US1318070A - gipple - Google Patents

Description

R. E. GIPPLE.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30| 19H.

RENEWED FEB. 20, I919.

Patented Oct. 7,1919. 6 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENW'DR @65 3 AT TUWNE gifim R. E. GIPPLE.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 30. 1914. RENEWED FEB. 20, 1919.

IN VENTEIR DY Quyve/g, ATTURNEYZ.

Patented Oct. 7,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 R. E. GIPPLE.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1914. 1,318,070.

RENEWED FEB. 20. I9I9.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- INVENT [JR ATTURNEYEL W: TNEELEEE R. E. GIPPLE.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 19I4- RENEWED FEB. 20. l9l9. 1,318,0Y0. Patented 0w. 7,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNEJEIEJEEJ R. E. GIPPLE.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,30119|4- RENEWED FEB- 20, I919- l,3l8,070.; Patented Oct. 7,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- ATTEIRNEYEJ Application filed'J'anuary 30, 1914, Serial No. 815,436. Renewed February 20,

2 is a top plan view 4 UNITED STATES P ROY E. GIPLPLE, OF KENMORE, NEW YORK.

AEROPLAN E.

To all it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoY E. GIPPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenmore, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an aeroplane and has for its object the provision of eflicient and reliable means whereby the weight of the engine and associated parts is utilized for automatically righting or trimming the machine or causing the same to travel in a substantially horizontal direction if the same should accidentally plunge or drop with its front end foremost; also to provide improved means .for steering the machine both horizontally and vertically; also to provide means for preventing a sudden change in the relation of the elevating and descending apparatus; also provide improved means for protecting the machine from injury while running over the ground while starting or when landing on the same after a flight, and also to provide various improved details of construction.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aero-' plane embodying my improvements. Fig. thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same partly broken away and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the front parts of the machine, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the machine showing the manually operated devices whereby the machine is controlled. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken in line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan View, on an enlargedv scale of part of the manual controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of part of the mechanism at the lower ends of the control ling or operating shafts. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 99, Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through one of the foot operated levers of the rudder shlfting mechanism. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. "2, 1919.

1919. Serial No. 278,294.

corresponding parts throughout the several .rudder and planes whereby the machine is caused to move either horizontally or vertically in the air. Pivotally supported on the front part of the body of the machine and preferably at a point near the top of the cabin is an auxiliary or righting frame forming part of the mechanism whereby the machine may be automatically righted or trimmed if the same plunges, and caused to resume a position in which it travels forwardly in a substantially horizontal direct1on.

The auxiliary or righting frame may be variously constructed but the same preferably comprises two upright parts or sec-- tions 4, 4 arranged on opposite lateral sides of the front part or cabin of the main frame, a lower or bottom part 5 arranged below the cabin and connecting the lower ends of the side sections and an upper or top part 6 arranged above the cabin and connecting the upper ends of the side sections, as best shownin Fig. 3, thereby causing the auxiliary or righting frame tocompletely surround the front part or cabin of the main frame and form a clearance opening within the righting frame in which the main frame is capable of rocking vertically to the maximum extent required for properlycontrolr ling the machine.

In the preferred construction this righting frame is pivoted to the front part of the body by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 7 connecting the upper part of this righting frame with the main frame adjacent to the top of the cabin, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thereby enabling the righting frame and body of the machine to turn relatively to each other in a vertical direction. On the upper part of the righting frame and on opposite sides of the front part of the body are mounted two main support ng planes 8, 8, which are so connected with the righting frame that these planes are always compelled to take part in the movement of the righting frame. These main supporting planes are preferably so mounted on the righting frame that the central parts thereof in a direction fore and aft of themachine are arranged comparatively close to the axis of the pivotal connection between the right- 7 ing frame and the main frame so that upon turning the righting frame in one direction or the other the front and rear parts of the main supporting planes will rise or fall rela tively to each other. In other words when the righting frame is turned in one direction the front ends of the main planes are raised and the rear ends thereof are lowered relatively to the main frame, and vice versa.

