US1645494A - Aeroplane runway - Google Patents

Description

AEIOPLANE RUNWAY Filed' Nov. 14. 1923 3 Sheets-SheetA 1 Y I "l cfm O 11 1927 A. H. BALLARD AEROPLANE .RUNWAY Filed Nov. 14. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :e The latter may,

Patentedv ct. 11, 1927.,

' UNITED STATES ARTHUR H. BALLARD, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

AEROPLANE aUNwA-Y.

Application led November 14, 1923. Serial No. 674,650.

This invention relates to aeroplane runways -and consists in improvements designed to facilitate either the alighting or takingoff of lan aeroplane or both, more particularly under conditions where thespace available for that purpose is restricted.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connect-ion with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more .particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation of a 'device embodying one form of the invention, a portion of the structure inter- Amediate its ends being broken away to reduce tne length of the figure;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing the details of one of the units of which the movable runway carrier is composed.

Referring to the drawings and to the. embodiment of the inventionthere submitted for illustrative purposes, the runway is carried by a suitable support 5, herein comprising a structural steel skeleton framework.

if desired, be erected on a solid foundation, may be provided with means to check more or less the effect of the vesselslateral rolling, and the same o r similar means may be utilized on land to check or cushion the effect of lateralshocks such as may be due to the aeroplane landing obliquely on the run- HForHthis/purpose 4in the illustrative embodiment the structure 5 is shown capable of a rocking movement about alongitudinal axis, being provided midway its width with a plurality of roller supports. 7 resting on bearing rolls S-arranged in suitable recesses provided in the bedplate 9, which latter may be here regarded as a part of, or erected on the deck or structurey of, a vessel, tlie dire'ction of length of the latter coinciding with that of the runway, although a similar constructionmay be employed on land. n

The structure 5 is `maintained laterally 1n va normal position of equilibrium by cushioning supports arranged .on its opposite sides. Herein these comprise vone or more upright cylinders 11 pivotally-secured at the base 9 on each side of the structure and ca,-

but for use on shipboard it pable of slight sidewise rocking movement, there being provided within each cylinder a piston 13 secured to the rod l5 depending from the structure 5. Within each cylinder beneath its piston is a compression spring 17, the arrangement being suclrthat on the rolling ofthe vessel from one side to the other the spring on the elevated side of the vessel compresses more or less, checking or minimizing the departure of the runway from its normal level position and tending to maintain that position without substantial lateral inclination.

Mounted on the described structure there is provided a runway presenting` an up- -wardly exposed alignting and take-off surface, such runway being of suitable width to receive the runnin gear of an aeroplane and of a suitable lengt No attempt is made in the drawings to show a definite length since the principles of the invention may be carried out in a structureof very great length, but, as will be understood from the follow-v ing description, the employment Yof this invention makes it possible to bring an alighting aeroplane to rest in a space relatively small as compared with that ordinarily required, so that the length -of the structure may be adapted to a comparatively limited space. Y

In the described embodiment of the invention, this runway surface is movable in the direction ofthe length of the structure and is composed of units carried by an endless carrier. This carrier is com osed of endless sprocket chains 21 (Fig. 1 one on each side of the runway, extending substantially the entire length of the structure and passing over a sprocket wheel 23 at one end and a second sprocket wheel 25 at the opposite end thereof. These chains are connected to form a unitarv carrier by a series of transverse rods 27 arranged at intervals, each rod bein provided at its oppost'ejends with a flanged wheel or roller 29 runnin in a groove shaped guide presented b a c annel` member 31. The channel mem ers are secured to the structure 5-and form on each oppositel side i (see Fig. 1) a closed endless path for the wheels or rollers 29, so that when the carrier ispro elled through one of thesprocket wheels it is guided Iboth vertically and laterally in a fixed path.

respectively which turn in bearings 37 sel cured to the frame of the structure 5, and one ofsaid shafts, herein the shaft 33, is connected to driving means, as an electric motor 39 (shown only 1n Fig. 2). The latter drives the sprocket wheels and carrier through. the driving belt 41 and is preferably provlded with controlling devices, herein represented conventionally by the switch 43 and rheostat 44, whereby it ma be driven in either direction and at contro led rates of speedN lThe runway surface is herein composed of a series of plates 45 extending across the entire widths of the runway, there being one such plate for each of the rods 27.- As best shown in Fi 3, each plate is movably connected, herem by a hinged connection 47 along its rear transverse ed e, to a bracket 49 U-shaped in end view (Fig. 2), the plate being adapted to rest through its opposite transverse edge on the rear end of the next preceding bracket 49, so that when the plates are in their depressed position (shown in full lines in Flg. 3) they present. at the upper side of the carrier a substantially flat horizontal runway. The brackets 49- are supported by the transverse rods 27, there being a supporting bracket at `each opposite end of each .rod and other intermediate brackets as may be required, there being herein shown (Fig. 2) two such intermediate brackets for each unlt. Between the forked ends of each bracket the rod 27 carries a supporting roller 51 adapted to track with a stationary supporting member, such as the rail 53. These rails areshown (Fig. 1) as extending the entire length of the structure, both top and bottom, so that they not only assist in sustaining the weight of the aeroplane when on the runway, but maintain at all times the proper relation between the supporting plates 45 and their associated parts, as will be more fully described.

