Patent GB-191217253-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Stabilizing Apparatus for Aeroplanes and other Buoyant Structures.
Inventor: ROBIN PAUL
IPC: B64C17/00
Filed: 1912-07-24
Granted: 1913-07-24
Abstract: 17,253. Robin, P. July 24, 1911, [Convention date]. Steering and balancing.-In order to provide for automatic balancing of a machine travelling in air or water, about longitudinal and transverse axes and to preserve directional stability, feelers, such as vanes, are employed which are connected directly or through a relay mechanism to the members for restoring equilibrium. With reference more especially to lateral balance of aerial machines, feelers may be employed and arranged at each side of the machine which are sensitive to variations of the velocity, direction, or incidence of the air current at the two sides of the machine, or are sensitive to only one or two of these variations. A feeler sensitive to two of the variations may consist of a single surface or of the combination of two surfaces each sensitive to one variation. Similarly a feeler sensitive to three variations may comprise a single surface, or a surface sensitive to two variations combined with a surface sensitive to one variation, or three surfaces each sensitive to one variation. The feelers are connected to separate or the same lateral balancing-members, and in the case of a direct connection the operated balancing-member returns the feeler to normal position after the disturbing force has passed. When a relay is used for the connexion, springs or other means are used to return the feelers to normal position. In the Figures the lines 0 L, O T, O V represent respectively the longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes of the machine. Feelers sensitive to variations in velocity of the air current may consist of vanes 1, 2, Fig. 4, arranged vertically to the direction of travel and secured to a shaft 3 having a depending-lever 6 connected to the balancing- planes. Vertical vanes 7, 8 arranged parallel to the direction of flight and sensitive to variations in the direction of the wind are pivoted on axes 9, 10 and connected by a link 11 to the balancing-planes. Vanes 32, 33, Fig. 6, arranged parallel to the horizontal axis of the machine and sensitive to variations in the incidence of the machine are mounted on guides 34, 35 and connected by an endless cord 36 which actuates the balancing-planes. In an arrangement for operating through a pneumatic relay a single set of balancing-planes by the vanes 1, 2, 7, 8, the rod 6 is connected to the rod 12, Fig. 5, of the slide-valve 13 and the rod 11 is connected to the valve-rod 14 of a sleevevalve 15 arranged on the valve 13. The valve chamber is provided with an inlet port 18 and exhaust ports 21, 22. The cylinder 16 is connected by a bracket 25 to the balancing-planes and moves over a stationary piston 23. Springs 26 abutting against fixed stops 30 and against a stop 28 on the valve-rod 12 return it to its normal position and similar springs 27 return the valve-rod 14 to normal position. A feeler sensitive to variations of incidence and velocity may comprise a surface 37, Fig. 8, inclined to the direction of travel and slidable vertically on guides or pivoted at its rear edge and maintained in a normal position by springs. The feelers at the two sides of the machine are connected together and to the balancing-member by cords. The surfaces 53, 54, Fig. 17, may be pivoted about an inclined longitudinal axis 57, 58 to a frame mounted to slide on guides 55, thus forming a feeler sensitive to variations in the velocity, incidence, and direction of the air current. Rods 61, 62 normal to the surfaces 53, 54 are connected together and to the balancing-members by cords 63, 64, 65. In a modified form, vertical planes 59, 60, Fig. 18, are mounted on the surfaces 53, 54 to increase their sensitiveness to variations in the direction of the machine. Further, the movements of the rods 61, 62 are analysed so that one set of balancing- members is actuated by variations in incidence and velocity and another set is actuated by variations in the direction of the air current at the two sides of the machine. For this purpose the rods 61, 62 engage with members 66, 71 and 67, 72 having slots arranged at rightangles to one another and connected to the respective balancing-members by links 70, 75. The feelers may take the form of a fluid anemometer having its ends arranged at the lateral extremities of the machine to receive the action of the air currents. The difference in the level of the liquid in the two parts of the anemometer is utilized for controlling the lateral balance of the machine. As applied to means for maintaining longitudinal balance, the feeler consists of vanes 45, 46, Fig. 12, mounted on a frame pivoted about a transverse axis and having an arm connected to the elevator. Vertical vanes 49, 50, Fig. 14, connected by a link 51 and inclined to the direction of travel are arranged on each side of the longitudinal axis 0 L of the machine and constitute a feeler for operating a rudder for preserving directional stability of the machine. Coupling- apparatus may be provided in order that the automatic controlling-devices may be disconnected when it is desired to control the machine manually. The feelers may be used for indicating and recording the movements of the air.