9 represents the screw or propeller whereby the machine ismoved forwardly. This propeller is arranged in front of the main frame with its axis substantially lengthwise in line with and at the same height as the main supporting planes and the plvotal connection of the latter with the main frame. For this purpose the rightingframe is provided with a forward and upward extension 10 having bearings 11 in which the shaft 12 of the propeller is journaled. On the lower part of the righting frame and preferably at a po'fnt below the cabin of the main frame is mounted the motor or engine 120 whereby the propeller is operated. This motor may be of any suitable construction, for instance, of the explosive type which is comparatively heav and supplied with gasolene in any sultable manner from atank 13 arranged on top of the cabin of the body. Motion may be transmitted from the shaft of the engine to the shaft of the propeller in various ways, those shown in the drawings being suitable and preferred and comprising a lengthwise inclined shaft 14 journaled in the lower front part of the righting frame and connected at its lower rear end by a universal joint 15 with the engine shaft 16, a horizontal longitudinal counter shaft 17 journaled in the lower front part of the righting frame and connected at its rear end by a universal joint .18 with the upper front end of the inclined shaft, and a belt 19 preferably of the chain type passing at its upper and lower turns around sprocket wheels 20, 200, mounted on the propeller shaft and the counter shaft 17, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It follows from the foregoing construction that if theaeroplane should suddenly make a plunge forsome reason or other while traveling forwardly in the air the weight of the heavy engine mounted 'on the lower part of the righting frame will opmay be arranged in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position, this position of the main frame and the parts mounted thereon being indicated by dotted lines, in. Fig. 1. By this means the propeller is caused to draw the machine forwardly in a substantially horizontal direction while in the air and the main supporting planes are maintained at such an angle of incidence that they operate to lift the machine in the air, thereby counter-acting the tendency of the machine to drop and preventing accidents.

In order to enable the operator to deliberately shift the righting frame about its axis for the purpose of causing the machine to ascend or descend in the airmeans are provided whereby this may be accomplished from within the cabin. The means shown in the drawings for this purpose comprise a gear rack 21 mounted on the lower front part of the main frame so as to be capable of horizontal lengthwisereciprocation thereon, and front and rear operating lines 22, 23, constructed of wire or other flexible or pliable material, the frontoperating line 22 passing from the front end of this gear rack forwardly and downwardly around a guide wheel 24 mounted on the adjacent part of the main frame and thence downwardly and rearwardly to the righting frame at a point preferably below the motor. The rear operating line 23 is also preferably constructed of wire or similar flexible or pliable material and passes from the rear end of this and 12. 26 represents an inner or central.

controlling or operating shaft which is preferably journaled in any suitable man ner on the main frame or bodv of the ma- ,chine within the cabin in front of the aero- "nauts seat and provided at its upper end with an operating handle or wheel 27, and 28 represents a short vertical shaft journaled on the lower part of the main frame and connected at its upper end by means of a universal joint 29 with the lower end of the central operating shaft while the lower end of the vertical shaft is provided with a gear wheel 30 meshing with the gear rack 21. As the aeronaut turns the central shaft by means of the hand wheel 27 either in one direction or the other this movement is transmitted by the intermediate mechanism to the righting frame so that the lower part of the latter is turned either forwardly or backwardly at will for causing the machine to either ascend or descend due to the vertical turning of the main supporting planes and the propeller relatively to the body of the machine.

In addition to the main supporting planes the machine is supported during its flight by means of two auxiliary or supplemental supporting planes 31 which are arranged horizontally and rigidly mounted on opposite sides of the rear or narrow part of the main frame.

For the purpose of aiding the main supportlng planes andthe propeller in righting the machine if at any time the same should plunge, means are provided whereby the rear part of the main frame is lifted while moving forwardly. The means for this purpose which are shown in thedrawings preferably comprise two front righting ascendin or trimming planes 32 which are arrange be tween the front ends of the auxiliary supportingfplanes and the rear ends of the main supporting planes and are pivotally connected at their rear edges by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 33 with the front edges of the auxiliary supporting planes,

