GB490964A - Improvements in or relating to folding wing aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

490,964. Folding - wing aircraft. FAIREY AVIATION CO., Ltd., LOBELLE, M. J. O., and TROTTER, J. C. May 22, 1937, No. 14330. [Class 4] In order to permit wing folding about a vertical axis intermediate of the wing chord, parts or the whole of the trailing portions of the wings, including flaps, are adapted to be folded back against the main portion of the wings, each folding portion being supported by triangular brackets which are hinged at one corner at or near one surface of the main wing and are detachably secured at another corner at or near the other surface of the wing whilst the third corner forms the flap pivot. In one form, Figs 1 and 2, a triangular bracket 4 is hinged at the lower end 6 to an extension of rear spar 7 and is normally secured at the upper end 8 by a catch 9 to the spar. Bracket 4 supports flap 11 at 14 and a fairing 12 forming a continuation of the wing upper surface. A hydraulic ram 15 connected at one end to the rear end of the flap is connected at the other to end 14 of bracket 4 by a link 16 and to the upper end of the bracket by a folding link 17, 18 which is normally held straight by a link 19 pivoted on an extension 20 of the lower end of the spar. Extension of the ram effects adjustment of the flap. The folding mechanism comprises a push-pull rod 25 pivoted to a lever 21 of which the upper end is movable in a slotted bearing 26 on the upper end of the spar and the lower end is pivoted to a link 23 pivoted to a forward extension of bracket 4. Rearward movement of rod 25 first releases catch 9 to free the upper end of the bracket and then rotates the bracket about pivot 5, link 19 producing folding of links 17, 18, as shown in Fig. 2. Ram 15 if not already extended must be extended prior to this operation. In a modified form, Fig. 3, in which the trailing part of the wing is to be folded over the upper wing surface bracket 4 is pivoted to the upper end of the wing spar at 5, and folding is accomplished by means similar to those of Figs. 1 and 2. In order to compensate for the increased angular distance through which the lowered flap must move relative to the bracket and fairing the pivot with which the ram is connected is moved during folding by connecting pivot carrying link 28 to a spar plate 27 at a point 29 eccentric with respect to pivot 5 and the other pivot carrying link 16 to the bracket 4 at 14. Specification 484,622 is referred to.