Patent GB-191115529-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Aeroplane Flying Machines.
Inventor: STEPHENS JAMES SHAND
IPC: B64C39/00
Filed: 1911-07-04
Granted: 1912-07-04
Abstract: 15,529. Stephens, J. S. July 5, 1910, [Convention date]. Aerial machines without aerostats; planes, arrangement and construction of.-A flying-machine is provided with a number of supporting- planes so arranged and shaped as to give automatic stability to the machine, the rear plane being universally mounted to steer the machine in any direction. The upper main plane 2, Fig. 16, curves downwards at first from the centre towards the sides and then inclines upwards towards the tips. The planes 1, 2 are concave downwards in longitudinal section, and the incidence decreases towards the tips. By this arrangement, if the machine incline forwards and downwards, the outer parts of the planes move to a negative angle of incidence and tend to restore the longitudinal equilibrium. The lower main plane 1 and the tail plane 3 are curved upwards and outwards from the centre. The plane 1 is shorter than the upper plane 2, and its tips are substantially horizontal. In order to render the planes buoyant in water, sections of inflated pig-gut are packed into the spaces between the upper and lower coverings of the planes 1 and 2. The planes 1 and 2 are interconnected so that the upper plane always presents a greater angle of incidence than the lower plane. The rear plane 3 is arranged so that its centre of pressure is above an horizontal line through the resultant centre of pressure of the main planes. Aerial machines adapted to travel also on land; steering and balancing.-The machine is steered by a tail plane 3, Fig. 14, arranged above the horizontal line passing through the centre of pressure of the main planes 1, 2, and adjustable about three axes at right-angles to one another for steering vertically and horizontally and for balancing laterally. The tail is mounted at its normal centre of pressure on a ball-joint 17, Fig. 5, through which passes the frame strut 15. The tail can slide vertically on the strut 15 under the action of elastic ties 22, this movement being limited by the ties 18, 19. The steering pillar 24, Fig. 14, is mounted to tilt fore-and-aft about a pivot 42, Fig. 13, and rotate on its own axis by means of a grooved ring 43 rotatable in a circular bracket 44 fixed to the frame of the machine. The ring 43 carries an extending arm 39, Fig. 14, which is connected by cords 38 to the steering groundwheel 10 so that this is operated along with the tail-plane when steering laterally. A lever 27 is centrally pivoted on the upper end of the pillar 24, and a tiller 26 is secured to the lower end. The tail 3 is provided with braced uprights 23 connected by crossed cords 28, 29 to the ends of the lever 27 and the tiller 26, so that by moving the lever backwards and forwards the plane is inclined for steering vertically, and by rotating the lever 27 the plane is moved about a vertical axis for steering laterally. Cords 31, connected to the ends of the lever 27, pass around the guide pulleys on the bracket 44, Fig. 13, and pulleys 33 at the lower end of the rod 15, and are attached to the sides of the plane 3. By tilting the lever 27 about its pivot 30, the plane 3 is inclined laterally for balancing the machine. The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) comprises also the following subject-matter. The frames of the planes are constructed of spars 48, Fig. 15 (cancelled), passing through the webs of I-shaped ribs 49. The webs are formed preferably of vulcanized fibre, cut to shape and perforated to reduce the weight. The upper and lower members 51 of the ribs are of wood slotted to receive the web. Additional transverse spars 53, built up of upper and lower wooden strips and a web of vulcanized fibre, may be used where necessary. The frame is braced by flat wires 56. The ribs are connected at the front by a triangular spar 57, the lower surface of which is curved sharply upward. The rear ends of the ribs are turned to a cylindrical shape and fit into sockets in the rear member 59. The under-carriage of the machine comprises a central skid 5, Fig. 2, and side and front wheels 9, 10. The wheels are carried by forks journaled in frames 13 hinged at their rear ends and provided with air cushions 14 at their front end. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.