US1200097A - Aeroplane. - Google Patents

Description

E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANEI APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1913.

1,200,097. Patented Oct. 3,191

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064 fnventori Atty E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANE.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1913.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

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E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1913.

Patented Oct. 3

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E. F. GALLAUDET.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

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E. F. GALLAUDET.

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TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDSON-F. GALLAUDET, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT. I

AEROPLANE.

Application filed July 25, 1913. Serial No. 781,089.

and to the means employed to control said wings and the elevating and steering planes used in conjunction therewith.

The object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane which" can be more perfectly kept in balance and controlled than Heretofore under varying conditions of flight.

With this end in view one feature of my invention consists in the novel construction of the wings which are made flexible at their outer ends and are provided with movable tips whereby both their surface or superficial area and fore and aft center ofpressure can be changed.

Another feature consists in the means provided by which the operator can simultaneously extend the tip of one wing and withdraw the tip of the other wing to differentially produce such change, both in the area and the center of pressure of the wings,

on opposite sides of the machine.

A further feature consists in means so connecting together the flexible outer portions of the wings on opposite sides of the machine that variations in the air pressure upon the wing on either side of the machine sufficient to produce a change in the flexure and consequently in the angle of incidence thereof will be oflset or minimized by producing a counteracting change in the flexure and angle of incidence of the other wing. And still another feature consists in so mounting the wings that variations in the air pressure thereon, due to changes in the speed of the machine relative to the move ment of the air, may rock the wings about a transverse axis and thereby change the angle of incidence of the wings as a whole, and in means so connecting the elevating plane or planes with the wings and with an operating lever that the operator may vary the angle of incidence of the elevating plane or planes as desired and that changes in the angle of incidence of the wings will auspecificatlon of Letters Patent.

GALLAUDET,

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

tomatically, but subject .to the control of the operator, produce counteracting changes in the angle of incidence of the elevating plane or planes and thus neutralize or reduce to a minimum the effect of such variations of air pressure.

The invention also comprises certain other novel features of construction, ar-

rangement, and. combination of parts ashereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, which Y form a part of this specification and where-- in I have illustrated one specific embodiment of the several features of my invention in a flying machine of combined monoplane and hydro-aeroplane type, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the top covering broken away on one side and some of the framework of the body omitted tobetter show the construction and operative connections; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the body portion of the machine, somewhat enlarged, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 a broken detached view showing'in perspective and further enlarged a part of the control mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3, an enlarged plan view of the forward end of the body and adjacent portions of the wings of the machine, with the entire upper covering and some of the framework of the body removed. showing such structural and operative details thereof as are, necessary to an understanding of the inventi0n;,Fig. 3*" a fragmentary view showing in perspective certain details of the controlmechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 4:, an enlarged plan view of the framework of the outer portion of a wing and the movable tip thereon; "Fig. 5, a sectional view, enlarged, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6,

an enlarged broken horizontal section, on

boat body B and. suitably mounted thereon, a

the Wings W W with movable tips T,

rudder R, and propellers P P. The several parts are suitably framed and this framework is covered or inclosed in the usual or in any suitable manner. Their construction, except as hereinafter set forth, forms no part of the present invention.

As here illustrated each of the wings WV WV, which are alike in their construction, are mounted upon a main transverse spar 10, preferably of steel tubing, which in turn is mounted to rotate in suitable bearings 11 formed in the framework of the body of the machine, the inner fore and aft ribs 12 of the wings being fixed and the outer ribs 13 being mounted to rotate thereon. A rear transverse spar 14, which passes through the inner ribs 12 of each wing or to whichthese ribs are otherwise suitably fixed, extends across the body of the machine through openings in the sides allowing it to move to some extent up and down around the main spar as an axis and is yieldingly held in position by links 15, each with a spring 16 inserted therein, which at their lower ends are I secured in any suitable manner to the framework of the body and at their upper ends are fastened by straps 17 to the spar.

