Patent GB-191125695-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Aerial Machines.
Inventor: MEUGNIOT JEAN GABRIEL JOSEPH
IPC: B64C39/00
Filed: 1911-11-17
Granted: 1912-12-14
Abstract: 25,695. Meugniot, J. G. J., and Meugniot, A. C. M. Dec. 2, 1910, [Convention date]. Steering and balancing.-In an aeroplane or like apparatus having pairs of supporting-planes interconnected to balance the air pressures on them, each of the planes comprises a number of separate elements pivoted at or near their forward edge, and the separate elements of one plane are connected by independent connexions to the corresponding elements of the opposite plane in order to increase the sensitiveness of the device for maintaining equilibrium. Means are also provided for manually or automatically adjusting the planes or certain of the elements thereof in the same or opposite senses independently of the automatic differential movements of the planes. In one form, each of the elements, such as the ribs a, Fig. 1, of one supporting-plane A is connected to the corresponding element of the other plane A by cords d attached to the ends of levers c, which are pivoted to the frame of the machine and connected by rods e, e<1>. The cords may connect the two ribs directly, passing over pulleys on uprights on the body of the machine. In another arrangement having the ribs a, Figs. 4 and 5, pivoted at their front edge to the main spar b, a second spar b<1> passes through slots in the ribs and carries a series of arms having pulleys g, g<1> mounted thereon. The corresponding ribs of the two planes A are interconnected by cords e, e<1> attached respectively to the upper and lower sides of the ribs a and passing over the pulleys g, g<1>. The planes A can be combined with an elevator to balance the pressures on the three planes by passing the series of cords e, e' over pulleys on a longitudinally movable rod connected to an arm controlling the inclination of the elevator. In order to move the planes or any number of the elements in the same direction for controlling the altitude of the machine without interfering with the differential action, the cords e, e' of each pair of elements are passed around separate pulleys j, j<0>, Fig. 8, on a spindle k which can be moved on a guide k'. In another form, the levers l, m, Fig. 9, which correspond to each pair of levers c, Fig. 1, connecting the corresponding elements, are pivoted at l<1>, m<1> and connected by links i to a link n adjustable by a rod o. In order to adjust the elements of the planes A in opposite directions while preserving their differential action, one end of the link i connecting the levers l, m, may be moved along the lever so as to unbalance the arms of the levers. The same effect may be obtained by moving one of the pivots l<1>, m<1> along the corresponding lever l or m. The adjustments of the planes may be made by the aviator or by automatically acting apparatus such as a pendulum or gyroscope. When the rod o, Fig. 9, is adjusted by automatic mechanism a second device, controlled by the pilot, is inserted between the rod and the automatic mechanism. The planes may also be adjusted by a device responsive to variations in the velocity of the air current, comprising two disks q, q', Fig. 13, mounted on a rod p set in the direction of flight. The rod p slides in a guide p' and is returned to its normal position by springs r. The movements of the rod p are transmitted by Bowden mechanism &c. to the control members such as the spindle of the pulleys k, Fig. 8, the rod o, Fig. 9, the joint of the connecting-links i, or the pivots of the levers l, m. The connexions between the rod p and the planes can be inverted so that an increase of pressure on the disk may be arranged to cause either an increase or decrease of the angle of incidence of the planes. In the first arrangement, the machine utilizes the pulsations of the wind and follows a wavy trajectory, and in the second the machine flies in a straight line. Planes, construction of.-The ribs a, Fig. 1, of the planes are arranged to slide on the main spar b so as to collapse the plane and the spar b is hinged near its inner end so as to fold against the body. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the ribs a are pivoted about horizontal and vertical axes to the spar b, and the spars b, b<1> are pivoted at their inner ends to the machine so that the plane can be collapsed. The bracing of the rear spar b<1> comprises a series of vertical cords attached at the upper end to the spar b<1> and at the lower end to an inclined stay connecting the outer end of the spar to the body. The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) comprises also the following subject-matter, which does not appear in the Specification as accepted:- Steering and balancing; planes, arrangement and construction of.-The ribs a, Fig. 1, may be connected at the rear end to a transverse spar which is connected by cords to the ends of the levers c for balancing the pressures on the planes as a whole. In another form, the ribs a, Fig. 8 (Cancelled), are pivoted about vertical pivots on the spar b, and the ribs of the two planes are connected by cords e, e<1> so that the planes are moved laterally for balancing the pressures. In order to move the planes A, Fig. 11 (Cancelled), in the same direction without interfering with the differential action, they are connected by a divided link i hinged to a lever i<3> the pivot of which is movable on the frame of the machine. The automatic mechanism described above, comprising disks q, q<1> and the connecting-rod p, may be arranged transversely of the machine to control the vertical rudders for correcting lateral movements of the machine. One arrangement of the planes on the machine is shown in Fig. 18 (Cancelled), in which horizontal planes A<1>, A<2>, B', B<2>, and vertical planes C', C<2> are differentially connected in pairs. In another arrangement of horizontal planes, shown in Fig. 20 (Cancelled), the planes A', A<4> and A<2>, A' are interconnected.