US997354A - Safety attachment for aeroplanes. - Google Patents

Description

1/ G. 0. YOUNGGREEBL SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR AEYROPLANES.

Pa fcented July 11, 1911,

APPLICATION nun FEB. 15, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. c; YDUNGGRBEN. SAFETY ATTACHMENT. FOR ABBOPLANES.

APPLIGATION r'lu nrnn. 11.5; 1911. Patented July 11 191 1.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

amassv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Gnovna c. ronnoennnn, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFOIBNIA.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR AEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July "11.1; 1911.

Application filed February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,810.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnovnu C. YOUNG GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State-of Californizuhave invented a new and useful Safety Attachment for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification. I

In the aeroplane as now ordinarily constructed and used, no provision is made for descending to the ground in case of accident except that by manipulation of the planes and parts of the niachine,"a descent; may be made by gliding. For the purpose of adding'additional safety to aeroplanes in case of accident, I have constructed a safety attach ment which may be fixed to the frame of the ordinary aeroplane in such a manner as not to interfere with the manipulation of the planes and controlling devices while in ordinary flight, and one of the main objects of the invention'is to construct a device of the character described havingthe general characteristics of a parachute which may be, at

-to produce a device of the-character described of simple and economical construction and of. easy operation.

, elevation o Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from. the following description.

- Referring'to the drawings which are for illustrative urposes'only: Figure 1 is a side f an aeroplane partly in section, showing attached thereto "my device illustrating. an embodiment of my; invention.

Fig. Qis a fragmental sectional view on line zz:a2 Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is an inverted sectionalplan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken on line m 'm Fig. 1, the parachute body being shown partly opened out. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line ar -m Fig. 1, showing the attachment in operative or extendedposition as used in making a descent.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism for the attachment.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on a reduced scale on line a1m Fig. 4, looking in the directional view taken on line w w Fig. 4.

The aeroplane which may be of any de- .tion of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a reduced ""eo sired construction is shown in the present in 5 stance comprising a canoe-shaped body 1 formed of'canvas, built" upon a frame 2, the

frame 2 affording a support for the motor 3,.

and propeller 4 which in the present instance is placed atthe forward end ofthe body 1.

Laterally extending side planes 5 are p ro vided, mounted on shafts 6, whichare' adapted to be moved into different angular ppsitions by means of a controlling mechanism comprising beveled gear wheels 7 on the inner end of each shaft 6 which mesh with a beveled. pinion 8 on a post 9 provided with a hand-wheel 10 directly in front of the operat'ors seat 11. The aeroplane-is also provided with a rudder 12 at the rear end thereof, controlled by cable 13 secured to a drum 14, operated by means of a hand-wheel 15. 'At the forward end of the aeroplane, supported on a framework 16, is an elevating plane 17 operated by meansof a cable '18 secur d to a drum 19, which in turn is 'con- ;trol'led by means of a hand-wheel 20.

The aeroplane is provided with supporting wheels 24 mounted in yokes 25 which have an extension 26 slidably mountedin a hollow rod 27. Springs 28 are interposed between the end of the hollow rod 27 and the yoke 25 toact as cushions and reduce. the shock of contact with the groundwhen the aeroplane alights. Runners 30 are also provided, secured to the forward end of the frame of the aeroplane in any suitable man-' ner. to assist in protecting the aeroplane d ur in the operation of alighting. i

For the purpose ofniounting the safety attachment to, an aeroplane of the. form above described, a cross-bar 3 5 is used, hav

ing its ends secured in any suitable manner to the sidepieces 36 of the frame 2 of the aeroplane. Mounted on the cross-bar 35 is a mastor standard 37, inthe present instance round in cross-section, and braced by" means of brackets or arms 38 which .are secured to the cross-bar 35. The upper portion of the standard 37 is provided with a circular flange 39 to'which is'secured the upper ends of rods 40 and 41. The rod 40 extends from the flange 39 to the forward end of the aeroplane body 1 and is secured thereto by means of a bracket 42. The rod too 1 supported at its central portion by means of ll. extends to the rear end of the aeroplane body 1 and is secured thereto by means of a bracket 43 similar to bracket 42. Mpunted to slide verticallyon standard 37 is it sleeve st lt provided at its lower end with ears 15, 46, 47, 4-8 to which are pivoted rods 49, 50, 51 and 52 respectively. The rods 49, 50, 51 and 52 are each pivotally attached at their outer ends, as shown at 53, to a corner of a rectangular sheet 5& of canvas or other suitable inaterialcomprising the parachute body or member. hen the parachute member is in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawing, rods 49 and 51 lie parallel; and close to the rods and 52-, the sheet 54; being the flange 39 on the standard 37 to which. it is attached-in any suitable manner, and the fullness or body of-"the sheet is folded between the side portions 55 and 56 (see Fig. 3) into two'f'o'lds or flaps57 and 58, the fold 5? lying between fd e'side 55 of the sheet and the standard 3%"and the fold 58lying be tween the side 56 0f the sheet and the standard 37. When in the folded position just described; the parts lie as shown in Fig. 2

