Patent GB-265547-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to aerial machines
IPC: B64C27/04
Filed: 1926-11-02
Abstract: 265,547. Soc. Anon. des Anciens Etablissements Chauviere. Feb. 4, 1926, [Convention date]. Machines supported by rotary wing-systems; propelling; steering and balancing. - In an arrangement for neutralizing the reactive torque of a single lifting wing-system 37, Fig. 1, the engine 49 drives the wing-system through a clutch 48, and a shaft 45 connected by a Cardan joint 46 to a pinion 38 journaled in a casing 35 and meshing with a pinion 33 fixed to the vertical shaft 36, which is also journaled in the casing 35. The casing 35 is rotatable in bearings 40, 42 fixed in the fuselage and carries a pair of oppositely-disposed arms 43, 44 connected by links 50, 53 to the rear and front vanes 52, 55 arranged in the air-stream one on each side of the fuselage : in a modification a vane is provided on each side at the front and at the rear, or one vane only may be used. The reactive torque produces a rotation of the casing 35 in the reverse direction to the rotation of the wing- system, thereby adjusting the inclination of the vanes 52, 55 through the links 50, 53 in such wise as to balance the torque. Where a brake is provided for braking the wing-system on landing, this may be attached to the casing 35 so that the resultant torque may be balanced by the vanes. Side spurs may also be provided on the tail skid to prevent turning of the fuselage. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) describes also.-(1) Means for simultaneously or independently varying the speed of rotation and for varying the centres of thrust of two laterally disposed wing-systems. (2) Gearing whereby for a constant speed of the engine driving a tractor propeller and the wing- system or wing-systems, a variation of the speed of the propeller is accompanied by a corresponding variation in the reverse direction of the speed of the wing-system. (1) In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 (Cancelled), two wing-surfaces 1 mounted on shafts 2 disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the machine, are driven through a plate 3 and friction roller 4 splined on a shaft 5 connected by a differential gear 7 to two transverse shafts 8, which are connected by bevel gearing 9 to the shafts 2. The speed of both wing-systems is simultaneously varied, for example to modify the lift on landing, by moving the roller 4 across the plate 3 through the medium of a lever 6. Friction drums 10 are secured on each shaft 8, and a pivoted lever 13 carrying friction shoes 12 can be rocked to bring one or other of the shoes 12 in contact with its drum 10 and cause an increase in the speed of one wing-system and a corresponding decrease in the speed of the other through the differential gear 7, for the purpose of adjusting the transverse balance of the machine. By connecting by means of links 15 the shafts 2 and the lever 13 or a separate lever, the inclination of the shafts 2 and consequently the centres of thrust of the wing-systems may be simultaneously or independently varied for a like purpose. According to a modification the shafts 8, Fig. 2 (Cancelled), are driven by separate rollers 4 movable by bellcrank levers 6 pivoted at a fixed point 18 and connected by links 17 to hand-wheel 16 threaded on a pivoted lever 13. By operation of the handwheel 16, the speeds of the wing-systems are similarly varied by a symmetrical displacement of the two rollers 4, and by rocking the lever 13 a differential effect is obtained. Fig. 3 (Cancelled), shows an arrangement for displacing the centres of thrust longitudinally with respect to the machine for balancing purposes. Members 19 carrying the wing-system shafts are pivoted on axes 20 on the fuselage and are connected by links 21 to a screw 22 movable by turning a threaded hand-wheel 23. If this device is applied to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 (Cancelled), the shafts 2 must be provided with Cardan joints at each of their ends. In a modified arrangement for varying the inclination of a wing-system, the shaft 2, Fig. 4 (Cancelled), is journaled in a threearmed member 25 and connected through two Cardan joints 30 to the driving shaft 8. The member 25 is connected bv three rods 26 to a triangular base which may be rocked in any direction about a point corresponding to the centre of the lower Cardan joint 30, so that the direction of the resultant of the stresses passes through this point for all inclinations of the system. To minimize the opposing gyroscopic effect when the wing-system is inclined, opposite blades are rigidly connected together and mounted to rock on a common centre pivot. The wing-systems may also be connected to the shafts 2 by free-wheel devices to enable them to rotate freely. The rotary wing-systems may form the main lifting element or they may comprise secondary systems utilized only for balancing purposes. Separate engines may be provided for driving the tractor propeller and the rotary wing- systems. (2) The means for varying the power transmitted to the tractor propeller consists of a change speed gear or a device for modifying the pitch of the blades, whilst a change speed gear is provided for modifying the speed of rotation of the wing-system or wing-systems in a reverse direction, the two mechanisms being operated by separate or common controlling means. In an arrangement described, a differential gear is interposed between the main driving shaft and the driving shafts of the propeller and the wing-system, so that an increase in the speed of the propeller brought about by a variation of its pitch is accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the speed of the wing-system and vice versa. This subject matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.