US1727542A - Airplane construction - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1929. Q GIENGER 1,727,542

AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 13, 1929 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT. CHARLES GIENGER, OF GHALOQUIN, OREGON.

AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 13, 1929. Serial No. 346,696.

My invention relates to improvements in airplane construction, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a new type of motive force for propelling an airplane through the air, this force consisting of a unit comprising a- Venturi tube, a propeller placed just in advance of the tube and having its blades extending a trifle beyond the rim of the tube, and a second propeller disposed inside of the rear of the tube and being rotated in a direction opposite to the first propeller. I have shown two such units in the present application, although it is plbvious that the number may be varied at w1 I have found that air will be forced into the tube by the leading propeller and will tend to spread outwardly as it nears the end of the tube and to dissipate itself in different directions. The provision of the rear propeller has a tendency to cause the air issuing from the tube to be projected into the atmosphere in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tube. I have found that this will result in an increased power.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the device. I

In carrying out my invention, I make use of an airplane indicated generally at 1. On each side of the fuselage 2, I dispose one of the units. It is obvious that the device can be attached to air craft ofa type different from that shown in Figure 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Each unit is identical, and therefore a description of one will suflice. In Figure 3 I show a Venturi tube 3 which is constructed of light material so as to reduce the weight to a mlnimum. The tube 3 is properly braced,

59 as, for example, by struts 4.

Just in advance of the tube 3 I mount a propeller 5. This propeller is keyed to a sleeve 6, and the latter is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 7. The shaft extends through the center of the tube 3, and is supported by bearings 8 and 9, the latter being carried by the fuselage 2.

The sleeve 6, has a pulley 10, and this pulley is connected to a pulley 11 that is mounted upon the crank shaft 12 of the engine (not shown) It will be noted that the blade tips of the propeller 5 extend a slight distance beyond the periphery of the tube 3.

A second propeller 13 is keyed to the shaft 7 and is disposed within the tube 3 near the rear end of the tube. A pulley 14 is keyed to the shaft 7 and is connected to the pulley 11 by a belt 15 that is crossed over so as to cause the propeller 13 to rotate in a reverse direction to that of the propeller 5. I have shown belts 16 and 17 that lead to the other unit for rotating similar propellers in this unit in the same manner as that already described.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. p

The forward propeller 5 causes air to be forced into the Venturi tube 3. This air will have a tendency to spread as it nears the end of the tube. The second propeller 13 strikes the air just as it is ready to spread, and prevents this spreading action and causes the air to be ejected in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tube. Air issuing from the tube in a straight line with its axis has a greater propelling elfectthan air that is tending to spread as it leaves the tube. The second propeller prevents small eddy currents which have a tendency to cut down the efficiency of the tube. The length of the tube depends upon the pitch and the speed of the propellers.

The airplane to which the tubes are attached is controlled in the same manner as a standard airplane. The device is simple in construction and is durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various 2 mettle changes, ancl I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come Within the scope of the invention as cleimeci.

ll claim:

5 1. A power means for airplanes enol the like comprising a tubular member shaped like a venturi, means for forcing air into the front of the Venturi, and means dis oserl at the rear of the venturi for causing t' e air to be projected rearwardly in a stream that is parallel With the axis of the tube.

2. A motive power for air craft encl the like comprising at Venturi tube, a propeller placed at the entrance oi the tube, at seconcl propeller placed at the rear of the tube, en i means for rotating said propellers in opposite directions.:

3. The combination with an airplane having it fuselage, of a, pair of Venturi tubes,

2e one of the tubes being disposed on each siile of the fuselage, propellers mounted in the fronts oi? the tubes and having blades that extencl e, slight distance beyond the rims of the tubes, and propellers disposed in the rear ends or the tubes. 4. The combination with an airplane having a fuselage, of a pair of Venturi tubes, one of the tubes being disposed on each side of the fuselage, propellers mounted in the at fronts of the tubes and having blades that extend it slight distance beyond the rims of the tubes, propellers disposecl in the rear endls of the tubes, and means for rotating the for Ward propellers in e direction opposite to the rear propellers.

5,. A motive power for vehicles comprising e Venturi tube, means for sucking air into the tubefor causing the air to converge with in the tube and then to tencl'to separate as it an nears the reer end. of the tube, and means disposec'i at the rear oi the tube for prevent ing divergence of the for causing it to issue in straight stream is parall l the ems oi the tube,

Images