Improvements in or in connection with Aerial or Flying machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in or in connection with Aerial or Flying machines.
I, CYRUS ARMITAGE, of Thornhill Lees, near Dewsbury, in the County of
York, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention refers to a new construction or means whereby the wings or
sails of aerial or flying machines may be operated or worked in a new method,
so as to afford greater ease and facility in operating the flying machine.
The invention refers more particularly to that class of flying machines formed
in imitation of a bird, in which two large wings or sails, one on each side of
the apparatus, are worked simultaneously up and down.
Each wing or sail is provided with two approximately parallel main ribs or
arms, and these main ribs or arms of both wings are hinged about a common
fulerum rod; beyond which fulcrum all the ribs or arms are continued, the con-
tinuation serving as the power arms by which the sails are operated.
The ends of the two power arms on or towards the same end of the fulcrum
rod are connected together by a light rope, which hangs down as a loop of con-
siderable length. There are thus two of such ropes or loops, which for the
sake of distinction are hereinafter termed the foot ropes or foot loops. In the
bottom of the bends of the foot ropes or loops is provided a foot stirrup or rest.
Each of the main ribs or arms of each wing is connected to the directly
opposite adjoining main rib or arm of the other wing, by a light rope attached
on the underside at about the center of the length of the wing, and which hangs
down as a very shallow loop. These loops or ropes are hereinafter designated
the wing ropes or loops.
The fulcrum rod is carried at each end by a light tripod, the two tripods, being
connected or braced together and mounted on wheels to form a light carriage.
The aeronaut or operator stands with one foot in each of the stirrups or foot
rests of the foot ropes, and with his arms upwardly outstretched grasps in each
hand the centre or lowest part of each of the wing loops. On pulling down with
his arms, the wings are moved downwards, thereby raising himself and the
foot loops. On slackening the wing loops, the weight of his body through the
foot loop, raises the wings to there original position with respect to the machine.
In this manner the up and down motion of the wings is produced.
It will be noticed that if one of the wing loops is pulled down more rapidly
than the other, a corresponding inclination is given to the wings; enabling
the flying machine to be directed upwards or downwards without sensibly inter-
fering with the general up and down movement of the wings, which latter move-
ment floats and propels the machine.
The underside of the wings are fitted with several pegs or fulcrum recesses,
so that the ratio of the leverage of the power arms can be adjusted, and in a
similar manner several hooks or attachments are provided on the underside of
the wing arms or ribs for the ends of the wing loops, thus permitting of similar
adinstment.

page_text: .
• Provision is made to prevent the wings rising to high on the upstroke. This
may be done by means of bars across the ends of the short arms, or by attaching
a light rope from the end of each short arm to the wing arm or rib immediately
above, the length of the rope being such that it is stretched to its full extent
when the wings occupy their highest position.
The invention is primarily intended for use without an aerostat but may be
used with one.
I, CYRUS ARMITAGE, of Thornhill Lees, near Dewsbury, in the County of
York, Clerk, 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:-
This invention refers to a new construction or means, whereby the wings or
sails of aerial or flying machines may be operated or worked in a new method,
so as to afford greater ease and facility in operating the flying machine.
The invention refers more particularly to that class of flying machines formed
in imitation of a bird, in which two large wings or sails, one on each side of
the apparatus, are worked simultaneously up and down.
Each wing or sail is provided with two approximately parallel main ribs or
arms, and these main ribs or arms of both wings are hinged about a common
fulcrum rod; beyond which fulcrum all the ribs or arms are continued, the con-
tinuation serving as the power arms by which the sails are operated.
The ends of the two power arms on or towards the same end of the fulcrum
rod are connected together by a light rope, which hangs down as a loop of con-
siderable length. There are thus two of such ropes or loops, which for the
sake of distinction are hereinafter termed of foot ropes or foot loops. In the
bottom of the bends of the foot ropes or loops is provided a foot stirrup or rest..
Each of the main ribs or arms of each wing is connected to the directly
opposite adjoining main rib or arm of the other wing, by a light rope attached.
on the underside at about the center of the length of the wing, and which hangs
down as a very, shallow loop. These loops or ropes are hereinafter designated
the wing ropes or loops.
The fulcrum rod is carried at each end by a light tripod, the two tripods being
connected or braced together, and mounted on wheels to form a light carriage.
The aeronaut or operator stands with one foot in each of the stirrups or foot
rests of the foot ropes, and with his arms upwardly outstretched grasps in each
hand the centre or lowest part of each of the wing loops. On pulling down with
his arms, the wings are moved downwards, thereby raising himself and the
foot loops. On slackening the wing loops, the weight of his body through the
foot loop, raises the wings to their original position with respect to the machine.
In this manner the up and down motion, is effected.
It will be noticed that if one of the wing loops is pulled down more rapidly
than the other. a corresponding inclination is given to the wings enabling
the flying machine to be directed upwards or downwards without sensibly inter-
fering with the general up and down movement of the wings, which latter move-
ment is intended to float and propel the machine,

