US995819A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. L. WALKER.;- FLYING MAGHINBL APPLIOATIOE FILED-AUG. 26, 1910.

J. L. WALKER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1010.

Patented June 20, 1911.

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FLYING MACHINE. I

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1919. 995,1 91. Patented June 20, 1911.

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J. L. WALKER. FLYING MAGHINB. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, y1910.

Patented June 20, 1911.

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@my 5m @Homey 'unrrun ,sTA'ijus- JAMES nns'rnn wAnKEn, 0F EAGLE PoIN'r, OREGON..

Specification of Letters-Patent. Patnted June 20, 191.1,

Application led- August 26,' 1910. Serial No. 579,008.

To all whom 'it may concern:

" Be it known Vthat I, JAMES L. WALKER, a'

citizen of the United States, residing at Eagle Point, the county of Jackson'and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of

which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to flying machines of the 'heavier-than-air type, one obJect of which means may also bemanually operated for maintaining the equilibrium f themachine and for steering and banking the machine in making a turn.

A'furt-her object of the invent-lon is'tp prio` vide a novel construction and arrangement of ailerons for controlling the lateral balance anda laterally adjustable linnormally operating to prevent lateral delectionlof the machine from its course and operable in conjunction with the ailerons to 4control the turningmovem'ent of the machine in either Y direction.

' A still further objectl ofthe invention is to provide a novel construction Vof gyroscope for automatically controlling the' balancing devices, and means for rendering the gyroscope inoperative atany time' so that the balancing devices may be manually controlled.,

A still further object of the invent-ionis to provide balancing rudders of a type which automatically equalize the pressure of the air upon the surfaces thereof to maintain the rudder in a determined rposition of adjustment.

With these and other objectsin view, the

`invention -consistsof the features `of construction,-combination and arrangement of., parts, A hereinafter claimed reference being had to the fully described and a accompanying drawings', in which :w-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing vthe application of the invention .to a machine of the biplane type. Fig."2 is a top lplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view \'in perspective, showing the devices for sewings or sections thereof. Fig. 6 is a seetional elevation of the gyroscopic controlling device. Fig. 7 is asimilar view of the operating elements for manual control.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main frame of a flying machine of the biplane type, to which the invention is lshown-in the^ present instanc applied, although itis to be understood hat it is not limited in application thereto, as the essential features of the invention may be empldyed with equal efficiency upon other mutiplane machines or u on monoplane Inachines. AIn the illustrat1on,'2 and' 3 designate the upper and lower supporting planes or surfaces of the machine, 4 the pilots seat, 6 the propeller, and 7 the driving motor, all of which may be constructed vand arranged in any suitable manner.

Extending from the frnt of the mainl frame 'is a framework 8 supporting a horizontal rudder 9, and extending from the rear of the main frame is a framework 10 supporting a similar horizontal rudder 11, bel'ow which latter is arranged a vertical rudder 12 which may be operated by a suitable manually-controlled connection for steering the machine under normal service in a horizontal plane. The'rudders 9 `and lll are connected for movement in opposite directions in unison, as hereinafter described, for steerand preferably, on a line between vsaid planesv in a biplane structure and below the level of the supporting surface in a monoplane structure, are lateral balancing rudders or ailerons 13. and 14 which 'are normally dis-V posed in a horizontal plane or substantially so and connectedlfor movement in unison in opposite directions.-

Disposed above the upper supporting surface 2 at a point substantially midway between its lateral margins and normally eX- tending in a vertical plane coincident -with the central longitudinal line of the machine is a laterally movable st-ability 4fin or plane 15. This plane or lin, in its norinal position,

tends to prevent lateral'deflection of the ma- .ing the machine vertically and balancing the chine from its course, and is movable lin rewerses direction' simultaneously with the ailerons to ,assist in maintaining lateral stability and to facilitate the bankin .of the machine in making a turn. The n is so connected up for operation with the ailerons as to present its resisting surface toward that side of the machine at which the aileron is depressed, or toward the aileron presentl ing the lesser angle of incidence, to retard vthe forward movement of the depressed side ofthe machine and thereby counteract the tendency to the retardation of the. forward movement of that' side of the machine at which the aileron is elevated, Vand .which describes the larger are in the turning movement. j

The rudders 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15 are similar in construction to each other, such rudl15 ders differing only in their mode of mountj ing to the extent that the rudders 9, 11, 13v

front and rear pulleys at each side of the frame being connected by a crossed belt 20. The body of the rudder is composed of two vaines, planes or sections 21 and 22, the forward vane 21 being fixed at its front edge 210 to the shaft 17 and being of,a proper ,size to fold or swing between the side ieces 16, while the vane 22 extends beyond t e frame and is rigidly connected at=its forward edge to the shaft 18. Under normal conditions the two vanes lie in longitudinal alinement and form in effect a single surface for the 'pressure of the air thereon.4 If, however, either vane or section of the rudder is subjected to a greater ressure than the other section, it will be .shlfted at an angle in the direction toward which the air current flows and will at the same time transfer motion through the connecting caring to the other plane, which willbe s ifted 'to a correspending angle in the reverse direction, thvs equalizing the pressuresupon the surfaces of the vane 1n an obvious manner.

