US1350947A - Launching device for flying-machines - Google Patents

Description

M. STUPAR. LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, I919- Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX STUPAR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ABRAHAM J. ELIAS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LAUNCHING- DEVICE FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Original application filed June 25, 1919, Serial No. 306,613. Divided and this application filed December To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MAX STUPAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Launching Devices for Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to heavier-than-air flying machines and more particularly to hydroaeroplanes of the type described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 306,613, which was filed June 25, 1919, and of which the prescut application is a division.

Among the various objects of the invention included in the present application, I aim to provide a novel efficient launching arrangement and particularly one by means of which eiiective launching may be accomplished from shipboard while either stationary or in motion.

Another object is the provision of a novel launching arrangement including means by which the operator may control the release of the machine from the pilots seat.

A still further object is the provision of a novel launching device including a launching skid which is freely movable overboard and which is provided with means acting to promptly carry the same out of the path of movement of the ship from which thelaunching takes place. With these and other objects, my present im rovements reside specifically in the detai s of construction, arrangement and operation to be now described with respect to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my improved launching device complete,

Fig. 2 is a detail side View of the launching skid,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section partially through the launching device taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectionthrough a portion of the fuselage of the machine adjacent to the cable release hook.

Referring now to these figures, I have generally indicated the fuselage of a hydro- Serial No. 343,749.

aeroplane at 10 in Fig. 1, which in addition to its fuselage 10 includes wings 11, a forof a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal cradle beams 17 of a skid frame.

The frame of the skid consists, in addition to the cradle beams just mentioned, of cross beams 17, and has lower lengthwise extending and laterally spaced side beams 18 having T rails 19 along their lower surfaces.

Hydroaeroplanes are commonly launched from shipboard but as distinguished from the devices now utilized for this purpose, my invention proposes a roller-mounted runway 20, preferably made in lengthwise sections 21 and 22 as seen in Fig. 1, which may be bolted or otherwise connected at their abutting ends to form a device of a length suitable or adaptable to the available deck space, with one end, namely the outer end of the roller mounted runway, terminating adjacent to the out-board of the vessel. Each of the sections of this runway 20 comprises parallel beams 23 at each side rigidly connected and braced in their stated relation, and supporting bearings 23 for I shafts 24 of annularly grooved rollers 25,

the grooves of the latter of which receive the lower T rails of the skid as above mentioned.

By virtue of the cradle beams of the skid, the latter is obviously adapted for the convenient reception of the pontoons 14 of the aeroplane, the machine thus resting easily and freely on the skid or cradle, and normally held against movement on the runway by means of an anchor line 26, which as seen in Fig. 1 extends to a hook 27 mounted in connection with the fuselage 10.

This anchor line extends from some suitable stationary part of the vessel and upon its release, in a manner to be presently described, the aeroplane with the skid or cradle moves over the runway and outwardly off of the deck of the ship in connection with the skid or cradle from which point the hydroaeroplane rises in the air and the cradle or skid falls free therefrom into the water.

Immediately upon its entrance into the water the cradle or skid turns laterally in one direction away from the vessel, by virtue of stationary inclined rudders 29 located at the rear ends of the longitudinal beams of the skid as seen particularly in Fig. 3, so that the cradle or skid will thus be shifted outof the path of movement of the vessel and disastrous contact between the two will be avoided.

After each launching the cradle or skid is drawn toward the vessel and again raised to the launching deck by means of a line 30 which as seen in Fig. 1 is attached to a ring 31 in the rear cross beam of the cradle or skid.

In order that the pilot or operator may control, from his seat, the release of the aeroplane in the first instance, the hook 27 before described, and as seen particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 is fulcrumed at 32 in a bracket 33 in the lower portion of the fuselage 10 at a point adjacent to the pilots seat and has an upstanding lug 3 1 normally engaged by a treadle 35 pivoted in the bracket. Thus downward pressure upon the foot piece 36 of treadle 35 frees the treadle from the hook lug and permitsthe hook to swing downwardly and rearwardly and thus release the anchor line. In this way, the pilot can take his seat and after the propeller has been set in motion and according to the pilots judgmentthe desired starting pull has been reached, the pilot simply releases the hook and the launching is completed as before described.

I claim 1. A launching device for flyingmachines comprising a rollerf carrying runway, a supporting cradle movable on the rollers of the runway and beyond the runway at its extremity, and water rudders carried by said cradle.

2. A launching device for flying machines comprising a roller carrying runway, a supporting cradle movable on the rollers of the runway and beyond the runway at its extremity and permanently angular water rudders carried by said cradle for directing its course in water, as described.

3. A launching device comprising a roller mounted runway, a cradle movable in guided non-attached relation on the runway and freely therefrom, rigid means on the cradle for supporting a flying machine in non-attached relation thereon and rigid means on the cradle for guiding the same in the water when it moves off the runway, as described. A

4:. A launching device for flying machines, comprising a roller mounted runway, a

.cradle movable in guided, non-attached relation on the runway and freely therefrom and having means to support a flying machine in non-attached relation, means for guiding the cradle in the water when it leaves the runway, and retrieving means having connection with the said cradle, as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MAX STUPAR.

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