US1817204A - Safety device for multiple control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1931. H. A. w. PETERSEN SAFETY DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l N wN g- 1931- H. A. w. PETERSEN 1,817,204

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE CONTROL MECHANISM 8- 4, 1931. H. A. w. PETERSEN 1,817,204

SAFETY DEVICE FOR IULTIPLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 10, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HEINRICH A. W. PETERSEN, OF GARY, INDIANA SAFETY DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE CONTROL MECHANISM Application filed May 10,

' This invention relates tosafety devices for multiple control mechanism and is particularly adaptable for use in aeroplanes equipped with a plurality of control levers 0r sticks for controlling the operation of the machine.

More specifically, the present invention is particularly adaptable to aeroplanes of the dual control type or, in other words, to ma- V chines having more than one control lever or stick for controlling the operation of the machine.

In aeroplanes of the dual control type, the control levers or sticks are intended to be connected together in a manner to permit either of the persons at the respective levers to control the operation of the machine. Heretofore, the connection between the levers or sticks has been of such rigid and permanent character, that if a novice, for example, a student, passenger, or other inexperienced person at one of the levers were to become frightened or panic stricken, they could, if sufficiently strong, jam or freeze the controls in such a manner as to render the other stick in the hands of an instructor or other experienced aviator entirely useless to control the movements of the machine because of the inability of the experienced person to free his stick from the control of the inexperienced person, due to the permanent character of the connections between the sticks. This condition, in many instances, has been the direct cause of serious accidents, many of which have been fatal to one or more of the occupants of the machine.

One object or the present invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of dual controls for vehicles, such, for example,

as aeroplanes, whereby the possibility of an inexperienced person preventing the operation of the machine by one more experienced is entirely eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of connected control levers whereby an aeroplane equipped with the present invention may be operated by either the experienced or inexperienced person at the respective levers, and wherein, if desired, the stick in the hands of 1928. Serial No. 276,553.

the inexperienced person may be rendered absolutely useless.

another object of the invention is to pro vi do a novel means for connecting the instructors stick and the students stick in such a manner that the said sticks may be actuated in unison.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for readily and quickly disconnecting the control levers when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for readily and quickly reestablishing the connection between the control levers after they have been disconnected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual control construction for aeroplanes, comprising a students stick and an instructers stick, with means positioned conveniently to the hand of the instructor for readily and quickly taking the control of the machine away from the student and as readily and quickly returning the control of the machine to the student, if desired.

Further objects of the invention are to provide means tor securing a plurality of control levers in connected relationship with respect to each other, and means for yieldingly securing said connecting means in connecting or disconnecting position.

A. still further obj ect of the invention is to improve devices of this character in sundry details hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of an aeroplane illustrating the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevati-onal view of a dual control mechanism illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view taken as indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the control levers and associated parts illustrated in Fig. 2, showing some of the parts in changed position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken as indicated by the line 66 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of two of the connecting elements in disassembled relationship. 7

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a monoplane type of aeroplane illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. land designated as a Whole by the reference character 10.

The aeroplane 10 comprises a fuselagev 11, wings 12 and 1'3,'engi.ne 14, propeller 15, aile 'rons 16 and 17 pivotally connected to the wings'12 and 13, respectively, rudder 18 and elevators 19.

Suitably mounted in the fuselage 11 are a luralit of control levers or sticks 20 and 21 the stick 20 being positioned in front of or convenlent to a seat intended to be occupied b astudent assen 'er or other inc erienced 21 as the instructors stick.

For suitablv mountin the sticks 20 and 21 a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts 22 and 23 are supported in axial alignment with respect to each other in bearing members 24, 25, 26 and 27 secured preferably to the floor 28 of the fuselage 11.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 22 in a mannor to permit the shaft to slide therethrough and rotate therein is a sleeve 29 rotatably mounted in the bearing members and 26,

and secured to one end of the sleeve 29 by means of a set" screw 30 is one end of a bracket 31, the opposite end of which is bifurcated in a manor to straddle the bearing member 24 and be rotatably supported adj apositioned between collars and 36 secured to the shaft 22.

