US1796693A - Means for landing and launching airplanes and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1931. sc lM L 313 1,796,693

-MEANS FOR LANDING AND LAUNCHING AIRPLANES AND THE LIKE Filed May 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor:

J07UL SOhirnmeL,

March 17, 1931. MM L 3D 1,796,693

MEANS FOR LANDING AND LAUNCHING AIRPLANES AND THE LIKE Filed May 51, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 3 AJA. m T i 5 i i L mil "J IruJenZor: Jfiiut/ Sciamrrwflj Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN SCHIMMEL, 3n, BRYN HAWK, PENNSYLVANTA MEANS FOR LANDING AND LAUNGHIN G AIBPLANES AND THE LIKE Application filed May 31,

, My invention relates to means for landing and launching airplanes, and it relates more particularly to a structure by means of which airplanes may be landed or launched in a a relatively limited s ace, thereby eliminating the necessity for t e large fields commonly em loyed for such purposes.

' 7 he principal 0b]8Cl3 of my invention is to provide means for landing and launching air lanes in a small area.

further object of my invention is to provide such a device in connection with a suitable building in which the airplanes may be stored when not in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device so constructed and arranged that the same may be readily rotated to bring it to proper positions with respect to the direction of prevailing winds.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the-following description, taken in connection with the accom anying drawings forming part hereof, in w ich Figure 1 is a perspective view of a struc- Z'Fture embodying the main features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection taken approxi- 39 mately on the line 3-3 of Fi 2; and

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation o the structure, that is to say, a view looking toward the exit end thereof.

It should, of course, be understood that the drawings are to a large extent schematic, and for the purpose of better illustrating the invention certain of the structural details of the various parts of the device are omitted, as the same may be considerably varied in practice, according to the ideas of the particular designer.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of my invention therein shown, 5 is a suitable building, which may serve as a storage space for airplanes and the like when the same are not in use. This building 5 may be of any suitable shape and mac.

Upon the roof 6 of the building 5 there 50 are provided circular rails 7 and 8, upon v 1929. Serial I0. 887,386.

which a tunnel-like structure 9 is rotatably mounted. The airplanes are launched from within the tunnel structure 9, and they are flown into the same when they are to he landed or brought to rest.

The tunnel structure 9 is provided with a central throat portion 10, and the side walls 11 thereof flare outwardly to the entrance end 12, that is to say, the end into which the airplanes are flown when they are landed. The exit end 13 of the tunnel structure 9 may be of substantially the same dimensions as the throat portion 10 thereof.

Between the throat portion 10 of the tunnel structure and the exit end 13 thereof, there are provided, preferably on each side thereof, angular extensions 14, in the end walls of which are mounted fans 15.

The fans 15 may be driven by means of any suitable mechanism (not shown), such, for example, as airplane engines or electric motors. The arrangement is such that when the fans 15 are operated, a strong current of air will be impelled through the tunnel structure' 9 in a direction away from the exit and toward the'entrance end.

The tunnel structure, as hereinbefore stated, is rotatably mounted upon circular rails 7 and 8, preferably by means of wheels 16. If desired, suitable power operated mecha nism (not shown) may be employed for rotating the tunnel structure to an desired axial position, or the same may e manually rotated.

There may also be provided an. elevator, the platform 17 of which may be of circular outline, so that said platform need not be rotated with the tunnel structure. The arrangement of the elevator is such that when the platform 17 thereof is in its uppermost position the same will lie flush with the floor of the tunnel structure 9, and when the platform is brought to its lowermost position the same will be flush with the floor of the building 5, so that the airplanes may be readily brought from the building to the tunnel structure, or viccwcrsu.

Upon the roof of the tunnel structure 9 there may be provided a control room 18, in which an operator may be located for con- 15-0 trolling the operation of the various parts of the apparatus.

