Month in the Patent Office

Abstract

In an aircraft, which may be a guided missile, the wings 1 are folded about a common fore‐and‐aft axis 2 in the fuselage in order that the aircraft or missile may be housed within the bomb bay of a larger aircraft. Each wing carries spars 3 each pivoted to a frame member 6 of the fuselage by a hollow pivot comprising a sleeve 7 passing through apertures in member 6 and spar 3 to form a hinge with a coaxial bore. Through these bores there extends a control rod 8 for operating a control surface 9 pivoted at 11 to the trailing edge of the aerofoil 1. Control rod 8 is formed in two portions connected together at 14 by a joint which prevents relative axial movement but permits relative rotational movement when the wings and control surfaces are folded about axis 2. Pins 5 are provided to co‐operate with slots 4 in spars 3 to retain the wings in their extended positions.