- and a pair of rear righting ascendlng or trimming planes 34 are also provided the latter being arranged in rear of the auxiliary supporting planes and piv'otally connected at their front edges with the rear edges of the auxiliary supporting planes'by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 35, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 12. The pivots- 33, 35, of the front and rear righting planes preferably consist of transverse shafts which are journaled horizontally on the adjacent part of the main frame or body and these two pairs of planes are so connected that when the front righting planes vdescend the rear rightin planes ascend, and vice versa. This is pre erably accomplished by providing the shaft 33 of the front righting planes with a rock lever having two arms 4 36, 37 one of which projects upwardly and the other downwardly, and providing the shaft of the rear righting planes with a similar rock lever'havlng two arms 38, 39 the upper one of which is connected by an upper line 40 withthe upper arm 36 of the front rock lever while itslower arm 39 is connected by a lower line 41 with the lower arm 37 of the front rock lever. The front and rear'righting planes are also caused to move in unison with the righting frame so that when .the lower part of the latter turns forwardly relatively to the main frame in the act of automatically assuming a position Which will tend toright the machine this movement of the righting frame will turn the front righting planes downwardly and the rear righting planes upwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby causing the pressure of the air impinging upon these front and rear righting planes during the progress of the machine through the air [0 depress the rear part of the main frame and automatically balance the machine or bring the same into a state of equilibrium. The connection between the rightin frame and the front and rear righting planes may be effected to accomplish this purpose in various ways, for instance by means oftwo connecting lines 42, 43 one of which 42 has its front end connected with the righting frame above the pivot 7 thereof and its rear end connected with the lower arm 39 of the rock lever mounted on the rear shaft 35 while the other has its front end connected with the righting frame below the pivot 7 thereof and its rear end connected with the upper arm 38 of the lever of the rock shaft 35. The intermediate parts of these two lines pass around guide rollers 44, 45 onthe main frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and- 12. It will be obvious from this construction that when the righting frame moves forwardly with its lower part relatively to the main frame the front righting planes will beframe will cause the front and rear righting planes to again resume their normal horizontal position relatively to the main frame.

In order to balance the machine while the same is traveling through the air it may be necessary "to so adjust or trim the front and rear righting planes that whilein a normal position the front righting planes t1p downwardly slightly and the rear rlghting planes tip upwardly slightly and still perm1t of increasing this inclination of the righting planes inorder to increase their effect and assist the propeller and main supporting planes to prevent plunging of the machine. This is referably accomplished by means of. an ad usting or trimming wheel 46 which engages its upper and lower sides with the lines 42, 43 between the front and rear guide rollers 44, 45, of these lines and pro-'v viding means whereby this adjusting roller may be either raised or lowered. Upon raising the adjustingvwheel the line 42 is deflected upwardly and the line 43 is relaxed 20 an upper arm 51 which is connected-by a point adjacent to the aeronauts seat, for

instance, by means of a hand operated trimming lever pivoted on the main frame within the cabin in front of the aeronauts seat and having its lower arm 47 connected by a line 48 with the upper arm 49 of a triple armed rock lever which has a central rearwardly projecting arm 50 carrying the adjusting wheel and said trimming lever also having line 52 with the lower arm 53 of said triplearmed. rock lever. The intermediate parts of these two last mentioned lines pass around guide rollers 54, 55 mounted on the main frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 12. After this adjusting or trimming lever has been turned into the proper position for -bringing the front and rear righting planes at such an angle as will cause the machine to be trimmed and normally move forwardly on an even keel, this lever is locked in position, preferably, by means of a gear segment 56 mounted on the main frame concentrically with the axis of this lever and a dog or catch 57 mounted on this lever and adapted to engage with one or another of the notches of the gear segment, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be obvious from the foregoing that even though the righting planes have been adjusted to assume such an angle during the normal operation of the machine as will cause the same to be balanced and travel forwardly in an approximate straight line, these righting planes are nevertheless, capable of additional deflection into a more or less inclined position by the operation of the auxiliary or righting f ame if the lower part of the latter should swing forwardly relativel to the main frame when the machine ta es a plunge.

For the purpose of causing the machine to ascend for traveling at a lower elevation or for landing purposes a pair of separate ,descending planes 58 are employed which are arranged on opposite sides of the rear part of the body and preferably pivoted at their front ends adjacent to the rear ends of the auxiliary supporting planes so that these descending planes can swing vertically downward relatively to the main frame. These descending planes are arranged below the rear righting planes but no conflict occurs between the same inasmuch as the its upper end wit rear righting planes only swing from a longitudinal or horizontal position upwardly and back again, while the descending planes only swing from a longitudinal or horizontal osition downwardly and back again.

