US2345154A - Skywriting timing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1944. Y 1-, REMEY SKY WRITING TIMING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Nov. '7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B Is 10 unwanted,

lfwzzzrzew March 28, 1944. J. T. REMEY SKY WRITING TIMING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Nov. 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N\ am Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES, PATENT. OFFICE SKYWRITING TIMING APPARATUS AND METHOD I John T. Remey, New: York,,N. Y. Application November 7, 1940, Serial No. 354,149; 1

17 Claims." (01. 40- 127.:1')

This invention is a method of and apparatus for forming letters and symbols in the air by means of contiguous and substantially parallel smoke trails.

In my prior Patent No., 1,716,794,, dated; June 11, 1929, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for forming letters and symbols in the air by means of parallel smoke trails, and the present invention is an improvement over the invention of that patent. I

In my copending applications, Case A, filed November 7, 1940, Serial No. 364,747, and Case B filed November 7, 1940, Serial No. 364,748, there is the air by means of a plurality of airplanes flying in contiguous and substantially parallel paths, the smoke releasing mechanism in each of the planesbeing controlled so a to determine the length and placement of the smoke trails.

Both of the foregoing applications involve the sending of signals to the plane from-the ground, or from an airplane; Case B also involves the use of a patterned record. 1

disclosed the formation-of letters orsymbols in In the present invention, the smoke signals are formed by a plurality of airplanes flying in contiguous and substantially parallel paths and the necessary coordinationbetween the several planes is achieved by a patterned record in each plane, driven by a settable timing mechanism, which can be set to start all the patterned records in operation at the same time. A

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the same patterned record is provided for each plane. Each record is'driven by a constant speed drive and presettable timing mechanism is provided for throwing the driving means for the record into operation at exactly the same time in all of the planes. While the patterned "record in each plane is preferably a duplicate, each record is divided into a number of channels or zones, corresponding to the number of planes, and each plane is provided with a variably positionable pick-up means, for actuating smoke trail releasing mechanism in accordance with indicia in or on the record, located in the particular channel or zone of the record assigned to that plane.

The main features of the invention having been thus described. further advantages of structure and cperationwill be apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which: l is a perspective view of a plurality of the practice of this invention;

Fig. 2 is .a' plan view of a portion of the patterned .rec'ord; i' I P 1 Fig. 2a is a fragmentary plan view of a por tion of the patterned record'showing a modification; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view to show the relationship of the main operating features of the present invention; I

I Fig. 4 is a view, largely diagrammatic, showing mechanism for driving the. patterned record and timing mechanism for putting it in opera: tion;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the timing mechanism shown inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end'view of .the record drive shown in Fig. 4; I

Fig. 7 isa'po'rtion of the record drive of Fig. 4, for .manual'operatiom;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the patterned record connected for operatinga visible" signal; and I I I I I I f Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the record connected for operating an audible signal. I I Referring now-to these drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Fig.1 shows a plurality of airplanes 2, flying in, contiguous and substantially parallel paths and which have released smoke trails t to form the letter E.

Each plane is provided with a patterned record 6 shown in Fig, 2, which may be a strip of paper or other insulating material continuously driven toward the right, Fig. 2. If nine planes are to be used for a particular sky-writing job, the record 6, which is preferably duplicated for each plane, is provided with a number. of longitudinally extending channels or zones 3, equal to the number of planes. The number of planes may, of course, be varied as desired.

In each plane there is provided a variably positionable brush [0, carried by a collar i2, slidable on a'transversely extending bar Hi, the col-' lar l2 being settable on the bar by a set screw it so as to cooperate with certain of the slots [8,

namely, these slots which are located in one, and only one, of the longitudinal channels 8, corresponding to the position in the formation occupied by the plane in question. In other words, if nine planes are being used, the middle plane would have its brush it set to cooperate with and respond to the indicia, that is, the slots H3, in the middle, zone of therec ord, and the other planes of the formation would have their respective brushes I set in accordance with their position in the formation.

Instead of nine substantially identical records, having nine channels or zones, nine individual records could be used, each specially designed for the plane in which it is to be used.

