BV 141 Lateral Artificial Stability

[Clipper996]

While reading the Gotha P.60 book by Myhra, I stumbled upon a quote from the interview with the chief engineer behind the P.60 where he talks about the potentially bad lateral stability which could occur on the aircraft and how it could be fixed by creating artificial stability using a mechanical device which was apparently already used on BV 141 in the form of two yaw vanes located in front of each aileron and directly connected to them, which would move the aileron in the desired direction once the vanes sense yawing resulting in more stability.

I couldn't find many pictures but I believe that this is the device he was talking about:




Does anyone have more information about this device and the mechanics behind it?

 

[kiradog]

Here is better picture.

 

[hole in the ground]

Would a search of BV patents reveal anything?

Not only used on the BV 141, here is the BV 138

Called "paddle balances" in the above cutaway

 

[hole in the ground]

Bingo!

From "German Aircraft Industry" a report by British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee. http://www.cdvandt.org/BIOS-254.pdf

Page 13, discussing the split ailerons on the BV 222:

The tip portion has a similar nose balance to the inner portion, roughly 30-33%. Adjustment is achieved by means of a "paddle" balance. This is also seen at Travemunde.

It comprises two small paddles or flags pointing forwards and geared to the aileron so that they spread sideways when the aileron is deflected.

And

The use of two paddles moving in opposite directions was adopted so as to overcome the effects of sideslip. By judicious variation in the relative sizes and lever arms of the two paddles it is possible to arrange the requisite degree of aileron application with sideslip. This gives a similar effect to dihedral on the wings

 

[Clipper996]

Thank you for the details gentlemen.

 

[thanos.massias]

Is this the relevant patent?

Applicants: BLOHM & VOSS; RICHARD VOGT DR ING
Inventors: VOGT DR-ING RICHARD
Application: DEH0152816D·1937-04-17
Publication: DE673300C·1939-03-20

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/007181507/publication/DE673300C?q=pn=DE673300C

 

[HoHun]

Hi,

Is this the relevant patent?

Applicants: BLOHM & VOSS; RICHARD VOGT DR ING
Inventors: VOGT DR-ING RICHARD
Application: DEH0152816D·1937-04-17
Publication: DE673300C·1939-03-20

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/007181507/publication/DE673300C?q=pn=DE673300C

Thanks a lot!

I have to admit that I don't really get why the single-vane variant of this seems to have been totally inadequate, but the contra-sense dual-vane variant not.

If anyone else gets it, I would be thankful for an explanation!

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)