第 25 节
作者:曾氏六合网      更新:2021-02-25 00:30      字数:9322
  way between the tip and the hub。
  In such a propeller; if the blade is the same
  width and pitch at the two points named; the pull
  at the tips will be four times greater than at the
  intermediate point。
  CHAPTER XIV
  EXPERIMENTAL GLIDERS AND MODEL AEROPLANES
  AN amusing and very instructive pastime is
  afforded by constructing and flying gliding machines;
  and operating model aeroplanes; the latter
  being equipped with their own power。
  Abroad this work has been very successful as
  a means of interesting boys; and; indeed; men
  who have taken up the science of aviation are
  giving this sport serious thought and study。
  When a machine of small dimensions is made
  the boy wonders why a large machine does not
  bear the same relation in weight as a small machine。
  This is one of the first lessons to learn。
  THE RELATION OF MODELS TO FLYING MACHINES。
  A model aeroplane; say two feet in length; which
  has; we will assume; 50 square inches of supporting
  surface; seems to be a very rigid structure;
  in proportion to its weight。 It may be dropped
  from a considerable height without injuring it;
  since the weight is only between two and three
  ounces。
  An aeroplane twenty times the length of this
  model; however strongly it may be made; if
  dropped the same distance; would be crushed; and
  probably broken into fragments。
  If the large machine is twenty times the dimensions
  of the small one; it would be forty feet in
  length; and; proportionally; would have only
  seven square feet of sustaining surface。 But an
  operative machine of that size; to be at all rigid;
  would require more than twenty times the material
  in weight to be equal in strength。
  It would weigh about 800 pounds; that is; 4800
  times the weight of the model; and instead of
  having twenty times the plane surface would require
  one thousand times the spread。
  It is this peculiarity between models and the
  actual flyers that for years made the question of
  flying a problem which; on the basis of pure calculation
  alone; seemed to offer a negative; and
  many scientific men declared that practical flying
  was an impossibility。
  LESSONS FROM MODELS。Men; and boys; too;
  can learn a useful lesson from the model aeroplanes
  in other directions; however; and the principal
  thing is the one of stability。
  When everything is considered the form or
  shape of a flying model will serve to make a large
  flyer。 The manner of balancing one will be a
  good criterion for the other in practice; and
  experimenting with these small devices is; therefore;
  most instructive。
  The difference between gliders and model aeroplanes
  is; that gliders must be made much lighter
  because they are designed to be projected through
  the air by a kick of some kind。
  FLYING MODEL AEROPLANES。Model aeroplanes
  contain their own power and propellers which;
  while they may run for a few seconds only; serve
  the purpose of indicating how the propeller will
  act; and in what respect the sustaining surfaces
  are efficient and properly arranged。
  It is not our purpose to give a treatise on this
  subject but to confine this chapter to an exposition
  of a few of the gliders and model forms which
  are found to be most efficient for experimental
  work。
  AN EFFICIENT GLIDER。Probably the simplest
  and most efficient glider; and one which can be
  made in a few moments; is to make a copy of the
  deltoid kite; previously referred to。
  This is merely a triangularly…shaped piece of
  paper; or stiff cardboard A; Fig。 84; creased in
  the middle; along the dotted line B; the side wings
  C; C; being bent up so as to form; what are called
  diedral angles。 This may be shot through the
  air by a flick of the finger; with the pointed end
  foremost; when used as a glider。
  _Fig。 85。 Deltoid Glider。_
  THE DELTOID FORMATION。This same form may
  be advantageously used as a model aeroplane; but
  in that case the broad end should be foremost。
  _Fig。 86。 The Deltoid Racer。_
  Fig。 86 shows the deltoid glider; or aeroplane;
  with three cross braces; A; B; C; in the two forward
  braces of which are journaled the propeller
  shaft D; so that the propeller E is at the broad
  end of the glider。
  A short stem F through the rear brace C; provided
  with a crank; has its inner end connected
  with the rear end of the shaft D by a rubber band
  G; by which the propeller is driven。
