第 8 节
作者:曾氏六合网      更新:2021-02-25 00:30      字数:9321
  of going into a 〃hole。〃
  RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENTS。These so…called
  〃holes〃 are responsible for many accidents。 The
  outstretched wings; many of them over forty feet
  from tip to tip; offer opportunities for a tilt at one
  end or the other; which has sent so many machines
  to destruction。
  The high center of gravity in all machines makes
  the weight useless to counterbalance the rising
  end or to hold up the depressed wing。
  All aviators agree that these unequal areas of
  density extend over small spaces; and it is; therefore;
  obvious that a machine which is of such a
  structure that it moves through the air broadside
  on; will be more liable to meet these inequalities
  than one which is narrow and does not take in such
  a wide path。
  Why; therefore; persist in making a form which;
  by its very nature; invites danger? Because birds
  fly that way!
  THE TURNING MOVEMENT。This structural arrangement
  accentuates the difficulty when the machine
  turns。 The air pressure against the wing
  surface is dependent on the speed。 The broad
  outstretched surfaces compel the wing at the outer
  side of the circle to travel faster than the inner
  one。 As a result; the outer end of the aeroplane
  is elevated。
  CENTRIFUGAL ACTION。At the same time the
  running gear; and the frame which carries it and
  supports the machine while at rest; being below
  the planes; a centrifugal force is exerted; when
  turning a circle; which tends to swing the wheels
  and frame outwardly; and thereby still further
  elevating the outer end of the plane。
  THE WARPING PLANES。The only remedy to
  meet this condition is expressed in the mechanism
  which wraps or twists the outer ends of the planes;
  as constructed in the Wright machine; or the
  ailerons; or small wings at the rear margins of the
  planes; as illustrated by the Farman machine。
  The object of this arrangement is to decrease the
  angle of incidence at the rising end; and increase
  the angle at the depressed end; and thus; by manually…
  operated means keep the machine on an even
  keel。
  CHAPTER IV
  FORE AND AFT CONTROL
  THERE is no phase of the art of flying more important
  than the fore and aft control of an airship。
  Lateral stability is secondary to this feature; for
  reasons which will appear as we develop the
  subject。
  THE BIRD TYPE OF FORE AND AFT CONTROL。
  Every aeroplane follows the type set by nature
  in the particular that the body is caused to oscillate
  on a vertical fore and aft plane while in
  flight。 The bird has one important advantage;
  however; in structure。 Its wing has a flexure at
  the joint; so that its body can so oscillate independently
  of the angle of the wings。
  The aeroplane has the wing firmly fixed to the
  body; hence the only way in which it is possible
  to effect a change in the angle of the wing is by
  changing the angle of the body。 To be consistent
  the aeroplane should be so constructed that the
  angle of the supporting surfaces should be movable;
  and not controllable by the body。
  The bird; in initiating flight from a perch; darts
  downwardly; and changes the angle of the body to
  correspond with the direction of the flying start。
  When it alights the body is thrown so that its
  breast banks against the air; but in ordinary flight
  its wings only are used to change the angle of
  flight。
  ANGLE AND DIRECTION OF FLIGHT。In order to
  become familiar with terms which will be frequently
  used throughout the book; care should be
  taken to distinguish between the terms angle and
  direction of flight。 The former has reference to
  the up and down movement of an aeroplane;
  whereas the latter is used to designate a turning
  movement to the right or to the left。
  WHY SHOULD THE ANGLE OF THE BODY CHANGE?
  The first question that presents itself is; why
  should the angle of the aeroplane body change?
  Why should it be made to dart up and down and
  produce a sinuous motion? Why should its nose
  tilt toward the earth; when it is descending; and
  raise the forward part of the structure while ascending?