When it is desired to descend or lower the tion' relatively to each other. This locking of these parts can be accomplished in many ways and that shown in the drawings is merely an example of one way of effecting this purpose. As shown inFigs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the device which is preferred comprises a locking ring or wheel 59 secured to the upper end of the central operating shaft 26 and provided with a plurality of notches 60 arranged in an annular row, and a locking dog 61 pivoted on the adjacent stationary bracket 62 of the main frame and adapted to engage with one or another of the notches in the locking ring. The locking dog is held yieldingly either in engagement with a notch of the locking ring or out of engagement etherewith by means'of a spring 63 which is connected at one end with the bracket 62 and at its opposite ends with the locking dog in such manner that when the locking dog is in engagement with the locking ring the free end of the spring is on one side of the pivot of the dog and when the latter is out of engagement from the locking ring the free end of the spring 63 is on the opposite side of the pivot of. this dog, therebyavoiding the necessity of holding the locking dog manually either in its operative or inoperative position. It will thus be obvious that so long as the central operating shaft 26 is held stationary while the auxiliar and main frame are in their normal position these frames will maintain this position even though the front end of the machine is tipped downwardly by the operation of the descendin planes.

Although various means may be employed for shifting the descending planes, those shown in the drawings are suitableand comprise a hollow outer shaft 64 surrounding the inner operatin shaft 26 and provided at a hand wheel or handle 65 for turning the same and at its ,lower end with a pulley or wheel 66. A transverse rock shaft 67 is journaled horizontally on the rear part of the main frame and secured at its opposite end to the descending planes. A double armed rock lever is secured centrally to the rock shaft 67 and has an upper wound around the opposite end thereofwhile its rear end is secured to the upper arm 68 of the lever on the rock shaft 67. Intermediate guide rollers, wheels or pulleys 71, 73, 74 are mounted on the main frame and support the intermediate parts of the lines 70, 72. As the aeronaut turns the hand wheel of the outer operating shaft in one di- I rection or, the other the ascending planes may be either raised or loweredas desired. For the purpose of enabling the descending planes to be locked in their horizontal or inoperative position when not in use or in a more or less downwardly inclined position to aid in balancing or trimming the machine if this is required, such locking of these planes may be effected by means of a lockingring or wheel 75 secured to the central part of the outer operating shaft and provided with an annular row of locking notches 76, and a locking dog 77 which is pivoted on the bracket 62 and adapted to be held yieldingly in engagement or out of engagement with one of the notches. of the locking ring 75 by means of a sprin 78 secured at ,one end to this bracket .w ile its other or movable end is secured to the lockinn: dog 77 and adapted to swing across the axis of the latter while moving into or out of its operative position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9.

178 represents the horizontally swinging rudder which is'pivotally mounted at its front end on the rear end of the main frame for the purpose of enabling the machine to be steered horizontally either toward the right or the left. This rudder is preferably operated by means of the feet of the aeronaut soas to leave his hand free to manipulate other parts of the machine. The means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings comprise two upright rudder levers 79, 80 pivoted on the lower part of the main frame adjacent to the operators seat so as to swing vertically and each provided on its upper arm with a pedal or treadle 81 adapted to receive one foot of the operator. The lower" arm of one of the rudder levers is connected with the front end of an operating line 82 which latter is connected at its rear end with a rudder arm 83 projecting and cause the rudder to laterally from one side of the rudder. The lower arm of the other rudder operating lever is connected with the front end of another operating line 84 which latter is connected at its rear end with a rudder arm 85 projecting laterally from the opposite side of the rudder. In front of the lower arms of the operating-levers are two guide rollers 86 which are mounted on the main frame and around which the lines 82, 84: pass forwardly from the operating levers and backwardly to the rudder arms so that a forward push of a foot on the pedal of the upper arm of either one-or the other rudder levers will produce a pull on the respective rudderline be deflected laterally in a corresponding direction.

