US2077732A - Wing surface - Google Patents

Description

April 2o, 1937. H, 'L ADAMS `2,077,732

` WING SURFACE Filed Nov. 22, 1932 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WING summon Herbert Luther Adams, Washington, D. C. Application NovemberZZ, 1932, Serial No. 644,567

` 4 claims. (01. 244-123) This invention relates to aerofoils for, flying machines, and more particularly to Wing surfaces therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide Wing surfaces which may be supported with a minimum amount of bracingl to produce an v aerofoil having maximum rigidity-and strength With very little weight,

A further object of the invention is to provide wing surfaces as aforesaid wherein corrugated material is employed to give rigidity and strength throughout the entire area of said surfaces.

A further object of the invention isA to provide Wing surfaces as aforesaid which may be embodied in an aerofoil having relatively few parts, and

from which the wing surfaces may be readily removed should it become necessary to repair the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a ing machine wing or aerofoilv embodying wing surfaces in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section through the wing Vas indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspective of the material from which the lwing surfaces are formed.

' Figures 4.and 5 are modifications of the material shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals I and 2 respectively indicate generally upper and lower wing sections connected at their forward-edges with a forward section 3, and disposed on opposite sides of a frame-extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, and designated generally by the numeral 4.

Each of the sections I and 2 includes a smooth,

40 substantially flat outer or surface member 5, and

a corrugated inner reinforcing or backing member 6. The forward section 3 includes a smooth outer or surface member 1 and a corrugated inner reinforcing or backing member 8. The membersi 1 and 8 are similar to the members 5 and 6 respectively, except that the members 1 and 8 are curved throughout an arc of substantially, 180. The members 1 and 8 are secured adjacent their rear edges to each other and to the members 5 and 6 adjacent the forward edges of the latter by any suitable means such as the rivets 9, and

the upper members 5 and 6 are secured to each` other and to the lower members 5 and 6 by any suitable means such as the bolts I0. The corrugations of the member 8 preferably extend longitudinally of the aerofoil, and the corrugations of the members 6 preferably extend transversely of the aerofoil, thereby disposing the corrugations ofthe lreinforcing or backing members 6 at right angles to the corrugations of the reinforcing or 5 backing member 8.

The frame 4 preferably is tubular lin form and comprises a front portion II and a rear portion I2 connected by an outer portion I3, and all constructed or assembled in a single unit. The por- 10 tions II and I2 provide girders extending longi- Atudinally of the aerofoil, which preferably taper outwardly, and also converge outwardly .with respect to each other. An inner' end part of the front portion II preferably is provided with a l5 corrugated backing member I4 disposed therein to give additional rigidity to the portion thereof having the greatest diameter. The frame 4A is wedged between the sections I and 2, with the cortugations of the members 6 extending tra-ns- 2o vcrsely of and in frictinal contact with the front and rear portions I.I and I2v of the frame 4. If,

desired, any suitable additional means may be employed for securing the sections I and 2 Jto the frame 4. 25

In addition to the corrugated reinforcing member 6 for each outer or surface member 5, the latter may be further .reinforced if desired by a smooth reinforcing member I5 disposed on the inner'face of the member 6 as shown in Figure 4. 30 In this manner the rigidity of the surfaces may be increased in an aerofo-il wherein additional rigidity is desirable, and wherein a corresponding increase in Weight is not objectionable. Also, under the same circumstances, a construction as 35 shown in Figure 5 may be employed.\ This latter construction comprises outer and inner corrugated members IG and I1, and an intermediate corrugated member I8.. Preferably the conugations, of the members I6 and I1 will extend at 40 right angles to each other, with the corrugations of the member I8 extending diagonally at the corrugations of the members I6 and I1. Either of the structures shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be incorporated in the forward section 3 of the 45 aerofoil, with the corrugations in the section 3 extending substantially at rightangles to the corresponding corrugations in the sections I and 2. l

Suitable means of attaching this wing surface 50 and framing to an aircraft and to each other is included vas self evident, if desired in special cases.

Having described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 55

l. ln an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheet surface recnforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having its corrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lower sections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprising an aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet of backing having its corrugations extending substantially at right angles to the corrugations in the front section, a tubular longitudinal frame with and connected to said aerofoil, means for securing said upper and lower sections to said front section, and means for securing said upper and lower sections together at their rear edges.

2. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheet surface reenforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having its corrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lower sections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprising an aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet of backing having its corrugations vextending substantially at right angles to the corrugations in' the front section, a frame coinprising` vgirders extending longitudinally of `the aerofoil and disposed between said upper and lower sections, means for securing said upper and lower sections to said front section, and means for securing said upper and lower sections together at their rear edges.

3. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved sheet surface recnforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing having its corrugations extending longitudinally of the aerofoil, upper and lower sections extending rearwardly from the front section and each comprising an aerofoil surface sheet reenforced by a corrugated sheet ot backing having its corrugations extending substantially'at right angles to the corrugations in the front section, a frame comprising girders extending longitudinally of the aerofoil and wedged between said upper and lower sections in frictional engagement with the corrugations thereof, means for securing said upper and lower sections to said front section, and means for securing said upper and lower sections together attheir rear edges.

4. In an aerofoil, a forward section comprising an outer curved\sheet surface reenforced by a curved sheet of corrugated backing, upper and lower sections extending rearwardly `lfrom the front section and eachg comprising an aerofoil surface sheet recnforced by a corrugated sheet of backing, a tubular frame\cemprising a pair of girders-'extending longitudinally of the aerofoil and disposed between said upperyand lower sections, said girders converging with respect to each other in an outward direction and each tapering in the same direction, one of said girders being larger than the other and having a corrugated sheet of backing therein, means for securing said upper and lower sections to said forward section, and means for securing said upper and lower sections" together at their rear edges.

' HERBERT L. ADAMS.

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