US1835369A - Airplane construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1931 G. M. BELLANCA AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qvwemtoz Dec. 8, 1931. BELLANC'A 1,835,369

AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION F'il-ed Nov. 27, 1928 \Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, 1931. v BELLANCA 1,835,369 I AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Dec. 8, 1931. M BELLANCA 1,835,369

AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION %ZOM%@W7- Patented men. 8,, tear GUISJEIPPE M. JEELLANCA, F WINGTON, DELAWA.RE

Application filed. November 27, 1928. Serial No. 322,126.

This invention relates to airplane construction and will be understood from the following description read in 0011 unction with the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of an airplane constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an alternative form of construction' 1 Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective side view of Fig. 1 with the outer covering of the wings removed;

"Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through part of Fig. I longitudinal to a wing;

Fig; v6 is a section through part of Fig. 1 transverse to a wing;

Fig. 7. 's a top view showing a pin fitting adapted to connect the wing sections; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through part of Fig. 1. Referring specifically to Figs. 1 and 2, the construction which characterizes my invention may be applied to either a' double bay job, as illustrated in Fig. 1, or to a-job containing three or more bays, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The phrase bay as herein employed denotes the space vertically bounded by upper and lower wings and horizontally by two vertical struts, or a vertical st'rut and some other part of the plane, such as the fuselage or a strut-wing. In either event the lower wings are relatively shorter and I provide true wing portions extending diagonally outward and upward from the extremities ofthe lower wings to the'upper wlngs, which portions are so formed as to simultaneously function as wings and brace members. These portions'may meet the upper wings at any point, such as, for example, the tips, or preferably meet the upperwmgs at points intermediate between the fuselage and tip, thereby placing that part of the upper wing extending outwardly beyond the polnt of connection 1n cantilever and 1mparting a maximum of strength 1n propor. tion to weight. The wing portion so provided having the-combined properties of a wing and a strut may'be hereinafter briefly referred to as a strut-wing.-

This strut-wing has at its inner extremity a chord equal to that of the lower wing and preferably tapers with gradually diminishing chord as the upper wing is approached. The lower wing preferably has a chord substantially equal to the chord of the upper wing. In the preferred fogm of myinvention the lower wing is relatively short, preferably not exceeding one-third of the length of the upper wing and has a cathedral, that is, it extends, outwardly and downwardly 6 from the fuselage. Such a wing may be hereinafter referred to as'a stub wing. This stub wing may be constructed as a true cantilever structure so that vertical or nearly vertical struts connected adjacent the outer extremity of the lower wing and, extending vertically or nearly so to meet the upper wing may be eliminated. I

It will be apparent that thestrut-wing may be constructed in accordance with acceptedflo practice to carry stresses incidental to its function as a lifting member and must, in addition, be adapted to carry tensile and compressive stresses incidental to its function as a strut. The strut-wing may comprise 7 only one longitudinal brace or strut sur-' rounded by compression ribs, to which brace the compression ribs are attached. Preferably, however, the struts are in tandem, and I accomplish my purpose as illustrated in 9 Fig. 3 by extending the forward and rearward beams 1 and 2 of the strut-wings 3 and carrying the said beams upwardly to join the forward and rearward beams a and 5 which are a part of the'corresponding upper 35 wing. The forward 'and rea'rward beams 1 and 2 in the strut-wing structure operate as struts or braces to preserve the spatial rela tionship between the upper and lower wings.-

The strut-wing is provided with the conventional compression ribs 6 or any alterna-, tive means for imparting the necessary backin' to the airfoil. These compression ribsar shown in perspective in Fig. 3. I may, of course, use only one strut extending from the stub wings to the upper wings and utilize this tocarry theribs which back the air foil,

thereby making a true wing portion foundationed on the single strutmentioned, or I may employ more than the two struts i1lus trated in Fig. 3 as the foundation for a wing portion of this character. Alternatively may employ two or more struts extending from each stub wing to the correspondlng upper wing each of which struts carries a separate set of ribs and is the foundation of a distinct true wing portion. Such modifications shall be included in the meaning of the term strut-wing. as herein employed.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig: 6, the forward and rearward beams 1 and 2 may be riveted securely to the forward and rearforegoing description'of a specific embodi pin-fitting appears in Fig. 7. As a matter of convenience, in the specific type of airplane shown in Fig. 1 the upper wings are composed of two sections which are also con: nected together by pin-fittings 10. The relative position of these pin-fittings and of the forward and rearward beams 1 and 2 is shown in Fig. 8.

It will, of course, be understood that the ment of my invention is by way of illustration and not of limitation. It is my intention that the invention be limited only by the appended claims, or their equivalents, in

which I have endeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1., An airplane comprisinga fuselage, upper wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, relatively shorter lower wings with a chord substantially equal to the chord of the upper wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, strutwings extending outwardly and upwardly directly from the sides of said fuselage, strutwin extending outwardly and upwardly from the outer ends of said lower wings and connected to the said upper wings.

4. An airplane comprising a fuselage, upper wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, relatively' shorter lower wings extending outwardly and downwardly directly from the sides of said fuselage, strutwings extending outwardly and upwardly from the outer ends of said lower Wings and connected to the said upper wings, which said upper wings extend in part outwardly beyond the point of connection of said strutwings thereto.

,5. An airplane comprising a fuselage,

upper wingsextending directly from the sides of said fuselage, relatively shorter lower wings extending outwardly and downwardly directly from the sides of said fuselage with a chord substantially equal to the chord of the upper wings, strut-wings extending outwardly and upwardly from the outer ends of said lower wings and connected to the said upper 6. Anairplane comprising a fuselage, upper wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, relatively shorter. lower wings'extending outwardly and downwardly directly from the sides of saidfuselage with.

a chord substantially equal to the chord of theupper wings, strut-wings extending outwardly and upwardly from the outer ends of said lower wings and connected to the said upper wings, which said upper wings extendin partoutwardly beyond the point of connection of said strut-wings thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 15 day of November, 1928.

- GUISEPPE M. BELLANCA.

from the outer ends of said lower wings and connected to the said upper wings.

2. An airplane comprising a fuselage, up-

per wings extending directly from the sides of sald fuselage, relatively shorter lower wings with a chord substantiallyequal to the chord of the upper wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, strut-wings extending outwardly and upwardly from the outer ends of saidlower wings and connected to the said upperwings, which said upper wings extend in'part outwardly beyond the points of connection of said strut-wings thereto.

3. An airplane comprising a fuselage, up-

per wings extending directly from the sides of said fuselage, relatively shorter lower wings extending outwardly and downwardly

Images