GB934286A - Improvements in and relating to wing tip folding mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

934,286. Folding aircraft wings. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. June 12, 1962 [June 16, 1961], No. 21948/61. Class 4. Mechanism for folding the tip of an aircraft wing, to vary the wing geometry in flight or for stowage, comprises two worm gear stages, shown together at 36, arranged in series between driving motors 31 and the wing, a worm wheel segment 37 on the wing forming the final gear member, the worm of the second stage and the whole of the first stage being located in the wing tip. The tip may be depressed by 15 degrees from the plane of the wing for subsonic flight, be depressed further to be at right angles to the plane of the wing for supersonic flight, and be turned through a further 20 degrees for stowage. In the Figure the motors 31 drive two parallel sets of double worm gears 36 through a differential 32, each set engaging a segment 37. The wing and tip have forward, centre, and rear spars 2, 3, 4, and 12, 13, 14, respectively, the latter being pivoted to brackets 22, 23, 24, on a wing rib 7, the whole hinge being enclosed in a fairing 30. Pressure fluid conduits 8 in the wing and 18 in the tip communicate through rotary pipe joints 28 the fluid operating motors 31 and the jacks 16 of the tip trailing edge control surfaces 15. Provision may be made for locking these surfaces in neutral position when the tip is depressed. Hydraulic jacks 38 operate bolts 39 to lock the tip in any of its three positions.