With such an arrangement, the pendulum would
hang vertically at all times, and the pointer below,
being in range of a circle with degrees
indicated thereon, and the base attached to the
frame of the machine, can always be observed,
and the conditions noted at the time the changes
take place.
PENDULUM STABILIZER.--In many respects the
use of a pendulum has advantages over the gyroscope.
The latter requires power to keep it in
motion. The pendulum is always in condition
for service. While it may be more difficult to
adjust the pendulum, so that it does not affect
the planes by too rapid a swing, or an oscillation
which is beyond the true angle desired, still, these
are matters which, in time, will make the pendulum
a strong factor in lateral stability.
_Fig. 67. Simple Pendulum Stabilizer._
It is an exceedingly simple matter to attach the
lead wires from an aileron to the pendulum. In
Fig. 67 one plan is illustrated. The pendulum
A swings from the frame B of the machine, the
ailerons a being in this case also shown at right
angles to their true positions.
The other, Fig. 68, assumes that the machine is
exactly horizontal, and as the pendulum is in a
vertical position, the forward edges of both ailerons
are elevated, but when the pendulum swings
both ailerons will be swung with their forward
margins up or down in unison, and thus the proper
angles are made to right the machine.
STEERING AND CONTROLLING WHEEL.--For the
purpose of concentrating the control in a single
wheel, which has not alone a turning motion, but
is also mounted in such a manner that it will oscillate
to and fro, is very desirable, and is adapted
for any kind of machine.
_Fig. 68. Pendulum Stabilizers._
Fig. 69 shows such a structure, in which A
represents the frame of the machine, and B a
segment for the stem of the wheel, the segment
being made of two parts, so as to form a guideway
for the stem a to travel between, and the segment
is placed so that the stem will travel in a
fore and aft direction.
The lower end of the stem is mounted in a
socket, at D, so that while it may be turned, it
will also permit this oscillating motion. Near its
lower end is a cross bar E from which the wires
run to the vertical control plane, and also to the
ailerons, if the machine is equipped with them, or
to the warping ends of the planes.
_Fig. 69. Steering and Control Wheel._
Above the cross arms is a loose collar F to
which the fore and aft cords are attached that go
to the elevators, or horizontal planes. The upper
end of the stem has a wheel G, which may also be
equipped with the throttle and spark levers.
AUTOMATIC STABILIZING WINGS.--Unquestionably,
the best stabilizer is one which will act on
its own initiative. The difficulty with automatic
devices is, that they act too late, as a general
thing, to be effective. The device represented in
Fig. 70 is very simple, and in practice is found to
be most efficient.
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