Inventors:
Gene Beijer - North Hollywood CA
James S. Smith - Arcadia CA
Ralph L. Sheffer - Arcadia CA
Assignee:
Adams Rite Products, Inc. - Glendale CA
International Classification:
B64D 4700
Abstract:
A locking mechanism for a swingably mounted flight control surface member of an airplane, such as a rudder, which is embodied in a unitized frame structure that can be applied to either new or existing airplanes, which includes a bracket mounted assembly arranged for mounting within an enclosed portion such as the tail cone, in a position wherein a reciprocable locking bolt may be manually selectively moved by an outside ground attendant to a projecting position in locking engagement with a keeper carried by an adjacent part of the flight control member, and to a released retracted position. The bolt is connected to one end of a rocker arm carried by a rotatable shaft having an end extending to the exterior of the enclosed portion, and being arranged for releasably receiving an actuating tool. A spring urges the rocker arm, upon movement through a dead-center position, into limit positions corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the bolt, and a switch is arranged for actuation at one of the operative positions of the bolt. A fail-safe feature includes an associated cam for moving the bolt from a locking position to an unlocking position in response to the movement of a control member for another flight control surface member, for example, an elevator, by control actuated from the airplane cockpit.