The record 6, instead of being of the type having slots in it, could be of any other desired type, as, for example, a record such as is used in forming traveling lettersin electric signs, that is to say, the belt or record 6 could be provided with raised letters, either metal or not, and as these letters travel along the belt they would close circuits through brushes entirely analogous to the brushes H], for forming smoke trails in accordance with that part of the letter positioned in the appropriate longitudinal channel 8. This type of traveling circuit closing device, for closing circuits in accordance with a pattern in the form of traveling letters, is well known and is shown, for example, in the following patents: 1,189,419, Bach, 1916; 1,193,138, Hanson, 1916; 1,478,691, Bagge, 1923; 1,717,370, Coleman, 1929.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the brush [0 is connected by wires 22 through a source of power 19 to a solenoid 20, the circuit being completed by wire 22 connected to the drum 24 over which the record 6 moves.

The armature of the solenoid 20 is connecte by the link 24 to the handle 26 of a smoke releasing valve 28 in smoke releasing pipe 30, so that when a circuit is closed through the brush I0, solenoid 26 and drum 24, a smoke trail is formed, the length of which is proportional to the corresponding part of the record 6 with which the brush [0 is cooperating.

The record 6, as shown in Fig. 6, may be unreeled from a reel 32,,then led over the drum 24 and wound up on thespring driven take-up reel 34.

The record 6 is driven by a constant speed drive. such for example as the clockwork 36 driving a shaft 38 connected to a resilient collar 40 for absorbing intermittent movement of the clockwork. The resilient collar drives the shaft 42, carrying the flywheel 43; on shaft 42 is splined the longitudinally slidable clutch member 44, adapted to bear in driving relationship against the clutch face 46 on one end of th drum 24.

As has been stated, it is important that the drives for the record in each plane be started at exactly the same time, this being necessary for the proper coordination of the smoke trails. This simultaneous starting of the various records is achieved by the timing mechanism which will now be described.

A clock 52 is connected through a resilient sleeve 52 to a shaft 54 on which is a flywheel 56 for steadying it, shaft 54 having splined on it a clutch member 58 adapted to be thrown in driving relationship with the disc "66 which may be designated a minute disc, inasmuch as it is connected to rotate once a minute. Clutch member 58 is actuated by an arm 62 pivoted at 64 and held by a spring 66 in two positions, one in which the member 58 is driving disc 65 and the other in which it is not driving disc 80.

Minute disc 60 is mounted on a shaft 68 on which is the gear It! meshing with gear disc 12 which rotates with a gear 14 to drive gear which is fixed to a shaft on which is mounted the hour disc 18, the gears just described being in 60 to 1 ratio, so that hour disc 18 rotates once per hour.

and fifths of seconds and is provided with a starting notch 80. The hour disc 181s calibrated in hours and minutes and is provided with a starting notch 82.

Cooperating with notch 80 is a spring mounted detent 84 which is mounted on a spring arm 8'! and carries a contact 65 adapted, when detent 84 drops into the notch 80, to close a circuit through contact 86. The arms 81 and 81 that hold contacts 85 and -86 are mounted in a pivoted block 88 so that they may be swung about pivot 89, against the limit stud 89a, into and out of operative relation with the disc 60.

Cooperating with the hour disc 78 is a similar detent and cooperating contacts and the corresponding parts are indicated by primed reference characters.

The contacts 85 and 86 and 85' and 86' are connected in series with a source of power 911 and with a solenoid 92 so that when detents 64 and B4 are in their respective starting notches a circuit is closed through the solenoid 92 which actuates an arm 94 for throwing the clutch members 44 and 46 into engagement to start the rec ord. A spring 95 connected to arm 94 holds the clutch faces 44 and in positive engagement or disengagement.

The timing mechanism just described operates as follows: Suppose it is desired to start the records 6 in all the planes at noon. The planes are on the ground, the clockworks 36 and 5|] are running, clutches 44 and 58 are disengaged, and detents 84 and 84 disengaged. Suppose the starter, having an accurate watch, comes to a particular plane a minute or two before 11:40. He then sets dial 18 on calibration 41. This leaves dial 66 on some figure, say calibration 45, for example. These settings means that in 19 minutes and 15 seconds, 84 and 84 will be in their respective notches, and a circuit closed. The starter, having thus set the dials, scrutinizes his watch, and when his watch reads 11-41-45, that is, 41 minutes and 45 seconds past eleven oclock, he throws handle 62, puts clutch 58 in driving engagement with the discs and 78. This starts the dials 60 and 1 8, and at exactly 12 oclock detents 84 and 84 will be seated in their respective notches, and so the patterned record is started at exactly twelve o'clock.

