rib, the central portion of said other cover being arranged in spaced relation with respect to the horizontally disposed rib so as to form a gap between the horizontally disposed rib and said other cover, which gap provides an air passage above the main body portion and below the pilot portion.

HARRY J. IRVIN.

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