Patent GB-191320159-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Stabilizers for Aerial Machines.
Inventor: MACY ALFRED JOHN
IPC: B64C1/00
Filed: 1913-09-06
Granted: 1914-03-26
Abstract: 20,159. Macy, A. J. Sept. 6 Steering and balancing.-The lateral and longitudinal controls of aerial machines are automatically operated to balance the machine or maintain it in a predetermined course by mechanism driven from the engine through magnetic clutches, the circuits of which are controlled by an electric switch comprising a metallic ball oscillating between contacts. The ball 13, Figs. 4 and 5, always rests upon a contact 12 and, according to the deviations of the machine, may also engage one or other of fore and aft contacts 10, 10<a> or lateral contacts 11, 11<a> provided in an insulated casing 2 enclosing the ball. The lateral controlling-surfaces and elevators are operated respectively by cables connected to drums 35, 37, Fig. 18, attached to the usual levers 32, 33, loosely mounted on a shaft 34. Pairs of arc-shaped contacts 38, 39 are fixed on the shaft 34 adjacent to the lever 32, and similar pairs 40, 41 adjacent to the lever 33, each pair being normally connected by bridge-pieces 42, 43, which may be raised by hand-grips 46 so as to break the electric connexions when it is required to operate the controlling-surfaces by hand. The contact 12 is connected to a battery &c. 70, Fig. 17, the other pole of which is earthed ; the fore and aft contacts 10, 10<a> are connected as shown to magnetic clutches 80, 81 through the bridged contacts 40, 41 and spring -closed contacts 88 ; and the lateral contacts 11, 11<a> are similarly connected through the contacts 38, 39 and spring contacts 77 to magnetic clutches 78, 79. When the ball engages the contact 10, the clutch 80 is operated to move the elevator in one direction, and when the ball engages the contact 10<a> the elevator is moved in the opposite direction through the clutch 81. Similarly, the lateral surfaces of the machine are actuated through the clutches 78, 79 when the ball engages the contacts 11, 11<a>. Auxiliary cables connected to the operating-cables of the controlling-surfaces are provided with stops arranged to open the spring switches 77, 88, so as to prevent movement of the controlling- surfaces behond their extreme positions. The casing 2, Fig. 4, may be set at various angles by adjustment about a longitudinal axis 3, or about an axis at right-angles thereto, according to the required path of flight, indicators being fitted to the two axes to show the inclination at which the casing is set. Fig. 9 shows the mechanism for operating the cables, and comprises a shaft 60 driven from the engine shaft 65 and geared to a parallel shaft 59 by wheels 61, 62. The shafts 59, 60 are further provided with loosely-mounted pinions 55, 56 respectively, gearing with a wheel 53 on a shaft 49 fitted with a drum 47 connected to the operating- cables for the lateral control. Similarly, other pinions 57, 58 on the shafts 59, 60 gear with a wheel 54 on another shaft 50 fitted with a drum 48 connected to the operating-cables of the elevators. The magnetic clutches 78, 79, 80, 81 are arranged as shown, and comprise disks 66, Fig. 11, fixed to the wheels 61, 62 and carrying electro-magnets, which are adapted to attract disks 69 attached to the pinions 55, 56, 57, 58. Cupshaped members 67 enclose the disks and magnets, and carry contact-rings 68 to which one end of the winding of the magnets is connected, the other end being earthed. The rings 68 engage contact-brushes fixed to the base of the driving-mechanism. The apparatus acts automatically to give the required banking of the machine when the rudder is operated for turning laterally, owing to the action of centrifugal force on the ball 13. Rotation of the ball is prevented by a pin 14 entering a recess in the ball.