Patent GB-191509370-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Aeroplanes and the like.
Inventor: WALKDEN SAM LEONARD
IPC: B64C13/00
Filed: 1915-06-26
Abstract: 9370. Walkden, S. L. June 26. Aerial machines without a e r o s t a t s ; steering, balancing, and regulating altitude ; planes, arrangement of ; propelling ; cars or cabins; toy and model cylinders and flying-machines. - An aeroplane having one central member and two side members projecting to the rear of the main planes, the side members carrying ailerons or being connected to pivoted or warpable parts of the main planes, has the two side members connected by a rocking lever pivoted on the central member so that the vertical movements of the side members are equal and opposite with respect to the central member. The side members preferably have auxiliary surfaces at their rear ends as described in Specification 3848/13, and which are adapted to be controlled by hand, or automatically with or without the aid of gyroscopes and wiud-driven fans in a manner similar to that described in the above-mentioned Specification and in Specification 8531/09, for maintaining the lateral and longitudinal pose of the machine. The rocking lever may be a single bar or trussed rod, or it may be a linkage to constrain the side members to move in parallel paths as described below. Fig. 12 shows a tractor biplane having two side members o connected to the warpable extremities a<1> of the main planes and constrained to move oppositely in parallel paths by a rocking lever device s, Fig. 10, pivoted on a central member c. The side members o carry fixed surfaces h<1> for automatically maintaining the attitude of the warpable extremities a<1> to the relative wind, and have hinged surfaces h which are adapted.to be moved simultaneously in the same sense so as to act as elevators, and in opposite senses to control, through the consequent movement of the members o, the lateral pose of the machine. Movement of the surfaces h may be effected by band or automatically, as by gyroscopes ; or both means may be available. The central member c has a vertical fin D aud rudder R, and fins D<2> are provided on the lateral members o. A fin D<1> may also be provided above the main plane. Rudders may be provided on the lateral members, and the central member may carry fixed stabilizing or movable elevator surfaces, or both. To prevent stresses in the side members when rigid rocking levers are used, vertical hinges y or flexible connexions may be provided. Modifications are described in which the surfaces h<1> are combined into a single surface extending across the two side members and having flexible tips corresponding to the surfaces h. The central member may be an open framework allowing the use of a propeller behind the main planes, or the side members may be enlarged to carry each an engine and tractor propeller, and guns, search-lights, or passengers. A rocking lever connexion may be provided at the front of the machine in addition to the one at the rear, the side members being extended forwardly for that purpose. Fig. 10 shows a linkage for coustraining the members o to move in parallel paths. Four links s connected at t to the members o are pivoted as shown to two levers v pivoted on the central member c. The levers v are also pivoted to links s<3> to form a linkage of which the points t<2> are constrained by radius-rods r. Fig. 7 shows means for connecting the side members o to the warpable extremities a<1> so as to prevent undue stress in the rear spars of the wings. The member is pivoted at two points y' or by a continuous hinge to the front spar, and has a swivelling connexion y' with the rear spar. Vertical rods z, z<1> transmit the warp to the other plane or planes of a biplane or triplane Fig. 15 shows a combined hand and automatic control for the adjustable surfaces h. The surfaces h are turned in opposite senses by cords i and pulleys R when a control lever l is turned, and are moved in the same sense when the lever l is swung backwards and forwards. These movements may be effected by pairs of gyroscopes G<1>, G<2> and G<3>, G<4> acting on the lever l. A fan i similar to those described in the Specifications above referred to also acts on the lever l to control the longitudinal pose. A hand-control lever having lateral and longitudinal swinging movement is described. A model glider is described having the side members fixed to large ailerons, the two side members and the central member each having a fixed transverse surface and vertical fin. The rocking lever has its ends passed through slots in the fins of the side members. The transverse surfaces on the side members are preferably at a greater angle of incidence than the ailerons.