FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0244.PDF
[/jjcfif] when examined at close quarters. Moreover, not only is the machine supported on this under-carriage, but it balances about the axle when the pilot is not on board. The engine is situated rather far forward and the propeller is, as a matter of fact, 3 ft. 8 ins. from the front edge of the planes. The weight of the engine has therefore sufficient leverage to balance the weight of the tail. Taken on its broad lines, however, it is presumably correct to say of the Martin Handasyde monoplane that it belongs to the Antoinette type. It has a boat-like body covered with wood, and in the bows thereof is mounted the 40-h.p. Jap engine with which MARCH 25, 1911. observed that each wheel is mounted on a half-axle hinged at its inner end to the lower extremity of the central mast that forms the principal upright of the machine. Bridging this joint is the laminated construction of lancewood that forms the principal member of the suspension. At the centre it rests in a channel bracket and its extremities engage with shackles that are hinged to the axle. Thus mounted, each wheel is free to rise and fall independently, for it will be observed that the diagonal strut, which forms a subsidiary member in the bracing, is telescopic ; incidentally it is fitted with a rubber cushion inside the tube, which comes into action in emergency. Equally ingenious is the bracing of the axle fore and aft by wires that are linked together with a tension spring so arranged as to automatically keep them taut. This detail is likewise illustrated in the same sketch. Above the body of the machine at this point, the mast carries the guy wires to the front and rear spars of the wings, and as the rear spars are hinged to the frame to facilitate warping, their guy wires are supported on a pulley so as to automatically adjust them selves to the warping movement. The opera tion of wing warping is effected by turning a steering-wheel mounted on an axis at right angles to that of an inclined column " Flight" Copyright. Diagram of the -wing-warping and elevator-control on the Martin - Handasyde mono plane, No. 3. The foot- operated cross-bar for control ling the rudder is not shown. the machine is at present equipped. Direct-coupled to the crank-shaft is a 7 ft. two-bladed propeller, which is protected against damage in rough landing by a skid jutting out from beneath the body and provided with a spoonlike foot. This skid, although strong, is flexible and bends noticeably when it comes in contact with the ground. Its spoon-shaped foot is formed by a sheet of steel hammered into shape and fastened to the end of the skid as shown in an accompanying sketch. The under-carriage itself, which this skid adjoins where it springs from the body, is of particular interest on account of the use of a divided tubular steel axle, reinforced and sus pended by a laminated leaf-spring of lancewood. The constructional details of this interesting feature are well illustrated by an accompanying sketch, where it will be "Flight" Copyright. Sketch of the spoon foot on the skid of the Martin-Handasyde mono plane, No. 3. situated immediately in front of the pilot's seat. On the wheel-spindle is a small drum, round which is the warping wire leading to a pivoted cross-beam mounted on the central mast below the body. In order to increase the leverage, a block and tackle gear has been in geniously introduced into the cable, as shown in an accom panying sketch. Fixed to the pivoted cross-bar is a chain- wheel engaging with which is a chain that has its extremities fastened to the wires leading to the rear spars of the wings. There is, of course, a very considerable tension on these wing- warping wires arid consequently no tendency for the chain to fall off the wheel, but a light guard, not shown in the sketch, is fitted in practice. Moving the steering-wheel and the column on which it is "Flight" Copyright. Sketches illustrating the attachment of the wings to the body, and the details of the undercarriage supporting the body of the Martin-Handasyde monoplane, No. 3. 246
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
