GB311348A - Improvements in or relating to the tail surfaces of aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

311,348. Wright, M. E. A. Nov. 9, 1927. Steering, balancing, and regulating altitude.- Tail surfaces of aircraft, particularly surfaces of substantially symmetrical aerofoil section, have thin planes mounted at each side of their leaving edges and adapted to be moved from a normal position in contact with the surfaces automatically, or positively by connection with a hinged portion of a tail surface on the controls therefor, in order to form " slots " at either side of the surface. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the thin planes h, j are carried by arms k, m pivoted to a vertical or horizontal tail surface n, one or other of the planes being moved by suction on one side or other of the leading edge of the surface n. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, levers carrying the thin planes are operated by a cam r which is turned about its shaft s by the controls of the hinged portion o of the tail surface. In a modification of this arrangement, Fig. 5, not shown, the controls are connected directly to a lever fixed on the shaft which also carries a cam connected by a link to an arm on the hinged tail portion o. The forward end of the link in engagement with the cam is also connected by a link to the fixed tail surface, and by adjustment of the point of connection of the second link to the tail surface, a zero-setting control of tail portion o relatively to the thin planes is obtainable. Also, the cams may be designed so that the planes h, j may be actuated in advance of the tail portion o, or vice-versa. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the levers p, carrying the thin planes carry blocks y, z, slidable in an arcuate guide x connected by links v, w to the control lever n of the tail portion c, the guide being also connected to the portion o by a link 11 which is pivoted at its rear end coaxially with the portion o and is controlled by a cam 13 the shaft 14 of which is rotated by a pulley 16 and cable 15 connected to a lever 17 on the portion o. When the tail portion o is moved by the controls t, the cam 13 moves the link 11 to one side or the other so that movement of the guide x by the links v, w moves only one of the planes h, j. The rate of formation of the "slots " varies with the extent of movement of the portion o. A zero-setting control may be incorporated by making the cam 14 angularly adjustable with respect to the pulley 16.