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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2270.PDF
3*8 FLIGHT SEPTEMBER IOTH, 1943 Fig. 16. A and B, typical castings. GERMAN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES the cast fittings to the bottom boom of the main centre section spar. These two fittings are therefore the master parts of the aircraft. In landing they transmit the-under- carriage loads direct to the fuselage and the engine also ;s directly braced to them. Fig. 17A shows the cast tail wheel fork of the Me 109. Figs. 17B and 17c show the top and bottom fittings respectively of the Me 109 main undercarriage leg. In this case the axle forms part of the bottom casting. Some typical welded components are shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Fig. I8A illustrates part of the Do 217 engine mounting. All the joints between the main tubes of the mounting are welded. The tail-plane incidence adjustment crank, which takes a large proportion of the tail load in the Ju88, comprises a welded steel assembly consisting of a tube, V-shaped strut and flanges. A cross- section at one end of the tube show- ing flanges welded to it is shown in Fig. I8B. Figs. 19A and 19B illustrate end fittings welded on to an Me no elevator control rod anof a Ju 88 flap control tube respectively. The last two photographs illustrate two cross- sections at rignt angles at the bottom of the Me 110 tail wheel oleo showing the tail wheel fork welded to the bottom of the oleo piston. It will be seen that a st^el plug has been welded inside the fork to provide a means of centring for machin- ing. The fork itself is built up of welded sheet metal. The leg and fork combined have been heat-treated after assembly. Two vent holes are provided, and these have been filled up with weld metal after heat-treatment. Plastics:—The use of plastic materials in German aircraft is limited to such items as guides for control wires ; guide rollers for the large control tubes; pulley wheels; drive couplings for engine accessories; Ju 87 aerial mast; electrical and radio fittings, including trailing aerial winch drums. Extrusions:—Extruded sections are used to a very limited extent, and then only of the simplest T-, L- or I-section, the best example, being the Fw 190 in which the only extrusions used are the rails for adjustment of the pilot's seat. On other types of aircraft also extrusions are used only where the sections are too thick to be formed from strip. In this connection the lack of extruded sections is less marked in the Me 210, where they are used in the -main plane and tail plane spar flanges, for the dive-brake slats, and" for a number of structural mem- bers in the front fuselage as well as for some ingenious mounting slides for the multiple sockets used in the wing- to-fuselage electrical connections. Miscellaneous:—Among other miscellaneous design fea- tures to be noted are the use of chordwise stiffen ers only in the wings of the Do 217, Ju88 and He 111, tending to produce a good airfoil section, the practice of making no Figs. 18. A and B, typical welded components. .connection between formers 'and stringers in the fuselage construction of nearly all types, the use of self-aligning plain bearings in engine-control systems, the generous use of self-aligning ball bearings in flying-control circuits, and the continued use of fabric-covered control surfaces in fighters. Protective treatment against corrosion is used to a small extent only. Fig. 17. A (top), B (left) and C (right), typical castings. Design for Ease of Production and Maintenance Connection of Sub-assemblies:—Of all the German types the Messerschmitts seem to be in advance as regards design for ease of production and maintenance. The Messerschmitt type of construction of fuselage and fixed tail surfaces has already been described under those headings. Interchangeability troubles are avoided to a large extent by the methods used for the connection of -i sub-assemblies, which facilitate initial assembly and maintenance and, at the same time, render very accurate jig- ging unnecessary. An example is the method of attach- ment of the wing to the fuselage in the Me 109. The wing is secured to the fuselage by pin joints at three points: one at each flange of the
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