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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0075.PDF
JANUARY 29, 1915. the bird fitted with nature's stabilizer, we see that the gyro base line corresponds to the bird's highly developed semi-circular canals, which instantly feel tipping about any axis ; the air pressure device corresponds to the bird's muscular impressions, which instinctively feel speed, and the hand-setting device makes the aviator the equivalent of the bird's eyes, which tell it how to steer. The servo-motors correspond to the bird's muscles, and the ailerons and rudders to its wing-tips and tails. " The Sperry machine is small and compact, and may be applied to any aeroplane without change in design. The arms, which are operated by the servo-motors, are arranged to be directly connected to the levers or wires for hand-control, without changing them. The small gyros weigh about 2 lbs. each. They are rotated at 12,000 revolutions per minute by alternating current derived from a small generator driven by the main engine. This generator weighs about 14 lbs. and may be used for wireless as well as for driving the gyros. '' In case of failure of the aeroplane engine the gyros have sufficient speed for properly functioning for a period of about thirty minutes. " The weight of the entire plant is about 40 lbs. The Sperry- Curtiss Automatic Stabilizer has been fitted in a Curtiss flying boat for over a year, and many automatic flights in bad weather have been made, as well as many automatically controlled landings and starts. l/liGHT solely by hands and shoulders. The feet are not used in any way in controlling the machine. " 2. The servo-motors of the automatic stabilzer are directly con nected with the same controls that the aviator would ordinarily operate by hand. " 3. A simple foot treadle can instantly throw both the lateral and the longitudinal controls into or out of operation at will. When the automatic control is thrown into operation, it moves the controls when there is any relative movement between the aeroplane and the gyroscopic base-line. This will be demonstrated by moving the gyroscopic base-line, the gyros being stopped in this case. When the machine is in flight, the rotation of the gyros holds the structure in which they are mounted truly horizontal regardless of all move ments of the machine. "4. When the automatic stabilizer is in operation, the controls are held with perfect rigidity, and the pilot cannot use them even if he wishes. " 5. When the automatic stabilizer is in, the pilot uses the small lever controlling the aeroplane longitudinally, and laterally. He is then entirely relieved of the task of stabilizing the aeroplane, and uses this lever only for directing the flight. Motion of this lever to the right or left controls the turning and lateral inclination ; back ward and forward controls longitudinally, ascent and descent. THE SPERRY GYROSCOPIC STABILIZER.—On the right, side view, showing: A. Longitudinal follow-up gearing. B. SoUnoid for auto-uo/ plane. C. Impressor motor. D. Follow-up wire works in groove. E. Trollies for carrying current to Servo motor. On the left, the Servo motor installed (note control wires under the motor). "A series of demonstrations of the Sperry Gyroscopic Stabilizer before a committee of the Aero Club of America began on Thursday, December, 8th. The committee included Messrs. Alan R. Hawley, Charles Jerome Edwards, Henry A. Wise Wood, Evert J. Wendell, W. Redmond Cross, Robert Pluym, Howard Huntington, V. J. Mayo, Henry Woodhouse. " Before giving the first demonstrations Mr. LawrenceB. Sperry, who has had charge of the experiments under the general direction of his father, Mr. Elmer A. Sperry, submitted to the committee a copy of the following expose" of what he was undertaking to demon strate, explaining that it is an exact translation of the expose" submitted to the French authorities in the contest of last May, when the Sperry Gyroscopic Stabilizer was awarded the $10,000 prize, excepting in paragraph 5, where the use of two levers has been changed to the use of a single lever. " Mr. Sperry also explained that the device represented a general improvement on the one used in the French contest, having been simplified in some points and standardized in a general way. " The expose submitted by Mr. Sperry is as follows :— c " A.—An explanation of the Aeroplane used and the method of operation of the apparatus. "You are asked to especially observe the following : " 1. The aeroplane used is the well-known Curtiss Flying Boat with the controls arranged on the usual Curtiss system operated " B.—Demonstration of the action of the Automatic Stabilize) when an upsetting force is applied in flight. " 6. The passenger making this flight weighs about 160 lbs. " 7. The machine will rise from the water in the usual manner, and fly under automatic control. "8. Automatic lateral control will first be demonstrated as follows : The passenger will leave his seat, and climb out on the wing to one side for a distance of between IJ and 2 metres from the centre of gravity of the plane. While this is being done, the machine will be under automatic control. " Observe that: " (a) The upsetting couple applied by the passenger is between 200 and 225 lb. feet. " (b) The pilot is showing that the machine is under automatic control by moving out of his controlling seat and holding his hands above his head. "(c) The aeroplane is held perfectly level by the operation of the automatic control. "(d) As the pasenger moves out on the plane, the angle at which the ailerons meet with the air gradually increases to automatically compensate for the upsetting couple. As the passenger returns toward the centre, the ailerons gradually return to their normal position. "9. Demonstration of automatic longitudinal control. The 75
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