  A tail may be attached to the rear end; or at
  the apex of the planes; so it can be set for the
  purpose of directing the angle of flight; but it will
  be found that this form has remarkable stability
  in flight; and will move forwardly in a straight
  line; always making a graceful downward movement
  when the power is exhausted。
  It seems to be a form which has equal stabilizing
  powers whether at slow or at high speeds;
  thus differing essentially from many forms which
  require a certain speed in order to get the best
  results。
  RACING MODELS。Here and in England many
  racing models have been made; generally of the
  A…shaped type; which will be explained hereinafter。
  Such models are also strong; and able to
  withstand the torsional strain required by the
  rubber which is used for exerting the power。
  It is unfortunate that there is not some type of
  cheap motor which is light; and adapted to run
  for several minutes; which would be of great value
  in work of this kind; but in the absence of such
  mechanism rubber bands are found to be most
  serviceable; giving better results than springs or
  bows; since the latter are both too heavy to be
  available; in proportion to the amount of power
  developed。
  Unlike the large aeroplanes; the supporting
  surfaces; in the models; are at the rear end of
  the frames; the pointed ends being in front。
  _Fig。 87。 A…Shaped Racing Glider。_
  Fig。 87 shows the general design of the A…
  shaped gliding plane or aeroplane。 This is composed
  of main frame pieces A; A; running fore
  and aft; joined at their rear ends by a cross bar
  B; the ends of which project out slightly beyond
  their juncture with the side bars A; A。 These
  projecting ends have holes drilled therein to receive
  the shafts a; a; of the propeller D; D。
  A main plane E is mounted transversely across
  this frame at its rear end; while at its forward
  end is a small plane; called the elevator。 The
  pointed end of the frame has on each side a turnbuckle
  G; for the purpose of winding up the shaft;
  and thus twisting the propeller; although this is
  usually dispensed with; and the propeller itself
  is turned to give sufficient twist to the rubber for
  this purpose。
  THE POWER FOR MODEL AEROPLANES。One end
  of the rubber is attached to the hook of the shaft
  C; and the other end to the hook or to the turnbuckle
  G; if it should be so equipped。
  The rubbers are twisted in opposite directions;
  to correspond with the twist of the propeller
  blades; and when the propellers are permitted to
  turn; their grip on the air will cause the model to
  shoot forwardly; until the rubbers are untwisted;
  when the machine will gradually glide to the
  ground。
  MAKING THE PROPELLER。These should have
  the pitch uniform on both ends; and a simple
  little device can be made to hold the twisted blade
  after it has been steamed and bent。 Birch and
  holly are good woods for the blades。 The strips
  should be made thin and then boiled; or; what is
  better still; should be placed in a deep pan; and
  held on a grid above the water; so they will be
  thoroughly steamed。
  They are then taken out and bent by hand; or
  secured between a form specially prepared for
  the purpose。 The device shown in Fig。 88 shows
  a base board which has in the center a pair of
  parallel pins A; A; slightly separated from each
  other。
  _Fig。 88。 Making the Propeller。_
  At each end of the base board is a pair of holes
  C; D; drilled in at an angle; the angles being the
  pitch desired for the ends of the propeller。 In
  one of these holes a pin E is placed; so the pins
  at the opposite ends project in different directions;
  and the tips of the propeller are held
  against the ends of these pins; while the middle
  of the propeller is held between the parallel pins
  A; A。
  The two holes; at the two angles at the ends of
  the board; are for the purpose of making right
  and left hand propellers; as it is desirable to use
  two propellers with the A…shaped model。 Two
  propellers with the deltoid model are not so necessary。
  After the twist is made and the blade properly
  secured in position it should be allowed to thoroughly
  dry; and afterwards; if it is coated with
  shellac; will not untwist; as it is the changing
  character of the atmosphere which usually causes
  the twisted strips to change their positions。
  Shellac prevents the moist atmosphere from affecting
  them。
  MATERIAL FOR PROPELLERS。Very light pr