US996106A - Aeronautical clinometer. - Google Patents

Description

I. MEANS. AERONAUIIGAL 'GLINOMETER. APPLICATION FILED MAR, 22, 1909.

996, 106. Patented June 27, 1911.

FFICEE.

JAMES MEANS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AERONAIITICAL CLINOMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed March 22, 1909. Serial No. 484,935.

sometimes employed for maintaining the lateral and longitudinal stability of the machine; but when traveling over country that is irregular or when for any reason the earth cannot be observed, the operator is unable to make proper use of such control-apparatus.

The object of my invention therefore is to provide means whereby the direction and degree of the inclination of the machine from the horizontal may be indicated to the operator and the manipulation of the controlling apparatus rendered independent of outside observation. With this object in view I may employ a globule of liquid, preferably mercury, confined between two curved surfaces which preferably are spherical surfaces, one of which may carry a suitable scale, and I may provide means for restraining erratic movement of said globule.

In the drawings which accompany and form. a part of this specification Figure 1' is a central sectionof my improved clinometer, and Fig. 21is a diagram of one form of scale that may be employed.

In the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration, 1 is a cylindrical box of brass or other suitable mate. rial provided with an internal off-set 3 for rigidly supporting the curved plate 2 which may be of glass and which preferably is spherical.

portion of the box 1 and provided with a groove 6 for carrying the curved glass plate 4 which preferably is concentric with the plate 2. The set screws 7 which pass through a flange on the-cylinder 5 and cooperate with the box 1 may be employed for regulating the separation between the plates 2 and 4. a

8 is a globule of liquid, preferably mer cury, confined in the space between the The operation is as follows: The clinometer is secured tothe aerial machine in a position where it may be readily seen by the operator and is oriented relatively to the machine so that the two straight lines on the dial extend respectively in the direction'of the longitudinal and transverse axes of the machine. The upper plate of the clinometer is then adjusted to adapt the same to the particular type of machine on which the device is employed and the globule 8 is thereby slightly compressed to restrain the movement thereof. During the flight of the machine, when the bow moves downward. the globule will move toward the bow. When the stern moves downward, the globule will move toward the stern. hen the-machine has a list to port or starboard, the globule will move to the left or right respectively, and when the movement is a compromise between pitching and rolling, the globule will take a corresponding compromising position. In any case the degree of inclination from the horizontal may be read by the position of the globule with respect to the circles on the dial which may he graduated to read degrees, and the direction of such inclination may be read by the position of the globule with respect to the straight lines on the dial.

After the first adjustment of the upperplate 4 above referred to it may be necessary to make other adjustments either by increasing or decreasing the pressure on the globule in order to prevent erratic move- 5 is a cylinder closely fitting the upper 1 ment of the same and secure the most advantageous degree of sensitiveness. I may also effect changes in the degree of sensitivencss by applying various kinds of coatings, such for example as vaseline, to one or both of the proximate surfaces of the plates 2 and 4, the said coatings serving to increase or decrease the retardation of the movement the lobule.

T e expression horizontal position with respect to a flying machine is employed to mean, in the case of aheavier-than-air machine that. the lateral and longitudinal axes of the machine are parallel with thevplane' of the horizon and, in the case of a lighten eeeme ii.

bination two separated curved plates, a globule of mercury. inclosed .between' the same and means for varying the separation of said plates whereby said globule may be slightly compressed and its movement restrained.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of Mob. 1909.

JAMES MEANS.

Witnesses E. B. Tommsom' GEO. K. WoonwoR'rH.

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