Aerowerx
Well-Known Member
Way back in 1972 BCE (Before Computers are Everywhere) Engineering Graphics was a required subject for all Engineering freshman at Ohio State. We actually used quaint objects such as "paper" and "pencil".
One of the things taught was how to take a graph of a desired cyclic linear motion and draw the profile of a rotating cam corresponding to that motion. The cam would then be mounted on a rotating shaft and push on a rod or lever to achieve the desired linear motion.
That got me thinking (Warning: If you attempt this without proper training, the results can be unpredictable. Leave thinking to trained professionalsonder.
Would it be possible to design a cam, actually "bellcrank" would be a more accurate term, such that there would be little or no movement in one direction, but lotsa movement in the other? In that way it would be possible to operate drag rudders with a steerable nose wheel.
Sort of like a bellcrank for differential ailerons, but carried to the extreme.
Another method that I have seen used for RC flying wings is to have spring loaded pushrods, so the drag rudder would work in only one direction.
One of the things taught was how to take a graph of a desired cyclic linear motion and draw the profile of a rotating cam corresponding to that motion. The cam would then be mounted on a rotating shaft and push on a rod or lever to achieve the desired linear motion.
That got me thinking (Warning: If you attempt this without proper training, the results can be unpredictable. Leave thinking to trained professionalsonder.
Would it be possible to design a cam, actually "bellcrank" would be a more accurate term, such that there would be little or no movement in one direction, but lotsa movement in the other? In that way it would be possible to operate drag rudders with a steerable nose wheel.
Sort of like a bellcrank for differential ailerons, but carried to the extreme.
Another method that I have seen used for RC flying wings is to have spring loaded pushrods, so the drag rudder would work in only one direction.