Secured to the opposite end of the sleeve 29 by means of a set screw 37 is an arm 38 having a segmental portion 38a and a notch 39 formed therein. Itwill be observed from the foregoing description that when the upper end of the student stick 20 is moved in a plane longitudinally of the shaft 22, or in other words, in a fore and aft d1rect1on, the

shaft 22 will be moved longitudinally of the sleeve 29, and when the stick 20 is moved sidewise or in a plane transverse to the shaft 22, the sleeve 29and notched arm 38 will be oscillated around the shaft 22 without in any Way affecting the shaft.

Positioned in a manner to span the inner or adjacent ends of the shafts 22 and 23 is a slotted frame or bridge member 40 having a longitudinally extending slot 41 formed therein and having its forward and rear end portions 42 and 43 bifurcated in a manner to straddle the bearing members 26 and 27, respectively, the forward end portion 42 being adapted to surround the sleeve 29 and have a bearing thereon, while the rear end portion is adapted to surround and have a bearing on the shaft 23, and positioned in the slot 41 and pivotally mounted on the pin 44 is the instructors stick 21.

Secured to the rear or inner end of the shaft 22 by means of a pin 22a is a hollow member 45 having a centrally disposed longitudinal bore 46 formed therein and an elongated slot 47 formed in its upper wall portion. Formed in the outer faces of the side walls of the hollow member 45 are cutaway portions 48 adapted to receive the lower end portions 49 of a pair of notched levers 50 carried by the pivot pin 44 at opposite sides of the slotted frame or bridge member 40. Secured to the rear or adjacent end of the shaft 23, by means of a pin 51, is a cylindrical block 52 adapted to he received in the centrally disposed longitudinal bore 46 of the hollow member 45 in a manner to slide therein, and formed in the block 52 is a vertically disposed slot 53 adapted to be positioned in alignment with the elongated slot 47 of the hollow member 45 and to receive the lower end portion 54 of the instructors stick 21 in such a manner that when the instructors stick is moved forward and aft, or in a plane longitudinally of the shaft 23, the said shaft will be moved longitudinally as in the case of the shaft 22 when the student stick 20 is moved in a fore and aft direction.

Secured to the shaft 23, adjacent its rear end portion, by means of a pin 55 is a flanged collar 56, and pivotally'mounted on a fixed part of the fuselage 11 by means of a pin 57 is a cable lever 58 having a portion of its lower nd bifurcated in a manner to straddle the collar 56 and be received between the flanges thereof so that when the shaft 23 is moved longitudinally in either direction, the lever 58 will be rocked about the pin 57.

Secured to the lower end of the cable lever 58 are a pair of cable lines 59 extending rearwardly and trained over suitably positioned double sheaves 60 and sheaves 61 and having their rear ends connected to arms 62 mounted on the upper sides of he elevators 19, while to the upper endof the lever 58 are secured a pair of cable lines 63 extending rearwardly isc of the fuselage and trained overthe sheaves 60 and 64 and having their rear ends connected to arms 65 secured to the underside of the elevators 19. For clearness, the lever 58 is shown in Fig. 1 ma slightly different posicause the rear edges of the elevators to be thrown downwardly, thereby causing the machine to take a downwardly course.

For connecting the shafts 22 and 28 in a manner to be moved as a unit and causing the students stick and the instructors stick 21 to be moved in unison in a plane longitudinally of the shafts 22 and 23, the notched levers 50 are provided at their upper ends with segmental portions 66 having notches 67 formed therein, and slidably mounted in the lever 21 is a block 68 having a bifurcated end portion carrying a detent pin 69 extending therethrough and adapted to extend laterally thereof through relative wide arcuate openings 7 0 formed in the sides of the slotted frame or bridge member 40 and into a position to be received by the notches 67 formed in the segmental portions 66 of the notched levers 50, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. It will be observed that with the parts in this position any fore and aft movements of the students stick 20 will be transmitted from the lower end portion 34 of the stick through the collars and 36, shaft 22, hollow member 45, lower end portions 49-49 of the notched levers 50, detent pin 69 in the notch 67, lever 21, lower end portion 54, of the instructors stick, block 52 and pin 51 to the shaft 23, thereby causing the shafts 22 and 23 to be moved as a unit and the sticks 20 and 21 to be moved in unison, and permitting the elevators 19 to be actuated by the manipulation of either the students stick 20 or instructors stick 21.