Referrin more particularly to Fig. 3, the plate o each unit is adapted to be raised to an inclined position, such as is there indicated in dotted lines or in full lines at the top ofFig.A 1), through the action of the compression spring 55. The lower end of y end is attached to the cured to the under side this spring is connected to and housed within lthe cylindrical casing 57, while the upper plate 59 pivotally Seof the plate 45. The bottom of the casing 57 is pivoted at 61 to an arm 63, the bifurcated end of which 1s supported on the shaft 27. The opposite end of the arm rests upon the track 53 throu h the roller 65. o

To old the plate 45 flat when depressed under a force suicient to compress the 'spring 55 within its casing there is provided a releasable latching means. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown this comprises a cylinder member 66 pivotally secured to the arm 63 and contain' the sliding plunger 67 the latter having a )ointeach trigger lever.

ed connection to the bottom of the plate 45. If the plate is depressed against the spring, the plunger descends until a notch in the side thereof is engaged by the spring-pressed detent 68 carried by the cylinder 66, and the plate is thereby locked in its depressed position. The detent projects from the side of the cylinder and is provided with an enlarged head 69 adapted to be engaged by the end of a trigger lever 70 pivoted at 71 on the casing 66and having a depending end adapted to be engaged by suitable releasing mechanism.

To automatically release the latch when and as required there is provided a dog 72 pivotally mounted in the bracket 73 secured to one side of the rail 53 and yieldingly pressed upward by the spring 75 within the path of the lower end of the trigger lever 67. When the carrier is moved counterclockwise lor left-handedly, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, the dog is effective to throw the trigger and release the spring. When the carrier is moved in the opposite direction and the lower end of the latch lever 70 contacts with the` dog, the latter yields without releasing vthe latch.

their res ctive plates, or may be individ-v ually adJustable, so that adjustment may be made from time to time in the resistance of- -fered by the different plates to meet the different conditions presented byaeroplanes of ldifferent types or sizes. 1Vhere a spring is provided the corresponding latching parts described are also provided. One or more releasing dogs are provided to cooperate with A number of these may be distributed along each rail 53, but when the orunway is operated as herein described one dog for each rail is sufficient, the same being located near the far endl of the runway or the right-hand en d as viewed in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 the springs and other connecting lll) parts are omitted from all but two of the plates,

When the runway is in condition for receivmg an alighting plane the surface plates 45 in that portion of the runway lying within the path of the plane, or on the upper side of the carrier, are held at the inclination represented by full lines in Fig. -1 through the compression springs 55, thereby presenting to the path of the plane a series o f movable inclined members y1e1d when engaged by the wheels or other runnlng gear of the aeroplane and absorb a part of the energy of motion and thereby check the momentum of the plane.

The near end of the runway, or that which the descending plane first approaches,

adapted to` 'is provided with a guide plate 77 which protects lthe end of the-*runway and has an inclined lip 79 extending down into close approximation to the ylevel of the hinged seats of the surface plates. This plate, which may be extended away from the runway to any desired length, not only provides a -guideway for the runway, but also insures the surface plates bein Y pressed into their lowermost latched positions as they pass under the guide plate in either direction of the carrier travel. At the opposite end of the` runway as the supporting plates 45 are carried over the sprocket wheel 25, their free 'edges pass into engagement with a series of rolls 81 carried by a stationary support 83 having flared walls, so that as the carrier travels around the sprocket in a clockwise direction the edges of the supporting plates engaging the rolls are gradually moved inwardly, compressing the springs until they reach the latched position, in which position they are held as they travel along the lower horizontalpath of the carrier. In traveling along the lower horizontal path the plates pass over a series of supporting rollers 85. At the opposite end of the runway there is provided a second series ofrolls 87 carried by the stationary support 89, these rolls, however,.being arranged concentricallywith the sprocket wheel 23..

