US1383595A - Airplane landing and launching mechanism - Google Patents

Description

J. S. BLACK.

AIRPLANE LANDING AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1920.

1,383,595. Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET '1.

I 721) erzZor: JOHN/Yr S. Bum/r,

J. S BLACK.

AIRPLANE LANDING AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,1920.

Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNNY s. BLACK, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIRPLANE LASN'DING AND LAUNGHING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1920. Serial No. 361,311.

. line and, accordingly, a piece of real. estate having a substantially straight extent of several thousand yards is required for such a landing. For instance, the requirements of the United States Government for landings for the present mail service are such that it has been found impossible to obtain suitable landing places as near large cities as is desired; and, consequently, it has been .necessary to efiect such landings at places remote from several cities and to deliver airplane mail from the landing places to the cities by road vehicles; thus occasioning a substantial loss of the time otherwise. saved by aerial transportation of mail. My invention relates to means-for effecting such a landing in a much smaller area of realestate. For instance, the form of my invention chosen for illustration affords an adequate landing and launching place for mail airplanes within an area less than two hundred feet in diameter; so that suitable landing places may be found in any city.

As hereinafter described, my invention includes means for positively whirling an airplane in a circular path from a stationary position to a speed at which the airplane may be safely launched in an evolute upwardly inclined spiral; the same means being operable to catch an airplane descending at any suitable speed, in an involute spiral, andbring the same to rest. As hereinafter described, m invention includes a tower having upon t e top thereof a revoluble ib, having at its outer end a pendent bight of flexible'cable and having, near its inner end, means for positively revolving said jib in a circle, at any desired speed; including a carriage mounted upon a circular track in concentric relation with said tower and driving means concentric with said tower for turning said carriage; said jib being pivotally connected with said carriage and capable of tilting so that its outer end,, provided with said bight, may be held in horipartments.

zontal position, to launch or catch an airplane and may be raised and lowered to raise and lower airplanes with respect to a landing stage at the base of said tower.. As hereinafter described, I find it covenient to make said landing stage as the roof of a circular airdrome containingv'a circular series of; elevators whereby airplanes may be raised from said airdrome to said landing stage to be launched, or be returned to said airdrome for storage.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely s ecified.'

In the drawings; Figure is a side elevation of a structure embodying my invention.

said clutch mechanism, on a larger scale than Fig. III, showing a latch element thereof.

In said "figures; 1 is a circular'airdrome erected upon the ground 2 and having a circular series of five compartments for the storage of airplanes. Said compartments are each conveniently provided with double doors 3 so that airplanes may be moved to and from said compartments at the ground level. However, the roof 4 of said airdrome forms a landing stage including elevator platforms 5 respectively local to said com- It is to be understood that said elevators may be actuated by any suitable mechanism.

The tower 6 is erected in concentric relation with the building 1 above described and includes the central tubular column 7 containing a spiral stairway and elevator extending to and from the circular platform 8 near the top of said tower. Said platform has the circular tracks 9 upon which the carriage 10,, having truck wheels 11 engaging said tracks 9, is mounted to revolvein concentric relation with said tower. Said carriage 10 has the fulcrum bearings 14 upon which the jib 15 is mounted to tilt from the positionshown in full lines in Fig. I to the position shown in dotted lines in said figure. Said jib carries at its outer end, the cable bight 16 which is permanently connected to saidjib 15 at each end of said bight, but is flexible both transversely and in the direc- Patented July 5, 1921.

tion of length so as to afford substantially 1 -may be positively controlled by any suitable means. For instance, a wire rope 21 may be extended from the inner end of said jib around suitable sheaves to winding mechanism including the drum 22 controllable by an operator stationed in the cab 24 of said carriage.

Said jib may be provided with any suitable means for revolving it at any desired speed concentrically with respect to said tower 6 and under control of said operator.

For instance, the rotary shaft 25 may be extended through said column 7 in engage ment with said carriage and have gears 26 at the lower end thereof operatively connecting said shaft with the electric motor 27.