Connected at their outer or upper ends to the frame portions of the respective vanes L 9 and 11, at' points in advance of the shafts 18, which are journaled at their ends 1n theA frame structures 8 and 10, and thus form the horizontal axes on which .said vanes dswing, are -controlling cords or wlres 23 and l 24 which 'extend downwardly and inwardly ,towardthe main frame over suitable guid pulleys and carry at theirlower free ends pulleys 25` and 2 6 around which pass .a looped cord or wire 27T One stretch'of this cord or wire 27 is wound in opposite directions'around -a drum or ulley 28 on a -shaft 29, while the ends'of t e cord orwire formingthe opposite stretch thereof are connected at -diametrically opposite points to .65 a disk or` head 30 formlng a floating bearing its-upper end a sprocket wheel or pulley 34 by which it is driven by al chain or belt 35 from the driving motor 7 or any other suit- 75 able xdriving device, by which the gyroscope is constantly driven while the machine is 1n Hight. The shaft section 31 is' provided at f its upper end with a yoke 36 rigid with the ring-bke hub 37 of the Igyroscope wheel 38, which hub is provided at diametrically opposite sides with bearings v39 in which are journaled trunnions 40 'projecting froma bearingl ring 41 inclosed by the hub, whereby the shaft section 31 and wheel 38 are adapted to have tilting motion in one direction. The lring 41 is formed at right angles to its trunnions 40 with bearing o enings receiuing trunnions 42 projecting rom a ball or approximately circular head 43` fixed on the'lower end of the shaft section 32, whereby the shaft section l31 and wheel 38 are adapted to have tiltin motion in a direction at right anglesl-to t e tilting motion above described. Thisconstruction pro- 95 vides a gimbal joint connection between Vthe stationary'or fixed shaftsection 32 and the v lgyroscope wheel and swinging shaft sectionv 31, by vwhich relative tilting motion between said fixed and swinging sect-ions is permitted 10@ both lon itudinally and laterally of the ma' chine, al owin the shaft section 32 to tilt in both-genera directions'with the machine while 'the shaft `section 31 remains perpendic-A ular through' the action4 of the gyroscope 105 wheel 38.

Gonpected at their outer `ende-with the frame portion of the respective ailerons 13 and 14 1n advance of their fulcrum' shafts 18 are controlling cords or wires 44 and 45 110 which extend downwardly and inwardly to the main frame over suitable guide pulleys and are provided at their 'inner orf free ends with-pulleys 46 and 47 around which pass a j looped cord or wire' 48. One stretch of this 115 cord or wire 48 is'wound in opposite direc-- tions around a drum or pulley 49 on a shaft y50, while the free ends 'of thecord or wire forming the opposite stretch thereof are conf nected with the head or disk 30 at diametri- 120 cally opposite sides thereof and at right angles to the points of connection of the .ends

thereby manually operate the horizontal rudders and ailerons. Leading from the respective ailerons 13 and 14 are cords or'wires 51 and 52 which pass over suitable guide u pulleys and are connected with opposite sides of the frame portion of the stabilityv rudder or fin l5 at a point in advance of its fulcrum shaft, whereby said rudder will beadjusted in the manner before described with the ailerons. Secured to the head or disk 30at their llower ends are cords orwires 53 and 54,

which are attached to diametrically opposite sides of said head. The cord 53 extends upwardly and forwardly over a guide pulley p 55 to one df thearms of a bell crank lever 56 larly connected with the lever 56, the said cords forming a looped flexible connection which 'isn normally slack and permitsthe movable member of the gyroscope to have universal motion under the tilting move# 2 5 ments of the vessel, but which is adapted to be drawn taut by adjustment of said lever 56 to hold the head 30, and consequently i the movable member of the gyroscope, fixed with relation to the main frame, so that at anytime the gyrosc'ope may be thrown'ou't of action as respects its control of the horij/zontal rudders and ailerons for the auto-- matic operation of the same. The lever 56 is providedwith suitable means for locking 35, it in its two positions of adjustment.

