US1177973A - Flying-machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. E. SUMMERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. m5.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEEF 2.

F. E. SUMMERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEE|' I.

' Patented Apr. 4,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. SUMMERS,OF MEMPHIS, MISSOURI.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed May 22, 1915. Serial N 0. 29,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. SUMMERS, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Scotland and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, and has for its object the provision of a structure in which thesoaring or initial flight from the ground will be easily and quickly accomplished; to provide a machine in which a buoyant field will be utilized and thesustaining power of the machine thereby increased; to provide a machine which will be very stable in flight and capable of obtaining a very high speed with minimum strain upon'the motor; and to improve generally the construction and arrangement of the parts of a flying'machine to the end that the efliciency thereof will be increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flying machine having the dead weight so disposed below the center of horizontal pressure that the weight will tend to stabilize thewmachine during flight.

All these stated objects, and such other incidental objects as will appear from the following description, are attained in a ma-. chine of the character illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claim following the description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the same partly in section; Fig. 3'is a detail perspective view of a portion of the frame showing the steering mechanism; and

Fig. 4=is a detail view.

.In carrying out my invention, I employ a frame which consists of a series ofuprights 1 which are connected by transverse bars or braces 2 and longitudinal :bars 3, all these parts being preferably tubular so as to obtain maximum strength with mlnlmum weight and size. The side bars 3 converge toward their rear ends, and the uprlghts 1 diminish in height from the front toward the rearend thereof. Ground wheels 4 are mounted upon the frame at; the frontcorners thereof, and other ground wheels 5 are hung upon the frame between the longitudi- Speciflcation 01: Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

nal center and the rear end thereof by means of brackets 6 and suitable braces or guy rods Thehangers 6 arelong enough to support theframe in such a position that the rear end thereof will not be in contact with the ground when the machine has alighted and is at rest, but they are not long enough to hold the upper side of the frame in a horizontal position. As a result of this arrangement, the frame will be tilted downwardly from the front end to the rear end so that the planes 8 mounted on the frame will be in the proper position to cause an ascent of the machine very quickly after it is set in motion.

One or more planes 8 may be used but thev are preferably rovided in pairs, the members of each pair eing disposed at oppo site sides of the frame and projecting laterally therefrom. One pair of planes is carrled'by a cross beam 9 secured to the foremost uprights 1, and the second pair of planes is carried by a similar cross bar or beam 10 secured to .intermediate uprights 1, both ofsaid beams or cros's'bars 9 and 10 projecting laterally beyond. the opposite sides of the frame. The planes 8 may be ofthe monoplane or biplane type and of equal or unequal area and are preferably turned slightly upwardly at their front ends, as indicated at-1;1,,and then extend downwardly toward their rear ends so that their lower surfaces will be'naturally at an inclination to the, line of travel of the machine. It will thus be seen that, when the machine'has'been set in motion, a lifting action will take place at once, and the machine will quickly rise from the round; The outer extremities of the cross hars 9 and 10 are connected with the frame by braces 12 so that collapse of the planes will not be apt to occur but the machine will be properly sustained at all times.

A motor 13 is mounted upon the machine frame between the beams 9 and 10, and the shaft 14 of said motor is connected by sprocket gearing 15 wit h a counter-shaft -16 journaled in suitable bearings upon the main frame and extended to the front end thereof. A propeller 17 of the usual formis secured upon the front extremity of the shaft 16 and a seat 18 for the aviator is secured upon the frame-in rear of the motor and in advance of the rear planes 8. A fuel tank 19 is also mounted upon the frame in any convenient position and will preferably be disposed above the motor, and together with the motor and the counter-shaft, will lie in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the machine, thereby aiding in maintaining the stability of the machine during flight.

