Patent GB-191210082-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Aerial Machines.
Inventor: BALASSANIAN BARONIR HOVANES
IPC: B64C31/04
Filed: 1912-04-29
Granted: 1913-04-24
Abstract: 10,082. Balassanian, B. H. April 29. Aerial machines without aerostats; planes, arrangement of; framework.-An aerial machine constructed on the principles described in Specification 30,183/09 comprises a framework composed of two longitudinal rods a, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, uprights c, d near the front end, struts b, e, f, and stays t, and provided with adjustable main planes W, tail-planes D, F, rudder E, vibratory propeller G, and sliding seats g, h. A screw propeller H may also be provided. Planes, construction of; steering and balancing; cars.-The main planes are arranged to swing backwards and forwards automatically under the control of springs, and the tail-planes and rudder may also be under spring control. The centre of gravity is adjusted by sliding the seats, and a vibrating propeller at the front is also adjustable. The main planes are constructed of spars 23, Figs. 10 and 11, connected by sockets 27 to end ribs 25, 26, and also to intermediate ribs 24, some of which are rigid and shaped to the required curvature, while the remainder are flexible and assume the same curvature by being fixed to the spars. The wing frame is covered only on the upper side, and the ribs are left free at the rear for flexibility. The main planes W, Fig. 1, are pivoted by a universal joint W<1> to the frame a near the uprights c, d, and at a point W<2> behind or in front of W<1> are provided with a tube sliding on a rod which is pivoted universally to and slides along the frame a. The controlling-springs are provided at the joints W<2> and in the stays t. The tail-plane comprises flaps D hinged to the ends of rods b<2> carried by the frame and controlled by springs w<2>. The movable seat comprises a U-shaped bar i' mounted with its ends sliding on the rods a and provided with a depending column k, on which a seat pillar g can be adjusted vertically. A second seat h is composed of a pair of U-shaped bars covered at the bottom. The seats are adjusted by a control wheel mounted on the seat so as to slide therewith and connected to a wire fixed at its ends to the frame a.. The control wheels or levers of the planes are mounted loosely on the axis of the seat-controlling wheel. The seat may be suspended from a frame carrying three rollers mounted on the frame a as shown in Fig. 16, the distance between the two upper rollers being adjustable for gripping the frame a and securing the seat. The propeller G is adjusted about its pivot 8 by a wheel 5 thereon geared to the wheel 3 secured to a sleeve 2 on the axis 6 about which the propeller oscillates, the sleeve 2 being provided also with a wheel 1 which is geared to a control wheel 9 and may be under spring control. The propeller G is automatically maintained in the plane of the main planes when not oscillating, by elastic means w<4>, Fig. 3, controlling an arm on the axis 6. Propelling is preferably effected by muscular operation of a reciprocating blade G, which is spring-mounted on a pivot 8 connected by rods 7 to an axis 6, about which the blade is reciprocated by cranks and connecting-rods operated by pedals l, Fig. 3, reciprocated by the aviator. There may be a number of pedals coupled by rods m. The propeller may be driven by a motor, the rotary motion being converted into a reciprocating motion by the mechanism described below. Elastic means w<4> acting on the axis 6 may be arranged to counteract the downward movement of the blade during the second half of the stroke. The second half of the upward stroke may be controlled by another spring. Adapted to travel also on land or water; shock of landing, deadening.-The land wheels A, Fig. 2, are carried on the ends of a strut f connecting uprights d, and may he driven by a pedal 10 reciprocated by the aviator, the reciprocating motion being converted into a rotary motion by a rod 17 connected to the pedal 10 and to a cross-head 16, which slides on the frame e and is connected by a rod 15 to a crank-shaft 14 connected by belt or like gearing 12 to the axle f. The wheels A are mounted in forks 20 which are controlled by springs sp, Fig. 1, on the axle f, or by elastic means w, Fig. 12, connected to a lever 32, which is mounted on the axle f and contacts with the ground to act as a skid when alighting. Spring- controlled skids B, C may also be provided, the former being pivoted to rods 11 sliding on the uprights d, and the latter being pivoted at C<1>. For alighting on water, the machine is provided with floats 19, Figs. 6 and 7, which have limited movement about axes 18 fixed to horizontal rods 31 mounted to turn in a transverse tube f. The movements of the floats are counteracted by springs.