Monday, 29 August 2011

7th June 2011 - Autopilot servo and aileron stops

The Trio autopilot servo was final installed with the linkage to the control column. This will provide wing levelling, course setting and GPS following. It is critical for servos that the linkage cannot go "over-centre" and get jammed so the wings were temporarily rigged to set the aileron travel and stops set up using Delrin rod mounted on 3/8" tubing stubs and secured using cotter pins and washers. With the correct aileron travel set the servo arm moves through an angle of about 45 degrees either side of the middle which should be adequate travel to provide plenty of control whilst being absolutely within safe limits. The top picture provides a good view of the way the cable routing works and keeps the cables out of the way of the controls. The bottom picture shows the Delrin bush within which the flap torque tube rotates.