Suitably connected to the slotted frame or bridge member 40, in the present instance by means of a cable arm 71, are radially ex tending cable lines 72 and 73, the line 72 being trained around sheaves 74, 75 and 76, and having its outer end secured to an arm 77 extending downwardly from the lower side 0 of the aileron 16, while the line 7 3 is trained around sheaves 78, 79 and 80, and has its outer end secured to an arm 81 extending downwardly from the lower side of the aileron 17. Eritending upwardly from the upper side of the ailerons 16 and 17 are arms 82 and 83 respectively, the upper ends of which are connected by means of a cable 84 trained over the sheaves 85, 86, 87 and 8S.

*Itwill be observed that by such an arrangementany movement of the slotted frame or bridge member transversely or in a plane transverse to the axes of the shafts 22 and 23 will be transmitted through the cable lines 72 and 7 3 to the ailerons 16 and 17 for the purpose of banking in making turns or for maintaining the machine on an even keel.

For connecting the bridge member 40 and the students stick 20 in a manner to enable the student to control the position of the ailerons l6 and 17 and cause the instructors stick 21 to be moved in unison therewith, a clutch arm 89 is pivotally mounted at one of its ends in the slot 41 of the bridge member 40 by means of a pin 90, the opposite or forward end of the arm 89 being adapted to engage the notch 39 formed in the upper edge of the segmental portion 38a of the arm 38, thereby securing the bridge member 40 to the arm 38 and sleeve 29 in a manner to cause the control levers or sticks 20 and 21 to move in unison in a plane transversely to the longitudinal axes of the shafts 22 and 23. The clutch arm 89 is adapted to extend through an opening 21a formed in the stick 21 and between the legs of the bifurcated end portion of the block 68 and is provided intermediate its end portions with an elongated arcuate slot 91 adapted to receive the central portion of the detent pin 69 in a manner to be moved thereby.

For moving the detent pin 69 into and out of engagement with the notches 67 formed in the segmental portions 66 of the notched levers 50, and the free end of the clutch arm 89 into and out of engagement with the notch 39 formed in the segmental portion 38a of the arm 38, the block 68 is provided with an upwardly extending screw threaded rod 92, to the upper end of which is pivotally connected, by means of a pin 92a, a supplemental rod 927), and to the upper or free end of the supplemental rod is secured a ring 96 adapted to receive an eccentric cam member 94 pivotally mounted on a pin 95 carried by the stick 21, and having a lever arm 96 secured thereto, the said arm 96 extending laterally through a slot 97 formed in the upper end of the instructors stick 21. For securing the detent pin 69 and clutch arm 89 yield ingly in shaft and control lever connecting position, a resilient member or compression spring 98 is positioned around the rod 92 in a manner to operate between the upper end of the block 68 and a shoulder or inwardly :rtending flange portion 99, rigidly mounted in the control lever 21.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that when the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 2, 8, 4, 6 and 7, any fore and aft movements of the students stick 20 will cause a longitudinal movement of both the shafts 22 and 23, thereby rocking the cable lever 58 in a manner to actuate the elevators 19 for nosing the machine in an upwardly or downwardly direction, and that any lateral or sidewise movement of the students stick .will be transmitted through the sleeve 29, arm 38, clutch arm 89, bridge member to. the cable arm 71, thereby actuating the cables 7 2- and? 3 to rock the aileronsf16 and 17 on their pivotal connections with the wings 12 and 18in a manner to maintain the machine on anceven keel, or to bank the machine in making turns of short radii to avoid skidding. It will be observed also that any movements of the student stick 20 in either a sidewise or fore and aft direction will, by

reason of the connections described, cause a .likemovement of the instructors stick 21,

and under such conditions it will be apparent that the machine may be controlled by the manipulation of either the students stick 20 or instructors stick 21, providing the stick not employed at the time is permitted to have an unrestricted movement. Such a condition is desirable where a machine is in the hands of two experienced aviators at the controls,

in which case either one may control the movements of the machine.

The above described arrangement of connected control levers is also desirable when an instructor and a student, for example, are aloft for the purpose of instruction, and the machine is in the hands of the student for tated, the instructor'may, by merely moving the lever arm 96 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, disconnect the sticks 20rand 21 by raising. the detent pin 69 from the notches 67 in the arms 50, and, by reason of theconnection' between the pin 69 and clutch arm 89, disconnect the clutch arm from 'the'noteh 39 in the arm 38, thereby rendering the students stick wholly inefiective to inany way control the operation of the machine, but owing to the direct and positive connection between the instructors stick 21 and the shaft 23, and between the stick 21 and the cable arm 71 through the bridge member 40, the instructor will have absolute control of the operation of the machine without interference by any manipulation of the students stick 20.

