New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
ARRANGEMENT OF MAIN RIBS.

ARRANGEMENT OF MAIN RIBS.
IN addition TO these main transverse
spars there are other transverse members
not attached TO the body Of the machine
but serving, nevertheless. TO give strength
20 the wing framework. Across these spars
pass the curved main ribs, which are
spaced AT intervals Of about eighteen
inches: they are also built up in lattice
rirder fashion. Between the main ribs
light. open ribs, constructed without the
lattice bracing. are provided for the addi-
tional support OF the wing fabric. Near the
body OF the machine these latter members
have spacing Of about two inches onIy'
but elsewhere their distance apart Is twice
as much. As d result OF this carefully
thought ont system OF construction the
manufacturers assert that their wing
framework for wings Of from nfteen 10
twenty-five square metres in surface. can
be produced as light as one kilogramme
square metre, not including fabric.
In addition TO their mounting on the ma
chine. to which reference has already been
made. the wings are further supported by
wires. which radiate from 4 central wooden
mast projecting above the body. These
wires are attached to the main transverse
spars about the centre Of their length, and
each spar IS itself Independently trussed by
q vertical post and diagonal wires. The
posts used for this purpose are, like the
main mast. Of hollow construction and
each is one continuous member from TOP
10 bottom. It is placed little 10 the side
Of the main spar. which it trusses, being
notched TO receive that member. (See Fig
ures . and 81
This arranEement avoids the necessity of
dividing the post at the centre. Each END
Of the post Is fitted with steel ferule, on
the outside Of which is a screw thread a
suitable attachment for the stay wires IS
provided by a light steel plate threaded
over the ferule. and clamped between two
struts.
The warping OF the wings is effected by
the Intermediary Of a cog wheel and chain
mechanism. illustrated in an accompanying
sketch. The cog wheel is mounted on
case attached TO the lower enc Of the sta
tionary tube. which forms an extension OF
the main mast. II is operated by d lever
attached 70 its spindle, and the extrenites
OF this lever are controlled by wires from
the hand wheel In mesh with this cog
wheel is a chain. the eXtremities Of which
are coupled by wires TO the rear main spars
OF the wings Partially rotating, the cog
wheel draws the chain from one side 10 the
other OF the machine. and thus pulls down
ward one main spar while IL allows the
other 10 rise.
The movement takes place with the great
est freedom and nicety. owing 10 the care
ful construction OF the wings and 70 the
method Of mounting the rear spars on
pivot as already described. The forward
spars. being dxed rigidly to the body of the
machine. remain stationary, and thus the
result Of the manpJvre IS that reformation
OF the wing surfaces which is commonly de-
scribed as warping.
In some cases the Antoinette flyer is fitted
with balancing flaps. instead Of the warping
device.
In the summer OF 1893. when the Langley
machine was unEer construction under the
allOtments OF the army board. Wilbur and
Orville Wright were making tests OF their