GB487049A - A new and improved method of and improvements in or connected with the design and construction of folding wings or planes for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

487,049. Folding-wings for aircraft; hinges. HUDSON, R. J. H. Nov. 14, 1936, No. 31126. [Class 4] [Also in Group XXV] In a folding-wing aircraft in which folding is required to take place about two mutually inclined axes, a wing is connected to the remaining structure by means disposed wholly within the thickness of the wing and comprising an element pivoted about a first axis and carrying a pivot joint of which the (second) axis is substantially perpendicular to the first and a link or like element serving to constrain the movement of the wing during folding and pivoted to wing and structure about third and fourth axes respectively, all the four said axes being so arranged that they intersect at a point. As applied to a folding cantilever wing, Figs. 1 and 2, a wing 32 is attached to a stub wing 31, or to a fuselage, through a pivot 33 permitting rotation about axis B, which pivot is itself rotatably mounted about axis A in the fixed structure 31. The constrainer comprises a bracket 34 hinged about axis C to structure 31 and about axis D to spar 23a. Axes A, B are perpendicular to one another, axes C, D nearly so, and all are concurrent at F. Lugs 36 on front and rear spars of wing 32 engage in recesses 36A in the stub wing, recesses and lugs being provided with holes which register in the folded position for reception of locking pins. Locking lugs 37 may also be provided on the underside of the wing. The movement of the wing during folding and the angular disposition of lugs 36 is such that these withdraw readily from the recesses. If axis A be arranged at or near the top of the wing the latter may be arranged to fold with the under surface outward. According to the Provisional Specification a cantilever wing may be attached by a chordwise hinge to a stub wing rotatable about a span-wise pivot or stub shaft carried by the fuselage, rotational movement of the stub wing being caused to effect rotation of the wing by means of a constrainer comprising a bracket hinged to the wing about a span-wise or diagonal axis and to the stub shaft or pivot about an axis permitting fore and aft swinging. The constrainers may be duplicated and caused by gearing to rotate in unison during folding.