US666427A

US666427A - Kite.

Info

Publication number: US666427A
Application number: US1600300A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Lamson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-05-09
Filing date: 1900-05-09
Publication date: 1901-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1918-01-22

Description

No. 666,427. Patented Ian. 22, l90l.

C. H. LAMSON.

KITE.

(Application filed Ms.y 9, 1900.; {No Model.)

3 Shae ts-Sh'aet I.

No. 666,427. Patented .Ian. 22, I901.

, C. H. LAMSUN.

KITE.

' [Application filed May 9, 1900.) (NQMOdBL) 3 Shaaty-Shmat 2,

Patented Ian. 22', l90l. C. H. LARSON.

. KITE.

(Application filed May 9, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W W M Unites Starts ATENT FFICE.

KITE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666, 27, dated January 22, 90

Applioation filed May 9, 1900. Serial No. 16,003. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LAMSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and. a resident or Portland, in the county of Gumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kites, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to what are known as ribbed aeroourve kites; and it is particu larly designed for use in carrying aloft meteorological instruments for making observations in the upper atmosphere and for other like purposes. These kites have curved wings or planes which in flight are kept in a position slightly inclined to the horizontal by a tail or rudder, which may be in the rear or both front and rear, the proper conformation of the wings being rigidly maintained by curved ribs suitably spread.

One object of the present invention is to construct a kite of this class so that it may be closely packed for shipment or handling, and also so that the inclination of the wings may be readily adjusted and balanced one against the other.

A further object is to prevent the kite from diving or turning over on its side or flying at an angle with the direction of the wind in case it is out of balance or for any other reason.

These objects I attain by means of the features hereinafter shown and described.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my kite with the covering and wire edges removed from the upper wing on one side. Fig. 2 is I a vertical section taken through one wing from the tip to the base. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of one of the details, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the general appearance of the kite.

As shown, the kite is composed of an elongated frame A, forming the heel or center, with one or more wings composed, preferably, of curved surfaces extending out at each side in a generally horizontal position, and a tail or rudder at the rear end of the frame. The frame A, as shown, is in. the form of truss having upper and lower chords with uprights, as (l and (1, and diagonal tie-wires. Near the forward end on the lower chord are two saddles m and n, to which holding-chords may be attached, the forward one being used for handling the kite when the kite isnear the ground and the rear one is for the main or lifting line and when it is fully up. The wings, as shown, are composed of three superposed curved planes B, B, and B on each side of the central frame supported on arms 0, which may be straight, as here shown, or

slightly curved, if desired, one of said arms 7 extending out from the upper chord, the inner ends of the arms fitting into sockets s, from which they are readily removable. The inner ends of the arms may be securedto the central framework by other means than those here shown or by hinges, as shown in Fig. 3. The wings or planes are formed of ribs I), hav ing a covering of cotton cloth or other suitable fabric tacked to their upper edges. The covering is applied with wires inclosed in the edges in the well-known manner. The upper and lower sets of ribs, as shown. have openings through which pass the "arms 0, which are in the form of flattened oval bars, and the ribs are adapted to slide on these bars. The intermediate set of ribs are attached to vertical posts (1 d, which are fastened to the upper and lower ribs, forming, with the diagonal tire-wires ff, a series of panels adapted to be folded in against the sides of the frame by sliding on the bars 0. Diagonal tie-wires e brace the series of panels in the direction of the arm 0, and the outer ends of the arms are connected by an upright d, which is made detachable, so that the arm a may be drawn out separately and disconnected from the kite for convenience in packing.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of the arm a is hinged to a projection 0 which extends out from the chord and which is long enough to receive all of the panels when they are folded against the frame. The hinge connection of the arm being thus outside of the folded panels, the arm may be folded in against the frame without being removed.

In order to detachably connect the upright d,it is provided at each end with a fasteningplate d with a lateral recess fitting over a pin 15, which passes through the arm a. The. arm 0 has a slot large enough to receive the plate (I and to allow the notch 25 to pass over the pin. The upright d is connected with the folding panels by diagonal tie-wires e, so that it folds in withthe panels whemthe arms are removed.

To furnish a support for the tip of the central wing, I provide a. short arm 0, which is hinged by its inner end to the nearest upright d, the on terend beingprovided with a notched plate fitting inloa slot in the upright d and engaging a. pin which passes transversely through said slot. The upright is disconnected from the arms 0 by pulling it slightly out against the pull of disengaging the plates dt'from the pins 25.

As here shown, the coverings, which form the wings proper, are glued and tacked or otherwise secured to the upper surfaces of the ribs, and the points of the wings are stretched and hooked onto suitable fastenii'igs provided near the ends of the arms cc and c. If desired, the covering maybe applied to the lower surfaces of the ribs or to the upper and lower, or both. The inner ends of the wings are tacked to central ribs or ledges 12, secured along the frame A.

