US1396680A - Propeller - Google Patents

Description

1. S. FUNK.

PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1920.

1 ,396,680. Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I. S. FUNK.

PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. 1920.

1,396,680. Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACQUES S. FUNK, OF BALTTMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO RICHARD W. COOK.

PROPELLER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAo Uns S. FUNK,

a citizen of the United States, and a resication. i i

Mv invention. relates to propellers for aircraft, although it is not restricted to such use. i

In propellers now in use there is what is known as slip or lost resistance at the hub which places the propeller, at this :point, under considerable strain. 1

The primary purpose of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty and to that end the inner ends of the propeller blades are projected past the axis or propeller shaft upon opposite sides thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal airplane propeller, and which is. ;to a certain degree. flexible.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a propeller for aircraft including a plurality of laminations or sheets locked together in a novel manner.

\Vith the preceding and other objects and ad antages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, construction and arrangement of, parts to be hereinafter more fully described. claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of an airplane propeller constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the units embodied in the invention;

Fig. i is a horizontal sectional view taken on line -1-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a side elevation of a modified tyie of the invention; and

ig. 6 is a like view taken at right angles to Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the units embodied in the modified construction.

Referring in detail to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive. the numerals 5 and 6 designate a pair of sheet metal units or sections which constitute the propeller. It will be stated that any desired number of these sections may be employed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8,1921.

Application filed December 10, 1920. Serial No. 429,751.

in constructingtlie propeller, and as these units are identical, only one of them will be specifically described.

As shown in Fig. 4, each unit or section comprises a. longitudinal sheet of relatively flexible metal designated by the numeral. 7. This sheet of metal is shaped in the same manner as the usual airplane propeller and the blades 8 thereof are set at a pitch of 45 or any other pitch that maybe found practical. The unit or section 7 is formed with incisions 9 at its longitudinal edges at points which are equidistant from the axis or shaft receiving opening 10, and the longitudinal edges of the blades 8 extended in divergent relation in proximity to the axis or shaft opening 10. Thus when the units are assembled as is shown in Fig. 2, the divergent parts in proximity to the hub' or shaft and designated by the numeral 11, constitute air gripping pockets.

Each of the sections 7 is formed with inwardly extending slots 12 at its opposite longitudinal edgesand at points equidistant from the incisions 9, and also provided with openings 13 at the inner ends of the slots.

In assembling the units, the latter are arranged in crossed relation with the slots in the blades facing each other and then shifted transversely to cause the slots to interlock. This, as is shown in Fig. 1, disposes the blades of each unit in overlapping.relation.

The units are then fixed or sccured'together by screws or other fasteniiigs 1-1 passing through the openings 13. Passing through the axis of the propeller is a threaded stem 15 adapted to be connected with the usual airplane propeller. as shown, and threaded on this stem 15 and upon opposite sides of the propeller are nuts 16 which positively lock the propeller to the stem 1:).

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 to Tinclusive, a disk 16 is employed and a pair of propeller sections or units 17 and 18 are arranged upon the opposite faces of this disk and passing through these sections and disk is a mounting designated at 19. Each of these sections 17 and 18 is formed with extensions 20 which are secured to the disk 16 by fastenings 21. The blades of each section. like the structure above described, are provided with slots 22 adapted for interlocking engagement when the impeller is to be used as a, two'bladed prope ler. How

-my invention herein ever, with this embodiment of the invention, it is most desirable to use the same as a four-bladed device. I

It is to be understood that the forms of shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

1. A propeller comprising a plurality of units each of which consisting of a flexible sheet having oppositely and angularly disposed blades at its ends, the units beingprovided with transverse slots at their longitudinal edges which receive the blades whereby to dispose the units in superposed relation.

2. A propeller comprising a plurality of units each of which consisting of a flexible sheet having oppositely and angularly disposed blades at its ends, the units being proided with transverse slots at their longitudinal edges which receive the blades whereby to dispose the units in superposed relation, the units being also provided with incisions upon opposite sides of its axis and at their longitudinal edges whereby to afford divergent air gripping members which extend entirely across the axis of the propeller.

3. An airplane propeller comprising a plurality of units each being formed from a sheet of relatively flexible material, and each including oppositely inclined blades, each of the units being provided with incisions at their longitudinal edges and upon opposite sides of the propeller axis, each ot'the units being also provided with slots which have interlocking engagement with each other to retain the units together and to dispose the blades in overlapping relation, and fastenings also passing through the units.

4. An airplane propeller comprising metal sections, each of which being shaped substantially like an airplane propeller, means for retaining the sections locked together, and divergent parts formed with the sections adjacent the propeller axis adapted to grip the air at that point and thereby eliminate slip at the axis.

5. An airplane propeller comprising a disk, a plurality of blades carried thereby, each of which having an angularly disposed part which overlies the disk and constituting air gripping members.

6. An airplane propeller comprising a central member for connection with the drive shaft of an airplane, a plurality of radially disposed blades carried thereby, the inner end of each blade being set at an oblique angle with respect to the central member and overlying the latter and constituting air gripping members.

7. An airplane propeller comprisinga central member for connection with the drive shaft of an airplane, a plurality of radially disposed blades carried thereby, the inner end of each blade being set at an angle with respect to the central member and overlying the latter, the blades being capable of being moved into superposed relation when it is desired to use the propeller as a double bladed structure.

JACQUES b. FUNK.

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