US998333A - Aeroplane. - Google Patents

Description

I. FARMER.

AEROPLANE, AIPLIOATI'O'N FILED JULYlz, 1910. y

Patented July 18, 1911.

2 sHEBTssHEET 1.

RTARMEB.'

AEROPLA'NE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 12. 1910.

Patented Ju1y`k18, 1911.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

58 519 lli,

Wille@ ceases.

FREDERICK FARMER, 0F -WORCESTEIM MASSACHUSETTS, ASS'IGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO MATTHEW IPERCIVAL WHITTALL,

0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

7 Annemans i v applicati@ aiedauiy 12, 1910. serial No. 571,566.v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, vFREDERICK FARMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toi-caster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Aeroplane, of which the following is a specification. l y

This invention relates to an aeroplane and is capable of'application to monoplanes, b iplanes, gliders and other machines of this general character. y

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a-siinple and practical means for balancing the machine and keeping it on an even keel, and to provide means of.tliis character which will be operated autoinatically by the tilting. or tipping of the machine andvwhich can be operated by hand, if desired.

'Further objects and advantages` of the in, vention will appear hereinafter. i

Reference isto be had to theaccoinpaiiy ing drawings in which y Figure 1 is a plan of a biplane constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a-plan of the balancing or stabilizing planes. Fig. 4 is a front eleva/tion thereof, and Fig. 5` is an end view of the same. n The invention is shown as applied to. a type of machine having a top plane 10, bottom plane 11', front control 12, rearrudder 13, taille, propeller 15, and other Ifeiratures' which are known in this art. The form and construction of the frame-work, propelle'rs, rudders, etc. may be of any desired style and .character` and oiieftype only is selected for"ill'ustrationvherein. y'

"Thefraniework is 4provided at the oppo-` site yfront end' cornersjwith vtopa'nd' bottom,b forgings or castings ongits end struts. These forgings or castings the s'trutfsock-4 ets and `arep'rovided with bearingsy on the' top and bottom, respectively, for a vertical' tubularI shaft 21. On each ofthesefshafts is xed a warped balancing oi stabilizing plane 22'preferably'supported byv a pair of to the shaft and extends therefrom-substantially in a horizontal line, but they are spaced from each other on the shaft, the upper; arm

. being at a material distance above tli'e lower arm. At the ends these arms are connected by a. rib 24 which extends from the end of Specification of Letters 'Patent height .of the .operators shoulder. ylatter two devices, the weight of the parts one to the end of the other in an inclined Patented July is, 191i.

direction. This rib may be of any desired shape but it is shown herein as curved. These arms and -tlie rib forin a frame or skeleton to determine the shape of the warped plane 22. At its upper end the rib 24s turns upwardly and at the lower end downwardly, so as to produce corresponding curves 25 in the plane. From the construction that has -been described, it will be seen that this warped plane is higher on one side than onthe other, and that it 'gradually rises from the low side to the highr side through an angle of `about'ninety degrees, the arms Vbeing placed at about right-angles to each other. The curves 25 accentuate this feature.

The two balancing planes are located so thatpboth upper arms are on the outer side.

The two shafts 21 are providedl with fpulleys -in the same plane. A belt, chain or cable 31 is fixed to these pulleys as by screws 32Aso that the two yshafts must turn together` 'simultaneously` and through the saniearc. It .will be understood that these flexible connections 31 can be operated by 'hand' as| they pass directly infront of the operator.l `However, it is desired to have them operate automatically and for this `purpose a pendulum 35 is shown at the cente'r'ofthe machine `hung from a pivot 36 above soas to swing freely transversely of -th'e machine and connected 4with one of the strands of the endless connection 31.

