Patent GB-190910299-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Aeroplanes.
Inventor: ROLLISON CHARLES HARRY
IPC: B64C1/00
Filed: 1909-04-30
Granted: 1910-03-24
Abstract: 10,299. Rollison, C. H. April 30. [Cognate Application, 18,096/09.] Steering and balancing automatically by a gravityactuated electric switch actuating an electric clutch, which connects the winding-drum, for operating the steering- surfaces, to a continuously-rotating shaft. The steering-surfaces may be connected to a cord a', Fig. 1, passing round a drum a, which is rotated from a constantly-driven shaft b through the medium of electric clutches when these are energized. The magnet portion c of the clutch is secured to the shaft b, and is provided with an armature c<1> carrying a bolt c<2>. When the magnet is energized, the head c<3> of the bolt projects into the path of cranked levers d, e carrying pawls d<1>, e<1>. The pawls d<1> are adapted to co-operate with racks d<2> on the end of the drum a, so as to rotate it in one direction or the other. Centrally placed at the upper part of the end of the drum a is a notched plate f, which is engaged by a spring locking-bolt f<1> to hold the drum in its adjusted position. The lever e is placed below the lever d ; and the head c<3> first acts on the lever e causing its pawl e<1> to engage with a rack f formed on the locking- bolt f<1>, and withdraw the bolt out of engagement with the rack f. The lever e then lifts the lever d and causes the drum to be rotated by the pawl d<1>. The arrangement of levers is such that the head c<3> first moves off the lever e, thereby releasing the spring bolt f and allowing it to lock the drum in its adjusted position, and afterwards moves off the end of the lever d. The electric clutches are controlled by a gravity switch, which is adapted to close an electric circuit through one of a series of contacts. The switch device comprises an arcshaped tube, or a pair of adjacently-arranged channels j, j', Fig. 5, attached to the frame g of the machine, and having a number of balls h which engage with insulated terminal points i projecting into the tube. An adjustable sector k carries a number of contacts l, which press against the terminals i. The contactsl, in the example shown, are fifteen in number, and are connected to a set of contacts 1-15 on the drum a. Two brush contacts n are provided, which are connected with the electro-magnets c. When the sector k is in its central position and the machine is on an even keel, neither of the electro-magnets c is energized, since the rolling contacts h are on the studs i which are in contact with the contacts l leading to the contacts 6 ... 10 on the drum, and none of these are in contact with the brushes n. When the machine tilts, the balls move to make contact with the studs i leading to the contacts on the drum, which are covered by the brushes n. The drum is then rotated to move the balancing-surfaces, and the rotation also serves to cut out the live contacts on the drum and de-energize the magnet c. By moving the sector k manually, the machine can be set at any inclination, any deviation therefrom being automatically corrected. The sector k may be mounted on a steering-wheel. The machine is provided with two sets of automatic mechanism operating to correct transverse and longitudinal stability. To ensure that the electric clutches are not initially energized except when the bolts c<3> are free from the levers d, e, an insulated contact-piece o is mounted on the clutches, through which the circuit of the battery also has to be completed before the clutches can be energized. This can only take place when the contact o is under the fixed brushes o<1>. In order to keep the clutches energized after the contact has passed over the brushes o<1>, a relay circuit is provided comprising an electro-magnet p and an armature q. When the current first passes through the contact o, the electro - magnet p is energized and completes the circuit of the clutch through the contact q<1> and electro-magnet p, independently of the contact o, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. According to the first Provisional Specification, a mercury or ;other liquid switch may be used to control the energizing of the clutches ; or a switch may be actuated by a pendulum.