US2396130A - Air jet propelled helicopter - Google Patents

Description

Mai-ch 5, 1946. A. SBRILLI 2,396,130

7 AIR JET PROPELLED HELICOPTER Filed Jan. 6, 1944 ifi/jOW] Z INVENTOR ATI'I JRNEYS of the same.

Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED, STATES PATENT ome am m'r PROPELLED HELICOPTER 1 Anthony Sbrilli, Atlanta, Ga.

Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,237

' 1 Claim. (01.244-17) The invention relates I to aircraft, and more especially to air jet propelled helicopters.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- Vision of a craft of this character, wherein its construction permits of vertical ascent and descent for taking-oil and landing of'such craft with speed and accuracy or along a flight path, the craft being under perfect control of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of craft of this character, wherein the construction of the fuselage is novel and unique in design,

the power propeller being located in a draft funnel having several courses one being for permitting the ascent and descent of the craft, and the other for flight travel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of this character, wherein air Jets control the movements of the said craft, while valves which are manually regulated determine the directional course of such craft. a

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of this character, which is vsimple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily handled, it being under perfect control of an operator, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the inmouth I5 01' a cone-shaped funnel I8, which is built with the body I0, its, inner end I! being within the latter, and this funnel I6 is aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the fuselage. Extending vertically from the inner end I! of the funnel I6 is an elbowed pipe I8 which is carried through the crown of the fuselage I Ilto a determined point above the same and beneath a lifter and descent bladed propeller I9, its axle being vertically journaled in a bearing 2| arranged within the upper end of thepipe I8 for the rotation of this propeller I9.

The upper end of the pipe I8 has rotatably fitted thereon the hub 22 of diametrically opposed air jet nozzles 23, which are unitary with the hub and having at their outer ends reversely turned air emittingtips 24, which are laterally directed at substantially right angles to the nozzles 23 and are immediately below the path of travel of vention consists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an aircraftconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail A designates generally an aircraft constructed in accordance with the invention, and comprises a streamlined or cigar shaped body I0 which-is the fuselage, having any standard landing gearing II at its bottom, while at the rear end of this body are the elevators and rudder equipments I2 and I3,

respectively, these being also of any, selected con-- the propeller I9. The propeller I9 is formed unitary with the hub 22 and the forced air discharged from the nozzles 23 creates a reactive force which is caused by the air flowing out of the emitting tips 24. This reactive force will cause the propeller I9 to revolve and gain speed in proportion to the speed of the rotary bladed propeller I4. The rotation of the propeller I9 in proportion to the rotation of the rotary propeller I4 will eiTect the vertical ascent and descent of the craft.

Intersecting the elbow connection 25 of the pipe I8 is a rearwardly extending air discharge conduit 26, which opens directly through the rear end of the fuselage'A. The pipe I8 and the conduit 26 are shut-off and opened to the funnel I6 by means ofhand regulated valves 21 and 28, respectively, which at 29 are controlled from within the fuselage A.

When it is desired to-lift the craft or at takeoff thereof the valve 21 is fully opened and the valve 28 closed. With the blower I4 operating at full power the entire fluid supply in jet form will issue from the nozzles 23 and be directed to the lift rotor drive or propeller I9, and the craft would rise. The forced air being effected from the propeller I4 and the latter is the power medium for ,1 the flight of the craft. On reaching the desired altitude valve 28 would be opened and valve 21 would be partially closed, for forward movement of the craft.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and manner of operation of the craft will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted for the sake of brevity.

What is claimed is: An aircraft comprising a fuselage, a forwardly facing funnel formed in the nose of said fuselage and arranged to direct airrearwardly into the fuselage, means in said funnel for forcing air therethrough, a vertical conduit extending upwardly from the rear end of said funnel, a horizontal conduit extending rearwardly from the rear end of said funnel and terminating in an outlet opening at the tail of said fuselage, valve means at the junction of said conduits with said funnel, said valve means being arranged for displacement between one terminal position, wherein communication is fully open between the funnel and the vertical conduit and fully closed between the funnel and the horizontal conduit, and another terminal positlon, wherein communication 'is partially closed between the funnel and the by air forced through said vertical conduit will pass into and throughsaid jet rotor to energize said jet rotor.

' ANTHONY SBRILLI.

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