Under the circumstances just described, the student may move the-stick 20 in any manner desired, sidewisc or in a fore and aft direction, without transmitting any movement to the bridge member 40, because of the without in any way'aife'cting the shaft 23,

changed position of the clutch arm 89, and

because of the sliding arrangement between the block 52 and the hollow member the 1 elongated slot 47 in themember 45 being of suff cient length to permit a maximum degree of movement of the member 45 in either direction without in any wayaflecting the fore and aft movement of the instructors stick 21. The relatively wide slot in the bridgemember 4L0 permits of the raising and lowering of the detent pin 69, and the arcuate form of the slot 70 and of the-slot 91 in the clutch arm 89 permits freedom of movement of the lever 21 and detent pin 69 in .a fore and aft direction. f

hen the lever arm 96 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the line of the centers of the pin 92a, ring 93 and eccentric cam member 94 is beyond, or forward of, a dead-center line extending through the centers of the pins 92a. and 95, thereby providing, in conjunction with the spring 98, a yieldable or removable means for securing the connecting elements out of shaft and control lever connecting position. 7

If, for any reason. it should be. founddesirable to return the operation of the machine to the control of the student, as for example, if the student has been only temporarily incapacitated or guilty only of a slight error of judgment, this may be done by the instructor merely moving the lever arm 96 from the position shown in Fig. 5 toward the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the spring 98 to move the detent pin 69 in a downwardly direction, and even though the notch 67 of the arm 50 is not in register with the pin 69, and the notch 39 in the arm 38 is not in register with the clutch arm 89, it will be observed that the segmental face 66 on the arm 50and a'segmental face 100 on the arm 38 will receive the downward thrust of the pin 69 and clutch arm 89 respectively, in a manner to permit the pin 69 and clutch arm 89 to ride thereon until such time as the notches by manipulation of the students stick are brought into register with the pin 69 and clutch arm 89. It will be observed that during such time as the instructor is endeavoring to return the control of the machine to the student that the instructor has complete conrol of the movements of the machine.

If found desirable to take aloft an inexperienced person for example, a passenger who knows nothing about the operation of an aeroplane, the lever and shaft connecting elements may be positioned as shown in'Fig. 5 and a bolt or other connecting means passed through an opening 101 formed in the clutch arm 89, thereby positively locking the connecting elements out of lever and shaft connecting position and eliminating the possibility of accidentally connecting the levers 20 and 21. I 1

If, for any reasomit should be found desirable foranexperienced aviator to occupy the students seat and'fcontrol the operation of c the machine by means of the students stick 20, or in the event that themachine is inthe hands of two experienced aviators, the con-,

, portion 103 of the clutch arm 89 and through an opening104 formed in an upstanding lug 105 carried by the bridge member 1-0 and adapted to register with the opening 102 when the connecting elements are in shaft and lever connecting position, thereby preventing any accidental disconnection of the student s stick from the shaft 23 and bridge member 40.

If found desirable, the present invention 1 may be adapted for use in two seated aeroplanes where the seats are positioned side by side as distinguished from the tandem arrangement indicated by the position of the control levers 20 and 21 shown in the drawings. This may be accomplished by merely positioning the shafts 22 and 23 and associated co-operating parts in the fuselage of the machine in a manner to extend transversely of the fuselage, and by suitably connecting the cable lines 59 and 63 for actuating the elevators 19 to the cable arm 71, and connecting the cable lines 72 and 73 for actuating the ailerons 16 and 17 to the cable lever 58, it being understood that minor changes in dimensions and form of certain of the parts may be made to accommodate the changed condition without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed by the drawings and described in the specification.

If found desirable, the cable lines 72 and 7 3 may be connected to a cable arm 106 secured to the rear end of the bridge member 40, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4: and 5.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all of the features of the invention need not be used conj ointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of control levers each mounted on one of a plurality of longitudinal movable rock shafts supported in axial alignment with respect to each other, means mounted on one of said levers for connecting the levers, means mounted on said one of said levers for actuating said connecting means to connect said levers in a manner to cause the levers to be moved in unison and to disconnect the levers in a manner to render one of said levers ineffective to control the movement of the other of said levers, and means operable by the respective longitudinal and rotary movements of said shafts for operating the control devices of an airplane.

