US1408873A - Airship - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES.

PAT/EN T OFFICE.

SALVADOR c. FARINA, or WEST NEWVYORK, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed May 18,

sustaining elements inoperative or powerless. The invention is particularly adaptable for use in connection with aeroplanes, wherein the sustaining power is derived from the speed or propulsion of its carrying planes through the air, so that in case any accident occurs to its propelling mechanism the entire machine often falls to the ground, which frequently results in its injury or destruction or in injury or death to its' occupants.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings,--

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of an aeroplane which is equipped with these improvements, and shows .the latter in operative condition. 1 w v Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the aeroplane and improvements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper carrying plane of the aeroplane, showing the invention in inoperative state.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the middle portion of the fuselage of the aeroplane shown in Figs. 1, 2, and shows the operating mechanism of this invention.

The aeroplane 1 comprises the usual fuselage or directive body 2, upper and lower carrying planes or aerofoils 3, 4, front and rear struts 5, 6, bracing wires 7, rudders 8, 9, propelling motor or engine 10, gasolene supply tank 11, motor batteries 12,'propel- 1er'13,;1anding gear 14, and landing spur 15.

On top of the upper plane 3 is located .a bag or balloon '16 whichnormally lies thereon in collapsed state, as shown in Fig.

i 3, and to the sides of theballoon is secured a' pair of planes 17, which, when the balloon is incollapsed state, lie thereupon in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Said balloon and erasure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922. 1921. Serial m5. 479,594.

planes 17 are maintained against lateral or other dislocation, relatively to the carrying plane 3, by means of dogs 18, hinged at 19, being pressed against the-planes 17 by springs 20 that are secured to the planes .3 and to extensions 21 forming partof the dogs l8. The balloon 16 and planes 17 may be made of any suitable material, of which such parts are usually constructed, as is well known to those versed in this-art. To the planes 17 are secured series ofcables 22 at 23, whichare in turn secured to the carrying plane 3 at 24.

exiblepipe or base 25 is connected to the balloon 16 at 26, from where it extends downwardly, passes through the plane 3, and into the fuselage 2, whereat it is joined to a valve 27 connectedto a union28 that is connected to a pair of tanks 29, which are filled with compressed air or preferably with some other compressed light as such as is used for inflating balloons. etween the tanks 29 is located a pump30 which is driven by a motor 31 that is fed from the gasolene tank Hand is supplied with current for ignition and operation of its starting device 31 by the batteries 12. An operating lever 32 is pivoted to the floor of the fuselage 2 at 33, and a chain 34 secured to said lever passes around a pulley 35 to a point 36, whereat it is joined to a pair ofchains 37 that pass around pulleys 38 and extend in opposite directions and are 'secured to extensions 39 that form part'of the dogs 18. To the lever 32.is pivoted an operating bar 40, to which :are in .turn pivoted an operating lever 41 for the valve 27, a lever-switch 42 forthe engine startingdevice 31", and-an operating lever 43, for a valve 44 connected to a pipe 45 which feeds the gasolene from the tank 11 to the motor 31.

Normally, the balloon 16 and lanes 17 are disposed in the collapsed assem led condition, as shown in Fig. 3, and the aeroplane can be operated and utilized in the re lar manner; Should there occur an accident during flight, such as the stoppage of the engine or some injury or mishap to the propeller or other vital part of the machine,

which would cause the aeroplane to fall, the Y 42 to open the valve 27 and to feed the gasolene and electric current for the starting the pump 30 device 31 and engine 31 to drive the pump 30. Thecompressed air or gas in the tanks 29 will then enter and inflate the balloon 16 through the pipe 25, and simultaneously will" operate to feed additional compressed air to the balloon, whereby the latter will rise, above the plane 3 and the machine, and cause its planes 17 to open. up and extend in the operative position shown in Figs. 1, 2, with the cables 22 securing the planes 17 and balloon 16 to the machine, in the manner shown. The balloon 16 and planes 17 being thus disposed in the inflated and operative condition they will constitute auxiliary sustainingvmeans "for the aeroplane, which will prevent it from rapidly falling to the ground and permit it to descend gradually, and willthereby save the machine and its occupants. It will be noted that when the balloon and auxiliary planes 17 are in inoperative state and secured to the carrying plane 3 they lie lengthwise thereupon, but when in the operative state, Figs. 1, 2, they are disposed rightangularly to the carrying planes and parallel to the fuselage 2, in which manner they tend to buoy up and sustain the machine in perfect equilibrium when they are in operative condition, while they do not in any way interfere with the operation of the aeroplane when they are in assembled inoperative state. finally landed upon the ground and rendered fit for further flight, the balloon and auxiliary planes 17 may be again readily reassembled into inoperative condition and the aeroplane may be thus restored for further service.

It will be clearly evident to those versed in this art that although the invention and lmprovements are here illustrated and shown as being utilized in connection with an aeroplane, the means and principles un-- derlying the same may be well utilized in. connection with any other kind of aerial vehicle.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapid'descent thereof including a balloon-which is in collapsed state during flight, an airplane which is in inoperative state during flight, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit' When the machine is said fluid to enter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating said airplane into operative state.

2. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapid'descent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state during flight, a pair of airplanes secured to said balloon, one at each side thereof, and in inoperative state during flight, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit said fluid to enter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating said airplane into operative state.

3. An aeroplane having provision to prevent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane in a collapsed state during flight, an auxiliary sustaining plane which is connected to its carrying plane in an inoperative condition during flight, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit said fluid to enter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating said sustaining airplane into operative state.

4. An aeroplane having provision to pre- ',vent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane in a collapsed state during flight, a pair of auxiliary sustaining planes which are connected to its carrying plane, one at each side of said balloon, and in inoperative state during flight, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit sald fluid to enter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating said auxiliary sustaining planes into operative state.

5. An aeroplane having provision to prevent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is attached to its carrying plane-in a collapsed state during flight, a pair of auxiliary sustaining planes which are connected to its carrying plane,

one at each side of said balloon, and in inoperative state during flight, means to maintain the balloon and said auxiliary planes to the carrying plane in the inoperative state, means containing compressed fluid, means to permit said fluid to enter and inflate said balloon, said balloon actuating said auxiliary sustaining planes into operative state, and means to release said mamtaining means whenpermittlng the fluid to enter the balloon.

6. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state during flight, a tank containing compressed fluid being connected to sald balloon, a pump connected to said tank, means to operate said pump, and means adapted to control said last'means and to simultaneously open the connection between said tank and balloon to permit the fluid from said tank and pump to enter the balloon.

7. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state during flight, an airplane Which is in inoperative state during flight, a tank containing compressed fluid being connected to said balloon, means adapted to open and close said connection enter and inflate said balloon, and said balloon actuating said aeroplane into operative state.

8. In combination with an airship, means to prevent accidental rapid descent thereof including a balloon which is in collapsed state during flight, an airplane which is in to permit said fluid to inoperative state during flight, a tank containing compressed fluid being connected to said balloon, a pump connected to said tank, means to operate said pump, means adapted to control said last means and to simultaneously open the connection between said tank and balloon to permit the fluid from said tank and pump to enter the balloon, and said balloon actuating said airplane into operative state.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 13th day of'May, A. D. 1921.

SALVADOR C. FARINA.

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