40 cord 27 into sections connected with the respective rudders and the floating bearing head 40. Hence,when the machine tilts upwardly and rearwardly, the section. of the cord 27 connected with the rudder 9 will be drawnvupon to depress the forward end of said rudder, while the section of the cord 27 connected with the rudder 11 will be slaokened, allowing \said rudder to be re- A moved in the reverse direction by the pressure of the air,iso that by the downward pressureof the air on the rudder 9 and the upward pressure of the air on the rudder 11 the longitudinal balance of themachine will be restored. Similarly in the automatic control of the 'ailerons' 13 and 14 to maintain the lateral balance the drum 49 will serve as a fixed point separating the cord 4 8 into sec# tions respectivelyjconnected with the aile-f rons and the floating bearing head 30, so that when the machine tilts in one direction or the other the section of the cord 48 connected with the aileron on lthe ,ascending side will be drawn upon topull such aileron down, while'the section of the cord 38jconnected with the aileron on the'depressed side will be slackened, allowing the aileron to be forced upward by the'air pressure, the reverse pressures of the currents of air on the two aileronsthus serving to restore the normal lateral balance. Y

Under the conditions above mentioned it will be apparent that the rudders and ailerons will be solely under the automatic control ofthe gyroscope, as 'the cords-27 and 48 cannot `be operated by the actuation of the ldrums 28 and 49 since a pull upon i i either of said cords will result simply in imparting a swinging mot-ion therethrough to the movable section of the gyroscope. By, however, adjusting the lever 56 to make movable section of the gyroscope will be fixed against movement relative to the frame of thel machine and will constitute a fixed point to which the ends of the cords 27 and 48 are connected, allowing the sectionsof either cord connected with the drum of' its manually controlled operating shaft 'to be respectively taken up and paid out to pull upon the connection leading to one of the rudders or' ailerons and simultaneously slacken the connection leading to the other rudder or aileron, allowing the pilot to have complete manual control for balancing the machine laterally and longitudinally and steering the machine both vertically' and horizontally. It will thus be seen that while the balance of the machine -will normally be automatically preserved in flight to the action of the gyroscope, the operator may at any time assume complete control for'steering and taking care of any extraordinary contingencies which may arise. Having thus described my invention, I claim z- I 1.*In a flying machine, the combination of a frame carrying a supporting surface, balancing devices, a gyroscop'e including a gravity-controlled pendulum` rotatable the connect-ion 53--54 taut,- the head 30 and connections between the head and balancing devices for operating the latter under the swinging `movements of the pendulum, means operative upon the head to hold the pendulum yfrom movement, and manually vcontrolled means for actuating said operating connections when the pendulum is held from swinging movement.

2. In aw flying machine, the combination l of a -frame carrying a supporting surface, balancing devices, a gyroscope including a gravity-controlled swinging l pendulum rotatable therewith, a member swiveled to vthe pendulum, a looped, flexible operating running engagement with said connections,

means for holding the swiveled member 4:from movement to stay the swinging motionof the pendulum, and manually operable controlling means engaging the looped flexible connections. 1

` 3. lIn flying machine, the combination of a' frame having a supporting surface, pivotally mounted balancing rudders, a gyroscope .including aswinging member inlluencedl bythe tilting of the machine, a

head swiveled to said swinging member, a.

looped,` flexible operating element` connected by .one of-its stretches 'to the head, a

winding drum connected with the other stretch of the operating element, flexible connections having pulleys engaging the operating element and leading to the balancing devices, and means under control of the operator and connected `wit-h the head for holding the pendulum against swinging movement.

4. In a flying machine, the combination of lateral and longitudinal balancingdevices, a gyroscope including a pendulum influenced by theY tilting of thel ma chine, a head swiveled to the vpendulum, looped, lexible operating elements, each lconnected by one of its stretches with the` head, manually operable winding drums connected with the opposite stretches of the respective flexible operating elements, flexiand projecting at `their, ends beyond thel same, a front vane adapted to foldwithin the frame, and connected at its forward end to the front transverse shaft, a second vane extending rearwardly from the frame f and connected at its forward end to the rear transverse shaft, pulleys upon -the extended ends of the shafts, and crossed belts connecting the pulleys at each Aside of the frame, whereby when one vane is moved by air pressure in either direction the other vane will be simultaneously adjusted to the same, degree in the reverse direction. Y In testimony whereof I- affix my signature V1n presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LESTER Witnesses:

C. SPAINTER,

FRED PETTIGREW. v

WALKER.

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