Patent GB-130339-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Aeroplane Fuselages.
Inventor: ROE ALLIOTT VERDON
IPC: B64D27/04
Filed: 1919-07-24
Abstract: 130,339. Roe, A. V. March 22, 1918. [Convention date]. Cars and cabins; frameworks; propelling. - Comprises a construction of aeroplane fuselage made in fore and aft portions coupled together and embodying an engine mounting at the front end, a construction of engine-cowl, and means for defining the contour of the sides, top, and bottom .of the fuselage. Specification 130,340 is referred to. Fig. 4 shows the front end of the fuselage, and Fig. 6 shows the bays immediately aft of those shown in Fig. 4. The longerons 42, 44 of the front portion abut at 41, 43, Fig. 6, against the longerons 105, 106 of the rear portion. The longerons 42, 44 are connected together at the front end by struts 46, Figs. 4 and 5, cross-pieces 47, 90, and corner-pieces 48, 49. At the sides of the front portion are provided inclined struts 55a, 55b and vertical struts 56, 45 connected to the longerons by metal fittings 57, 58, 60, 43<a> To the fittings 60 and corner-pieces 49 are connected struts 61 carrying between them the rear engine-plate 78 and provided with plates 62 connected by stays 67, 65 to the corner-pieces 48 and fittings 58 respectively. The struts 61 are braced by wires 52 and king-posts 51. The front engine-plate 168 is secured to the struts 46 and braced by stays 73, Fig. 5, and is formed with lateral cut-out portions 70 and with a central opening 169, to which may be bolted one of a series of adapter rings 76, Fig. 12, according to the type of engine employed. The rear engineplate 78 is similarly formed and is fitted with an adapter ring 80 which is internally threaded for adjustment therein of a clamping-ring 84 for anchoring the shaft 75 of the particular engine. The engine cowl may comprise four pressed metal sections 86, Fig. 5, having beaded and overlapping edges 87 and secured at their front edges to a part-circular angle-member 89, and at their rear edges to contour-definers 88 attached to the members 46, 47. Cross-bearers 95, Fig. 6, attached to the struts 45 carry floor supports 96 formed with webs 97, the rear ends of the supports 96 being provided with stays 101, 102, 104, the last-mentioned stay being connected to the rear portion of the fuselage. The longerons 105, 106 of the rear portion are connected by struts 109 and cross-pieces and are reinforced by plywood stiffeners 113, 113<1>. Near the tail-end of the fuselage, struts 114, Figs. 27 and 28, connected to the lower longerons are fitted at their upper ends into sockets 115 welded to a tubular crosspiece 116 attached by flanges 117 to packing- pieces 118 on the top longerons, the packing- pieces being tied together by a plywood stiffener 119. External stiffeners 120 are also fitted. A light decking 126' is provided at the top of the front part of the fuselage shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and a decking is also provided at the top and bottom from the strut 114 to the tailend. Contour-definers for the sides of the fuselage comprise wooden or other strips 122 nested at their forward ends in the struts 55<a> and threaded through U-straps fitted on the other struts 45, 109. Similar strips extend along the bottom of the fuselage, and also along the top of the portion to the rear of that shown in Fig. 6, the top strips being laid in alined slots provided in arched cross-pieces. A fitting 50 at the front of the fuselage has lugs 50a, 50b, 50<11> for bracing-wires of the undercarriage &c. The instrument board 98 is supported by stays 100, Fig. 6. (See also paragraph below.) Steering.-The rudder is attached to a vertical sleeve 106', Fig. 27, at the rear end of the fuselage. Tanks, arrangement of. - The fuel tanks 53, Fig. 4, are hung in a sling 54. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also the following subject-matter, which does not appear in the Specification as accepted :- Cars and cabins.-The front longerons 42, 44 are connected to the rear longerons 105, 106 at their abutting ends 41, 43 by means of fish-plates. Sheet-metal panels are provided at the sides of the fuselage between the rear edge of the cowl and the struts 55<a>. A wooden stiffener 42a formed with holes for the cockpits is provided on the top of the fuselage, and the bottom is cased in with sheet metal, which may be extended over the front edge of the fuselage immediately behind the cowl. Planes, connecting to machine.-The front spars of the tail-plane are mounted in the tubular cross-piece 116.