As here shown, the ribs, which give form to the wings, are approximately straight from the arm 0 to their rear ends, and forward of the arm they curve down ward,so that the wing I has a greatercurvature at its front edge than at its rear, the outer than the inner ones. For the purpose of giving the kite lateral stability the outer tips of the wings are shown as somewhat above the level of,theiunerends, so that the wings have an upward inclination from the center outward.

For the purpose of giving the kite additional lateraistability when in the air and for preventing it from diving if canted on its side, also to obtain an advantageous point of attachment for the flying line as well as for the bracing-guys, I cause the forward end of the central frame, or what might be called the bowsprit, to project for ward beyond the forward edges of the wings. This bowsprit als'o aflords a framework for a keel or vertical support at the front, so thatif the kite turns on its side the wind gets under the projecting portion of the frame and tends to support and right it. The frame A is provided with a proper covering extending from the bowsprit as far back as the rear edges of the wings, the kite being thus steadied and dangerous side movements checked. The

horizontal covering at the top is also shown carried out to the point of the bowsprit as a front rudder and additional support.

In order to properly balance the wings on each side, I provide means for tilting or in-' clining the outer ends to a greateror less extent. A general adjustment is made byguys 70, each of which is of the upper arm 0 by screw-eyes, as shown in Fig. 2, or by other suitable means. By adjusting general adjustment of the wings on each side may be made. A more delicate adjustment the diagonal braces and back against it for ribs being less curved accidentallysecnred at the front lower corner of the frame A and at the under side the position of these screw eyes a complished by loosening one of the diagonal tie-wires of the paneland tightening the other. The simple meanshere shown foraccomplishing this result are two loops f, adapted to slide on the uprights (1, each of the two diagonal tie-wires passing through one of these loops. By sliding both of these loops up or down the inclination of the ribs to the horizontal is adjusted with great precision.

For the purpose of holding'the kite at the proper inclination to the windtI provide a tail or rudder, here shown as consisting of two triangular planes H and H, extending out at each side of the central frame, and a vertical plane A, formed by covering the space 'within the rear portion of the central frame. The fabric of the planes H and H is secured along the central frame and to out ward-egttendi'ng arms h and h, which are hinged to the central frame, so that they fold convenience in packing. provided, connecting the pivoted arms h 7L the upper with the lower, and wire braces t" stay the outer endsof the arms 71 and h The tail is detachably connected tothe main kite by means of ferrules a, applied to the upper and lower chords of the central frame, and it is otherwise secured by wirebraces 2' j, and j. For the purpose of rendering-the chords stiiflaterally I secure to them flat-stringers aat approximately the middle point.

It will, be understood that as many superposed wings asdesired may be used on each side of the center, although I prefer tomake a kite with three pairs of wings, as here shown.

It will be Uprights h h are mounted on the transverse arm as to slide.

together for the purpose of packing, 650., may be utilized in other forms of kite.

I claim 1. The herein-described-kite having one or more transverse arms, ribs adapted to slide on said arms, I means for holding the ribs extended on said arms and the covering stretched on said ribs.

2. The herein-described kite havingacentral frame, arms extending horizontally out from each side of the frame, v slide on said arms and to fold against said frame, a covering for said ribs and means for holding said ribs extended on said arms and said covering stretched on said ribs. I

3. The herein-described kite havingacentral frame, arms extending horizontally out purposes it is also capable a covering for said ribs and ribs adapted to from said frame on each side,

one at thetop and one at the bottom of the frame, ribs adapted to slide on said arms, corresponding ribs on the upper and lower arms being connected by a framework to form panels adapted to fold against said central-frame, a cov-' erin g for said ribs and means for holding said panels extendedon said arms and said cov ering stretched on said ribs.

4:. The

tral frame, arms extending horizontally out from said frame on each side, one at the top' and one at the bottom of said frame, ribs adapted to slide on said arms, verticalpostsr connecting corresponding ribs on the -upper and lower arms and wires forming with .said ribs and posts panels adapted tofold against the said central frame, ribs secured to said panel between the t p and bottom members, coverings for said bs and means for holding said panels extei ed on said arms and said covering stretch d on the ribs.

herein-described kite having a cen-f 4 5. The herein-described kite having a contralframe, wings projecting out from each side of said frame and tips of said wings with relation to the body of the wings,

6. The hereindescribed kite having acentral vertical frame, wings projecting out at each side of said frame composed of arms-at- .tached to the frame, a series of upright panmeans for tilting the.

elsconneoted with said arms having vertical members composed of posts connecting said ribs and diagonal tie-wires and loops through which the wires pass adapted to slide on said vertical members to regulate the inclination of said ribs and the inclination of the Wing. Signed at Portland, Maine, this 3d day of May, 1900. I Q r CHARLES H. LAMsoN.

Witnesses:

BENJ. G. WARD, L. M. GODFREY.