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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0173.PDF
MARCH 5, 1910. MODEL TANDEM I MONOPLANE. [396] I think that these particulars of my patented design of tandem monoplane would be of interest to some, at any rate, of your readers. In addition to the two sets of planes, placed one behind the other, usual in a tandem monoplane, there are a pair of " planes " that are so arranged and pivoted as to be capable of an up and down motion when actuated by connecting-rods attached to cranks. By means of the "down" stroke a propulsive and lifting effect is obtained, and fU^\ Circle 1 \ - described |w\ '&r~~~ , No. 1 * (DOVMW" STROKE) Mod. (UP STRORE\ in the " up " stroke the planes give a lifting effect alone. This is fully shown in the enclosed sketches, No. 1 dealing with the down stroke and No. 2 with the up stroke. The reason I adopted a moving set of planes was that the " width " of air acted upon horizontally by the machine to produce the propulsive and lifting effect is greatly increased, and is com paratively more efficient than producing a higher velocity of a smaller air column by means of a propeller. A machine so con structed also appears much more stable. Another novel feature of the design is the shape of the planes. They are of the shape of a dragon-fly's wing. The reason for adopting this was to throw the point of greatest lift (and also of resistance) some distance to either side of the body or hull, also to allow for a variation of the angle of incidence of the planes without shifting the centre of gravity to any great extent. The pair of moving planes are placed between two sets of fixed planes, so that the air delivered by the moving planes increases the lifting effect of •the rear pair of planes. The driving arrangements for the moving planes are very simple, and consist of a friction-clutch of peculiar •design and gearing. There is a main shaft, constructed of steel tubing, running on ball bearings, which drives direct two propellers, one ahead and one astern of the machine. On the shaft a friction- clutch is keyed, and by means of gearing drives a countershaft at right angles to it. At the ends of this countershaft are placed the cranks that drive the moving planes. The construction is so simple as to commend itself to any engineer, and is mechanically strong. The friction-clutch is operated by means of a lever. The planes, 1, 2, 3, 4, Sketch 3, are capable of angular movement by means of levers and connecting- rods, which are brought back to immediately behind the engine, where they are actuated by means of small worm-gears. Steering to right or left is effected by varying unequally the angles of these sets of planes. The effect is this: that the point of greatest resistance (due to shape of plane) lies some distance outside the hull, thus, when this tendency is not counterbalanced by the opposite plane, tending to swing the whole machine round that point, also as the angle of incidence of all the planes can be varied there is a great facility for speed variation and also for elevating purposes. The advantages of this type of machine are :— 1. No side curtains to produce instability at low speeds. 2. Great ease in steering. 3. Greatly increased stability, due to the balancing of every part on either side of the centre of gravity. I have constructed several models, and find that all my expecta tions were justified. The planes are set at a slight dihedral angle. If any reader would like to join with me to construct a full-sized machine on these lines I shall be pleased to hear from him. INVENTOR. THE NEW ARMY DIRIGIBLE. [397] I beg to bring to your notice the fact that in your report upon the *' New Army Dirigible," in your issue of February 19th, you state " the axis of the propeller-shaft so arranged that it can be adjusted to any inclination to enable the propellers to assist in elevating the airship or vice versd," is a new idea in a dirigible. I may mention that this system has been protected by patents, and used upon two complete dirigibles and three " nacelles" (for Ho "5. PLAN . dirigibles) which have been constructed at my Cardiff works during the last five years. I shall esteem it a favour if you will give due publicity to this through the columns of your valuable paper. E. T. WILLOWS. VOISIN BIPLANE STABILITY. [398] Could any of your correspondents explain with a diagram how the Voisin biplane maintains lateral stability by means of its vertical partitions or curtains, and if this system is efficient; for if it is, as it is perfectly automatic, why is it not more generally adopted ? Petersfield, Hants. H. D. SEDGWICK. THE SANDERS AEROPLANE—A CORRECTION. [399] We have no wish to detract from any credit due to Messrs. J. W. Brooke and Co., Ltd., of Lowestoft, in the matter of the engineering work done by them, or of the motor which they supplied, in connection with the above machine, which unfortunately came to grief last week in attempting to carry away some telephone wires at Kessingland whilst in flight. But for the sake of historic accuracy we must contradict the statement that she was built in conjunction with Messrs. Brooke and Co. She was built by and to the design of Capt. Sanders, of Croydon, and under the supervision of that pioneer of aviation, Mr. F. L. Rawson, M.I.E.E., A.M.I.C.E., the eminent consulting engineer, of 56, Moorgate Street, London, to whom the model was first sub mitted. Many of your readers will remember Mr. Rawson in connection with the Barton-Rawson airship of a dozen years ago, and will not be surprised to learn that, as the result of Capt. Sanders having such valuable advice, quite a number of valuable contribu tions to the science of aviation have resulted from the experiments carried out. We had hoped to have exhibited the full-sized machine at the forthcoming show at Olympia, but the fates decreed other wise. However, we shall have several valuable inventions there which we trust will not only show our foreign friends that we are very much alive, but also encourage other Britishers who, like our selves, are plodding along, determined not to be beaten. THE LONDON AEROPLANE Co., HAYTON SANDERS, Managing Director. 23, Blenheim Park Road, Croydon. SOME OTHER ANSWERS AND QUERIES. Answers. Whalebone Strips (365).—The Rev. Harold Kelk states that imitation whalebone for model rib making can be obtained in bundles of 1 dozen, 16 ins. long, at is. from Messrs. Holliday, Warwick House, New Street, Birmingham. Geared Elastic Motor and Landing Chassis (R. A. Cooksey).— Messrs. Fox Brothers, of 15A, Belmont Grove, Chiswick, write that they are making a speciality of this type of motive power. They mention that for a model Antoinette, I in. to I ft. scale, they would recommend their 30-in. motor, with central two to one gear wheels, entirely enclosed, and running in leak proof oil bath, fitted with a 12-in. aluminium propeller, cast from the solid, worked up by hand and highly polished. Besides the steel gear wheels and elastic, the entire apparatus is built of aluminium and magnalium. l6p
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