2. A device of the class described compris ing a plurality of levers each mounted on one of a plurality of longitudinal movable rock shafts supported in axial alignment with respect to each other, means mounted on one of said levers for connecting the levers, means mounted on said one of said levers for actuating said connecting means to connect or disconnect said levers, resilient means car ried by one of said levers for removably securing said actuating means and said connecting means in or out of lever connecting position, and means operable by the respective longitudinal and rotary movements of said shafts for operating the control devices of an airplane.

3. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of levers each mounted on one of a plurality of longitudinal movable rock shafts supported in axial alignment with respect to each other, means mounted on one of said levers for connecting the levers, means mounted on said one of said levers for actuating said connecting means to connect or disconnect said levers, resilient means carried by one of said levers and associated with said actuating and connecting means for removably securing said actuating means and said connecting means in or out of lever connecting position, and means operable by the respective longitudinal and rotary movements of said shafts for operating the control devices of an airplane.

4. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of control levers each mounted on one of a plurality of longitudinal movable rock shafts supported in axial alignment with respect to each other, means for connecting said levers, means for actuating said connecting means to connect or disconnect said levers, means for locking said connecting means in or out of lever connecting position, and means operable by the respective longitudinal and rotary movements of said shafts for operating the control devices of an airplane.

5. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the other of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said sleeve and to said last mentioned shaft, a bridge member mounted on said sleeve and. said first mentioned shaft, an arm secured to said sleeve, a second control lever operatively connected to said first mentioned shaft. means for connecting said shafts, means for connecting said second control lever with said arm, a cable arm secured to said member, means for actuating said connecting means in a manner to cause said shafts and control. levers to move in unison or to disconnect said shafts and said control levers.

6. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally mov- 1 connecting position.

, said shafts, a control lever operatively re- ",lated to said sleeve and to said last mentioned shaft, a bridge member rotatably mounted on said sleeve and said first mentioned shaft, an arm secured to said sleeve, a second control lever pivotally mounted on said member and operatively connected to said first mentioned shaft, means for connecting said shafts, means mounted on said member for connecting said second control lever and said mem her with said arm, a cable arm secured to said member, and means on said second control lever for actuating said connecting means in a manner to cause said shaft and levers to move in unison or to disconnect said shaft and control levers.

long shaft, abridge member rotatably mounted on said sleeve and said short shaft, an arm secured to said sleeve, a second control lever pivotally mounted on said member and operatively connected to said short shaft, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said shaft, means pivotally mounted on said member for connecting said second control lever and said member with said arm, a plurality of cable arms secured to said member, means on said second control lever for actuating said connecting means in a manner to cause said shafts and control levers to move in unison or to disconnect said shafts and said control levers, and means for securing saic connecting means in or out of lever 8. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts positioned in aXial alignment with respect to each other, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts, a sleeve mounted on the other of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said last men tioned shaft and sleeve, a pivotally mounted bridge member adjacent the inner ends of said shafts, an arm secured to said sleeve, means for connecting the adjacent ends of sa1d shafts, said means including a second control lever operatively connected to said second mentioned shaft, means in said sec ond control lever for connecting and disconnecting said notched lever and said second control lever, a latch operatively related to said last mentioned means in a manner to be moved thereby into and out of engagement with sa1d arm for connecting said member and said arm, and cable arms secured to said member. Y V

9. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts positioned in axial alignment with. respect to each other, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts, a sleeve mounted on the other of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said last mentioned shaft and sleeve, a pivotally mounted bridge member adjacent the inner ends of said shafts, an arm secured to said sleeve, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said'shaft, said means including a second con-, i trol lever positively connected to said first mentioned shaft, a notched'leve'r pivotally mounted on said member and operatively connected to said second mentioned shaft, a detent mounted in said second control lever for connecting and disconnecting said notched lever and said secondcontrol lever, a latch pivotally mounted on said member and said arm operatively related to said detent in a manner to be moved thereby into and out of engagement with said arm for connecting said member, and cable arms secured to said member; 7 r a 1 10. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts positioned in axial alignment with respect to each other, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts, a sleeve mounted on the other 'of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said last mentioned shaft and sleeve, a pivotally mounted bridge member adjacent the inner ends of said shafts, an arm secured to said sleeve, means for connecting the adj acentends of said shafts, said means including a second control lever positively connected tosaid first 1 mentioned shaft, a notched lever pivotally mounted on said member and having a portion positively connected to said second mentioned shaft and a segmental portion having q a notch formed therein, a detent in-the said 1 second control lever and adapted to co-operate with said notch for securing said notched lever and said second control lever together,

a latch pivotally mounted on said member;

and operatively related to said detent in a manner to be moved thereby into and out of engagement with said arm for connecting and disconnecting said member and said sleeve, and means mounted on said seconded control lever for actuating said detent to connect and disconnect said control levers and shafts.

11. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable -5 rock shafts positioned in axial alignment with respect to each other, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts, a sleeve mounted on the other of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said last mentioned, shaft and sleeve, a block having a slot formed therein secured to one end of said first mentioned shaft, a hollow member secured to the adjacent end of said second mentioned shaft and having a longitudinal bore formed therein adapted to slidably receive said block, said member also having an elongated slot formed in one of its wall portions and adapted to be positioned in alignment with the slot formed in said block and having cutaway portions formed in the outer face of its side walls, a bridge member adjacent the inner ends of said shafts and pivotally mounted to oscillate about the axes of said shafts, an arm secured to said sleeve, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said shafts, said means including a second control lever pivotally mounted on said bridge member and adapted to extend through said elongated slot formed in said hollow member and into the slot formed in the block secured to said first mentioned shaft, a notched lever pivotal'ly mounted on said bridge member and having a portion adapted to be received by the cut-away portions formed on the sides of said hollow member and provided with segmental portion having a notch formed therein, a detent slidably mounted in said second control lever and adapted to co-operate with said notch for securing said notched lever and said second control lever together, a latch pivotally mounted on said bridge member and operatively related to said detent in a manner to be moved thereby into and out of engagement with said arm for connecting and disconnecting said bridge member and said sleeve, means mounted on said second control lever for actuating said detent to connect and disconnect said control levers and shafts, and resilient means for securing said detent and latch in operative position.

12. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, an aeroplane having a fuselage and laterally extending wings secured thereto, ailerons pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of said wings, elevators pivotally connected to said fuselage, a plurality of longitudinally movable rock shafts mounted in said fuselage and positioned in axial alignment with respect to each other, a cable lever operatively related to one of said shafts and to said elevators, a sleeve mounted on the other of said shafts, a control lever operatively related to said last mentioned shaft and sleeve in a manner to move said shaft longitudinally of the sleeve and to rotate said sleeve about said last mentioned shaft, a block having a slot formed therein secured to one end of said first mentioned shaft, a hollow member secured to the adjacent end of said second mentioned shaft and having a longitudinal bore formed therein adapted to slidably receive said block, said member also having an elongated slot formed in one of its Wall portions and adapted to be positioned in alignment with the slot formed in said block and provided with cut-away portions formed in the outer faces of its side walls, a slotted bridge member positioned adjacent the inner ends of said shafts and having relatively wide arcuate openings formed in its side portions, said bridge member being pivotally mounted to oscillate about the axes of said shafts, an arm having a segmental portion and notch formed therein carried by said sleeve, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said shafts, said means including a second control lever pivotally mounted in the slot of said bridge member and adapted to extend through the elongated slot formed in said hollow member and into the slot formed in the block secured to said first mentioned shaft, a plurality of notched levers pivotally mounted on said bridge member at the outer sides thereof and having portions adapted to be received by the cut-away portions formed in the sides of said hollow member and provided with segmental portions having notches formed therein, a detent pin slidably mounted in said second control lever and adapted to extend through said arcuate openings and to co-operate with said notches for securing said notch ed levers and said control lever together, a latch pivotally mounted in the slot of said bridge portion and having an arcuate opening formed therein adapted to receive said detent pin in a manner to be moved thereby into and out of engagement with said arm for connecting and disconnecting said bridge member and said sleeve, means including an eccentric mounted on said second control lever for actuating said detent pin to connect and disconnect said control levers and shafts, re silient means for securing said detent and latch in operative position, said bridge member and latch having openings formed therein adapted to receive means for locking said detent and latch in or out of shaft and control lever connecting position, and means operatively connected to said bridge member and ailerons for controlling the position of said ailerons.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 26th day of April A. D. 1928.

HEINRICH A. IV. PETERSEN.

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