US1807710A - schleicher - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. C. SCHLEICHER Y IRSHIP l F'inled Aug. 18, 1928 Jafz/ @dwg/MR June 2' 1931.

June 2, 1931. J. c. scHLElcHER AIRSHIP Filed Aug. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. C. SCHLEICHER June 2, 1931.

AIRSHIP Filed Aug. 18, 1928 WITNESS:

51 Il 'n n Patented June 2, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. SGHLEICI-IER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIRSHIP Application filed August 18, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in airships of the lighter than air or dirigible type, an object being to provide an airship in which the propellers are so arranged that perfect control of the ship may be maintained even in winds of high velocity.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an airship having means for controlling the direction of vertical flight, so that in the event of loss of gas, the ship may :be maneuvered to a successful landing, while in the event of excess gas, the ship may be prevented from rising above the desired height.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for stabilizing the airship both in flight and in the event of serious mishap, the means referred to acting to resist direct downward movement, and thus reduce danger of a sudden landing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an airship in which the car is detachably connected with the bag and capable of being released, so that in the event of lire or other serious mishap, the car and bag may be separated.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an airship constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section with parts in elevation.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the wings.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character l0 indicates the body or bag of the airship which may be made of metal and rigidthroughout its length. The body is circular 1n cross section and tapers toward each end where it is provided with recesses 11 to receive motors Serial No. 300,447.

12, the latter being mounted upon trunnions 13 so that they may be moved pivotally as shown by dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. These motors have secured upon their shafts propellers 14, so that the latter are movable with the motors and may be tilted vertically.

Extending outwardly from opposite sides of the hollow body 10 at each end thereof are horizontally disposed fins 15. These lins extend from opposite sides of the horizontal center of the body and act to stabilize and control the vertical flight of the ship. l

In addition, the airship has extending centrally and horizontally at opposite sides, wings or planes 16. These Wings or planes 16 have their inner ends provided with relatively broad fiat faces 17 for contact with similar faces 18 provided at the outer ends of hollow extensions 19. These extensions 19 are rigid with the body and are in communication therewith so that gas contained with in the body will also enter these hollow extensions and provide additional lifting power. The wings 16 are hingedly connected to the extensions 19 along their upper edges as indicated at 20, so that these Wings may be folded upward against the body as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings. Removable pins 21 serve to prevent upward movement of the wings, while braces 22 lend rigidity to the outer edges of the wings.

Mounted below the wings or below the extensions 19 are propellers 23 which are carried by the shafts of pivotally mounted engines, after the manner of the propellers 14.

By means of the arrangement of the wing 16, the fins 15 and propellers 14 and 23, perfect control of the ship may be had even in winds of high velocity. The propellers 14 may be utilized both as traction and lifting propellers as required, and the propellers 23 may be likewise utilized, while the fins 15 and wings 16 will assist in maintaining proper balance. The propellers may also be utilized to guide the ship horizontally.

In addition to the controlling means just described, the wings 16 carry resilient plates 24. These plates are positioned at the leading and t 'ailing edges of the wings near the outer ends of the latter and have their inner edges 25 permanently secured to the wings. Bridles 26 which are secured to the outer free edges of the plates 24 have connected thereto one end of cz bles 2T which extend into within convenient reach of the crei'v of the ship, or into pilot houses 28 at opposite endsI of the body lO. The plates 24 act to further control the ships Hight and by manipulating the cables 27, the outer edges of the plates 2l may be flexed upward over the upper surface of the wings so as to properly bank the ship when turningl and to retard its forward movement. The forward movement of the ship may also be retarded through the operation of the propellers.

The bottom of the body 10 is provided with a depression 29 for receiving a car 30, the top of the car being shaped in conformity with the shape of the depression. The bottom of the car is rounded as shown at 3l and carries relatively wide wheels 32, so that the wheels will not readily sink in soft earth. lVindows 32 are provided in the ca r.

Extending upwardly from the depression 29 is a. tubular member 33 whose lower end communicates with an opening provided in t-he top of the car and whose upper end is closed by a removable closure 34. A ladder 35 extends upward through the tubular mem ber 33 through the car 30, so that occupants of the car may pass upward through the tubular member by means of the. ladder 35 and into the pilot houses 28 through trap doors 36. Hand rails 37 are provided longitudinally along the top of the body 10.

The. car 30 has its lower end rounded and is capable of movement both over the surface of the ground or over the surface of the water, and is of a character to remain inflated for a relatively long period. It is secured to the body 10 within the depression 29 by means of a cable 38. One end of this cable is secured within the ear as shown at 39 while its opposite end is wound upon a drum 40 provided in a compartment 4l within the body 10. This drum carries a ratchet wheel 42 whose teeth are engaged by a pivotally mounted dog 43, while a cable 44 extends from this dog into the car 30.

In the event of serious mishap, such as fire in the body 10, a pull upon the cable 44 will release the ratchet and permit the cable 38 to unwind from the drum so that the car will be separated from the body. Should it be necessary to release the car when the ship is travelling over a body of water, the character of the car will permit the same to remain aioat for a relatively long period.

By providing reversible motors for the propellers or providing other means for driving the propellers in a reverse direction, the ship can be driven backwards, which is desirable where the ship is running into a storm and it is impossible to turn the ship.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In an airship, a rigid buoyant body tapered at each end, propeller-s at each end of said body, projections extending laterally from opposite sides of and rigid with the body, wings fold-ably secured to and extending horizontally from the extensions, means to hold the wings extended, resilient plates positioned at opposite edges and upon opposite sides of the wings and having their inner edges secured to said wings and their free edges disposed toward the leading and trail ing edges of the wings, and means secured to the free edges of the plates whereby the plates may be independently controlled.

2. In an airship, a rigid buoyant body, projections extending laterally from opposite sides of and rigid with the body, vertically disposed relatively broad flat bearing faces for the outer ends of the projections, foldable wings extending from the projections, rela tively broad flat bearing faces at the inner ends of the wings for contact with the bearing faces of the projections, means hingedly connecting one edge of the bearing faces of the extensions to one edge of the bearing faces of the inner ends of the wings, and means to detachably secure the opposite edges of said faces together.

3. In an airship, a buoyant body having a recess therein, a car having its top portion engaged in said recess, said top portion being shaped to it within said recess, a revolvable drum within said body, a cable wound on said drum and terminally attached to said car, said cable adapted to lower the car from said body, means for holding the drum against operation to retain said car in its recess, and flexible means attached at one of its ends to said first means and having its opposite end manipulably disposed in said car, whereby manipulation of said latter end is effective to operate said first means for releasing said car, said cable being then effective to lower said car.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

JOHN C. SCHLEICHER.

Images