' If desired, the pendulum instead of being 4an otherwise useless weight by itself, can rbe formed by, using the radiator 33 of. the ,gas ,enginev'or by vusing the seat 34 for the operatorfor that purpose. In this case, the seat is swung from a pivot at about the By'the arranged, the pendulum, radiator, or seatw-ill hang vertically downward and when lthe machine is operating on an even keel, will keep at the center. This is the position radial arms 23. 'Each of these aims`is fixed shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the balancing planes are located in a central neutral polsition with the Vane 25 also in neutral pocount of the construction of this balancing plane, its projection into this position will produce an additional buoyancy on this side and cause this end of the carto rise. is due to the shape of the warped'plane andithe position of the high arm thereof and is assisted by its curved edges. At ,the same time the other plane swings inwardly and itslower `arm comes to the front while its high arm is at the rear. In this way, it goes through'the airl in such way as to cause 'a depressing effect atthis end, although not as great as the buoyant effect on the other "end -While this double result is effective for the purpose of righting the machine and bringing it back to a level position, it has 051e disadvantage in that the ,two planes being at different distances from the center 'l have a tendency to swing the l machine around slightl and take it out of its course to one side. n order to avoid depending.

on the ordinary rudders for the purpose of counter-acting this effect, automaticmeans is shown for the purpose of immediately i causing a steering action to take place in the with each of the balancing planes.

oppositedirection. This consists in the provision of a vertlcalvane' in connection' of these vanes normally is centrally located and extends from the' 'shaft back to the center of the rib 2li. Each `vane is mounted on a frame 37 which has aneye 38 encircling the shaft 2l and is adapted to `swing thereon. The position vof each Vane is lim` ited by a dog 39 fixed to the shaft and adapted to engage the outer side of the frame 37 while the vane is swinging to its limiting position. This dog is so located onf'the ver- I tical shaft 21. that when the plane starts to swing inwardly it brings' the vane around toward the center of the machine. At this time the other vane is left free, because its dog moved away fromit. In this wa. ,lit will be seen that the steering effect o the planes can be entirely counter-acted.

The purpose of theupward curves,25 in the two balancing planes is to counteract t-he .tendency to drift, produced when the planes are operated.' By the upward turn at the outer side the air is' forced to pass underthe plane and thus tend to lift it. v While I have illustrated and 'described a preferred embodiment of the invention, and shown it as applied to particular type of aeroplane, I am awaregthat many modifications can be made therein, and that .it can-Joe applied to -rnany or all types .of

It will be obvious, that on ac- Eachinvention as expressed in the claims. Tberefore, 'I do notjwish to be limited to all the details of construction shown and described, or to the particular type of machine illustrated, but

What I do claim is 1.'In`an aeroplane, the combination with the planelor planes,iof a vertical shaft, a balancing plane fixed to said shaft and having two rearwardly extending edges at an angleto each other, the outer one of said edges being higher thar the inner one, and means for turning the balancing plane about the axis of the shaft.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination of the pla'ne or planes, a pair of vertical shafts located at opposite sides thereof, and a bal ancing plane extending rearwardly from each shaft in a general horizontal direction, cach of said planes havingan outer edge and an inner edge, said outer edges being higher than the inner edges, and a rear edge connecting the ends of the outer edges.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination ofthe planeor planes, vertical shafts located at lopposite sides thereof,y a balancing plane extending rearwardly from each shaft, each of said planes having an outer edge and an inner edge, said outer edges being higher than the inner edges, and a rear edge con necting the ends of the outer edges, and means forl simultaneously operating said balancing planes to swing one inwardly and the other outwardly.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination'of the plane or planes, a pair of vertical shafts locat ed at opposite sides thereof, balancing planes extending rearwardly from each shaft in a general horizontal direction, and means automatically operated by the tipping of the aeroplane for swinging both of said balancing planes in the same direction vand bringing the one on t-he lower side out and the one on the upper side in.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination of the plane or planes, a pair of balancino` planes extendin in a genral horizontal irection rearward y, and means automatically operated by the tipping of the aeroplane for swinging both of said balancing planes in the same direction and bringing the one on the lower sidel out and the one on the upper side in.

6. In a device of the character described, I

have no effect upon the relative height of the two sides of the device, and for automatically `swinging them, when thedevicc tips, toward the side which tips down.

-7. 'In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of vertical shafts one at each side of the device, two' arms 011 each shaft at an angleto each other,'and projecting.l outwardly from the shaft in a horizontal direction, the outer ot' said arms on each shaft being higher` than the inner arms, a frame-work' connectingsaid armsla covering for the frame-Work and armscon` stituting a warped plane. means for normalty keeping both of said wai'-ped planes in a neutral position, and for automatically swinging them when the device tips, said means comprising a. pair of pulleys on said shafts, an endless flexible connection for said pulleys, and a weight suspended from above and connectedwith. said flexible connection.