The elevating planes E E are hinged at their front edges to the rear edges of the fixed planes F F in any suitable manner,

' as by the hinges 18, and are provi led with the usual tillers 19. The vertical rudder R is hinged to the stern-post of the body and chine already described levers 20 are provided, each conveniently positioned in front of one of the two seats 21 here shown, which seats are held in position within the body by any suitable connections (not shown) with its framework; The forked lower ends of these two levers, connected together at their extreme lower ends by the pivoted link 22, are pivoted at 23 in bearings in the upper ends of the standards 24 which are mounted upon a fore and aft tubular shaft 25 which in turn is mounted to rotate in bearings in the lower ends of hangers 26 secured to the under side of the seats. Rigidly mounted upon the rear end of the tubular shaft 25 is a lever 27 the lower end of which is connected by wires 28 and 29 in the usual or in any suitable manner (not shown) to the ends of the tiller attached to the rudder R. The forked lower end of the forward lever is connected by pivoted links 30 to a crosshead 31 on the front end of a rod 32 which is mounted within the tubular shaft and is adapted to reciprocate back and forth therein. A slotted head 33 on the rear end of this rod is pivoted to the outer end of a le- Ver 34 fixed upon a shaft 35 the ends of which are journaled in bearings 36 suitably mounted upon the sides of the body or each of these three-part levers are connected formed in its framework. Fixed also to the shaft 35, one upon each side of the lever 34, are levers 37 the upper and lower ends of each of which are respectively connected by wires 38 and 39 with the outer ends of the upwardly and downwardly extending arms of two three-part levers 40' which are rotatably mounted upon the rear spar 14. The ends of the rearwardly extending arms of by pivoted links 41 to the respective ends of the forwardly extending arms of two other three-part levers 42 each of which is pivotally mounted in a support 43 suitably secured to an upright component 44 of the framework of the body. The ends of the upwardly extending arms of these last men tioned levers are connected by wires 45 to the upper ends, and the ends of their downwardly extending arms are connected by wires 46 to the lower ends, of the tillers 19 of the elevating planes E E.

The operation of the machine and the control mechanism'heretofore described is as follows: A forward thrust of either lever 20 by the'operator will swing the elevating planes downwardly and so increase their angle of incidence, while a pull backward upon either lever will produce an opposite movement of the elevating planes. In addition, whenever the air pressure upon the wings increases sufficiently the springs inserted in the supporting links will yield and permit the wings to rock so as to present a smaller angle of incidence; and such move- 10o ment of the wings, raising the rear spar and the three-part levers 4O thereon, will, provided at least the levers 20 are held stationary, raise the forwardly extending arms of the three-part levers 42 and thereby rock the elevating planes downwardly. Thus, an increase in the air pressure upon the wings, which tends to raise the nose of the machine, will automatically but subject to the control of the operator produce a movement of the elevating planes which will correspondingly elevate the tail and so maintain the longitudinal equilibrium of the machine. The operator steers the machine horizontally by swinging either lever 20 laterally to the right or left, thereby rocking the tubular shaft 25 and swinging the rudder around in the same direction, to right or left as the case may be.

The wing tips T T, which are substana pivotal bearing 58 formed upon the outer end of the upper lug are mounted outer and inner top plates 60 and 61, of suitable material, provided respectively with circular flanged holes 62 and 63 which together form' a bearing fitting the bearing on the lug upon which they are held by a cap 64- secured by a bolt 65 to the core of the lug. Outer and inner bottom plates 66 and 67, corresponding j in shape to the top plates described, are similarly pivoted upon a bearing formed on the outer endof the lower lug 55 and are in like manner held in position thereon by a cap 68 and bolt 69. The upper and lower battens plates.

70 and 71 of what may be called the main rib of the wing tip, preferably of wood and joined together and stiffened except close to the joint by a web 72 to which they are secured in any suitable manner, are riveted or otherwise suitably attached to the pivoted plates, the upper batten between the two top and the lower batten between the two bottom The two subsidiary ribs or frame members 73 and 74 of the tip are secured in a similar manner between suitable fingers or projections on these hinged plates.

To provide in all cases a smooth continuous upper and lower surface covering for the triangular space between the inner edge of each movable tip and the adjacent outer edge of the wing proper a rib ispivotally mounted intermediate the inner rib of the tip and the outer rotatable rib 75 of the wing. The upper and lower battens 76 and 77 of this rib, connected togetherby a web 78 for] the rear portion of their length, are respectively riveted or otherwise secured at their front ends to an upper plate 79, which is pivoted upon a bearing 80 formed on the inner side of'the flanged rim of the cap 64,

and to a bottom plate 81, which is similarly pivoted upon a bearing formed on the inner side of the flanged rim of the cap 68; and therib is held in position midway between the tip and the outer. edge of the wing by the lazy-tongs 82, which are pivoted centrally within an opening in the web of the rib and at their. inner ends 84 to thevweb of the rib and at their on ends 85 tothe web of the 73. A thin triangular plate 86 is secured at its inner edge to the upper batten of the intermediate rib, and its. outer spring fingers 87 attached at their inner ends to the upper batten of the intermediate rib,

attached to the upper batten of the rib 75,.

