US1589591A - Rudder mechanism for flying machines - Google Patents

Description

l B9 '91 J. E.. FOWLER 5 i935 2 Shests-Eke 2 fNVEm'oR aw Zar ATTORNEKS.

J. E. F

June 22 1926.

RUDDER MECHANISM FOR FLYING IMG-MISES Original Filed Feb. 16 I Patented June 22, 1926.

narrar erstes.

JOHN` ELLES FOVLER, MOBLE, ALABAMA.`

RUBBER MECHANlIEIE/I FOR FLYlNG MACHINES.

Original application filed. February 19. 1925., Serial. No. 9,693. Divided. and this application led. July 7,

Serial No. 42,066.

The present invention relates to improve ments in rudder mechanism for flying machines and the present application is a division of my co-pending application filed Feb; rua-ry 16, 1925, Ser. No. 9,693, and entitled Flying machine.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved rudder construction for exposing a wide area to the air for more positive and responsive action.

The invention further provides novel mechanism for actuating the rudder in which the action is positive and reliable.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, and referred to more par* ticularly in the sub-joined claims.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference characters, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, showing a flying machine with the improved rudder mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a subsequent position of horizontal adjustment of the rudder; y

Fig. 4c is a similar view with the rudder tilted vertically;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section takenV longitudinally through the median portion of the cabin and showing the wing controlling mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 77 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 also in Fig. 6. v

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, 16 designates the body or cabin of the improved dying machine. which 4is preferably pointed fore and aft in order to meet and take advantage of wind resistance. The

cabin may be constructed ofany appropriate materials, and may be embodied in any desired shape and size to meet various conditions in the handling of passengers, freight and the like. J ust forwardly of the center of the cabin is the control compartment 17, in which are situated the left and right han'd wheels 18 and 19 for controlling the vertical and horizontal adjustment of the rudder` at the rear; and the large. and small levers 20 and 21 for controlling the various angular positions ofthe two wings which extend out from the median portion of the cabin. y

The rudder itself is made up of a box-like structure comprising the upper vand lower plates 69 and 70, and the side connecting plates 71 and 72.

The side plates are preferably of less height than the width of the top and bottom plates, and the plates'y combineto enclose a substantially rectangular space for the passage of the air. This space or cell is preferably subdivided by intersecting plane surfaces 73 kand 74, which join with the bottom wall and side walls at respectively the outer and lower edges thereof, and which meet at their upper ends and' are joined to the middle'portion of the'top wall 69. `,This structure provides substantially three spaces, triangular in cross section, for the passage of the air currents, and it reinforces the rudder both longitudinally and transversely. The rudder so formed is swivelly mounted for fpivotal movement in both vertical and horizontal planes. The movement of they rudder is a universal movement, and for this purpose a beam 75 is secured to the under. side of' the bottom portion of the rudder running longitudinally thereof, and having forwardly of its central part, a pivot 76 extending therethrough and through the block 77 carried in the horizontal pivots 78 supported upon the brackets 79 from the tail piece of the machine. The pivots 78 lie at substantially right angles to the pivot 76 so that a universal movement is permitted the rudder.

From the forward end of the rudder or from the beam 75 extends an operating arm 80 which enters the rear or tail portion of the machine, and has a forwardly extending end 81 lying through the central portions of the two horizontal and vertically slidable links 82 and 83. The vertical link 82 has eyes 84: at its upper and lower ends for sliding on the upper and lower bars 85 and 86. In a similar manner eyes 87 are provided upon the ends of the horizontal link 83 for sliding movement on the guide bars 88 and 89, which extend in a vertical direction. The mechanism is housed in the tail portion of the cabin, and a slot 9() is provided in the top portion of the tail piece to permit of the free movement of the arm 80 The movement of the links is controlled by the hand wheels 18 and 19 in the control compartment, and for this purpose, these hand wheels are mounted upon the drums 91 and 92 journaled in appropriate parts of the frame work of the machine. In Fig. 6 is shown how cables are wound on these drums. As respects the drum 91, four cables 93, 93a, 94 and 94a are wound on the fore and rear portions of the drum, and these cables are carried over appropriate pulleys to the tail portion of the cabin, and are connected from opposite directions to the horizontal link 83. The cables 93 and 94 are shown in Fig. 2 to train over pulleys so as to connect with the top portion of the horizontal link and to have the effect to lift this link when the drum in the control section is turned in one direction. In this same Fig. 2, the other cables 93a and 94"L are shown to be passed over pulleys and connect with the lower side of the horizontal link 83 whereby on rotation of the drum in the direction just referred to, the cable will be payed out to admit of the vertical adjustment of said link 83. On reverse rotation of said drum 91, the link will be shifted in an opposite direction, and the cables 93 and 94 payed out on the drum, and the cables 93a and 94a wound on the drum whereby to pull the horizontal link downwardly. Movement of this link up and down will, through the arm 80, cause similar shifting of the rudder in a vertical plane.

The other drum 92 is provided with cables 95, 95, 96 and 96a, which are trained over pulleys and carried to the rear of the cabin where such cables come from opposite sides and are connected to the vertical link 82. These cables are wound in opposite directions upon the drum 92, and when such drum is rotated in one direction by its hand wheel 19, two of such cables will be wound on the drum exerting a pull to one side on the vertical link 82 while the other cables are payed out permitting of this movement. The movement of the vertical link will cause horizontal turning movement in the rudder, and through the medium of the two drums and arrangement of: eight cables, the rudder may be caused to assume any position of vertical or horizontal angular adjustment. The steering of the flying machine may be thus expeditiously effected, and the length of the rudder and its cellular character makes the devi-ce very Sensitive.

It is obvious that various changes and modilications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing trom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim:-

IVhat is claimed is:

A flying machine comprising a cabin, a rudder mounted for universal movement on the cabin, a lever projecting from said rudder, a horizontally extending link slidable vertically, a. vertical link sliding' horizontally, said links having longitudinal slots therein, said slots intersect-ing one another at substantially right angles and both said slots engaged with said lever, the walls of the slots adapted to shift said lever and the slots adapted to permit the shifting movement ot the lever, and means in the cabin coupled to said links for selectively adjusting the same both horizontally and vertically.

JOHN ELLIS FOVVLER.

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