US984311A - Aerial machine. - Google Patents

Description

R W. STEWART.

AERIAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

, construction whereby forward transverse frame 5.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. STEWART, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEWART AERIAL VEHICLE COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed February 15, 1910. Serial No. 543,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r IN. S'rnwAn'r, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial machines, and particularly to aeroplanes.

My invention has for its purpose the provision of an aerial machine involving a novel and advantageous arrangement of supporting planes, and to provide an aeroplane introducing special features of design and efliciency and stability are increased, and control is rendered easier and more reliable.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, on a slightly larger scale. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the forward, balancing planes.

I have illustrated my invention as enibodying a bi-blane structure or frame A, though manifestly the principle is equally adaptable to a inonoplane. The frame A may be made of any desired material having the requisite strength and proportions, and

comprises longitudinal main bars 2 suitably braced apart the desired distance, and having'extcnded between its forward horizontal ends, primary, concavo-convex support in and lifting head plane sections 3 preferab y arranged at a slight upward, forward inclination and superposed.

An important feature of my invention resides in forming, in addition to the forward plane section or sections 3, a plurality of lateral follower plane sections. the foremost of which 4 --4 are rear of and slightly overlalp the central head plane or planes 3, and are fastened upon the outer portions of a Outermost follower plane sections 6-6, forming extreme wings, are disposed beyond, and to the rear of, the planes 4-4.; thus the symmetrical step arrangement of sections 4=t, (3-43, and 3 forms a substantially integral monoplane having its surface so designed as to allow each subdivision 3-4-6 to present a series of successive, longitudinally 0dand arranged l set planes having a transverse width much greater than the depth centrally of the plane.

his construction of my plane affords a successive series of almost individual units,

transverse lines of balance great stability and yet not exceeding the depth efficiency, which would inevitablv result if a single plane of depth as great as my construction aii'ords were used.

The rear portion of the body frame A is extended transversely, as at 77 and is rt Med with outwardly projecting, fixed, mlancing single planes 8-8 having a space between their inner edges equal to the width of the frame A, and within this space are vertically pivoted to cross-bars 9, a set of parallel steering rudders 10 connected by suitable means. as a cable 10 which is led forward over suitable guide pulleys 11, its ends being secured to a turnable drum 12 conveniently mounted near the aviators saddle 13 which is preferably disposed above the lower main plane, as in a nionoplane.

Pivoted to the rear cross-bars 1.4 of frame A are a pair of linked horizontal rudders" 15-15 having a positive connection by means of linkslG-l? to a lever 18 fulcrumed at 19, and which is actuated by means of a push rod .20 having a handle 21 at the control of the operator. If thehandle 91 be pushed it will raise the horizontal rudders 15 in unison; if it be pulled, it will lower them, thus giving the operator perfect control of the machine.

The poise or transverse equilibrium of the major plane sections 3- 1-45 is sustained and governed by means of suitably shaped and sized wings or vanes 22-23, Figs. 2 and 3, which are connected in series by a cable 24, the terminals of which are secured to pedal levers 25--2G. While these oppositely movable vanes may be mounted at any desirable location, it is found advantageous to mount them horizontally between the superposed outermost followi-r units 6T6, as they then act upon a stratum of least disturbed air, and also, by reason of thcii distance from the axis of the frame A, have greater leverage. The pedals 25-426 aiepivoted convenient site directions. When one pedal, as 9.), is pressed, it pulls on its end of cable 24 and lowers or dips its companion vane 22, and simultaneously lifts or upwardly tilts the to the operator and rock in oppoother vane 23; and when pedal 26 is pressed, it dips va'ie 23 and lifts vane 22 synchronously. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that this peculiar design and arrange ment of the sub-planes provides a relatively deep area effective constantly in a stratum or volume of comparatively undisturbed air, no plane is directly behind another,- nor is any one plane of itself sufiiciently long to have an ineffective area. An important advantage 'and result of this structure is the formation of a central opening 27between ehind the second the tip planes 6-6 and primary or head followers 44 and the plane 3. a I Inthe space behind the planes 3% I mount a plurality of propellers 28 in bearings 29, and derive power from a suitable motor 30 to drive them. In this location the propellers constantly operate in free, unrestrained air, and do not churn the air or create undesirable. retarding currents therein adjacent to the planes. j

My invention enables me to construct the machine with all its movable members well removed from the first plane which thus is not subjected to abnormal local disturbing air currents. hevertical, parallel steering rudders 10 are unhampered by surrounding planes, as also are the horizontal elevating or tilting planes l5.

The horizontal planes 22,23 operating in unison oppositely on opposite sides of the 'rame and between the superposed tip-followers 6 -6 control, equilibrium. of the machine, and by connect ing these planes to pedals directly acted upon by the aviator, he is enabled to feel at once the least inclination of the plane -to tilt, and can instantly actuate the pedals to right the machine.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim' and desire to secure by'Let-ters Patent is 4 1. In an aerial machine, the combination of a plane comprising a series of following, laterally offset, integral sections arranged in echelon formation, and a propeller located i 1 between the rear following sections of the plane.

2. In an aerial machine, a monoplane having a central leading section, and laterally offset following sections, integrally connected thereto; the sections being arranged in echelon formation with the following secmost sensitively, the j tions symmetrically behind and to each side of the central ing planes mounted sections. a

8. In an aerial machine, a plane having a central leading section, successive laterally. offset sections connected thereto, and adjust able balancing planes mounted adjacent to the extreme lateral sections of the plane.

4:. In an aerial machine, a plane with a 3' central leading section, a plurality of laterally offset connected sections, a frame supporting the plane sections, and a propelling mechanism including a propeller located between the rear following. sections of the plane, and a motor.

5. An aerial machine comprising a plane having a series of sections arranged in I echelon symmetrically behind and to each lside of a central leading section, a frame i carrying the plane, rear or tail planes secured to and projecting outwardly from the frame, and steering ruddersmounted in the space between the tail planes.

6. An aerial machine comprising a plane i having a series of sections arranged in echelon symmetrically behind and to each a central leading'section, a frame carrying the plane, rear or tail planes secured to and projecting outwardly from the frame steering rudders mounted in the space between thetail planes, and horizontal parallel rudders mounted at the extreme end of the frame.

7. An aerial machine comprising section- -lea-ding section, and balancadjacent to the lateral central leading unit, a longitudinal frame,-

adjustable balancing. planes mounted between the extreme transverse sections of the planes, a pair of fixed monoplanes projectingoppositely from the rear end of (the frame, adjustable, parallel, vertical steering rudders operable in the central space at the rear of the frame to ed, parallel horizontal planes pivoted to the extreme end of the frame, and means where by said planes may be operated in unison.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presenc f two subscribing i witnesses.

ROBERT W. STEWART,

. 'Witnesses I CHARLES EDELMAN, J. PUGKERMANN.

which they are mount

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