In order to enable the rudder to be locked either in its central neutral position or in j a more or less deflected position toward one side or the other of its central position, looking means are provided whichare preferably so constructed that they may be operated by the feet of the aeronaut. For this purpose each of the pedals is pivotally connected with the upper arm of its respective rudder operating lever, as shown at 87 in Fig. 5, so that this pedal may swing vertically relatively to its companion lever. 88, 88 represent two locking segments fixed on the mainframe one adjacent to the {upper arm of each rudder lever. 89 represents a vertically moving locking dog mounted slidably on the upper arm of each rudder operating lever and adapted to engage with one or the other of'the notches in the companion locking segment. Each of the lockdog is also capable of being disengaged from its companion segment by means of a finger 91 arranged on the companion pedal and engaging with the upper part of the dog, as shown in Figs. 5, 10 and 11. Upon turning the pedals forwardly on the operating levers while the latter are stationary the locking dogs 89 will be first retracted from the locking segments, thereby releasing the operating levers and permitting the same to be turned either in one direction or the other by the feet of the aeronaut and after these levers have been turned to the desired position for bringing the rudder into the required position the treadles are again turned backwardly relatively to the rudder operating lever so as to permit'the locking dogs 89 to engage the segments and thereby hold the rudder in position. The forward movement of the treadles relative to the rudder operating levers is preferably limited by stops 92 arranged on the ripper arms of the rudder operating levers in position to be engaged by the pedals.

It is desirable to prevent the auxiliary or righting frame from swinging vertically either forwardly or backwardly quickly and for this reason means are providedwhich operate to retard the movement of the righting frame relative to the main frame either in one direction or the other and also to cushion the movement of these parts when they reach either extremity of these movements. The means shown in the drawings which are suitable for this purpose are constructed as follows:

93, 93 represent two buffer heads mounted on the opposite side portions or sections of the auxiliary or righting frame and each provided on its inner side with guide rollers 95 which engage with a curved track 94 mounted on the adjacent outer side of the main frame concentrically with the pivotal connection between the main and auxiliary frames. At opposite ends of each guide track the main frame is provided with cushion stops which ,are adapted to be engaged by the buffer head and arrest the movement of the main and auxiliary frames without unduly jarring the machine. Each of these cushion stops, as best shown in Figs' 1 and 1, comprises a bowshaped spring 96 which is adapted to be engaged on its convex side by one end of'the com: panion buffer head and which is fixedly secured at one end of a bracket 97 on the The buffer head and its rollers operating. 15

main frame while its opposite end is movably connected by means of a link 98 with said bracket. It will therefore be obvious that when the buffer head engages with the bow spring the same will be deflected from its normal position more or less but the free end of this spring is prevented from becoming unduly displaced by the action of the link 98.

. iliary frame swings vertically relatively to the main frame the gear wheel 100 is caused to turn by the action of the gear rack oscillating relatively thereto.- The turnin of this gear wheel is, however, retarde by means of a pallet or star wheel 102 secured to the shaft 101 so as to turn therewith and a double armed pallet 103 pivoted on the buffer head and adapted to engage its arms which are arranged on opposite sides of its axis alternately with the teeth of the pallet wheel in the manner of a clock escapement. As the gear wheel and Pallet wheel rotate the pallet wheel causes the pallet to oscillate by first deflecting one arm and then the other of the same, thereby retarding the the same may be rolled over the ground for beginning the flight and also operate as a means for cushioning the machine as the same lands upon the ground after a flight. The referred means for this purpose which are s own in the drawings are constructed as follows:

104, 104 represent two front landing and supporting wheels arranged on opposite sides of .the lower part of the auxiliary frame and 105, 105 are two pairs of supporting arms the members of each pair inclining from their front ends downwardly to their rear ends and provided at their lower ends with a bearing in which one of the front landing wheels is ournaled while their upper front ends are connected with the'adjace'nt part of the auxiliary frame so as to be capable of a limited vertical sliding movement thereon. A suitable connection for this purpose consists of a guide pin 150 arranged horizontally and transversely at the upper ends of a pair of landing arms and engaging with, vertical slots 106 in the adjacent upper front part of the auxiliary frame' The guide pin 150 is yieldingly "held in the lower ends of the slots by a spring device which preferably consists of two upright coil springs 107 arranged on opposite sides of a pair of landing arms and connected at their upper ends with opposite ends of the guide pin 150 while the lower ends of these springs are secured to the lower parts of the auxiliary frame, as shown in igs. 1 and 3. The landing arms and the wheel mounted on the same are also capable of moving rearwardly which movement is, however resisted by a spring device forming a cushion which prevents straining of the landing device or jarring of the machine when the same alights on the ground. As shown in the drawings, the forward movement of each pair of landing arms relatively to the auxiliary frameis limited by means of a stop 108 arranged on the auxiliary frame and engaging with the front side of the landing arms and the latter are yieldingly held in engagement with this stop by means upper springs 107 which'resist the upward sliding action of the landing arms on the auxiliary frame and also on the lower springs 109 which resist the rearward swinging movement of these arms relatively to said frame. On the rear part of the main frame the same is provided on its underside with a single landing or supporting wheel 110, the same being mounted on the lower end of a rearwardly inclined supporting arm 111 which is pivoted at its upper end on the main frame and yieldingly held in its forward position against a stop 112 on the main.