Any suitable device may be employed in connection with an airplane to detachably engage said flexible cable bight 16. However, Ifi nd it convenient to mount upon the fuselage of said airplane 20, a pair of hook brackets 30 which may be pivoted at 31 upon respective rotary bearing plates 32 so that they may be manually erected to the position shown in Figs. III and IV when it is desired to. connect the airplane with said bight, but may be manually lowered to inoperative position when desired. That is to .say; there are two rotary bearing plates 32,

which are mounted in the fuselage plate marked 20, as indicated in Figs. III and IV, so as to be independently manually rotatable, and support the respective hook brackets 30 as above described, so'that said brackets may be reversed, with respect to the di rection of travel of the fuselage by turning said plates. Said brackets 30 have, near the top thereof, rollers 3 for engagement upon said cable bight 16 so that the airplane 20 may readily shift thereon from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. I. Said bearing plates 32 may be revolved to present said brackets overhanging'the cable 16 rearwardly, when it is desired to launch the airplane, and forwardly, when it is desired to land the same and, I find it convenient to provide saidbrackets 30 with respective latch levers 35 pivoted at 36 and provided with operating means 37, so that they maybe closed to the positionshown in full lines in Figs. III and IV, to preventaccidental disengagement oftheairplane withrespect to said cable bight 16, or maybe opened to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV when it is desired to attach or detach the airplane with respect to said cable. Each of said brackets 30 may be provided with a spring lock 40 to engage its respective latch lever 35 in closed position shown in Figs. III and IV; said locks having respective knobs tl by which they maybe opened. Said spring locks may be of the ordinary construction used for closet doors and including a slide bolt which is normally spring pressed to extend downlanding stage 4. Thereupon, said jib 15 is lowered and the cable bight 16 connected with the brackets 30 of said airplane, with the hooked upper extremities of said brack ets extendin rearwardly and with the latch levers opened to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV. Thereupon, said jib 15 is tilted to the position shown in full lines in Fig. I, and said carriage 10 is revolved, carrying said jib with it, at gradually increasing speed while the engine of the airplane is also revolving, until the speed attained is suitable for launching the airplane. VVhereupon, the pilot of the latter increases the speed of the airplane engine to a sufficient degree to leave the cable 16 and fly off in an upwardly evolute spiral, the beginning of which is tangential to the circular path in which said airplane .had been whirled by the positive driving movement of said jib 15. Thereafter, the mechanism shown in Figs. III and IV may be manually lowered substantially flush with the'fuselage of the airplane while the latter continues in flight. IVhen thus lowered, said brackets 30 extend parallel with the latch levers 35 in the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. IV.

When it is desired to land an airplane; said mechanism shown in Figs. III and IV is erected thereon, but with the hooked upper extremities of said brackets 30 extending forwardly. The airplane pilothaving indicated to the operator of the landing structure the direction in which he proposes to descend, descends in an involute spiral I While the jib 15 is rotated at gradually in may be shut off while the jib continues to whirl the airplane in a circular path, with gradually diminishing speed until it comes to rest- Thereupon, said jib may be lowered from the position shown in full lines a cable secured to the to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. I to land the airplane upon the stage 4.- and upon its elevator 5 so that it may be lowered with the airdrome 1, if desired.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: .1. In mechanism of the class described; a jib mounted to revolve azimuthally, and radially outer end of said jib in a bight flex ble both radially and circumferentially with respect to the center of revolution of said jib; andmeans holdbgsaid cable with both ends fixed on said 1 r J 2. In mechanism of the class described; a stationary tower; a jib mounted to rev Olve azimuthally, and tilt altitudinally; at the top of said tower, and a cable secured outer end of said jib in a bight flexible bo'th radially and circumferentially with respect to the center of revolution of said jib. I

3. In mechanism of the class described; a cable arranged in a bight which is flexible; means arranged to maintain said bight radial while whirling it in a circle at variable s eed, including a jib revoluble azimutha y; a revoluble carriage for said jib; an axial driving shaft fixed in said carriage; a motor independent of the airplane motor for driving said shaft; and a tower having a circular traclffor'said carriage.

jib and flexible both 4. In:mechanism of the class described;

7 a cable arranged in a bight which is flexible;

means arrangedto maintain said bight radial while whirling it in a circle at variable speed, including a jib revoluble azimuthally; a revoluble carriage for said jib; a tower having a circular track for said carriage; an axial shaft in said tower, having its upper end rigidly connected to said jib; and a motor, independent of the airplane motor, and arranged to rotate said shaft.

