GB486758A - A new and improved method of and improvements in or connected with the design and construction of folding wings or planes for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

486,758. Aircraft with folding wings. HUDSON, R. J. H. Oct. 9, 1936, No. 27388. [Class 4] In a folding-wing aircraft in which wing folding is required to take place by rotation about two mutually inclined axes, a wing is connected to the remaining structure by means comprising an element rotatably connected to the structure about a first axis and to the wing about a second axis intersecting the first axis substantially at a right-angle and an external strut or equivalent support pivoted to the aircraft about a third axis and pivoted to the wing about a fourth axis, the four axes intersecting in a point, and the third axis lying in a plane to which the first axis is substantially perpendicular. As applied to the folding of the wings of a high wing monoplane, Fig. 1, a centresection frame 3, which may comprise a tank, or a cabin roof, is hinged on axis A to fuselage 1 and wings 2 are hinged to frame 3 on axes B normal to axis A. Constraining struts 4 are hinged to fuselage 1 on axis C and to wing on axis D, axes C, D being at an angle to one another and all four axes being concurrent at F. Folding takes place initially by a rotation of the wing principally about axis D with raising of frame 3 and latterly by rotation principally about axis C. Axis A may be disposed further aft than shown to bring the wings lower when folded. By placing axis A well to the rear and high in relation to the wing and by modifying the positions of axes C, D the wing may be arranged to fold with the leading edge uppermost. Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement applied to a biplane, in which an upper wing 22 is pivoted to a centre section 23 and the constrainer comprises a strut 24 and in which a lower wing 22A is attached to fuselage 21 by hinged connection on an axis B<1> to a bracket 23A rotatable about axis A<1>. Constraining members 24A are pivoted to fuselage and wing about axes C, D<1> of which the former is collinear with that of the corresponding upper wing constrainer 24 and the latter parallel to axis D of that constrainer. Since the lower wing thus moves through a geometrically similar path to that of the upper wing the two wings may be interconnected by parallel motion struts 25. The wings may be held extended by connection of centre section 23 to a fitting 26. The pivots may have some slight universal freedom to prevent straining.