US2984255A

US2984255A - Three directional control vane

Info

Publication number: US2984255A
Application number: US748547A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward F Katzenberger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-14
Filing date: 1958-07-14
Publication date: 1961-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-16

Description

y 1961 E. F. KATZENBERGER 2,984,255

THREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE Filed July 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I INVENTOR.

EDWARD F. KATZENBERGER BY Wa ATTORNEYS y 1961 E. F. KATZENBERGER 2,984,255

THREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1958 INV EN TOR. EDWARD F. KATZENBER'GEF? MMLJ/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent THREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE Edward F. Katzenberger, Westport, Conn., assiguor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed July 14, 1958, Ser. No. 748,547

Claims. (Cl. 137-610) This invention relates to a three directional control vane for diverting a fluid through either or both of the branches of a Y-duct. More particularly, it relates to a control vane for directing the air stream from an air compressor in a convertiplane to either the rotor blade or blades for lift or to the tail pipe for forward propulsion.

There are many devices for closing ofi or diverting a stream of air or fluid from a main duct to branch ducts or to either branch of a Y-duct but all of the types require considerable force to open a duct once it is closed where high velocity of the fluid stream is involved. In convertiplane use the air velocity is very high and the ordinary vane would be diflicult to operate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a control vane capable of directing a high velocity stream of air partly to one branch and partly to another or wholly to one branch or the other of a Y-shaped duct with a minimum of control power.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which is economical to manufacture and is easy to operate and maintain.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a three directional control vane which is readily adaptable to remote control.

Essentially, the invention consists of three blades of airfoil construction pivoted at their mid chord points to a bar journalled at the intersection of the branches of a Y-shaped duct of rectangular cross section. A second bar, parallel to the first, is connected to the three blades near their leading edges and at one end to a crank under remote control. As the arm of the crank is moved the blades line up one behind the other to divide the air stream equally between the receiving branches of the duct or at an angle to the air stream diverting the air to one branch or the other in proportion to the movement of the crank. Thus the pilot can divert the compressed air to the tail of the plane for forward flight or to the rotor blade or blades for vertical lift.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a proposed convertiplane in which the invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a view in section showing the blades in a position to direct the air stream to the tail of the plane;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the blades in a neutral position to permit the air stream to flow equally to both branches of the Y-duct;

Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the blades in a position to deflect the air stream toward the rotor blade; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the connection of the blades to the parallel bars and their attachment to the crank arm.

In the drawings, the body 4') of a proposed convertiplane is shown as having an air scoop 42 for supplying air to an air compressor 44 which is driven by motor 46. The compressed air enters a duct 18 and is directed by the Y-duct 24, into a branch 20 of the duct, leading to the rotor blade 48 or to a branch 22 of the duct leading to the tail of the plane at 49.

A bar or supporting member 10 connects airfoil blades 12, pivoted at 11, and connected to said blades at 13. A second bar 14, which is always parallel to bar 10, is shown connected to the leading edges of the blades 12 at 15. Bar 14 is also shown connected to the crank arm 16 at 15'. A crank shaft 26 is shown journalled in the wall 25 of the said duct and held in place by lock nuts 32 and washers 34 and terminating in a crank 28 and a crank handle 30 in order to provide actuating means to move bar 14 to deflect said blades.

In operation, it is obvious that if the blades are in the neutral position as shown in Fig. 3 and the crank arm 16 is moved in the direction of the arrow 9, as shown in Fig. 2, the blades will take a position to direct the air to branch 22 of the duct leading to the tail of the plane at 49. If the crank arm 16 is moved in the direction of the arrow 9, as in Fig. 4, the blades 12 will be in a position to direct the air to branch 20 of the duct leading to the rotor blade 48.

The advantage of this type of deflecting vane is obvious. The blades being pivoted at their mid points receive the force of the air stream equally on the leading and trailing edges, thus reducing the force necessary to turn them. Furthermore, the blades 12 are of airfoil construction thus further reducing the resistance offered to the air stream.

Having this described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct and means located within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to be deflected into one or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, said means comprising a supporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction of said branches, elongated deflecting blades pivotally mounted at their mid points on said member, means connecting said blades at one end thereof, and actuating means connected with said last-mentioned means to move said blades into position to deflect said fluid into one branch or the other.

2. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct and means within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to be deflected into one or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, said means comprising a supporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction of said branches, deflecting blades pivotally mounted at their mid points on said member, and means connected with said blades remote from said pivotal mounting of said blades for causing a simultaneous rotation of said supporting member about its pivot and the said blades about their pivotal mountings on said member.

3. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct and means within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to be deflected into one or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, said means comprising a supporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction of said branches, deflecting blades pivotally mounted at their mid points on said member, and means for swinging said member into position, said means being associated with said blades for simultaneously swinging said blades into position to deflect fluid into one or the other of said branches.

4. In a directional control vane for deflecting a high velocity stream of air, the combination of a Y-duct of rectangular cross-section, a member journalled at the intersection of the branches of said duct, airfoil blades, each of said blades having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a top and a bottom, said airfoil blades being pivoted to said member at the mid-points of one of said top and bottom of each of said blades, a bar pivoted at the leading edges of said blades to the other of said top and bottom of each of said blades such that said bar is oriented parallel to said member, and a crank connected to said bar to swing said member into position and to swing said blades to cause said blades to deflect the stream of air to one or the other of the branches of the said duct.

5. In a directional control vane the combination of a Y-duct, means journalled at the intersection of the branches of said duct, a series of blades of airfoil crosssection pivoted about a point mid-way along the chord of said blades, means pivotally connected to the leading edges of said airfoil blades, and actuating means connected with last-mentioned means to cause movement thereof to change the angle of said blades to deflect a stream of air to one or the other or both of the branches of the Y-duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 164,033 Pratt June 1, 1875 1,217,938 Guice Mar. 6, 1917 2,109,650 Rather Mar. 1, 1938 2,546,673 Mattix et a1 Mar. 27, 1951 2,726,510 Goddard Dec. 13, 1955 2,837,301 Jenney June 3, 1958 2,865,260 Lee Dec. 23, 1958