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第37章

flying machines-第37章

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through a peculiar arrangement; the vertical rear rudder as well。



The spread of the planes is 46 feet 6 inches and the width 6

feet 6 inches。 The ailerons jut out 1 foot 6 inches on each

side of the machine and are 13 feet 6 inches long。 The cross…

shaped tail is supported by an outrigger composed of two long

bamboos and of this the vertical plane is 9 feet by 4 feet; while

the horizontal plane is 8 feet by 4 feet。 The over…all length

of the machine is 36 feet。 The lifting surface is 857 square

feet。 It will weigh; with a pilot; 1;450 pounds。 The distance

between the main planes is 8 feet 6 inches; which is a rather

notable feature in this flyer。



The propeller has a diameter of 11 feet and 2 inches with a

13…foot 6…inch pitch; it is driven at 560 revolutions by a chain;

and the gear reduction between the chain and propeller shaft

is two to one。



The machine from elevator to tail plane bristles in original

points。 The hump in the ribs has been cut away entirely; so

that although the plane is double surfaced; the surfaces are

closest together at a point which approximates the center of

pressure。 The plane is practically of two stream…line forms;

of which one is the continuation of the other。 This construction;

claims the inventor; will give increased lift; and decreased

head resistance。 The trials substantiate this; as the angle of

incidence in flying is only about one in twenty…six。



The ribs in the main planes are made of strips of silver spruce

one…half by one…half inch; while those in the ailerons are solid

and one…fourth inch thick。 In the main planes the fabric is

held down with thin wooden fillets。 Cody's planes are noted

for their neatness; rigidity and smoothness。 Pegamoid fabric

is used throughout。



Pressey Automatic Control。



Another ingenious system of automatic control has been

perfected by Dr。 J。 B。 Pressey; of Newport News; Va。 The

aeroplane is equipped with a manually operated; vertical rudder;

(3); at the stern; and a horizontal; manually operated;

front control; (4); in front。 At the ends of the main plane; and

about midway between the upper and lower sections thereof;

there are supplemental planes; (5)。



In connection with these supplemental planes (5); there is

employed a gravity influenced weight; the aviator in his seat;

for holding them in a horizontal; or substantially horizontal;

position when the main plane is traveling on an even keel; and

for causing them to tip when the main plane dips laterally; to

port or starboard; the planes (5) having a lifting effect upon

the

depressed end of the main plane; and a depressing effect upon

the lifted end of the main plane; so as to correct such lateral

dip

of the main plane; and restore it to an even keel。 To the

forward;

upper edge of planes (5) connection is made by means

of rod (13) to one arm of a bellcrank lever; (14) the latter

being

pivotally mounted upon a fore and aft pin (15); supported from

the main plane; and the other arms of the port and starboard

bellcrank levers (16); are connected by rod (17); which has an

eye (18); for receiving the segmental rod (19); secured to and

projecting from cross bar on seat supporting yoke (7)。 When;

therefore; the main plane tips downwardly on the starboard

side; the rod (17) will be moved bodily to starboard; and the

starboard balancing plane (5) will be inclined so as to raise its

forward edge and depress its rear edge; while; at the same time;

the port balancing plane (5); will be inclined so as to depress

its forward edge; and raise its rear edge; thereby causing the

starboard balancing plane to exert a lifting effect; and the port

balancing plane to exert a depressing effect upon the main

plane; with the result of restoring the main plane to an even

keel; at which time the balancing planes (5); will have resumed

their normal; horizontal position。



When the main plane dips downwardly on the port side; a

reverse action takes place; with the like result of restoring the

main plane to an even keel。 In order to correct forward and

aft dip of the main plane; fore and aft balancing planes (20)

and (23) are provided。 These planes are carried by transverse

rock shafts; which may be pivotally mounted in any suitable

way; upon structures carried by main plane。 In the present

instance; the forward balancing plane is pivotally mounted in

extensions (21) of the frame (22) which carries the forward;

manually operated; horizontal ascending and descending plane



It is absolutely necessary; in making a turn with an aeroplane;

if that turn is to be made in safety; that the main plane shall

be inclined; or 〃banked;〃 to a degree proportional to the

radius

of the curve and to the speed of the aeroplane。 Each different

curve; at the same speed; demands a different inclination; as is

also demanded by each variation in speed in rounding like

curves。 This invention gives the desired result with absolute

certainty。



The Sellers' Multiplane。



Another innovation is a multiplane; or four…surfaced machine;

built and operated by M。 B。 Sellers; formerly of Grahn; Ky。;

but now located at Norwood; Ga。 Aside from the use of four

sustaining surfaces; the novelty in the Sellers machine lies in

the fact that it is operated successfully with an 8 h。 p。 motor;

which is the smallest yet used in actual flight。 In describing

his work; Mr。 Sellers says his purpose has been to develop the

efficiency of the surfaces to a point where flight may be

obtained

with the minimum of power and; judging by the results

accomplished; he has succeeded。 In a letter written to the

authors of this book; Mr。 Sellers says:



〃I dislike having my machine called a quadruplane; because

the number of planes is immaterial; the distinctive feature being

the arrangement of the planes in steps; a better name would

be step aeroplane; or step plane。



〃The machine as patented; comprises two or more planes

arranged in step form; the highest being in front。 The machine

I am now using has four planes 3 ft。 x 18 ft。; total about 200

square feet; camber (arch) 1 in 16。



〃The vertical keel is for lateral stability; the rudder for

direction。 This is the first machine (so far as I know) to have a

combination of wheels and runners or skids (Oct。 1908)。 The

wheels rise up automatically when the machine leaves the

ground; so that it may alight on the runners。



〃A Duthirt & Chalmers 2…cylinder opposed; 3 1/8…inch engine

was used first; and several hundred short flights were made。

The engine gave four brake h。 p。; which was barely sufficient

for continued flight。 The aeroplane complete with this engine

weighed 78 pounds。 The engine now used is a Bates 3 5/8…inch;

2…cylinder opposed; showing 8 h。 p。; and apparently giving

plenty of power。 The weight of aeroplane with this engine is

now 110 pounds。 Owing to poor grounds only short flights

have been made; the longest to date (Dec。 31; 1910) being about

1;000 feet。



〃In building the present machine; my object was to produce a

safe; slow; light; and small h。 p。 aeroplane; a purpose which I

have accomplished。〃







CHAPTER XXVII。



1911 AEROPLANE RECORDS。



THE WORLD AT LARGE。



Greatest Speed Per Hour; Whatever Length of Flight; Aviator

AloneE。 Nieuport; Mourmelon; France; June 21; Nieuport Machine;

82。72 miles; with one passenger; E。 Nieuport; Moumlelon; France;

June 12; Nieuport Machine; 67。11 miles; with two passengers; E。

Nieuport; Mourmelon; France; March 9; Nieuport Machine; 63。91

miles; with three passengers; G。 Busson; Rheims; France; March

10; Deperdussin Machine; 59。84 miles; with four passengers; G。

Busson; Rheims; France; March 10; Deperdussin Machine; 54。21

miles。



Greatest Distance Aviator AloneG。 Fourny; no stops; Buc;

France; September 2; M。 Farman Machine; 447。01 miles; E。 Helen;

three stops; Etampes; France; September 8; Nieuport Machine;

778。45 miles; with one p

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