GB474003A - Aircraft wings - Google Patents

Abstract

474,003. Folding aircraft wings. ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH AIRCRAFT, Ltd., SIR W. G., and LLOYD, J. July 7, 1936, No. 18821. [Class 4] In aircraft having wings on opposite sides of the fuselage each wing is divided transversely of its span into at least three sections arranged and hinged to one another in such manner that the outer sections of each wing can be folded to lie horizontally alongside one another adjacent the inner section. A fuselage 11, Fig. 1, is provided with fixed stub sections 12, which may carry engines 27 and alighting gear elements, to the upper outer ends of which intermediate sections 14 are hinged at 13, tip sections 16 being in turn hinged at 15 to the lower outer ends of sections 14. All the hinges are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. At each edge remote from a hinge are arranged locking bolts for front and rear spars. Folding is effected by withdrawing the bolts of section 16 folding this section under section 14 then withdrawing the bolts holding section 14 and folding this section and section 16 over stub section 12. In order to balance the weight of the sections spring means may be provided to act on each hinge-pin 21, Fig. 2. A chain sprocket 22 is formed integrally with the hinge pin and is keyed to the outer spar boom. Sprocket 21 in the case of section 16, is coupled by a chain 23 to a larger sprocket 24a formed with a lever 25a to which a spring 26 is connected. The action of spring 26 is to take the weight of the section during folding or extending, and when arm 25a has moved over the dead centre during folding to maintain the section 16 firmly against section 14. In the case of the sprocket 22 which is keyed to the upper spar boom of section 14, a sprocket 24 of equal size is employed and lever 25 and spring 26 are so disposed that the action of the spring is to relieve the weight of sections 14, 16 both in the upward movement to a vertical position and in the downward movement to the fully folded position. Remote control of the locking and folding gear may be used and in particular the looking pins may be formed as the piston of hydraulic cylinders.