- S. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of vertical shafts one at each side ofthe device, two arms onl each shaft. at an angle to each other, and

projecting outwardly from the shaft, the

outer of said arms on each shaft .being ,higher than the inner arm, a covering for the arms constituting a warped plane, means for normally keepingl both of -said warped planes in a neutral position and for automaticallyV swinging them when the device tips, said means comprising inflexible endless connection connected with said shafts and adapted to turn them both through the same angle and inthe same direction, and a gas engine radiator suspended. from above and tree to swing transversely ot' the` device and connected with said flexible connection,l whereby the, swinging of said radia- 'tor as the device tips will move the connec-` tion and swing the shafts.

t). In a device of the character described, the combination of aVv pair of vertical shai'ts one at. each side of the device, two arms on each shaft at an angle. to each other, and projecting. outwardly -froni the shaft, the outer of said arms on cach shaftbeing higher than thoinner arms, a'covering for the arms constituting a warped plane, means for normally keeping both of said warped planes in a neutral position and for automatically swinging them when the device tipsg said means conn-)rising an endless t'lexi.

ble connection connected with said shafts, and a seat t'or the operator suspended from above and connected with said flexible connection. whereby when the. car tips the seat; will swing and move. the llexible connection to turn the shafts.

10. Tn a device of the character described, the combination of a vertical shaft, a pair to its position.

ofarms vfixedpto the shaft and extendingfrointhe saine at right angles to the shaft., andat an angle to eachother, one of said arms being higher Ithan the other. a covering connecting'saidlarms and producing a warped balancing plane..,aiid means fpr turning said slia'ftftol bring either. one-,ofl said arms to the front,. whereby',the warpedfplane will be either. depressed Jor buoyed up, 'according 11,` In a device ofthe character described. the combination of a warped balancing plane'oscillatable on a vertical axis. having two -.outer arms projecting substantially vvhorizionti'illy 'from said axis'at an :ingle io eachother. one located lugher than the.

other, a covering for said arms connecting one arm with the other and -constituting a warped balancing plane. said cover projecting'upwardly along the outer arm and downwardly,r along the inner arm.

12. In a device of the character described, the 'combination of a vertical shaft. a pair of arms fixed to the shaft and extending from the same at an angle to eoch other. one of said arms being higher than the other. a' covering connecting said arms and produc'- ing a warped balancing plane. means for turning said shaft to bring either one of said arms to the front, whereby the warped .plane will he either depressed or`buoyed upf and a vane mounted to swing on said shaft and normally extending directly backward'l y therefrom, said shaft being provided with means for swinging the 'ane to a position in-4 which the, vane acts as a rudder to counter-aet the steering efl'ect of the operation of the balancing plane. y

13. In an aeroplane, the combination of the plane or planes, vertical shafts located at, opposite. sides thereof, a balancing plane 'extending lniclnvardly from cach shaft,

means automatically operated by the tippiner of the aeroplane for swinging both of sait balancing planes 1n the same direction and bringing the one on the lowerside out,

and the one on the upper side in, and means for counteracting the steering etl'ect produced by this operation.

14 In a device of the character described, t-he combination of a pair of vertical shafts one at. each side of the device.- two arms on each shaft at an angle to each other. an

. 15K. Ina device ofthe character described, the combination of a vertical oscillat-able shaft, a balancing plane vsecured thereto and projecting backwardly therefrom, a vertical vane mounted to turn on said shaft and .extending backwardly therefrom, and a dog Ameans for laterally shifting saidjbalancing planes, and an automatic steering means adjacent to each of said balancing planes. 17. In an aeroplane, the combination of a a balancing plane at each side of the aero lane, a steering vane adjacent'to'- each ofpsaid balancing planes and means for automatically bringing each steering Vane into action when needed to counteract the` steering effect ofits adjacent balancing plane.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my'hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. 1

FREDERICK FARMER. Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FA'Y, C..FoRREsT WEssoN.

Copies' of this patent may be obtained for vle cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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