Control mechanism for swivel tail of an aircraft

1,136,338. Convertiplane propeller control. UNITED AIRCRAFT CORP. 16 June, 1967 [8 July, 1966], No. 27866/67. Headings B7G and B7W. [Also in Division F2] A convertiplane having a variable pitch tail rotor 24, swivellable about a vertical axis 18 between an anti-torque helicopter position, shown, and a forward thrust aeroplane position, has its tail rotor blade pitch controlled from the output arm 38 of a dual-input-selectoroutput control mechanism, swivellable with the tail rotor, the input arm 52 of the mechanism being connected to two pilot controlled members, one 66 (e.g. for anti-torque control), movable fore and aft, and the other 76 (e.g. for throttle control) movable laterally. When the control mechanism is in its neutral position the joint between members 66, 67 and the input arm 52 lies on the axis 18. The anti-torque control, member 66, from foot pedals may also operate the upper and lower rudders 70, 72. In the anti-torque position of the tail rotor 24, shown, movement by member 76 does not affect the pitch of the tail rotor blades 26 as the input arm 52 is free to pivot about the output arm 38. However, movement of member 66 rocks the output arm 38 about the shaft 42, thereby moving arms 34 and 32, and thence rod 30, located inside the tail rotor drive-shaft 22, and the tail rotor blade pitch control mechanism 28. When the tail rotor 24 is pivoted about axis 18, shaft 80 rotating to rotate drive gear-box 16 via link 86, to the forward thrust position, the tail rotor blade pitch is changed by movement of rod 76, rod 66 being ineffective. Two alternative forms of dualinput - selective - output mechanism are described. In one, Fig. 5 (not shown), the input and output arms 52 and 38 are rigidly connected one to another but the combined bell-crank is mounted on a spherical bearing instead of a shaft 42. In the other the output and input arms 90, 92, Fig. 3, are in line, the output arm pivoting about one horizontal axis in a bracket 100 mounted to rotate with the casing of gear-box 16, the input arm pivoting on the output arm about the horizontal axis normal to the one pivoting the output arm to the bracket 100.