frame by means of a spring 113 connecting this arm with the main frame, as shown in Fig. 1. When this rear landing wheel strikes the ground the spring 113 yields so that the shock during landing is taken up and the machine saved from undue strains. This rear wheel and the front wheels are so arranged that they support the machine above the ground while the same is at rest and also while the same is running over the ground preparatory to ascending in the air.

My improvements in aeroplanes render it practically impossible for a machine of this character to make a plunge to such an extent that its front end would strike the ground. Furthermore, no sudden operation of any of the main parts of the machine relatively to each other can occur, thereby avoiding an erratic flight of the machine and not only avoiding loss of control of the machine but also preventing the aeronaut from being thrown from his seat by unexpected movements of the machine. By means of my improvements an aeroplane is rendered comparatively safe against many of the accidents which have caused disaster heretofore since any tendency of the machine to plunge is off-set automatically instead of being dependent upon the action of the operator.

T'claim as my invention:

1. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame plvoted on said main frame to swing vertically thereon, a main supporting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, a propeller mounted on the auxiliary frame, a motor mounted on the auxiliary frame and operatively connected with the propeller, and means for manually shifting said auxiliary frame relatively to the main frame, comprising a gear rack mounted for reciprocation on the main frame, lines con necting opposite ends of said rack with the front and rear sides of said auxiliary frame, a gear wheel meshing with said rack, and a connecting the uppeinarms of hand controlled shaft mounted on the main frame and operatively connected with said gear wheel.

2. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted on said main frame to swing vertically thereon, a main supporting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, a propeller mounted on the auxiliary frame, amotor mounted on the auxiliary frame and operatively connected with the propeller, and means for manually shifting said auxiliary frame relatively to the main frame, comprising a gear rack mounted for reciprocation on the main frame, lines connecting opposite ends of said rack with the front and rear sides of said auxiliary frame, a gear wheel meshing with said rack, a hand controlled shaft mounted on the main frame and operatively connected with said gear wheel and a locking device for holding said shaft against turning comprising a locking ring secured to the shaft and provided with an annular row of notches, and a dog mounted on the main frame and adapted to be engaged with one or another of said notches.

3. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted on said main frame to swing vertically, a main supporting plane mounted on the an auxiliary supporting plane mounted on the main frame, a front righting plane pivoted to turn vertically at its rear end ad jacent to the front end of the auxiliary sup porting plane, a rear righting plane pivoted to turn vertically at'its front end adjacent to the rear end of the auxiliary supporting plane, and means for causing the front righting plane to descend and the rear righting plane to ascend when the lower part of the auxiliary frame moves forwardly and vice versa.

4; An aeroplane, comprising a main frame,

an auxiliary frame pivoted on said main frame to swing vertically, a main supporting plane mounted on-the auxiliary frame, an auxiliary supporting plane mounted on the main frame, a front righting plane pivoted to turn vertically 'at its rear end adjacent to the front end of the auxiliary supporting plane, a rear righting plane pivoted. to turn vertically at its front end adjacent to the rear end ofthe auxiliary supporting plane, and means for causing the front righting plane to descend and the rear righting plane to ascend when the lower part of the auxiliary frame moves forwardly and vice versa, comprising front and rear upright rock levers connected with the front and rear righting planes, respectively, an upper line said levers, a lower line connecting the lower arms of said levers, its front with said auxiliary frame above its pivot and at its rear end with the lower arm auxiliary frame,

