Propeller mud-guard for aeroplanes

Application filed April 3, 1920. Serial No. 371,023.

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Neil Alfred Strand, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propeller Mud-Guards fer Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propeller mud 10 guards.

Its primary object is to devise a protector for the propeller against mud or dirt thrown toward it by the landing wheels of an aeroplane, when starting or terminating a flight. 15 Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind which will cause as little resistance to the flying as possible and at the same time accomplish the desired results.

In order to make more clear the above and other objects a short explanation of my device and the importance of its application is necessary.

It very often occurs in flying that the 25 aviator is forced to land on or ascend from muddy, sandy or other grounds unfavorable! for such purposes.

The landing wheels invariably bury themselves partially into the ground and throw 30 up earth in the general direction of the travel of the aeroplane and tangentially to the upper part of the wheel’s circumference. The thrown up mud, sand and often stones of considerable weight come in contact with 35 the propeller spinning at a high rate and inflict serious injuries to the propeller blades which may prove fatal to the aviator. It is well known that a slightly cracked propeller will cause a considerable deviation in the 40 course of flying, and that a broken-out blade will unbalance the propeller and render it, if not incapable, at least very dangerous for use.

In order to prevent the throwing off of 45 injurious ground, particles from the wheels against the propeller my device is attached , in near proximity with and above the landing wheels and between them and the propeller.

It is preferably attached at the front part of the aeroplane wings or planes, and its design is such as to reduce its air resistance to a minimum.

The foregoing description will be more 55 fully understood in connection with the ac companying drawings, forming part qf this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane with my device attached.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the aeroplane 60 showing my device in place above the landing wheels.

Fig. 3 is ah enlarged perspective view of my device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 65 indicates the aeroplane body, 11 the upper wing or plane, 12 the lower plane or planes, below and somewhat in front of which the landing wheels 13 are provided.

Ahead of the engine housing 14 the pro- 70 peller 15 may be observed. Attached to the front edge 16. of the lower planes 12 my device, indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 17, is disclosed, as shown, above the landing wheels 13, so as to provide a shield between them 75 and propeller 15.

A preferred construction of my device is shown in Fig. 3 in detail. It consists of a pair of beams 18 having the shape of a curved V, and reinforced through braces 19 80 placed substantially at their center. These beams are parallel and are attached at their widened end in a V-shaped bracket 20 the upper part 21 of which corresponds with the upper end surface, and its lower portion 22 85 with the bottom end surface of the planes 12. The bracket is provided with a plurality of apertures 23 disposed to receive bolts or other fastening means passing through plane 12. As may be observed, the general 90, form of the frame is U-shaped. Its connected portion, the bracket 20, abuts with the wing ends, while its parallel free ends face the propeller. ,

At the bottom portion of the frame a 95 guard 24, made preferably of wire netting, is provided, spreading from its free ends back to the lower part · 22 of the bracket. The wire netting not .only prevents large earth particles or stones from being thrown 100 against the propeller blades, but it cleanses itself of adhering mud when passing through the air. In addition the netting causes comparatively little head resistance. While the above specification deals with a 105 preferred form of my device it is obvious that frequent changes will be required to meet various conditions arising ffbm different aeroplane construction.

I reserve for myself, therefore, the right 110

1,341,202 to make changes, improvements and other additions within the broad scope of my invention. )