A buoyant field, which in the illustrated arrangement, is in the form of an inflatable bag. 20 carried upon a rigid frame 21 and having tapered front and rear ends, is mounted upon the upper extremities of the uprights 1 which project above the countershaft 16 and the tank 19,'as clearly shown. The relative dimensions of the inflatable tank or bag and the planes 8 may be varied according to the purposes for which the machine is particularly designedso that the dead weight of the machine may be carried principally by either the planes or the buoyant field, as will be deemed most desirable. It will be readily noted that the weight is centralized below the gas bag 20 and, consequently, the force of gravity will aid in holding the machine in a stable position during flight so that inversion or overturning of the machine through the force of sudden squalls or unexpected air currents is not apt to occur. The bag may be inflated by gas, hot air, or other vapor, as may be desired.

At the rear end of the machine frame, I provide a horizontally disposed rudder 22 which is hingedly or pivotally mounted upon the rearcross bar 23 of the frame and is secured at its front edgeto a vertically disposed lever arm 24 which extends above and below the said cross bar 23 and may be further connected with the rubber by wires or cables 25 extending respectively from its upper and lower ends to the outer free edge of the rudder. Other rods or wires 26 extend from the upper and lower ends of the lever arm 24 to a controlling lever 27 which is suitably mounted upon the main frame and is equipped with a latch 2'8 adapted to cooperate with a holding segment 29 in the usual manner so as to maintain the rudder in a set position. It will be readily understood that the machine will be caused to ascend or descend according as the rudder 22 is swung or warped upwardly or down- Wardly.

To permit the machine to be steered to one side, I provide a vertically disposed rudder 30 which is carried by the upper end of a vertically disposed rock shaft 31 mounted in suitable bearings 32 on the main frame, preferably in advance of the horizontal rudder 22, and equipped at its lower end with crank arms 33 connected by links or similar members 34: with a controlling lever 35. The said controlling lever 35 is equipped with a latch 36 adapted to coop- "erate with the segment 37 to maintain the rudder in a set position.

In Fig. 4, I have an arrangement for yieldably holding a stabilizing lever in a normal position consisting of springs 38 disposed above and below the fulcrum of the lever and connected with the lever by links 39, other links 40 connecting the springs with the frame. In this figure, I also show turnbuckles all in the rods connecting the lever with the member adjusted by it so that the desired tension may be easily obtained.

'It will be readily understood that these springs tend to hold the lever in a normal position and to quickly return it to a normal position after it has been shifted for any reason. If the springs be connected to the ends of the planes they will equalize the lift on the opposite ends of the planes and, consequently, counteract any tendency of the planes to flutter 0r vibrate, thus detrimentally affecting the stability of the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a machine which will very quickly soar, and after attaining a considerable height will travel rapidly and smoothly without the expenditure of high power or an excessive strain upon the motor. WVhen the machine is at rest, it will be disposed at an angle to the ground surface so that, when the motor is started, the travel of the machine under the influence of the propeller 17 will bring the planes 8 against the body of air in such a manner that the machine will almost instantly begin to rise. After the desired height has been attained, the horizontal rudder may be adjusted to check the rising movement and cause the machine to travel forwardly only. As the machine is provided with a buoyant field, the planes may be utilized principally as sustaining surfaces and will accomplish -this function without being of unwieldy dimensions. Moreover, as the machine is buoyant, the force exerted .by the propeller will be exerted entirely in causing the travel of the machine and, consequently, the motor will run easily and with a slight consumption of fuel. The rigid frame in the buoyant field'will prevent total collapse of the same, and the flexible character of the gas bag will readily accommodate expansion or contraction of gas employed due to the variations of the temperature or other weather conditions.

Having thus described the invention, 1

with the motor, a buoyant tank supported corners of the frame, hangers depending 10 directly by and above the frame and exfrom the rear portion of the frame and tending longitudinally thereof and having ground Wheelson said hangers, the ground tapered ends, a horizontally disposed rud- Wheels supporting the frame When at rest der at the rear extremity of the frame, a with the rear end off the ground but tilted vertically disposed rudder near and in addownwardly. 15 vance of the horizontal rudder, means for In testimony whereof I afiix my signacontrolling said rudders from a point near ture.

the motor, ground wheels at the lower front FRANK E. SUMMERS. [L. s.]

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