slides over the plate 86 upon the spring fingers 87. Two bottom plates 93 and 97, corresponding to the upper plates 86 and 91 and similarly attached to the lower battens of the wardlypressed by spring fingers 94 and 98, respectively, slide the former upon the strips 95' which are attached at their inner ends to the lower battens of the rib 73 and extend outwardly below the under surface covering of the tip underneath strips 96 connecting the lower battens of theribs 73 and 90 and the latter upon the spring fingers 94.

Thermovable tips of the wings are controlled by the operator by means of right and left foot levers 100 and 113. The two right footv levers 100,0ne conveniently located in front of each of the'two seats 21 here shown, are connected to operate to- 103 suitably mounted uponthe frame of the body. The lower rear end 104 of the rear lever is connected by a pivoted link 105 to the arm 107 of a bell-crank lever 106 which is pivoted at 108 to the frame of the body. 1 The other arm 109 of this bell-crank lever is connected by apivoted link 110 to a lug 111 fixed centrally upon the connecting rod 112.

The two leftfoot levers 113 are similarly connected, the front lever being pivoted at its lower end to a lug 114 secured to the flooring and operatively connected by the intermediate rib and the rib 75 and up-' pivoted link 115 to the rear lever which is pivoted centrally upon the rod 103 and connected at its lower end 116 by a pivoted link 117 with the arm 119 of albell-crank lever 118 pivoted at 120 to the framevof the body and connected at its other farm 121 by the pivoted lever 122 tothe lugjll. The'connecting rod 112 is pivotally" connected at each end to a-link 123 which in turn is pivotally secured by thedpin. 124 between the upper and lowerbattens 70 and 71 of the main rib of the tip and the plates between which these battens aresecured as heretofo're described.- For the automatic control .of the movable tips and the adjacent flexible edge, pressed downwardly by a series of outer' portions of the two wings, each by the othe'r,'-a connecting rod 125, in. which a stifi'spring 1 26isin'serted, is similarly pivoted at'each-end by means "of a short link 127, forming 'a"' universal joint, tothe for wardly extending arm 129 of a bell-crank lever 128 which is pivoted at 130 within the slotted forward end of the lug 57 carried by the knuckle joint member 53. The outwardly extending arm 131 ofthe bell-crank lever is pivoted by a universal joint link 132 to thesforward end of the link-bar 133 the rear end of which is pivoted by a universal joint link 134 to the lower end of the crank lever 135 fixed to the outer end of the shaft 136 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 137 formed in the flanged web 56 carried by the knuckle joint member 53. The forward end of the crank-lever 138, fixed to the inner end of the shaft 136 and extending forwardly at right angles to the crank-lever 135, is pivotally connected .by a link 139 to the rear end of the lever-arm 51 carried by th plug fixed to the end of the main spar.

The mechanism controlling the wing tips operates as follows: An increase in the air pressure upon the outer portion of one wing and the tip mounted thereon, the right wing W and tip T for example, tends to raise the trailing edge of these parts and so to rock the tip and the outer rotatable ribs of the wing upon the main spar, thus producing a warping of the outer flexible portion of this wing which decreases its angle of incidence. Such movement of the tip and wing causes a rotation of the knuckle joint member 53 upon its hearing at the end of the spar which raises and, because of the connection of.one of its crank levers with the lever arm 51 rigidly mounted at the end of the'spar,

rotates in its bearing the shaft 136, and the.

rotation of this shaft, through the crank lever. 135, draws the connecting rod 125 to .the right or outwardly toward the outer end of this wing. The movement of the con necting rod 125 toward the right wing, acting through similar connections at the outer end of the left wing W, on the opposite side of the machine, causes the rotation of a shaft corresponding to the shaft 136 and similarly mounted which, acting upon a fixed lever arm similar to the lever arm 51, draws down this shaft and with it the trailing edge of the tip T and flexible outer portion of thewing W, warping this latter wing so as to increase its angle of incidence. Thus the Warping of one wing, on either side of the machine, with the consequent change in its angle of incidence automatically produces a corresponding but opposite warping and change in the angle of incidence of the other wing. The operator, moreover, by pressing 1 down withhis foot upon either of the left .7 6- foot levers 113, draws the connecting rod 112- tothe left (see Fig. 3+) and thereby simultaneously throws the right tip T outwardly and forwardly and draws inwardly and to the rear the left tip T; and, vice versa, by