5. Ih.mech'anism of theclass described;

a tower; a rigid jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally, at the top Secured to the radially outer end of said radiallyand circumferentially with respect to the center of revolution of said jib.

6. In mechanism of the class described; a rigid jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally, and an airplane engagin cable secured to the radially outer end 0 said jib and flexible both radially and'circumferentially with respect to the center of revolution of said jib; and means holding said cable with its outer end fixed on said jib.

7. In mechanism of the class described; a rigid jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally; air plane engaging 7 means permanently fixedly secured to' the elevatlng means extending from said roof to the ground; a tower in concentric relation with said inclosure; a rigid jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally at the upper end of said tower; a motor; and means operatively connecting said motor with said jib.

9. In mechanism of the class described; the combination with a circular. inclosure having a landing stage upon its roof; of elevating means extending from said roof to the ground; a tower in concentric relation'with said inclosure; a rigid jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally at the upper end of said tower; an electric motor in said inclosure; means operatively connecting said motor with said jib; and flexible airplane engaging means pendent at the radially outer end of said jib.

10. In mechanism of the class described; the combination with a circular inclosure having a landing stage upon its roof of elevating means extending from said roof to the ground; a tower in concentric relation with said inclosure; a jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally at the upper end of said tower; a motor in said inclosure; means operativelyconnecting said motor with said jib; and airplane engaging means including a flexible cable bight having both ends secured to said jib.

11. In mechanism of the class described; the combination with alanding stage; of a tower; a jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally at the upper end of" said tower; a motor; means operatively. connecting said motor 'with said jib; and airplane engaging means including a flexible cable extending in a radial plane on said jib.

12, In mechanism of the class described; the combination with a landing stage; of, a tower; a jib mounted to revolve azimuthally and tilt altitudinally on saidtower; a motor; means operatively connecting said motor with said jib; and airplane engaging means including a flexible cable bight pendent at the radially outer end of said jib.

13. In an airplane landing and launching mechanism, the combination with a jibrevoluble in a horizontal plane and tiltable ina vertical plane; of a carriage pivotally connected with said jib; means operatively connected with said carriage, arran ed to revolve said carriage and j 1b at varizfifle speed; a flexible cable having both ends rigidly connected with said jib but having its intermediate portion flexible both transversely and longitudinally with respect to said jlb; and

relation with said airdrome; a circular track at the upper end of said tower in concentric relation with the axis of the latter;'a carriage mounted to revolve upon said track; a hollow column in concentric relation with said tower; means extending from said air- .drome, through said column, to said carriage, arranged to revolve the latter at variable speed; a j

' at one side of said column; but extending to the other side thereof; a cable extending in a bight pendent from said jib at thefree end thereof, ,having each end permanently connected to said jib, but being flexible both transversely and in the direction of its length, so as to afford freedom of movement to the intermediate portion of said bight: means at the end of said jib opposite said bight, arranged to normally maintain said jib in horizontal position upon said carriage; and means arranged to control the tilting movement of said jib.

15. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with an airdrome having a circular series of storage compartments for respective airplanes; of, a landing stage at the roof of said airdrome; means arranged ib pivoted upon said carriage,

to elevate airplanes from said compartments to said landing stage; a tower in concentric relation with said airdrome; a circular track at the upper end of said tower in concentric relation with the axis of the latter; a carriage mounted to revolve upon said track; a hollow column in concentric relation with said tower; means extending from said airdrome, through said column, to said carriage, arranged to revolve the latter at variable speed; a jib pivoted upon said carriage, at one side of said column, but extending to the other side thereof; a cable extending in a bight pendent from said jib at the free end thereof, having each end permanently con nected to said jib, but being flexible both transversely and in the dlrection of its length, so as to afford freedom of movement to the intermediate portion of said bight; a counterweight atthe end of said jib opposite said bight, so proportioned as to normally maintain said jib in horizontalposition upon said carriage, but permit said jib to tilt its bight provided end downwardly, when loaded with an airplane and released; means arranged to control the tilting movement of said jib; an airplane having a pair of hooks adapted to engage said bight; and movable latches arranged to cooperate with said hooks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at New York, New York, this sixth day of February, 1920.

JOHNNY s. BLACK.

Witnesses:

HARRY HOOK, J NO. N. DOHNN, B. DORFER.

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