Safety gust lock for aircraft controls

Claim 2

Locking apparatus for at least one movable control column and control wheel of an aircraft comprising an elastic member, means for connecting at least one end of said elastic member to a control wheel, and means movable along said elastic member for holding said elastic member to a fixed point on the aircraft.

Claim 3

Locking apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting the elastic member to a wheel comprises a rigid bar, and means at each end of the bar for connection to the wheel.

Claim 4

Locking apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each end of the bar is adapted to be connected to a point on a respective control wheel of an aircraft having two control wheels.

Claim 5

Locking apparatus as in claim 2 wHerein the connecting means at each end of the bar comprises a hook.

Claim 6

Locking apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said bar is formed of two sections which are telescoped one within the other to adjust the bar length.

Claim 7

Locking apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said elastic member is elongated, each end of the elastic member being attached adjacent a respective end of the bar.

Claim 8

Locking apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said elastic member comprises a spring.

Claim 9

Locking apparatus for use in an aircraft of the type having dual control columns and a respective wheel for each column which is used to control the movement of control surfaces of the aircraft comprising an elastic member, means for connecting a free end of said elastic member to a point on each of said control wheels, and means for holding said elastic member to a fixed point on the aircraft to provide a lock for the control columns whose effect is limited by the elasticity of said elastic member.

Claim 10

Locking apparatus for use in an aircraft of the type having dual control columns and a respective wheel for each column which is used to control the movement of control surfaces of the aircraft comprising an elastic member, means for connecting a free end of said elastic member to a point on each of said control wheels, and means for holding said elastic member to a fixed point on the aircraft to provide a lock for the control columns whose effect is limited by the elasticity of said elastic member.

Claim 11

Locking apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising rigid means coupled between each of said dual control wheels.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said rigid means includes at each end therof a means for connecting a free end of said elastic member to a respective control means.

Claim 13

Locking apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said holding means is movable along said elastic member.

Claim 14

Locking apparatus for the movable control column and wheel of an aircraft comprising, a bar having means at each end for attachment to a point on a wheel, an elongated elastic member having each end attached to said bar adjacent a respective end thereof, and means connected intermediate the ends of said elastic member for attaching said member to a fixed point on the aircraft.

Claim 15

Locking apparatus for the movable control column and wheel of an aircraft comprising, a bar having means at each end for attachment to a point on a wheel, an elongated elastic member having each end attached to said bar adjacent a respective end thereof, and means connected intermediate the ends of said elastic member for attaching said member to a fixed point on the aircraft.

Claim 16

Locking apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising means for adjusting the length of said bar.

Claim 17

Locking apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said means for attaching the elastic member to a fixed point is movable along said elastic member.

Claim 18

Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the elastic member comprises a single member, each end of said member being connected to a respective wheel and said holding means is attached to an intermediate point of said elastic member.