Patent GB-190819982-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or connected with Aeroplanes.
Inventor: FRASER JAMES EDWARD
Filed: 1908-09-23
Granted: 1909-09-16
Abstract: 19,982. Fraser, J. E. Sept. 23. Aerial machines without aerostats; aeroplanes; framework; cars; propelling; steering.-The aerial machine is raised and propelled by two pairs of rotary vane - wheels which are provided with mechanism for keeping the vanes approximately horizontal during the downward movement of the vanes but allowing the vanes to tilt through a predetermined angle on the upward movement. Steering is effected (1) by adjusting the angle at which the propeller blades are maintained, (2) by manual or automatic adjustment of front and rear horizontal planes, and (3) by a flexible rear rudder forming part of the car. The car is adapted to move sideways, and the movements are communicated to the front and rear steering-planes to turn them in different directions at the two sides of the machine in order to preserve transverse stability and to careen the machine when moving in a curved path. Further, a cradle is pivoted inside the car so as to swing longitudinally and operate the front and rear planes to maintain longitudinal balance. The upper frame carrying the propelling and steering parts comprises central and side beams 1<a>, 1<b> connected together by transverse rods 6, Fig. 5, and cross stays 9<b>, 9<c>. A platform 14, Fig. 1, is suspended by rods 10, 10<a> from the central beam 1<a>, and by ties 13 from the side beams. The front rod 10 is hollow, and is connected to a swivelling cowl 18 which, when the machine is travelling over water, is turned to catch the air. The air from the cowl passes through a non-return valve down the tube 10 and is used to inflate a series of cylindrical rubber casings 17 secured to the underside of the platform 14. When the floats 17 are not required, the mouth of the cowl 18 is reversed and air is drawn from the floats so as to reduce the atmospheric resistance. The motor 21, Fig. 1, is suspended from the centre beam 1<a>, and the vertical shaft passes through a slot in the beam and is secured to a driving-pinion 24 which is supported in a bearing 3<a> loosely mounted on the beam 1<a>. A universal joint is provided in the motor shaft so that the motor and the beam 1<a> can move slightly sideways while the upper part of the shaft is securely journaled in the bearing 3<a>. The pinion 24 drives shafts 25, which drive the transverse shafts 27 carrying the vane - wheels. The side beams being lower than the centre beams, a universal joint 28, Fig. 5, is provided in each transverse shaft 27. Each vane-wheel consists of two vanes 35 secured to rods 32 mounted in the ends of arms 30, 31 which are secured respectively to the inner and outer ends of the rotating shaft 27. The rods 32 are provided at their ends with slotted cranks 33, 33<a>, Fig. 23, which are engaged by pins 39 carried by arms 38 mounted on eccentrics 36 loose on the shaft 27 and adjustable by levers 41 and rods 42. On the downward stroke, the vanes 35 are retained in an horizontal position, but on the upstroke, owing to the larger part of the vane being to the rear of its supporting-rod 32, the vanes are tilted to an amount depending on the length of the slot 40 in the cranks 33. The tiltirg of the vanes is facilitated by forming the vane in front of the rod 32 with valves which open on the upstroke and so reduce the resistance. The eccentrics 36 at each side of the vane-wheels are adjusted simultaneously to obtain a variation in the propelling and lifting effects of the wheels, by a lever 37, Fig. 1, which is connected by rods to the ends of the levers 41. The car frame 47, 48, 49 is rigidly secured to the beam 1<a>, and the sides 50, Fig. 15, are constructed of lattice-work over which fabric is stretched. Funnel-shaped ventilators are provided at the front and rear to admit air to the motors. The front of the car forms a curved wind-shield, while the rear part is tapered and made flexible so that it can be adjusted for steering. A number of tapering blades 55, Figs. 1 and 15, are secured to the frame member 49, and a cord is secured to the tip of each blade and passed around a pulley 57 on a vertical shaft 56. The rudder is covered with fabric, and by turning the shaft 56 the end of the rudder bends to one side or the other. A cradle 63 is supported by rods 58, 59 pivoted on shafts 60 which are supported by hangers from the central beam 1<a>. The cradle is formed of ribs and lattice-work and has a limited movement in a fore-and-aft direction. The upper ends of the pivoted rods 58, 59 are connected to rods 61, 61<b> for operating the front and rear balancing-planes 78, 78<a>, 79<b>, 79<c>, Fig. 5. On the front end of the cradle is fixed a slotted plate 71, Fig. 12, having a rack formed at the upper side of the slot, which is engaged by a pinion carried by the bifurcated end 73 of the front supporting-rod 58. The pinion is turned by a hand-wheel 75 to vary the inclination of the rods 58, 59 and to operate the front and rear planes. The rod 61, secured to the upper end of the rod 58, is connected to a member 90, Fig. 20, movable over a circular support 89 and carrying a lever 92, which is connected by jointed rods 94, 94<a> to the front pair of planes 78, 78<a>. The support 89 is rotatable about the central beam 1<a> on which it is mounted. The deflecting-mechanism 95, Fig. 1, for the rear planes is similar to that for the front planes except that it is inverted. In operation, when the machine inclines downwards at the front, the cradle 63 swings forwards, giving a rearward movement to the actuating-rods 61, 61<b>. This action causes the leading edge of the front planes to be upwardly inclined while that of the rear planes is downwardly inclined. By turning the hand-wheel 75, the planes can be adjusted by hand. The flexible portion of the car, forming a rudder, is operated by an endless cord 103 passing round the hub of the hand-wheel 97, Fig. 12, and guided by pulleys along the frame of the machine. When the rudder is inclined to one side, the air current tends to move the car in the opposite direction and any movement of the car causes the beam 1<a> to rotate in its bearings. The movement of the beam tilts the levers 92, connected to the front and rear steering-planes so that the inclination of the planes on the side of the machine towards which the car swings is increased, while the inclination of the planes on the opposite side is decreased. The action of these planes tends to heel over the machine towards the centre of the curved path. The machine is provided with front and rear planes carried on the posts 10, 10<a>, Fig. 1, which may be adjusted for steering. Planes 117, Fig. 5, are loosely pivoted on the main driving-shafts 27. The wings and the steering and supporting planes are constructed of a number of ribs 108, Fig. 6, attached to the main rib 32, in the case of the wing vanes, and to a forward strip 113. The front edge of the plane is serrated, being formed of a strip of wood connected to the ends of the ribs 108 and to the strip 113. The rear part of the ribs 108 is made flexible and tapering. Vertical fins 8 are placed at intervals along the plane, and the whole is braced and stayed and covered on both sides with fabric. In the case of the wing planes, the forward part of the plane is provided with downwardly opening valves 108<a> so as to be ineffective on the upstroke.