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