The starter then proceeds to the next plane and sets dial [8 of the mechanism in that plane on, say, calibration 43. This leaves dial 65, on say, calibration 45, for example. This means that in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, the starting notches will reach their respective detents and '1 the circuit through 92 will be closed. When The minute disc 60 is calibrated in seconds 7 the starters watch reads 11-43-45, that is, 43 minutes and 45 seconds past eleven oclock, he throws in clutch 58, and the timing mechanism Will close the circuit through 92 at exactly twelve o'clock to start the record in that plane at that instant.

This procedure is repeated .for the other planes, the elapsed time intervals of course bein successively shorter as the noon or other starting hour approaches.

The presettable timing mechanism described is illustrative, and it should be understood that other timing means may be used, that has sufiicient accuracy so that all the records will be started with an error of a second or less.

The records are thus started simultaneously. This actual starting may be while the planes are still on the ground, or in the air. The starting of the patterned record does not mean that smoke trail formation starts at the same time. The record 6 is preferably blank for a suitable distance at the beginning, as will be described below in connection with Fig.2a, so as to give the planes time to get off the ground and attain the altitude and position desired for the formation of the smoke trails.

I Another and a simpler way to start the records 6 is by sending an audible or visible signal to the several pilots, preferably while the ships are. on the ground, ready to take oil. With the pilots at attention, as by preliminary warning signals, a shot is fired or a light is flashed, and; each pilot, upon perceiving such signal, instantly throws a lever 9%., Fig. 7, which, like lever 94, engages clutch faces 44 and 46 and startshis record in operation. The use of a light is pre ferred, because of the slower travel of sound, but the error due to the use of a shot is, at most, very small. The reaction times of the several pilots should be nearly the same for satisfactory results.

In the invention so far described the smoke valve 23 has been mechanically actuated, as by the solenoid 29. In another aspect of the invention, however, a patterned record, like the record 6 already described, may be used, but the actual manipulation of the smoke valve handie 26 may be manual, either by the pilot, or by an operator in the plane with the pilot. manual operation is in response to a signal, perceived by the pilot or operator, the making of such signal being controlled by indicia on the patterned record. In this aspect of the invention, and referring to Figures 8 and 9 the brush I is in circuit through wires 22' with a battery I9 and a light 96. When a circuit is closed by the brush ID cooperating with the patterned record 5, the signal light 96 is lighted, and thereafter extinguished, in accordance with indicia on the record. The pilot or operator, when he sees the light 96 light, turns on the smoke valve, and when it is extinguished he turns it off. This operation may perhaps require some training, and a quick response on the part of the operator. In Figure 9 an analogous circuit is disclosed, the signal in this case, however, being a signal buzzer 98, the pilot or operator opening the smoke valve 28 by manipulation of the handle 26 while the buzzer is in operation, and turning off the smoke as soon as the buzzer stops.

Another way for achieving simultaneous starting of smoke trail production under control of the patterned records is shown in Figure 2a, which method has important advantages because of its simplicity. With this method, each pat terned record is provided with a blank leader portion 99, which is calibrated in intervals of time, preferably minutes and fraction of minutes. These calibrations may, for example, be notches III!) in the edge of the record, which cooperate with a marking pointer IBI. These notches are so spaced that it takes one minute for the record to move the distance between two adjacent notches. The starter, when using this method, arrives at a particular plane, say about eight and one-half minutes before the take-off. He moves the record manually until the calibration indicating eight minutes is directly under the pointer IM, and when his watch indicates exactly eight minutes before the take-oil, he throws the handle 94a so that the clockwork starts to drive the record. He then moves on to the next plane, sets the calibration indicating seven minutes under the pointer ,IUI in that This I plane, and at seven minutes before the take-cit he throws the handle 94a, thus starting that record. He thus sets the records in all the planes in operation, the differences of the setting times being'compensated, as pointed out above, by the starter moving the record along a little farther in each case. At .the time the records in the several planes reach the pointer I02, using a shot or a light flash for a starting signal; the planes all take 01f, the record being provided with a further leader portion I93 01; such a length as'to give the several planes suflicient time to attain the necessary altitude and position in formation to start making smoke trails, whichehappens when the leading edges of the first of the slots l8, indicated by the line I8, reaches pointer I02 which is placed on the same transverse line as the transverse line defined by the points of contact of the brushes Ill with cylinder 24. It is not necessary, however, that the planes take oil simultaneously. They could take off in succession, the important thing. for the pilots to keep in mindbeing to see that they are in proper formation when the line It reaches pointer I02, because all the planesstart forming smoke trails at that instant.