The construction is such that when the motor 39 is actuated to drive the carrier in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in- Fig. 1 each supporting plate is thrown up into its inclined position as soon as its triggers engage the dogs 7 2, so that, in whatever position the plates may previously have been, by moving the carrier counterclockwise the entire series of plates presented by the to'p of the runway may be released and conditioned to receive a descending plane. With equal facility, however, the runway may be converted to present a substantially flat surface by starting the motor.

in the opposite direction and reversing the movement of the carrier. As the 'inclined plates engage the flared series of rollers 81 their springs are gradually compressed and are latched in flat position as they emerge from the rollers' and pass over the supporting rollers 85. Th'e continuance of this fiat latehed relation is insured by the guide plate 7 9 before they emerge from beneathf the same. The rollers .87 support the edge of the plates as they ascend over the'sprocket 23 presenting them in proper relation to the guide plate 79.

When a pla-ne 'alights on the runway yand travels along the same, with the supporting plates conditioned as shown in Fig. l, it encounters a yielding resistance at each plate whichlis overcome by the momentum of the plane, successive plates. moving down and being retained in their depressed posi-- tion by their respective latch levers. The depression of the plates, however, is only accomplished by the depression ofl the springs 55` which checks the momentum of the plane and gradually brings it to restV any required extent the rate at which the" inclined plates are presented to the advancing plane. v

By thus presenting a series of yieldableu obstructions within the advancing path of the plane, and additionally by positively moving such obstructions in a direction opposite to the travel of the plane, the latter may be brought to rest within a comparatively restricted sp'ace and by suitably proportioning the springs this may be accomplished by a` gradual resistance as contrasted with a lsuccession of shocks. i

On the other hand,l when it is desired to utilize the runway for the taking-oli of a plane, it may be quickly converted into a substantially level runway'by first reversing the movement of the carrier and then stopping the same. If desired the runway may be set in .motion during the taking-off of an aeroplane.- j

Preferably the structure 5 is extended above each side ofthe runway. to provide lateral guideways 9 1 and prevent the plane from leaving the -runway laterally, -such guides being herein .shown as provided with vertically arranged rollers 93.

While I have herein .shown and described for the purposes of illustration one -illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the latter is not limited to the mechanical details or relative arrangement of parts herein shown, but that extensive deviations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l claiml. `An aeroplane, runway comprising an endless traveling carrier having means to present an exposed aeroplane vsupporting` lplane, the same having means to absorb enway in a condition to receive an alight-ing aeroplane, means to place the runway in a substantially flat condition for the take-off of an aeroplane when the carrier is propelled in the opposite direction, a system of guiding supports for said carrier, and means for driving the carrier including starting and stopping and speed varying devices.

2. An aeroplane landing presenting in the path of the aeroplane a series of inclined members, springs normally holding said members in opposing relation to the advance of the aeroplane, and devices to hold said members in unopposing relation when the opposition of the springs is overcome by the aeroplane.

3. An aeroplane runway presenting in the path of the aeroplanea plurality of devices held in opposing relation but movable out of opposing relation when engaged by the aeroergy from the aeroplane through the move- Ament of said devices thereby to check its momentum, and means to hold the devices in unopposing relation when so moved.

4. An aeroplane landing comprising a runway presenting for engagement in succession by said aeroplane a series of hinged opposing energy absorbing obstructions to check momentum and 'convertible at will to present an unobstructed portion for starting.

' 5.- An aeroplane runway comprising a movable carrier composed of units, each unit 'having a plate adaptedl to be held at an inclination to' thetravel of the aeroplane, springs resisting depression of said plates, a. latch to hold said plates when depressed, devices to trip the latch, and a stationary guide plate for the end ofthe runway.

6. An aeroplanerunway.comprising a support with a runway surface, a connection to said support permitting lateral tilting o't' said runway relative to said support, and devices to check the tilting movement.

7 An aeroplane runway comprising an endless traveling carrier having means to present an exposed aeroplane supporting surface, with a` series of yieldable obstructionsadapted to yield under the advance of the aeroplane, means to'retain said obstructions so as to present a substantially flat runway, devices to release the obstructions to present an obstructed runway, and means to move the'carrier in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the aeroplane.

' 8. An aeroplane runway comprising a traveling carrier presenting inclinations to the. path of the aeroplane, means for causing` the travel of the runway, and means operated i I by the movement of the runway for converting the same to present a substantially fiat portion for starting.

9. An aeroplane runway having a series of momentumchecking obstructions in the path of the aeroplane, and means operable by the movement of the runway for converting the latter 4to present a substantially unobstructed portion for starting.

10. An aeroplane runway having a movable surface embodying aplurality of movable members, with means for holding them to presentv a substantially flat portion for starting, and means to release said members by movement of the surface to present a succession of momentum checking obstructions to the path of the aeroplane.

`In testimony whereof, I have' signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR H. BALLARD.

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