The operation of the structure may now be explained. When it'is desired to use the same for the purpose of landing airplanes,

tion, whereby a strong current of air will 4 be impelled through the tunnel structure 9, the air flow being of greatest intensity in the central throat portion 10 thereof, the action being somewhat similar to that of the well known Venturi tube.

The airplane to he landed enters the tunnel at the entrance end thereof, and upon reachingthe point in the tunnel where the current of air produced by the fans overcomes the velocity of the plane, the airplane will come to rest and settle upon the floor of the tunnel structure.

The fans 15 and the airplane ropeller are then simultaneously stopped. fter the airplane is brought to rest, the same may be owered from the interior of the tunnel to.

the storage building, by means of the elevator.

When it is desired to launch an airplane, the same is raised from the building, by means of the elevator, to the floor of thetunnel structure. The airplane-motor and the fans are then started, and after the airplane motor develops suflicient speed for taking oil,

the fans are stopped, and the airplane flies out of the exit end of the tunnel structure.

It will be seen that there is thus provided means for landing and launching airplanes in a limited space, which may be readily shifted in accordance with the direction of the prevailing winds, and which is adapted to be associated with a suitable building for the storage of the airplanes when the same are not in use.

I claim:

I. Means for landing and launching airplanes' comprising a tunnel structure into and from which airplanes are adapted to fly, and means for creating a current of air and impelling the same through said tunnel structure. V

2.'Means for landing and launching airplanes comprisin a tunnel structure into and from which airplanes are adapted to fly, said tunnel structure having an outwardly flaring entrance end,'and means for creating a current of air and impelling the same throughthe tunnel structure.

3. Means for landing and launching airplanes comprising a tunnel structure into and from which airplanes are adapted to fly, means for creating a current of air and impelling the same through said tunnel structure, and means for supporting the tun- 1,7ae,eee

nel structure whereby the same may be badily rotated.

4. Means for landing and launching airplanes com rising a tunnel structure having an outwar ly flaring entrance end, portions projecting angularly from the sides of-said tunnel structure, and fans located in said projecting portions for creatin a current of air and impelling the same t rough said tunnel structure.

5. Means for landing and launching airplanes comprising a tunnel structure, portions projecting angularly from the sides thereof, fans located in said projecting portions for creating a current of air and impelling the same through the tunnel structure, and means for supporting the tunnel structure whereby the same may be bodily,

rotated.

6. Means for landing and launching airplanes comprising a tunnel structure into and from which airplanes are adapted to fly, means for creating a current of air and impelling the same through said tunnel structure, a building u on which the tunnel strucing' airplanes between the tunnel structure and the building. Y

7. Means for landing and launching airplanes comprising a tunnel structure into and from which airplanes are adapted to fly, means for creating a current of air and impelling the same through said tunnel structure, means for supporting the tunnel structure whereby the same may be bodily rotated, a building u on which the tunnel structure is superpose and an elevator having a circular platform adapted to register with the floor level of the tunnel or with the floor level of the building whereby airplanes may be trans orted between the tunnel structure and t e building.

8. Means for landing and launching airplanes comprising a tunnel structure having an. outwardly flaring entrance end, portions projecting angularly from the sides of said tunnel structure, fans located in said projecting portions for impelling a current of air through the tunnel structure, a building upon which the tunnel structure is superposed, and means for transporting airplanes between the tunnel structure and the buildmg.

9. Means for landing and launching airplanes com rising a tunnel structure having an outwar ly flaring entrance end, portions projecting angularly from the sides of said tunnel structure, fans located in said projecting portions for impelling a current of air through said tunnel structure, means for supportin the tunnel structure wlt'ereby the same may be bodily rotated, a building upon which the tunnel structure is superposed, and an elevator having a circular platform adapted to register with the floor level of the ture is superpose and means for transporttlmheii or with the floor level of the building whereby airplanes may be trans orbed between the tunnel structure and the uildingT.

.1111 testimony whereof, I have hereunto slgned my name.

JDHN SGHIMMEL, m.

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