US3074518A

US3074518A - Enclosure for airplane

Info

Publication number: US3074518A
Application number: US121857A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin B Conrad; Kenneth L Miltimore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-07-05
Filing date: 1961-07-05
Publication date: 1963-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-22

Description

Jan. 22, 1963 M.' B. CONRAD ETAL 3,074,518

ENCLOSURE FOR AIRPLANE Filed July 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M97 5. CUM/Q40 (av/V572. Iii/477M025 INVENTORS BY i gm Jan. 22, 1963 M. B. CONRAD EI'Al. 3,074,518

ENCLOSURE FOR AIRPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1961 5 WW w 5m in M w 6 4 Z M & M 3 5 Fa z 5 m k y 5 4 W 2 2 Filed July 5, 1961, Ser. No. 121,857 10 Claims. (Cl. 189-1.5)

This invention relates to airplane hangars and is directed to an improved form of inexpensive hangar particularly adapted for enclosing a small private airplane. Such airplanes are usually relatively lightweight single engine craft.

An important object of this invention is to provide a hangar for enclosing aircraft when not in use and which employs a novel folding panel assembly to provide a maximum size door opening.

Another object is to provide a hangar of this type which forms an enclosure to protect the airplane against the weather, which is low in initial cost, durable, and adapted for a long service life.

Another object is to provide an airplane hangar of this type, which will serve as a garage for a conventional automobile, so that a private pilot may store his automobile in the hangar while he is operating the airplane.

A related object is to provide a multiple compartment hangar for storing a plurality of airplanes with a maximum utilization of space.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation showing a preferred embodiment of our invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof, the folding panels being in closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, the folding panels being in open position.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation partly broken away taken from the interior of the hangar, and showing the folding panels in partly open position.

FIGURE 6 is a -perspective view showing a modification.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view partly broken away of the device shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings, the hangar generally designated 10 comprises a structure which includes a roof 11 supported by

parallel side walls

12 and 13 and a rear wall 14. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, only a portion of the side walls of 12 and 13 are fixed; the remaining front portions are formed by folding panels which underlie the projecting overhanging portion of the roof 11. The

panels

15 and 16 form a portion of the side wall 12 when they are in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 2, but they swing upward and outward as shown in FIGURE 3 to provide an access opening, so that the airplane A may be moved into or out of the hangar 10. The airplane shown in the drawings is a lightweight single engine craft of the type commonly used for private flying. The front wall 17 cooperates with the

side walls

12 and 13, rear wall 14, roof 11, and horizontal surface 18 to provide an enclosure for the airplane A.

The

side wall panels

15 and 16 are rectangular in shape and are connectedby hinges 19 (see FIGURE 5) along their horizontal joint 20. Hinges 21 pivotally support the wall panel 15 on the overhanging projecting portion of the roof 11. The lower edge of the wall panel 16 is substantially flush with the horizontal surface 18 in closed position.

3,@74,5i8 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 The front wall 17 is formed of two

rectangular panels

23 and 24, and connected by hinges 25 along their horizontal joint 26. These front wall panels are suspended from the overhanging portion of the roof 11 by means of hinges 27 along the upper edge of the panel 23. The lower edge of the panel 24 in closed position lies substantially flush with the horizontal surface 18. The side wall 13 is provided with wall panels which are essentially duplicates of the

panels

15 and 16 and they are connected and supported in the manner outlined above.

The front lower corners of the side wall panels are connected to adjoining corners of the front wall lower panel by means of the articulated hinge device shown in FIGURE 4. This biaxial hinge generally designated 30 includes an L-shaped pivot pin 31 having a first portion 32 hingedly received in the bracket 33, and a second right angle portion 34 hingedly received in the bracket 35. The bracket 33 is fixed to the front wall lower panel 24 and the bracket 35 is fixed to the lower forward corner of the side wall panel 16. A similar articulated hinge 36 joins the lower corners of the front wall and the side wall 13. The right angle parts of the

articulated hinges

30 and 36 permit the front wall panels and the side wall panels 'to be raised from the closed position shown in FIGURE 2 to the open position shown in FIGURE 3, while maintaining the lower corners of adjacent lower panels against separation. Accordingly the folding panels on the side wall and the folding panels on the front wall move at the same time.