and operating lines, one connected at fill , porting plane, a rear righting plane pivoted to turn vertically at its front end adjacent to the rear end of the auxiliary supporting plane, and means for causing the front righting plane to descend and the rear righting plane to ascend when the lower part of the auxiliary frame moves forwardly and vice versa, comprising front and rear upright rock levers connected with the front and rear righting planes, respectively, an upper line connecting the upper arms of said levers, a lower line connecting the lower arms ofsaid levers, operating lines, one'connected at its front with said auxiliary frame above its pivot and at its rear end with the lower arm of one of said levers, while the other is connected at its front end with the auxiliary frame below its pivot and at its rear end with the upper arm of one of said levers, front and rear guides mounted on the main frame and supporting said operating lines between the front and rear ends thereof, and means for deflecting said operating lines vertically between said guides.

6. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted on said main frame to swing vertically, a main sup-- porting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, an auxiliary supporting plane mounted on the main frame, a front righting plane pivoted to turn vertically at its rear end adjacent to the front end of the auxiliary supporting plane, a rear righting plane pivoted to turn vertically at its front end adjacent to the rear end of the auxiliary supporting lane, and means for causing the.

front righting plane to descend and the rear righting plane to ascend when the lower part of the auxiliary frame moves forwardly and vice versa, comprising front and rear upright rock levers connected with the front and rear righting planes, respectively, an upper line connecting the upper arms of said levers, a lower line connecting the lower arms of said levers, operating lines, one connected at its front with said auxiliary frame above its pivot and at its rear end with the lower arm of one of said levers, while the other is connected at its front end with the auxiliary frame below its pivot and at its rear end with the upper arm of one of said levers, front and rear guides mounted on the main frame and supporting said operating lines between the front and rear ends thereof, and -means for deflecting said operating lines vertically between said guides, comprising a wheel arranged between said front and rear guides and engaged on its upper and lower sides by said operating lines, an adjusting lever pivoted on the main frame and carrying said wheel, a hand lever mounted on the main frame, and lines connecting the upper and lower arms of said hand lever with the upper and lower arms of said adjusting lever, respectively, and a lock for said hand lever.

7. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, a supporting plane mounted on said frame, a righting plane mounted on said frame and only mova ble from a horizontal position upwardly and backagain, a descending plane mounted on the frame and only movalble from a horizontal position downwardly and back again, and means for operating said righting and descending planes comprising a central shaft mounted on the main frame and operatively connected with said righting plane, and a hollow outer shaft surrounding said central shaft and operatively connected with said descending plane.

8. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted; to swing vertically on the main frame, a supporting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, and

means for cushioning the ends of the oscillating movements-of said frames in either direction, comprising a buffer head mounted on the auxiliary frame, and two yielding stops arranged on the main frame in position to be engaged by the buffer head at either end of the oscillating movement of said frames relatively to each other, each of said stops comprising a bow spring fixedly mounted at one end on the main frame, and a link connecting the other end of said spring with the main frame.

9. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted to swing vertically on the main frame, a supporting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, and step by step means for retarding the movement of said frames relatively to each other.

10. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted to swing vertically on the main frame, a supporting plane mounted on the auxiliary frame, and means for retarding the movement of said frames relatively to each other, comprising a gear segment mounted on the main frame concentrically with the pivotal connection between the frames, a gear wheel pivotally mounted on the auxiliary frame and meshing with said segment, a star wheel turning with said gear wheel, and an oscillating pallet mounted on the auxiliary frame and having arms on opposite sides of its pivot which engage with said star Wheel.

11. An aeroplane, comprising a main frame, a supporting plane mounted on the main frame, a horizontally swinging rudder pivoted on the main frame, and means for operating said rudder comprising two levers, two lines connectin said levers with opposite sides of said rudder, pedals pivoted on said levers, and means for looking said levers in position comprising segtell ments mounted on said frame adjacent to said levers, and locking dogs operatively connected with said pedals and adapted to engage said segmen Witness my hand this; 28th day of J anuary, 1914.

ROY E. GIPPLE.

Witnessesi THEo, L. POPP,

ANNA HEIGIS.

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