- pressing down upon either of the right foot levers 100 he can produce a reverse movement of the two' wing tips. Thus, it is evident that the operator, by working the foot levers provided, can not only differentially change the surface area of the wings on opposite sides of the machine at or near their outer ends, where such change is most efficient, but is also able, because of the fact that this change in the surface area of the wings is accompanied by a differential change in their fore and aft center of pressure, to control the angles of incidence of the outer portions of the wings and thereby balance and, in whole or in part, steer the machine.

Having fully explained the principle of my invention, by which I obtain a flying machine more efficient in construction and better controlled than heretofore, it will be understood that the specific embodiment of its several features herein shown and described and which I now consider to be the best mode in which to apply that principle can bevariously modified in its many details, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flying machine, a wing structure which is rotatable about a transverse axis and is yieldinglyheld in normal angular position, an elevating plane, and operative connections which include a hand control lever connected to the elevating plane through an intermediate lever mounted.

upon the wing structure near its movable trailing edge with said elevating plane.

3. In a flying machine, a framed wing structure comprising a main spar about which as an axis the wing is rotatable and a rear spar by which it is yieldingly secured to the frame of the machine in normal angular position, an elevating plane, and control means which include an operating lever, a lever pivoted upon the rear spar of the wing and operatively connected to the operating lever, and a third lever pivoted to a fixed part of the body of the machine and operatively connected both to the lever upon the spar and to the elevating plane.

4. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar extending transversely on opposite sides of the body of the machine and a series of fore and aft ribs rotatable rib on the opposite side of the ma-'.

chine.

5. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar extending trans versely on opposite sides of the body of the machine and a series of fore and aftribs mounted on'the spar, rigidly adjacent the body and rotatably at the outer ends, and means including a crank shaft rotatably mounted upon a vmember moving with one of the outer rotating ribs on each side of the machine and operatively connectedtto a fixed lever arm carried by the spar on each side of the machine whereby a warping of the outer portion of the wing on one side will automatically produce a differential warping of the outer portion of the wing on the other side of the machine.

- 6. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main wing, a tip pivotally mounted at the outer end to swing laterally in the plane thereof, and means including a rib pivotally mounted intermediate the outer edge of the main wing and the inner edge of the tip and maintained in constant position relative thereto and a plurality of sliding plates for providing at all times a smooth and continuous covering for the space between the main wing and the tip.

7. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main s ar and a series of fore and aft ribs mounte upon the spar, rigidly at its inner and rotatably at its outer end, and a tip rotatably and pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the spar.

8. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar and-a series of fore and aft ribs mounted upon the spar, rigidly at its inner and rotatably at its outer end, a tip rotatably and pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the spar, and connecting means adapted to provide at all times a smooth and continuous surface covering for the space between the tip and the outer rotatable rib and to hold them in substantially like angular position upon the spar.

9. In a flying machine, a wingstructure comprisinga main wing mounted in fixed position relative to the transverse axis of the machine and having a flexible outer end portion adapted to move to varying angles of incidence and a tip mounted at the outer end of the main wing and adapted to move therewith to varying angles of incidence" and also to swing laterally in the plane thereof to change both the surface area and the fore andaft center of pressure of the wing.

I 10. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar and a series of fore and aft ribs mounted thereon, rigidly at its inner and rotatably at its outer end, and so connected that the rocking of the rotatable ribs upon the spar will produce a warping of the outer portion of the wing, and a tip rotatably and pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the spar adjacent the outer rotatable rib and adapted both to rotate with the outer rotatable rib and to swing laterally with respect thereto to simultaneously change the surface area and the fore and aft center of pressure of the wing.

11. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar and a series of fore and aft ribs mounted thereon, rigidly at its inner and rotatably at its outer end, and a tip mounted upon the outer end of the spar adjacent the outer rotatable rib and extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom and adapted to rotate' upon the spar with the outer rotatable rib and to swing laterally upon the end of, the spar as a pivot in the plane of the outer rotatable rib.

