US1704968A - Airplane take-off - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1929. W.-E. GALE AIRPLANE TAKE-OFF Filed Jan. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1929. w. E. GALE AIRPLANE TAKE-OFF- 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 3, 1928 INVENTOR.

'A'ITORNEY i Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PiTE N-T OFFICE.

WILLIA E GALE, or names, TEXAS.-

AIRPLANE mans on.

This invention relates to aeronauticsand more particularly to an automatic take off device or catapult for airplanes, the princiipal object being to provide anapparat us 0 the character specified to enable an aviator to take off where no straightaway of sufficient length is convenient, as, for ex ample, on board ship.-

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a central tower and a revolving superstructure capable of constraining one or more ships to move in a circular path until such time as the said ships have attained suflicient [momentum to enable them to be released in mid-air, whereupon they may assume a straight course solely under their own propelling power.

, Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a release, which may either be actuated by the occupantof the plane, when the plane has cleared the ground sufficient to enable it to be released, or by a ground attendant uponsignal from the flyer.

Still, another object of the invention resides in the provision of 'a novel releasing. means, adapted, when in operation, to hold the plane in an equi-balanced position in accordance with the required banking of the plane as the latter follows-the circular coarse Figure 2 is ,a fragmentary detailview of the rotating housin at the top of the tower. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a plane equipped to co-operate with the invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view of'a formof releasing means embodying the invention, and Figure 5 is a detail view of a form of lever and push rod for actuating said releasing means.

In proceeding further, it may be stated that a considerable-number of modifications as to details in the construction of the invention may be resorted to from time to time to improve upon the efliciency of the same, it being intended herein to simply set forth Figure 1 represents an elevational view of i Application. filed January 13,1928. sea-t1 no. 246,634.. I

the broad example of starting a plane in a restricted area, constraining the same to move in a, circular path, and holding the plane until the latter attains cruising speed.

In the drawings 1 designates a central tower which must of necessity be of considerable height in order that the plane,-desighated by the character 2, in gaining speed, F

may swing outward sufiicient distance to rise to a safe level above the ground. The tower is constructed of riveted structural steel so as to possess the -necessary strength in sustaining the weight of one or more planesof average weight and their fuel load.

'Rotatably mounted upon the tower 1 is a superstructure 3 in the form'of lateral beams constructed also of structural steel.

In order to absorb-excess friction, a cone shape d housing 4 is provided near the top of thetower to which the" structure 3 is afiixed in the manner shown in Figure 1.

This housing, as apparent in Figure 2, has an'annular recess 5 1n WlllCll reposes the anti? friction'balls 6, intermediate the shoulderformed on the top of the towerand a plate 7 affixed to the housing 4 Integral with the housing'is a cylindrical element 8 provided with eyes 9 to which are. connected cables 10, the latter extending between pulleys 11- and 12, the latter being a restraining pulley,"near the outer ends of'the beams 3. To the ends of cables 10 is connected the apparent later. v I

- Due; to the enormous weight of; the superstructure. 3, provisions are made'by which planes 2, the manner of connecting to become it may first-'be'started to revolving slowly,.,: since it'would be a diflicult matter to initi-"l ally start the same by the plane itself. An

electric motor 13 is provided, revolving, throughgears (not shown) in gear box 14, the vertical shaft 15, shown in Figure 2. Rotating power is thus transmitted'to lateral shaft 16 throughbeveled gears '17, in'turn rOt-ating PillionS 18 t ends of the shaft 16, the latter enmeshing crown gear 19 on the undersidelof the housing 4. Hence, the housing is rotated. 1

With reference now to the means for holding and releasing the planes, reference is made to Figures 3 to 5'- inclusive. In order to be successfully operated by the invention, a plane is required to have securely connected thereto, with proper re-inforcement, rings 20, to'which short, but very strong and durable pieces of cable 21 are connected.

" a sleeve towhich one of the rings 24 is.

affixed. ,Carried upon the extreme outer endsv of the bars'23 are hooks 26, engaging operatively into the rings 22 carried bythe short opposing the sleeve 25 have connected to. theirouter ends a smaller cable 28, held by loops 29 relative to the larger plane sus- These pieces of cable, preferably of "steelsections of cable 2l forming permanent connections on the plane. 1

Arms 27 rigidly ailixed to the cross bar 23 pending cables 10. These releasing cables 28 also extend over pulleys in the ends of the beams 3, but completely across the structure in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2.

a The object is to exert a pulluponthe cable 28 of equal .force on its either end, and simultaneously, in order that the bars 23 will be rotated simultaneously by the arms 27, 'to

cause the .hooks 26 to withdraw from the rings 22 carried by the cables 21 at the same time, which ac gn will obviously release both points of sec'urement of the plane simul- 'taneously when the latter attains the required speed and is'asafe level above the ground. To accomplish the above action, a

, push'rod 30 is provided centrally of the" tower, provided with a bifurcated head 31, as seen in Figure 2 especially, which, when urged upwardly, engages and pushes upward on the cable 28, consequently causing the ends to recede, imparting a pull upon the arms'27. i

A simple form of compound lever 32, separately illustrated in Figure 5 is considered to be sufficient to exemplify the prin oiple'involved. The push rod 30 is shown in this figure as being pivotedat a to the lever 32, while the lever is centrally pivoted at b to a base 33, in order that a downward thrust I upon the free end of the lever will urge the push rod upward to bring the head 31 into contact with the cable 28 to efiect release of the plane suspended upon the cable 10 as aforesaid.

It is understood .that the apparatus embodyingthe invention maybe used on vessels and on landing fieldswith equally successful results, and moreover, if it is desired ornecessary that-the planes be given -'a greater radius ,in which to gain cruising speed, the cables 10 may be just as effectively wound upon suitable drums in order that they may be extended to swing the planes outward from the tower 1, gradually paying out the cables as the planes gather In operation, the cross'bars 23 are connected by hooks 26 to rings22 carried by the ends of cables 21. The motors of the planes 2 are started; at the same time starting the motor 13 in the tower. The planes are started moving as the motor 13 beginsrotating the central shaft '15 to-beginhnoving the beams 3. The beams 'arecarried around at the same speed as that of the planes until the latter have gained'suflicient speed as to carry the beams alone. The motor 13 may then be stopped, as the planes gather speed, each moving at the me rate of speed.

Itis required of t e pilot -to set his controls to accord with the circular line of travel to which the plane is held by the cables 10, and eachplane is operated accordingly. Havingattainedsuificient speed for safe release, a signal from the pilot will instruct the attendant on the ground to actuate the lever 32 to effect release of the planes simultaneously, provided two are be ing sent up, allowing them .to resume a straight course.

What is claimed is:

An air-plane take-ofl apparatus including a tower; a revolving member mounted atop said tower. and having means for joining cables thereto; means carried by the opposite ends of said cables to effect their con,- nection withthe body of an air-plane, whereby the latter Will beconstrained in ascending to encircle said tower to gain cruising speed, means to allow said plane to assume natural flying angles when so constrained,

and ground means for effecting release of has been attained.

In testimony-whereof I aflix WILLIA E. GALE.

my signature. v

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