GB300782A - Improvements in or relating to means for controlling aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

300,782. Deane, G. N. Nov. 9, 1927. Balancing.-Relates to aircraft wings provided with forwardly mounted rider planes or allulas which move automatically to form gaps between themselves and the wings before the stalling angle is reached ond consists in operable or adjustable means for determining the attitude of the aircraft at which the gaps tend automatically to open or close. The may be effected to placing a yielding load upon the allulas tending to keep the gaps closed, or, by mounting the allulas so that their pivoting points or normal positions on the wings may be varied. The load may be such as to render the allulas inoperative. As shown in Fig. 1, the allula 3 is mounted on the wing 1 by parallel links 4, the rear link having an arm 6 connected to a spring 8 connected by a cable 9 to the usual pilot's control column or an independent control. Semi-permanent adjustable means 7 may be provided, or the yielding load applied by the spring may be invariable. The cable 9 may be connected to an aileron on the same wing or its control mechanism, or may be cross connected to an aileron on the other wing, lost motion devices being interposed in the connection so that the yielding load is not varied until the aileron has moved a predetermined amount. Quickly releasable means may be provided to lock the allulas in any desired position. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the parallel links are mounted on a member 12 movable in a guide 13 on the wing, the guide being connected by a rod 16 to a lever 15 controlled by cables 9<a>. In a modification movement of the allulas may be controlled by air cushions or dash-pots. In a further modification, the pivotal points of the links on the plane may be adjusted along arcuate slots struck about centres coinciding with the pivot points of the links on the allulas. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the yielding load comprises a torsion spring 26 connected to one of the links 4 and to a screw-threaded rod 21 rotated by a travelling nut 23 connected by a spring 33 to a fixed point 34 and by a cable 29 to a control lever 28 which is similarly connected to an allula on the other wing. By movement of the lever in the direction a or b, the load on one allula is decreased and on the other increased, and by movement in the direction c, both cables engage pulleys 35 and the load on both allulas is increased.