  The ready answer on the part of the bird…form
  advocate is; that nature has so designed a flying
  structure。 The argument is not consistent; because
  in this respect; as in every other; it is not
  made to conform to the structure which they seek
  to copy。
  CHANGING ANGLE OF BODY NOT SAFE。Furthermore;
  there is not a single argument which can be
  advanced in behalf of that method of building;
  which proves it to be correct。 Contrariwise; an
  analysis of the flying movement will show that it is
  the one feature which has militated against safety;
  and that machines will never be safe so long as
  the angle of the body must be depended upon to
  control the angle of flying。
  _Fig。 11a Monoplane in Flight。_
  In Fig。 11a three positions of a monoplane are
  shown; each in horizontal flight。 Let us say that
  the first figure A is going at 40 miles per hour;
  the second; B; at 50; and the third; C; at 60 miles。
  The body in A is nearly horizontal; the angle of
  the plane D being such that; with the tail E also
  horizontal; an even flight is maintained。
  When the speed increases to 50 miles an hour;
  the angle of incidence in the plane D must be
  decreased; so that the rear end of the frame must
  be raised; which is done by giving the tail an angle
  of incidence; otherwise; as the upper side of the
  tail should meet the air it would drive the rear
  end of the frame down; and thus defeat the attempt
  to elevate that part。
  _Fig。 12。 Angles of Flight。_
  As the speed increases ten miles more; the tail
  is swung down still further and the rear end of
  the frame is now actually above the plane of flight。
  In order; now; to change the angle of flight; without
  altering the speed of the machine; the tail is
  used to effect the control。
  Examine the first diagram in Fig。 12。 This
  shows the tail E still further depressed; and the
  air striking its lower side; causes an upward movement
  of the frame at that end; which so much decreases
  the angle of incidence that the aeroplane
  darts downwardly。
  In order to ascend; the tail; as shown in the second
  diagram; is elevated so as to depress the rear
  end; and now the sustaining surface shoots upwardly。
  Suppose that in either of the positions 1 or 2;
  thus described; the aviator should lose control of
  the mechanism; or it should become deranged or
  〃stick;〃 conditions which have existed in the history
  of the art; what is there to prevent an accident?
  In the first case; if there is room; the machine
  will loop the loop; and in the second case the machine
  will move upwardly until it is vertical; and
  then; in all probability; as its propelling power is
  not sufficient to hold it in that position; like a
  helicopter; and having absolutely no wing supporting
  surface when in that position; it will dart
  down tail foremost。
  A NON…CHANGING BODY。We may contrast the
  foregoing instances of flight with a machine having
  the sustaining planes hinged to the body in
  such a manner as to make the disposition of its
  angles synchronous with the tail。 In other words;
  see how a machine acts that has the angle of flight
  controllable by both planes;that is; the sustaining
  planes; as well as the tail。
  _Fig。 13。 Planes on Non…changing Body。_
  In Fig。 13 let the body of the aeroplane be horizontal;
  and the sustaining planes B disposed at
  the same angle; which we will assume to be 15
  degrees; this being the imaginary angle for illustrative
  purposes; with the power of the machine
  to drive it along horizontally; as shown in position
  1。
  In position 2 the angles of both planes are now
  at 10 degrees; and the speed 60 miles an hour;
  which still drives the machine forward horizontally。
  In position 3 the angle is still less; being now
  only 5 degrees but the speed is increased to 80
  miles per hour; but in each instance the body of
  the machine is horizontal。
  Now it is obvious that in order to ascend; in
  either case; the changing of the planes to a greater
  angle would raise the machine; but at the same
  time keep the body on an even keel。
  _Fig。 14。 Descent with Non…changing Body。_
  DESCENDING POSITIONS BY POWER CONTROL。In
  Fig。 14 the planes are the same angles in the three
  positions respectively; as in Fig。 13; but now the
  power has been reduced; and the speeds are 30;
  25; and 20 miles per hour; in positions A; B and C。
  Suppose that in either position the power should
  cease; and the control broken; so that it would be
  impossible to move the planes。 When the machine
  begins to lose its momentum it will descend on a
  curve shown; for instance; in Fig。 15; where position
  1 of Fig。 14 is taken as the speed and angles
  of the plane when the power ceased。
  _Fig。 15。 Utilizing Momentum。_
  CUTTING OFF THE POWER。This curve; A; may
  reach that