and are prevented from opening out by the force of the wind by means of two reinforcing strips of canvas 59 which extend along one line of each ifold or flap 57 and 58 and which are secured to the canvas as illustrated at 60. Each strip 59 is provided at intervals with hinges 61 which are placed between the strip 59 and the canvas sheet 54-. One leaf 6901f each spring is secured to the sheet and strip '59, the leaf 63 being secured only to the strip 59 and extending over the fold in the canvas, in which position it is held by means of a spring 64. Means are i irovided for raising the parachute member into extended position (as shown in Fig. l of the drawing) which consist of an endless cable 65 which. operates over sheaves 66 and 67 mounted in eyes formed in enlarged portions at the lower and upper end respectively of the standard 37. The ends of the cable 65 are secured to an car 44, on the upper portion of the sleeve 44.

With the device in the position shown in Fig. '1, being the position in which the device carried during flight, a minimum amount of resistance to the aii. is attained as the sides Maud 56 of the sheet 5-1L are practically flat and the folds in the sheet Mare protected by the canvas strips 59.

Should ai'tcident happen so that the acroplane is crippled, the safety device is operated by pullingdowi'iwardly on the runof the cable next to the operator, which raises the sleeve l l: on the standard 37 thereby raising the arms ll-t), 50, and 52, which during the raising operation also swing outwardly opening out the folds in the sheet, until the sleeve 44: strikes the flange 3 at the upper end of the mast, at which point the sheet 54- is stretched into the position indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, the arms aft), 50, 51 and 52 extending diagonally from the mast to the corners of the sheet as indicated in Fig. 6. Vhen in this position the sheet 54; acts as a parachute, the aiebeing pocketed on the under side of the sheet, thereby permitting a gradual descent of the aeroplane to the ground.

lVhat I claim is 2 1. In combination with an aeroplane, a

mast, a sheet of fabric having its central portion supported on said mast, means for holdingsaid fabric folded into substantially aflat vertical triangular fprm with one side of the triangle at the bottom, the plane of said folded triangular fabric lying fore and aft and for raising the corners of said fabric to unfold the same, and holding the corners in definite position to producea substantially horizontal sheet of fabric capable of acting as a parachute when unfolded, the said fabric when folded in triangular form in a vertical plane acting to promote lateral stability.

2. In combinationwith an aeroplane, a mast, a sleeve on said mast, laterally movable arms pivoted to said sleeve, a sheet of fabric having its central portion supported on said mast and having its corners secured to the ends of said arms forming two fiat side-portions, the ends of said sheet being adapted to form folds in said sheet between the side portions when in closed position, and means for raising said sleeve to'place the sheet in extended position.

3. In combination with an aeroplane, a

mast, a sleeve vertically movable on said.

mast, laterally movable arms pivoted to said sleeve, a sheet of fabric havingits central portion supported on said mast and having its corners secured to the outer ends of said arms forming flat side portions, the ends of means for yieldingly holding said flaps over the folded ,portions, and means for raising and lowering said sleeve.

4. In combination with an aeroplane, a mast a sleeve vertically movable on said mast, laterally movable arms pivoted to said sleeve, a sheet of fabric having its central portion supported on said mast and having its corners secured to the outer ends of said arms forming flat side porti0ns,.the ends of saidsheet being adapted to form folds in said sheet between the Hat side portions when in closed position, a pair of flaps secured to said sheet, each lap extending over the adjacent folded portion of the sheet, means for ieldingly holding said flaps .I'\ oi the folded portions, said means consisting said sheet between the flat side portions and and lowering said sleeve.

hinge, and means for raising and lowering position.

.corners secured .to the outer ends of said of a plurality of hinges each having one leaf secured to said sheet, springs on each said sleeve to place the sheet in extended 5. In combination jwith an aeroplane, a mast, rods extending from the top of said mast to the front and rear of said aeroplane respectively, a sleeve vertically movable on said mast, laterally movable arms pivoted to said sleeve, a sheet of fabric having its central portionsecured to said mast and its arms forming fiat side portions, the ends of said sheet being adapted to form folds in supported on said-rods when in closed position, a pair of. flaps secured to said'sheet, each flap extendingover the folded portion, means for yieldingly holding said flaps over the folds in the sheet, and means for raising 6. In combination with an aeroplane, a

mast, rods extending from the top of said mast to the front and rearof said aeroplane a pair of flaps secured to said sheet, each flap extending over the folded portion, means for. yieldingly holding said flaps over the folds in the sheet, and means for raising and lowering said sleeve, said means consisting of a sheave at the top and bottom of said mast, and a cable having its ends secured to said sleeve operable over said sheaves.

In testimony whereof, I-havehereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 16th day of January, 1911. V

GROVER o. YO'UNGGREEN.

In presence of FRANK L. A. GRAHAM, P. H. SHELTON.

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