Patent GB-191200559-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Type of Wings or Main Supporting Planes for Aerial Machines.
Inventor: SHORT GEORGE HOWARD
IPC: B64C3/52
Filed: 1912-01-08
Granted: 1913-01-08
Abstract: 559. Short, G. H. Jan. 8. Aerial machines without aerostats; planes, arrangement of.-An aerial machine is provided with planes each comprising fore and after parts, elastically interconnected, and each plane being elastically and universally connected to the machine. An expanding tail plane 25, Fig. 1, is connected with the main planes, which are also .connected with the land-wheels so as to be raised when the wheels contact with the ground. According to the Provisional Specification, the planes on opposite sides of the machine may be connected together. Planes, construction of; steering and balancing.-Each plane comprises a fore part in two portions k<1>, k<2> hinged together at 13, Fig. 4, to which one or more after-portions 5, 6 are spring-hinged by means of rods r, s coupled at t. A lateral tip 10 is spring-hinged about a rod 8 which in turn is spring-hinged about a bracket x, the bracket being carried by a nearly vertical, spring-controlled rod 7 mounted on a rod y carried by the plane k<2>; stops are provided to limit the movements of the rods 7, 8. The plane 6 at the outer end is made in overlapping sections controlled by springs 20 and adapted to be spread out by cords 19 when the plane 10 is moved forward about the axis 7. Each main plane is spring-mounted on a rod g, which is springily pivoted to a spindle d carried by a bracket adapted to turn about an approximately vertical pin b carried by the body of the machine. The planes as a whole are moved about the axes b by screwed rods 43, Fig. 12, controlled by one or two wheels 45. The rods are free to move in longitudinal slots in brackets 44. Cords 200 run from the brackets c to the expanding tail, which is operated when the planes move about the axes b. The effect of the spring f is varied by a supplementary spring 46, Fig. 8, tensioned by a worm and worm-wheel. The plane is turned about the rod g as a whole by a pedal 93, Fig. 14, acting through a spring 92, Fig. 13, connected to a part 91, Fig. 12. The parts k<1>, k<2> are brought together by rotating a hand - wheel 64, through a screwed rod 62. The closing of the gap 14 causes a spring 58 to increase the effect of the spring m through links 51, 52, and a cord 55, thus bending the whole wing down about its front edge. Further, the plane 10 is turned about the rod 7 to the rear by reason of a rod 15, Fig. 4, connecting the plane k' to the bracket x. Two co-acting overlapping planes are normally kept in place over the gap 14. When the hand-wheel is moved along the rod 61 towards the body, a cord 105 rocks a lever 103, Fig. 10, and tensions a cord 72 adapted to bend the ribs z of the plane 10. The cord 105 may also tension a spring 121 supplementary to the spring 12. The cords 72 may be so arranged that the plane 10 cannot be bent when the gap 14 is closed. Opposite movement of the wheel 64 affects the parts positively in an inverse manner. When the gap 14 is widened, a cable 114, Fig. 10, connected to the plane k' rocks a lever 113 carrying a floating lever 112 and causes the rods r, s to be rotated through bell-crank levers 116 and lugs 117, thus bending down the planes 5, 6. At the same time a supplementary spring 140 is tensioned and causes the rod y carrying the rod 7 to rotate, thus moving the plane 10. The ribs 3 of the plane are connected to the rods r, s by springs u, 4, the springs u are secured also to the planes k<1>, k<2>, and the springs 4 to the rods r, s. When the rods r, s are rotated, the springs 4 act with or against the springs u, and consequently the camber of the plane is varied. The lever 112 is connected by cords 119 to the lever 103, and, in certain positions of the plane, the cords are tightened, thus causing the lever 112 to be locked to the lever 103. When the lever 103 is moved, the rocking of the lever 112 causes the rod s to be twisted, or, where it is in several parts, as shown, the various parts are differentially rotated, and therefore the plane 6 is warped. The levers 103, 113 may be connected together so that rocking of the lever 103 affects the after plane. The elevator 127 may be connected to a rod 124, Figs. 13 and 14, so as to be operated when the pedals 93 are depressed through the bevelwheels 122, 123. The rudder may be operated by pedals 128 connected to bevel-wheels at 129, Fig. 14. The rudder axis is rigidly connected to the elevator so that the rudder is moved about the elevator axis 141, Fig. 13, when the elevator is operated. A hand-lever is provided to operate the rudder and another for the elevator. The tips of the plane 10 are serrated and spring- controlled. Planes are placed above and below the junction of the fore and after planes. According to the Provisional Specification the fore plane may be in one part and be of variable area. Shock of landing, deadening. - The landwheels 30, Fig. 2, are carried by a post 31 which passes freely through the body and is connected by cables 32 to the wings. In flight, the cables 32 are slack. On contact with the ground taking place, the wings are raised against the action of the springs f.