Improvements in Flying Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
Improvements in Flying Apparatus.
I, PAUL ERNST LAUTENSCHLÄGER of Weissenfels, in the German Empire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The improvements forming the subject of this invention relate to the arrangement
of a central carrying surface and lateral working or beating and of steering surfaces
in flying apparatus and mechanism for operating the same the object of my
improvements being to imitate as much as possible the action of birds in flying.
In order to do this, the driving mechanism must fulfill certain conditions which
are determined by the peculiar muscular structure of the bodies of birds, more
particularly of the parts performing the work of flying. The driving mechanism
must in the first place not consist of rigidly connected parts, but in order to imitate.
the action of the birds' muscles in flying must have elastic connections, and in order!
to serve the proposed object, must,
1. Make possible a similar simultaneous action of one or more pairs of wings;
2. Allow the movement of one or more wings on one side to be arrested while the
wings on the other side continue their previous motion;
3. After releasing the arrested wings their motion must at once be resumed,
4. A gradual increase of the wing motion for starting the flying must be obtainable
by the driving mechanism, and lastly
5. The reversal of the motion of the wings must be effected in such a manner
that shocks or other irregularities in the apparatus or parts of the same are avoided,
in order to maintain the velocity of flying unchanged and utilize the driving power
in the best manner.
On the drawings appended hereunto
Figs. 1 to 11 show diagrams of the improved driving apparatus in four
modifications ;
Figs. 12 to 14 the method of actuating said apparatus by the person using the
same;
Figs. 15 and 16 show the application of the driving apparatus according to
diagrams 6 to 8 to a flying machine with flying or working surfaces in several parts,
while Figs. 17, 17 and 18 represent one according to Figs. 9 to 11 with surfaces
in three parts these figures being likewise diagrams or sketches.
Figs. 19 to 26 show how the driving arrangements illustrated by diagrams Figs. 1
to 5 may be carried out.
The improved driving apparatus shown in its simplest form by diagrams Figs. 1
and 2 in the positions of rest and work and by Figs. 19 and 20 in its application,
by Fig. 21 in plan and Fig. 22 in section along line of Fig. 19, consists of a
middle elastic part a imitatating the muscles of the bird, and connecting the two
side parts bc which are fixed on shafts 61 c¹ turning in bearings in the rigidly
connected brackets d and e.
When the middle elastic part a which may be formed as shown of a helical spring
of suitable strength, is alternately pressed upwards and downwards, an uniform up
and down motion of the two lateral parts b. and c. attached to the central part a is
produced, the bearings d'e' forming the centres of oscillation.
This driving arrangement fulfills the conditions enumerated above, as in
actuating the same,

page_text: 1. A very rapid motion in regular sequence of one or more pairs of wings,
supposed to be attached to the side parts bc, is rendered possible.
2. When borc is arrested, a motion of the free side similar to the previous one
can be produced.
3. After liberation of the arrested side the uniform motion of both wings is at
once restarted.
By gradually increasing the movement of the elastic central part a the condition 4
is fulfilled, as this produces a gradually increased wing motion for commencing the
flying. The elastic connection of the side parts fulfills condition 5; as shocks or
other irregularities in the flying apparatus are thereby prevented; a stoppage of
one side can be temporarily effected without interfering with the beating of the
wings on the free side, and after release of the arrested side the previous motion of
both wings is resumed witbout shocks.
The to and fro motion is preferably effected at the centre of the elastic part a.
In the driving apparatus shown by diagrams Figs. 3, 4, 5 and by Figs. 23 to 26
as carried out, the side parts b c are likewise clastically connected, but in order to
obtain a mutually compensating effect the central elastic actuated part a is attached
to the side parts b. c outside of the centres of oscillation d¹ e', and the side parts are
formed between the centres d' and e' as forks and further connected inside of them
by elastic parts or springs f. g. limiting the wing motion downwards. Similarly as
in the arrangement according to Figs. 1, 2, and 19 to 21 the conditions enumerated
under 1 to 5 above are also completely fulfilled by this arrangement, which however
further allows the part or spring a to be attached at that point of the side parts b. c,
in which the best effect from the power expended will be produced. This may be
done as shown by diagrams 6 to 11, in which the elastic central driving part is
connected to the wings at a considerable distance outside of the centres of
oscillation a¹e of the arms be in order to diminish the stroke of the points of
attachment ik, Figs. 9 to 11 and 2 showing an arrangement of outer wings swinging
on fixed fulcra, while in the arrangement according to Figs. 6 to 8 and 16 the
spring or its equivalent is connected directly to a joint in the side arms be.
these arrangements shown by diagrams 6 to 11 and Figs. 15 to 18 the division of
the wing or working surfaces into parts in a similar manner as occurring in birds is
obtained.
