Patent GB-200553-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in aeroplane wings
IPC: B64C3/50
Filed: 1922-03-16
Abstract: 200,553. Saunders, S. E. March 16, 1922. Planes and the like, construction of; steering, balancing, and regulating altitude.-The main spars of an aeroplane wing are made of circular section to form parts of hinges for the leading and trailing portions, which can be controlled jointly to vary the effective camber or the trailing portion can be controlled independently for lateral control. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tubular spars d, e are formed of laminated wood or metal and are fixed to the central portion b. The wooden spars of the leading and trailing portions a, c are hollowed and lined with a metal seating S<1>, and hinged to the spurs d, e, by metal straps q. The camber is varied by mechanism comprising levers l mounted on the strap hinges q and connected by links l<1> to bell. cranks l<2> which are operated bv means of tubular rods l<3> passing through the plane in bearings l<4> carried in the ribs j and movable longitudinally therein. Means for varying the camber and for raising or lowering the trailing portion c independently of the leading portion a is shown in Fig. 3 and 4. Levers u are hinged to rods u<0> threaded right and left and working in barrels u<1> formed with spur wheels u<3> and carried in bearings u<2>. The spur wheels may be revolved by racked rods u<5>. Fig. 4, pivoted to rods y, y<1> sliding in fixed bearings y<4> The rods y controlling the leading portions a are threaded right and left and work in barrels v<1> journaled in bearings v<2> and provided with worm wheels w<1> which engage a worm w driven by the camber controlling wheel. Both the rods y, y<1> are formed with racks which engage a spur wheel x<1>, Fig. 5, mounted in a movable box x. A second spur wheel x<2> which moves with the. spur wheel x<1> engages a racked rod y<2> coupled by a link y<3> to a double armed lever z pivoted on a bearing z' and formed with lugs z<2> to which are fixed the aileron controls. When the rods y are extended or retracted to vary the camber, the spur wheels x', x<2> are held against rotation by the racked rods y<2> and the boxes x act as a fixed coupling between the rods y, y<1> thereby causing the leading and trailing portions a, c to be moved simultaneously. When, however, the aileron control z is operated, the rods y are held stationary by the barrels v<1> and the rods y<1> controlling the trailing portions c are moved in opposite directions. In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the spars d, e are fixed to the leading and trailing parts a, c and carry controlling levers p, k<2>. The end of the lever k is provided with a slot in which rides a spindle l journaled in a bearing carried by a threaded bar m<1>, and the end of the lever k<2> is formed with a rack k<4> engaging a spur wheel l<1> fixed on the spindle l. A sprocket wheel p is also fixed on the spindle l so that bv rotating the sprocket p the spur wheel l<1> is revolved and by means of the rack k<4> raises or lowers the trailing portion c independently of the leading portion a. The controls are so arranged that when the trailing edge of the right hand plane is raised that of the left hand plane is depressed and vice-versa. By raising or lowering the threaded bar m<1> by means of a nut n formed with a sprocket n<2> and journaled in a fixed bearing plate o, both the levers k, k<2> may be simultaneously raised or depressed to vary the camber. Specification 105,412, [Class 145 (ii), Wood, Working], is referred to.