US976582A - Aeroplane. - Google Patents

Description

P. LEBREIL 5.11. 'DBSGBORGR n AEROPLANE. AHLIOATION FILED Nov. 17, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, .1910.

mi d s wwf 4 w/ Twist-5 5 FRANQOIS LEBREIL, 0F VILLERBANNE, AND RAOUL DESGEOBGE, OFYON, FRANCE.

AEROPLAN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Application filed November 17, 1909. Serial No. 528,441.

To all whom 'it may concern: y

Be it known that we, FRANQoIs LEBREIL and RAOUL DESGEORGE, citizens of the French Republic, residing at' Villeurbanne, (Rhne,) and Lyon, respectively, both in France, have invented certain new and useful lin rovements in Aeroplanes, of which the `fol owing is a specification.

The aeroplane forming the subject matter of the present inventionis supported or suspended b a surface which in shape and method o construction is similar to the hull of a navigable vessel. It is driven from the front by one ortwo propellers adapted to rotate about or on a single horizontal shaft which can be inclined laterally in either direction with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the aeroplane'for the purpose of effecting the steering.

The aviators seat and the motor are suspended from about the center of this surface and maintain the desired balance. The elevating controller which can be single or double is operated by displacements of the aviators seat and lthe direction of the propellers is regulated by means of a steering handle.

An embodiment of the invention is represented -in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevationof the improved aeroplane. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation. Fig. 3 isa plan view on a re duced scale.

The supporting surface is formed of a keel member 1, 2, disposed in a vertical plane having the shape of a very elongated triangle with rectilinear sides 'of which the apex is at he rear as at 1, and the base at the front as at 2. This keel is divided at its upper part into two symmetrical surfaces 3, 8 the transverse section of which is a curve with the concave side turned downwardly and of which the longitudinal sections are straight.

The car, -which in the form shown is shaped as an elongated bicycle is suspended below the keel by four oblique stays 4, 4, 5, 5, The motor 6 is mounted between the two wheels and transmits movement to a vertical shaft 7 by means of beveled gearing 8 said shaft having at its opposite enda bevel wheel 9 meshing with two bevel wheels 10,'11 whereby the latter are driven in opposite directions. The bevel wheel 11 is keyed on a tubular'horizontal shaft 12 which car- `a completely smooth surface.

ries at its forward end the propeller 13, and the bevel wheel 10 is keyed on a shaft 14 extending through said shaft 12 and carrying at its forward end the propeller 15. The two shafts asa whole can rotate about the axis of the wheel 9 on a pivot 16 mounted on the keel at a point near .the center of its length and said shafts are carried at the forward end in a bearing 17 adapted for sliding movement in a horizontal gu1de18.

The shafts 12 and .14 are manipulated or controlled by the handle bar 19, the movement of which is transmitted to a vertical shaft 20 carrying an arm 21 which actuates a projecting rod 22 fixed to the frame l()a which connects the bevel wheels 9, 10, 11.

The aviator mounted on the saddle 25 can thus manipulate the handle bar 19 for steering the machine, and can also by displacing the saddle in a backward or forward direction operate the lifting rudder 23 pivoted at 24 to the rear end of the supporting plane for which purpose the said saddle is carried by a rod 26 connected at its forward end to an arm 27 pivoted at 28 to the frame of the car said rod being pivoted at its rear end to the lower arm of a lever 29, fulcrumed at 30 on a shaft carried to the rear stays 4.

The upper arm of the lever 29 is connected by a rod 31 to a bar 32 fixed to the lower surface of the rudder 23. The wheels 33 and 34 are provided for running pn the ground as usual, the frontwheel 34 .serving also for steering and adapted to be controlled at the Sametime as the propellers by the handle bar 19 and connecting rod 35. It will be seen that the aviator can readily regulate the horizontal and vertical directions of movement of the apparatus fromv his' seat and can also control the motor by any known or suitable means.

The apparatus can be constructed of any suitable material, but the supporting plane surface is preferably made of thin sheets of wood fastened to wooden ribs 87 arranged on the outside so that the concave parts have The petrol reservoir 36 is located between the two wings in the space between two ribs 87 and can be divided into several communicating compartments divided by transverse partitions to prevent undue displacement of the liquid.

The propellers may be constructed of thin superposed sheets of wood in such a manner as cross the grain in the known manner.

The details of construction can be varied,

the accompanying drawing only illustrating an example or" construction.

What We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is In an aeroplane the combination of a supporting plane comprising two juxtaposed surfaces concave in transverse section and straight in the longitudinal direction, two juxtaposed propellers located at the forward end of said plane and adapted for 1nove ment laterally of the longitudinal axis of said supporting plane, a car connected to said plane comprising a/cycle structure, an elevating rud'derat the rear of said plane, a motor carried by the car7 telescoping shafts carrying the propellers, differential gearing driven by the motor for operating said shafts, means in the car for controllingn the lateral direction of the propellers and simultaneously the movements of the forward Wheel of the cycle; a movable saddle supported in the car and connections between said saddle and elevating rudder whereby

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