GB191000762A - Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Aeronautical Machines. - Google Patents

Abstract

762. Hughes, T. A. Jan. 11. Steering and balancing.-The controlling-gear of aeronautical machines is constructed so that the adjustment of the elevators, the warping of the main planes, or operation of ailerons or other devices for obtaining lateral balance, and the adjustment of the rudder, are effected from a single operating-member. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, two sleeves b, c are mounted to rotate on a fixed standard a, the upper sleeve b being formed with bearings d for an operating cross-bar e provided with handles f. A crosspiece m fixed to the operating-bar e is connected by cords passing over pulleys n to the elevator, which is adjusted by oscillating the bar e about its own axis in the bearings d. Lateral balance is effected by rotating the sleeve b upon the standard a by means of the bar c, the sleeve being formed with arms o connected by cords to the balancing-devices. The sleeve c is fitted with a catch g, which is operated by Bowden mechanism h mounted on the bar e and serves to lock the sleeve c to the standard a or to the sleeve b. The rudder is connected by cords to arms p on the sleeve, so that by operating the catch g to connect the sleeves b, c so that they rotate together, the balancing-devices and rudder may be operated simultaneously. The catch g may be arranged so that it may be disengaged both from the standard a and the sleeve b, in order to allow the rudder to be operated separately by foot pressure applied to the arms p. In modifications, the bar e may be arranged longitudinally of the machine after the manner of a tiller, and may be rocked about a transverse axis, or oscillated about a longitudinal axis, or slid backwards and forwards, and instead of being carried by the sleeve b may be carried by a rotary standard on which the sleeves are mounted. Moreover, the sleeves may be arranged concentrically. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve b is dispensed with, and the bar e is mounted in a rotary standard q and connected to an operating hand-wheel r. The standard q carries fixed and loose bevelwheels s, t geared together by bevel-wheels u, so that the sleeve c, by being connected through the catch g with the wheel t or a fixed collar v on the standard, may be rotated oppositely to, or in the same direction as, the standard. In this way, the lateral balancing-devices may be operated simultaneously with, and in the same or opposite sense to, the rudder. In a modification, the rotary standard may be arranged horizontally instead of vertically, in which case the elevators would be adjusted by sliding the standard backwards and forwards, instead of by rocking the wheel r about the bar e. Moreover, one or more additional sleeves may be provided to give additional controls. The mechanism for controlling the engine of the machine may be mounted on the handles f or wheel r.