With
The driving arrangement according to Figs. 6 to 8 effects as shown by Figs 15
and 16, a division of the flying surface into five parts, that is to say a central
carrying or covering plane m, and two wing surfaces n. n and o. o on each side
thereof, while the driving arrangement according to Figs. 9 to 11, as shown by
Figs. 17, 17 and 18, permits the use of a large carrying surface m and lateral
wings n connected thereto.
The elastic driving apparatus for flying machines hereinbefore described is con-
veniently actuated as shown by Figs. 12 to 14, by means of the reciprocating motion
of a tread wheel p, to which the ends of the bands g. attached at their other ends
to the elastic part or spring a are connected, so that by the alternating motion of
the tread wheel the upper or lower band are alternately pulled and the part a pulled
up and down. The motion of the tread wheel can he conveniently effected by the
feet of the person using the flying apparatus, because his position is inclined
downwards from head to feet as represented by Fig. 174 showing a section along
line y. y of Fig. 17. To the framing of the apparatus shafts and carrier wheels are
connected as indicated at r Fig. 17 which support the flying apparatus when it
comes in contact with the earth.
By Figs. 15 and 16 the driving arrangement shown by diagrams to 8 and
hereinbefore described is represented as applied to a flying apparatus with flying
surfaces in five parte.
The driving apparatus denoted by A is suitably attached with its brackets to
that edge of the central carrying or covering surface m which is in front when
lying, while the wing surfaces n. n and o. o.are attached to the corresponding lateral
arms of the driving apparatus A. When the rod hor as indicated by Figs. 12 to 14,

page_text: the cord is pulled up and down, the wing-surfaces will make corresponding
movements, as shown by Fig. 16. As the driving apparatus possesses the qualities
enumerated under 1 to 5, a gradually increased wing motion for starting the flying
and the reversal of the wing motion is rendered possible without irregularities.
By Figs. 17, 17 and 18 the arrangement according to Figs. 9 to 11 is shown in its
application to a flying apparatus. In this case also the driving mechanism is
attached at the front edge of the cover or carrying surface, the middle part being
extended by lateral carrying surfaces m, to which the wing surfaces n. n are joined.
The wings are actuated in the manner described before with reference to this
arrangement, and it permits the gradual increase of the wing motion for starting the
flying and avoids irregularities and shocks in the motion and its reversal.
The carrying surface m is conveniently made concave on the underside and
sloping to the back as represented on Figure 17 in order that the flying apparatus
may place itself selfactingly according to the direction of the wind.
The person using and directing the apparatus is placed in the way indicated by
Fig. 17 and held securely by netting t. To reduce, or alter the position of, the
wings n. n and o. o Figs. 15 and 16, as of the surfaces m. m Fig. 17, and the steering
planes s. s. these are connected to another net or to pulls operated by the hands, so
that by pulling, these surfaces are reduced and by releasing them increased. The
bearing surface m has an opening above the head of the person using the apparatus
in order to allow him to move his head and obtain a fair view.
It will be seen that the new driving mechanism allows the flying apparatus to be
worked in a manner closely resembling the action of birds, so that by it in
combination with a middle carrying or bearing surface and pairs of wings at the
side and steering surfaces at the tail end a practically successful flying apparatus
may be produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement and use for flying machines of elastic driving mechanism
consisting of a pair of levers fulcrumed on a rigid frame and connected by a spring
or springs or its or their equivalent and operated by imparting a reciprocating
transverse motion to said spring or its equivalent substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The construction or arrangement of flying machines or apparatus substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated the 7th 1 A
1001
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.