The calibrated record, provided with a leader apparatus for forming letters or symbols in the air by means of oontigouus and substantially parallel smoke trails, where the length and placement of the smoke trails are controlled through the use of a patterned record driven by a constant speed mechanism. These records may be put into operation simultaneously by a presettable timing device, or manually by the oper ator perceiving a signal and throwing an operating lever.

The patterned record, thus put into operation by the timing device or by the manually operated lever, assumes control of the smoke releasing operation. This control is direct as by means of the solenoid 20, for example, or indirect as by the operations of the signals 96 or 98, the actual operation of the smoke valve being manual as determined by such signals.

Instead of a light 98 or a buzzer 98, a tactile signal could be used, the operator turning on the smoke when he feels the signal, and turning it off when he no longer feels it.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in some detail, it should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for using in forming constituent parts of letters or symbols in the air by means of smoke trails, comprising means, including a control valve, for releasing a smoke trail, a longitudinally zoned movable patterned record wherein each zone forms part of the record. for use in controlling the operation of said control valve, a variably positionable device, movable laterally with respect to said record, for cooperating with any desired zone of said record, for forming smoke trails in accordance with the pattern of the record, and settable timing means for starting said patterned record at a predetermined time. I

2. Apparatus for use in forming constituent parts of letters or symbols in the air by means of smoke trails, comprising means, including acontrol valve, for releasing a smoke trail, a longitudinally zoned movable patterned record, wherein each zone forms part of the record, means including an element movable laterally and variably positionable to cooperate with a selected longitudinal zone of said patterned record and operatively interconnecting the patterned record and the control valve for forming smoke trails in accordance with the pattern of the record, and settable timing means for starting said record at a predetermined time.

3. Apparatus for use in forming letters or symbols in the air by means of smoke trails, comprising smoke trail forming means, a movable patterned record, settable timing means for starting said record at a predetermined time, and signal means operatively connected with the patterned record for actuation thereby, for indicating the times to operate the smoke trail forming means.

4. Apparatus for use in forming letters or symb'ols in the air by means of smoke trails, comprising smoke trail forming means, a patterned record, divided into longitudinal zones a variably positionable device, settable for cooperation only with a selected longitudinal zone of said record, in accordance with its positioning, for use in con trolling said smoke trail forming means, to form smoke trails in accordance with the indicia in said selected longitudinal zone of the record, and settable timing means for causing said record to start the formation of smoke trails at a predetermined time.

5. Apparatus for use in forming letters or symbols in the air, comprising smoke trail forming means, a patterned record, divided into longitudinal zones means for driving said record, settable means for starting said record in operation, a variably positionable device, settable for cooperation only with a selected longitudinal zone of the record, and means interconnecting the smoke trail forming means and said variably positionable device, for forming smoke trails in accordance with indicia on said selected longitudinal zone of the record.

6. The method of forming letters and symbols in smoke comprising the steps of assigning to each of a plurality of airplanes particular portions of successive letters and symbols, flying said airplanes in substantially parallel paths, releasing smoke trails from said airplanes, the length and placement of which trails are controlled by a patterned record in each airplane, said records all being started at the same time by presettable timing means, said smoke trails being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive, individual letters or symbols.

7. The method of forming smoke trails comprising the steps of flying a plurality of airplanes in substantially parallel paths, releasing smoke trails from said airplanes, the length and placement of which trails are controlled by a series lof substantially identical patterned records, one for each airplane, each plane however releasing smoke trails only in accordance with a particular portion of the record assigned to that plane, said records all being started at the same time by presettable timing means.

8. An apparatus for forming smoke trails by means of an airplane, the combination of a patterned record, means cooperating with said patterned record for controlling the formation of smoke trails, a constant speed drive for said record, calibrations on said record indicating intervals of time, and pointer means,- normally fixed with relation to said patterned record and cooperating with said time-indicating calibrations, for indicating the time interval that must elapse before smoke trail formation starts.

9. An apparatus for forming smoke trails by means of an airplane, the combination of a patterned record for controlling the formation of the smoke trails, smoke trail releasing mechanism, contact elements cooperating with indicia on the patterned record for controlling said smoke trail releasing mechanism means for driving said patterned record time-indicating calibrations carried by said patterned record,and pointer means, normally fixed with relation to said pat terned record and cooperating with said timeindicating calibrations, for indicating the time interval that must elapse before smoke trail formation starts.