12. In a flying machine, a' wing structure comprising a main spar and a series of fore and aft ribs mounted thereon, rigidly at its inner and rotatably at its outer end, and so connected that the rocking of the rotatable ribs will produce a warping of the outerportion of the wing, a tip rotatably and pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the spar adjacent the outer rotatable rib thereon and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the outer end of the wing, means providing at all times a smooth continuous surface covering between the inner edge of the tip and the adjacent outer rotatable rib of the wing and adapted on a rotary movement of the tip to produce a corresponding rotary movement of the outer rotatable rib, and means for swinging the tip upon its pivotal bearing to simultaneously change the surface area and the fore and aft center of pressure of the wing. I

13. In a flying machine, a Wing structure comprising oppositely extending wings the outer portions of which are flexible so as to be capable of being warped to present varying angles of incidence and tips mounted one at the outer end of each Wing which are adapted to move with the Outer ends of Y the wings to varying angles of incidence and also to swing laterally to change both.

the surface area and the fore and aft center of pressure of the wings, and control means I outer portions of which are flexible so as to be capable of being warped to present varying angles of incidence and tips mounted one at the outer end of each wing which are adapted to move with the outer ends of the wings to varying angles of incidence and also to swing laterally to change both the surface area and the fore and aft center of pressure of the wings, control means by which the operatormay simultaneously effect an opposite lateral movement of the two tips to differentially change the surface area and the center of pressure of the Wings on opposite sides of the machine, and means rendered operative by changes in the angle of incidence of the tip and outer portion of the wings on one side of the machine to effect difierential changes in the angle of incidence of the tip and outer portion of the wing on the opposite side of the machine.

15. In a flying machine, a wing structure comprising a main spar extending transversely on opposite sides of the body of the machine and a series of fore and aft ribs mounted on the spar, rigidly adjacent the body and rotatably at the outer edge, and tips rotatably and pivotally mounted one upon each of the outer ends of the spar and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the outer rotating rib, means providing at all times a smooth continuous surface covering between the inner edge of the tip and the adjacent outer rotatable rib and adapted on a rotary movement of the tip to produce a corresponding rotary movement of the rib, means including a crank shaft rotatably mounted upon a member mounted to rotate with each tip and operatively con nected to a fixed lever arm carried by the spar at each end whereby a rotary movement of the tip on one side of the machine Will produce an opposite rotary movement of the tip on the other side of the machine, and control means by which the operator may simultaneously effect an opposite lateral movement of the two tips upon their pivotal bearings to differentially change the surface area and the center of pressure of the wings on opposite sides of the machine.

16. In a flying machine, a wing-structure comprising a rotatable main spar extending transversely on opposite sides of the body of the'machine, a series of fore and aft ribs mounted thereon, rigidly adjacent the body and rotatably at the outer ends, and so connected that the rocking of the rotatable ribs will produce a warping of the outer portions of the wing structure, tips rotatably and pivotally mounted one upon each of the outer ends of the spar adjacent the outer rotatablerib thereon and extending v outwardly and rearwardly from the outer end lateral movement of each tip upon its pivotal bearing to differentially change the surface area and the center of pressure of the wings on opposite sides of the machine, an elevating plane, and means rendered operative by changes in the angular position of the ribs rigidly mounted upon the spar to effect opposite changes in the angular position of the elevating plane.

17. In a flying machine, the combination of a main transverse spar mounted to rotate in the frame of the body of the machine and extending on opposite sides thereof, a series of fore and aft ribs mounted on the said spar rigidly adjacent the body and rotatably at'the outer ends, a rear transverse spar secured to the ribs rigidlymounted upon the main spar and yieldingly secured to the frame of the body to hold the said ribs in normal angular position, flexible connections between both ,the front and the rear ends of the ribs rotatably mounted upon the main spar, tips rotatably and pivotally mounted one upon each of the outer ends of the main spar adjacent the outer rotatable rib thereon and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the said rib, yielding connections adapted on a rotary movement of the tips to produce a corresponding rotary movement of the adjacent outer rotatable rib, means rendered operative by the rotary movement of the tip and adjacent rotatable ribs on one side to effect an opposite rotary movement of the tip and adjacent rotatable ribs on the other side of the machine, meansby which the operator may simultaneously effect an opposite lateral movement of each tip upon its pivotal bearing, an elevating plane, and means by which the operator may effect changes in the angular position of the elevating plane. and changes in the angular position of the ribs rigidly mounted upon the main spar will subject to' control by the operator effect opposite changes in the angular position of the elevating plane.

EDSON F. GALLAUDET. In presence of WM. B. WHITNEY, MAY FREVERT.

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