page_text: The underside of the wings are fitted with several pegs or fulcrum recesses,
so that the ratio of the leverage of the power arms can be adjusted and in a
similar manner several hooks or attachments are provided on the underside of
the wing arms or ribs for the ends of the wing loops, thus permitting of similar
adjustment.
This
Provision is made to prevent the wings rising too high on the upstroke.
may be done by means of bars across the ends of the short arms, or by attaching
a light rope from the end of each short arm to the wing arm or rib immediately
above, the length of the rope being such that it is stretched to its full extent
when the wings occupy their highest position.
The invention is primarily intended for use without an aerostat but may be
used with one.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed may be more readily and clearly understood, I have annexed hereto
the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrating my invention.
In these Figs. 1 is an elevation of the general arrangement of so much of a
flying machine as my improvements refer to. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan
looking upwards.
In these figures a a¹ and b b¹ indicate the main ribs of the two wings, which
are hinged about the common hollow fulcrum rod c. The silk or other sails
are attached only to the longer arms of the main ribs, the shorter arms of the
same serving as the power arms for lifting the sail or wing portion proper.
The full lines shew the main ribs and connections when the wings are in the
raised position, the dotted lines shewing the same in the lowered position.,
The ends of the shorter arms of the ribs a and b, that is those towards the same
end of the fulcrum rod, are connected together by a light rope, or as shewn in
the drawings by light rods d, and to the right hand foot stirrup c; whilst the
shorter arms of the ribs a and are similarly connected together by a light
rope or rods, and to the foot stirrup e¹.
Also each of the longer arms of the ribs a and b, that is those nearly opposite
each other and towards the same end of the fulcrum rod, are connected together.
by a light rope or rods f, hereinafter termed the wing-rope or loop, attached at
the underside to about the centre of the longer arms. or as shewn in the drawing
to two (or more) light ropes or link rods g, k. Similarly the longer arms of the
ribs and , that is those towards the opposite end of the fulcrum rod c, are
connected together by the wing-ropes or loops f¹ and g', k¹. -
The fulcrum rod c is carried at each end by a light tripod, or other light
frame the two frames being suitably braced together and carried on wheels i.
mm are two guide pulleys. the object of which is to shorten the lower part
of the hand stroke, in pulling down the wings. rr are a series of pegs or fulcrum
recesses attached to the underside of the ribs for the fulcrum rod, so that the
relative length of the wing and power arms of the main ribs may be adjusted
within any desirable limits. Provision is of course made to prevent the bear-
ings jumping off the fulcrum rod, but as these do not from an essential part of
the invention claimed, they are to avoid confusion omitted in the drawings.
ss are hooks on the underside of the wing arms of the ribs, so that the number
and position of the connection ropes or links f g and k. may be varied.
The aeronaut or operator stands with the right foot in the right foot stirrup e
and the left foot in the left foot stirrup e', and with his arms upwardly out-
stretched is then able just conveniently to grasp the handles or rings n and n¹
of the right and left hand wing loops in his right and left hand respectively. On
pulling down with his arms. the long or wing arms of the main ribs a a¹bb¹
are drawn down as indicated by the dotted lines. and this motion draws un the
foot stirrups e el, the aeronaut throwing as much of his weight as possible on
to the handles or rings n n¹, and taking this much of his weight off his feet,
which he draws up bending his knees as the foot stirrup rises. When the
wings have been brought to the lowered position the aeronaut relaxes his arms,

page_text: still keeping firmly hold of the handles n n', so as to throw his weight on the
foot stirrups e e', through which the shorter arms of the wing ribs abbare
drawn down, and the longer arms raised. In this manner and with the above
connections, the aeronaut is enabled to produce the up and down motions of
the wings.
The connections above described however are such, that the aeronaut in
addition to producing the simple up and down motion, can modify the same as
is requisite to enable him to propel and control the movement of the machine.
This he effects by moving the one hand or the one foot or both one hand and
one foot somewhat more rapidly and in advance of the other or gives a longer
or shorter stroke to one or other of the connections, thus giving a corresponding
fore and aft inclination to the wings in either or both the up and down strokes,
and all these modifications can be effected without interfering with the general
ap and down movement of the wings. Thus, a simple movement of one hand
prior to or more rapidly than the other will produce a horizontal fore or aft
motion.
I do not limit my invention to the construction of frame h shewn, as the latter
does not properly form part of my invention.
Although my invention has been described as if there were only two main
ribs or arms a and b towards each end of the fulcrum rod, it will be evident that
the nature of the invention is not essentially altered if there are more than
one pair of such arms or ribs towards each end of the fulcrum rod, in which
case the ropes or links gk from two or more of such arms on the same side of
the fulcrum rod may be connected at their junction to a common rope or link f,
or to two or more ropes or links f; which latter however are all joined to one
hand handle ring n, or to separate handle rings which are all grasped in the
one hand. The foot rope connections are in such case suitably modified.
The ropes and may be either separate ropes of definite length connected
together and to the rope f at their junction, or they may form one rope; the
connection to the rope f being a running connection.
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 construction of aerial or flying machines characterized by two sets of
arms fulcrumed about a common fulcrum rod and provided with the herein
designated wing-rope (rod or loop) connections for the hands and the herein
designated foot-rope (rod or loop) connections for the foot substantially as and
for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.