GB216594A - Improvements in or relating to controlling devices for aeroplanes - Google Patents

Abstract

216,594. Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., and Dawson, F. G. T. March 3, 1923. Steering and balancing.-In an aeroplane having the trailing marginal porton of each half plane divided into two sections, an outer aileron and an inner flap, means are provided for moving the ailerons simultaneously in opposite directions in combination with means whereby both flaps may be moved in opposite directions concurrently with the ailerons without interfering with means provided for moving both ailerons and both flaps in the same direction. Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically two ailerons 12, 12* connected by cables 11, 11* to a chain 13 passed around a sprocket-wheel 14 on the boss of a hand-wheel 15 which rotates on a hollow spindle 17, Fig. 3, carried in the upper end of a control pillar 18. The flaps 23, 23* are connected by cables 22, 22* to a chain 21 passing around a sprocket-wheel 20 mounted on the end of a spindle 19 which can rotate and slide in the hollow spindle 17. A lever 25 pivoted at 26 to a collar 27 which can rotate without sliding upon the spindle 17 is connected to the end of the spindle 19 by a pin and slot, and is normally kept pressed outwardly by a spring 28. When the flaps 23, 23<*> are in their normal position a dog-clutch 29 on the sprocket-wheel 20 engages teeth on the pillar 18 and locks the flaps against movement. By pressing inwards the lever 25, the flaps are released, and when the ailerons and flaps are in corresponding positions the lever can be locked to the wheel by a spring catch 30 and the ailerons and flaps moved simultaneously for balancing at low speeds. The lever 25 may be replaced by a second hand-wheel fast on the end of the spindle 19 and pressed outwards by a spring surrounding the spindle, the second wheel when pressed inwards being adapted to be locked to the first wheel by a spring catch. A modification is described in which the spindle 19 is connected to a third hand-wheel and the axial movement of the spindle is effected by gripping together the third and second wheels, the second wheel being prevented from moving axially. The rim of the third wheel may be concavo-convex to embrace the rim of the second wheel. A fork on the third wheel straddles a spoke of the second wheel and carries a spring catch adapted to engage a hole in an annular member carried by the first wheel when the flaps and ailerons are in corresponding positions. Means for withdrawing the catch and for holding it inoperative are provided. As shown in Fig. 6, the cables 11, 11*, 22, 22* are passed around pulleys carried by nuts on right and left hand screws on a transverse shaft 41 to enable the flaps and ailerons to be moved simultaneously in the same direction as described in Specification 135,520. The ailerons and flaps may be raised by springs or by balance wires as described in Specification 135,522. Specification 135,521 also is referred to. According to the Provisional Specification both ailerons may be moved simultaneously in the same direction independently of the flaps.