Heath Robinson rides again!
Been doing a lot of decorating recently,using an extension pole for high ceilings.They employ a twist and lock system to vary the length.The twist action draws a nut against a plastic sleeve which expands inside the tube.
A tube in the fuselage,left and right hand threads into the wings,twist the tube and the wings are locked in place.The locking action should also draw the wings up against the fuselage.
It's seems such a simple idea,but searching brought no results.I've already posted this in the builder workshop,thought I'd run the idea past you guys.
Regards Stuart.

Hi Stuart,

how do you prevent the system from unlocking by torsion? Or, how do you lock/unlock the system if you have a torque uptaking pin?

Cheers,
Andrés

Hi Andres,I haven't gone that far into the idea.To be honest I expected a "that was tried by X years ago" type of response.As I haven't a build using wing tubes in my immediate future I don't intend taking it further at the moment-although a mock up wouldn't be difficult.........
Regards Stuart

Another issue with wing retention is how is performs in a hard nose in crash....which we all do sooner or later. In order to sustain zero damage, the force of impact must be dissipated rather than absorbed by ever increasing structure.

To this end, for a durable glider, I've always favored wing attachment with #64 rubber bands, such as seen on trainers. Works like magic. The wing just pops off.

Kent

Originally Posted by Knoll53

Another issue with wing retention is how is performs in a hard nose in crash....which we all do sooner or later. In order to sustain zero damage, the force of impact must be dissipated rather than absorbed by ever increasing structure.

To this end, for a durable glider, I've always favored wing attachment with #64 rubber bands, such as seen on trainers. Works like magic. The wing just pops off.

Kent

Ah - but what if it is just a wing??????

Originally Posted by Knoll53

Another issue with wing retention is how is performs in a hard nose in crash....which we all do sooner or later. In order to sustain zero damage, the force of impact must be dissipated rather than absorbed by ever increasing structure.

To this end, for a durable glider, I've always favored wing attachment with #64 rubber bands, such as seen on trainers. Works like magic. The wing just pops off.

Kent

Kent,I was thinking more on the lines of larger scale-Brians VII for example-where a tube and incidence peg are used.I'll have to see if I can find time to mock this up,see if it will work the way I think it may.
Regards Stuart

Originally Posted by HerkS

Ah - but what if it is just a wing??????

If there is no fuse....then I'd build a one piece wing if possible.

Kent

I think that I'd agree with the one piece idea too, no weight from the join mechanism and the necessary structure to support it. If a two piece wing is required for reasons of transport or storage, then the olde worlde free flight method of ply wing tongues/boxes and light rubber band holding the wings together has much to commend it, will give in a crash - - sorry - - short landing and unless you do megafast axial rolls, is secure.

Trev