GB518663A - Improvements in or relating to aircraft, hydroplanes and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

518,663. Air and other craft. PANGBORN, C. E., and FOWLER, L. J. P. Sept. 2, 1938, No. 14626. [Classes 4 and 114] An air or other craft driven by airscrews or their equivalent has at least one air duct extending in a substantially fore and aft direction and open at both ends, and at least one airscrew or its equivalent disposed substantially coaxially within the duct or each duct, and at least one passage leading from one or more of the said ducts to an outer surface of the craft to cause a flow of air to or from the surface to control the airflow over the surface. Two ducts 4, 5 of venturi shape are formed on each side of the fuselage in the wing roots and each contains an engine 6, 8 driving an airscrew 7, 9. The airscrews may be mounted at either end or in the centre sections of the ducts. or these may be provided one at each end driven in opposite directions. Laminar flow over the wings and tail planes is controlled by passages 16 ... 19 and 20 ... 23. Passages 18 and 22 are formed with longitudinal openings 24, Fig. 4, the flow of air from which is controlled by flaps 26. Similar arrangements are provided for the tail planes. The passages 16, 17, 20, 21, communicate with the ducts 4, 5 by annular passages 27, 28 con-- trolled by flaps 30. The airflow in the ducts 4, 5 may be controlled by shutters 31, 32 which may be slid rearwardly to extend the top of the ducts and the area of the centre section. Pivoted vanes may be used instead of the shutters 31, 32. A modification is described in which a transversely disposed engine drives two airscrews through a transverse shaft. Fig. 7 shows a seaplane in which a central part 42 containing the crew and passengers is formed as. a seaworthy unit adapted to be detached from the rest of the structure. Floats 43, 44 also are shown in extended and retracted positions.