Means are provided for connterbalancing the weight of the panels and for maintaining them in a raised position as shown in FIGURE 3. A tension cable 40 has one end attached at 41 to the lower corner of the panel 16, and this cable is spooled on a drum 42. The drum is fixed to a rotary shaft 43 mounted in spaced bearings 44- carried by the roof 11. A torsion spring 45 encircles a portion of the rotary shaft 63 and has one end 46 fixed relative to the shaft and another end fixed relative to one of the bearings 44. The parts are arranged so that the force of the spring tends to turn the spooling drum 42 in the direction to wind up the cable 40, and thereby lift the panels to open position shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 shows the counterbalancing device at one forward corner of the hangar and a similar counterbalance device is employed at the other forward corner as well.

In addition to the folding panels which comprise part of the

side walls

12 and 13, there are provided will sections 50 on each side wall, which are supported by hinges 51 along the vertical joint 52. These wall sections swing around the vertical axis of the hinges 51 from the closed position shown in FIGURE 2 to the open position shown in FIGURE 3. If desired, wall segments 54 may be hinged to the upper horizontal edge of the swinging wall sections 50.

In operation, the hangar parts are placed in the open position as shown in FIGURE 3, and the airplane A is backed into the enclosure, the wings B of the airplane A projecting laterally beyond the

side walls

12 and 13. The wall sections 50' are then swung about the vertical axis of the hinges '51 to underlie a portion of the wings B. The folding panels on the side walls and front wall are then lowered to the closed position shown in FIGURE 2. The enclosure is then complete except for the side apertures of 48 in the

walls

12 and 13 through which the airplane wings project. a

In regions where snow load or hail damage to the exposed portion of the airplane wings is a possibility, the roof 11 may be extended laterally in the region directly over the wings. In most regions this additional protec tion is not necessary.

The width of the hangar It is such that in the absence of the airplane an automobile may be placed inside. This is a convenience for the private pilot who may wish to keep his automobile in the hangar while he is using the airplane.

in the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 a multiple unit or compartmented hangar 69 is employed. The total width of the hangar 66 is greater than the length of the individual enclosures 61 formed therein. The enclosures are each of the type previously prescribed and their placement within the large hangar structure 6-9 permits the airplanes to be nested for a maximum utilization of space. Furthermore, the wings B of adjacent airplanes A project into open space which is covered by the roof 62. The forward end of each enclosure including the side walls 63 and 6d, and the front wall 65 are formed of folding wall panels constructed and arranged as previously described.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we are not to be limited to the details herein set forth, but that our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a pair of walls meeting at an angle to form a corner of a structure, each of said walls including an upper panel and a lower panel, hinge means connecting the upper and lower panels along a horizontal joint, respectively, the panels of one wall having an edge adjacent an edge of the panels of the other wall, pivot means on the upper portion of each of said upper panels for supporting said upper panels for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to its respective horizontal joint, and means preventing separation of the adjacent lower portions of said lower panels, whereby the upper and lower panels may be lifted and swung about their connecting hinge means, respectively, to form an access opening into the structure.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a structure having walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface 'to form an enclosure, two of said walls meeting at an angle to form a corner of said structure, each of the latter said walls includim an upper panel and a lower panel, hinge means connecting the upper and lower panels along a horizontal joint, respectively, the panels of one wall having an edge adjacent an edge of the panels of the other wall, pivot means connecting each of said upper panels to said structure for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to its respective horizontal joint, and means preventing sepanation of the adjacent lower edges of said lower panels, whereby the upper and lower panels may be lifted and swung about their connecting hinge means, respectively to form an access opening to said enclosure.

3. In a device :of the class described, the combination of: .a structure having walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, two of said walls meeting at a right angle to form a corner of said structure, each of the latter said walls including an upper panel and a lower panel, the panels being generally rectangular hinge means connecting the upper and lower panels along a horizontal joint, respectively, the panels of one wall having a vertical edge adjacent a vertical edge of the panels of the other wall, pivot means connecting each of said upper panels to said structure for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to its respective horizontal joint, and

articulated hinge means preventing separation of the adjacent lower edges of said lower panels, whereby the upper and lower panels may be lifted and swung about their connecting hinge means, respectively, to form an access opening to said enclosure.

4. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structure having walls and [a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, one of said walls comprising movable panels to provide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane may be moved, two other of said walls each having panels 00- operating to define a lateral [opening therein, the lateral openings being positioned to permit the Wings of the airplane to project therethrough, at least one panel of the Walls being movable to permit entry of the airplane wings into said lateral openings.

5. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a generally rectangular structure having walls and -a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, one of said walls comprising a front wall having movable panels to provide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane may be moved, two other of said walls comprising parallel side walls each having panels cooperating to define a lateral opening therein, the lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to project therethrough, at least one panel of the side walls being movable to permitentry of the airplane into said lateral openings.

6. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structure having walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, said walls including side walls and a front wall, the front wall and an adjoining portion .ofea-ch side wall comprising movable panels to provide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane may be moved, the side walls each having a lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to project therethrough, movement of said panels to form said access opening serving to permit entry of the airplane wings into said lateral openings. 7

7. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a generally rectangular structure having walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, said walls including parallel side walls and a front wall, the front wall and an adjoining portion ofeach side wall comprising movable panels toprovide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane may be moved, the side walls each having a lateral opening adjacent a panel thereof, said lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to project therethrough, movement of said panels to form said access opening serving to permit entry of the airplane wings into said lateral openings.

8. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structure having a roof supponted by side walls and a rearwall, a front wall, said walls and roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, the front wall and an adjoining portion of each side wall comprising movable panels suspended from a projecting unsupported portion of said roof, said panels .acting to provide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane may be moved, the side walls each having a lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane .to project therethrough, movement of said panels to form said access opening serving toperrnit entry of the airplane wings into said lateral openings.

9. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structure having a roof supported by vertical side walls and a rear wall, a vertical front wall, said walls androof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form an enclosure, the front wall and an adjoining portion of each side wall comprising movable panels suspended from a projecting unsupported portion of said roof, articulated hinge means connecting the lower adjacent corners of said panels, said panels acting to provide said structure with an access opening through which an airplane .may be moved, the side walls each having a lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to project therethrough, movement of said panels to form said access opening serving to permit'entry of the airplane wings into said lateral openings.

10. In a multiple enclosure structure fora plurality of airplanes, the combination of: a structure having a roof 5 a supported by a. plurality of longitudinal walls and a plurmay be moved, the longitudinal Walls each having a eality of rear Walls, a plurality of front Walls, said walls lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned to and roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form a permit the wings of the airplane to project thereehrough plurality of compartments, adjacent compartments havinto space beneath said roof.

ing their respective front Walls at opposite ends thereof, 5 References eifie in the file of this patent the front Wall and an adjoining portion of each longitudinal Wall of each compartment comprising movable UNITED STATES PATENTS panels suspended from a projecting unsupported portion 1,970,222 Byrne Aug. 14, 1934 of said roof, :said panels actin to provide each comparment With an access opening through which an airplane 10

Claims

10. IN A MULTIPLE ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR A PLURALITY OF AIRPLANES, THE COMBINATION OF: A STRUCTURE HAVING A ROOF SUPPORTED BY A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL WALLS AND A PLURALITY OF REAR WALLS, A PLURALITY OF FRONT WALLS, SAID WALLS AND ROOF COOPERATING WITH A HORIZONTAL SURFACE TO FORM A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS, ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE FRONT WALLS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEROF, THE FRONT WALL AND AN ADJOINING PORTION OF EACH LONGITUDINAL WALL OF EACH COMPARTMENT COMPRISING MOVABLE PANELS SUSPENDED FROM A PROJECTING UNSUPPORTED PORTION OF SAID ROOF, SAID PANELS ACTING TO PROVIDE EACH COMPARTMENT WITH AN ACCESS OPENING THROUGH WHICH AN AIRPLANE MAY BE MOVED, THE LONGITUDINAL WALLS EACH HAVING A LATERAL OPENING, SAID LATERAL OPENINGS BEING POSITIONED TO PERMIT THE WINGS OF THE AIRPLANE TO PROJECT THERETHROUGH INTO SPACE BENEATH SAID ROOF.