10. An apparatus for forming smoke trails by means of an airplane, the combination of a patterned record for controlling the formation of the smoke trails, smoke trail releasing mechanism, contact elements cooperating with indicia on the patterned record for controlling said smoke trail releasing mechanism and presettable timing means comprising a constant speed drive for the record, time-indicating calibrations thereon for controlling the time of starting the formation of the smoke trails, and. pointer means, normally fixed with relation to said patterned record and cooperating with said time-indicating calibrations, for indicating the time interval that must elapse before smoke trail formation starts.

11. An apparatus of the character described, a patterned record for controlling the formation of smoke trails, smoke trail releasing mechanism, contact elements cooperating with indicia on the patterned record for controlling said smoke trail releasing mechanism the record being provided with time-calibrated leader portion for controlling the instant of starting the smoke trail formation, and pointer means, normally fixed with relation to said patterned record and 00- operating with the time calibrations on said leader portion, for indicating the time interval that must elapse before smoke trail formation starts.

12. The method of coordinating the formation of smoke trails by plural airplanes, each of which is provided with a movable patterned record for controlling the release of smoke for the smoke trails, each such record having a time-calibrated leader portion, comprising the steps of assigning to each airplane a certain part of a letter or symbol, placing such airplane in formation with the other planes in a position corresponding to its part of the letter or symbol, successively starting said records in operation, and selecting a length of leader on each record in accordance with the interval of time desired to elapse before smoke trail formation actually starts, the smoke trails released by the several airplanes being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive individual letters or symbols.

13. The method of forming letters or symbols in the air by parallel smoke trails, comprising the steps of assigning to'each of a plurality of airplanes particular portions of successive letters and symbols, flying said airplanes in substantially parallel paths, releasing smoke trails from said airplanes and controlling the length and placement of the several smoke trails by a patterned record in each airplane, and manually controlling the starting times of the several patterned records so that the several airplanes begin their smoke trail formation at substantially the same time, the smoke trails released by the several airplanes being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive individual letters or symbols.

14. Apparatus for forming letters or symbols in the air by means of contiguous and parallel smoke trails, comprising a plurality of airplanes arranged to fly in formation and in substantially parallel paths, smoke trail releasing mechanism in each plane, means, including a movable patterned record in each plane, connected to said smoke trail releasing mechanism, for controlling the operation thereof, and means, put into operation manually, for controlling the starting times of the several records, whereby all the airplanes start to release smoke trails as determined by the pattern on said record, each smoke trail forming a part of a letter as determined by the patter on said record, said smoke trails being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive individual letters or symbols.

15. Apparatus for forming letters or symbols in the air by means of contiguous and parallel smoke trails, comprising a plurality of airplanes arranged to fly in formation and in substantially parallel paths, smoke trail releasing mechanism in each plane, means, including a movable patterned record in each plane connected to said smoke trail releasing mechanism, for controlling the operation thereof, and manually presettable means, for controlling the starting times of the several patterned records, so that all the airplanes start to release smoke trails as determined by the pattern o said record, each smoke trail forming a part of a letter as determined by the pattern on said record, said smoke trails being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive individual letters or symbols.

16. Apparatus for forming letters or symbols in the air by means of contiguous and parallel smoke trails, comprising a plurality of airplanes arranged to fly in substantially parallel paths, each plane being provided with the following: a patterned record divided into longitudinal, indicia-carrying zones each of said zones corresponding to a portion of the finished letter or symbol, smoke trail releasing mechanism, means, including a variably positionable pick-up member, positionable to cooperate with the indicia in a particular longitudinal zone of the record, for operatively connecting the record and the smoke trail releasing mechanism, and means, put into operation manually, for controlling the starting time of the record; all of the patterned records being started so that all the airplanes start to release smoke trails as determined by the pattern on the record, said smoke trails being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive individual letters or symb ols.

17. Apparatus for forming letters or symbols in the air by means of contiguous and parallel smoke trails, comprising a plurality of airplanes arranged to fly in substantially parallel paths, each plane being provided with the following: a patterned record divided into longitudinal, indicia-carrying zones each of said zones corresponding to a portion of the finished letter or symbol, smoke trail releasing mechanism, means, including a variably positionable pick-up member, positionable to cooperate with the indicia in a particular longitudinal zone of the record, for operatively connecting the record and the smoke trail releasing mechanism, and manually presettable means for controlling the starting time of the record; all of the patterned records being started so that all the airplanes start to release smoke trails as determined by the pattern on the record, said smoke trails being contiguous and parallel and cooperating to form successive JOHN T. REMEY.

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