When the flap handle in the cockpit moves down,
the upper end of the floating arm (9) pulls to the left,
pivoting at its lower end and moving the selector
valve lever to the left. This action directs pressure
from the hydraulic system to the flap actuating
cylinder (1). The cylinder piston rod extends and
lowers the flaps by rotating the flap drive bell crank
(3) in a clockwise direction. As the bell crank moves,
the lower end of the floating arm moves to the right by
the spring-loaded pushrod (7). This action pivots the
arm at its upper connection to the sector pushrod and
returns the selector valve to neutral, stopping the
action of the system.
Moving the flap handle upward reverses the
foregoing procedure by pushing the selector
valve lever to the right, directing hydraulic
pressure to the retract side of the cylinder piston
and raising the flaps.
The follow-up rod then
moves the lower end of the floating arm to the
left and returns the selector valve to neutral, The
valve will not return completely to neutral,
maintaining pressure in the flap cylinder and
ensuring positive locking of the flaps in the up
position.
The spring mechanism in the follow-up rod
normally does not function The spring mechanism is
provided only as a safety feature, permitting actuation
of the flap drive crank by emergency hydraulic power
if the selector valve becomes jammed.
The flap hydraulic system consists primarily of
the selector valve and the actuating cylinder. See
figure 9-33.
The selector valve is a four-way,
poppet-type valve. The poppets operate in pairs to
direct pressure to one side of the cylinder while
opening the other side to reservoir return.
The cylinder is double acting and internally
locked in the retracted (flaps up) position. The
cylinder also has an integral shuttle valve (built into
the mounting end cap). This provides for the
separation between the normal and emergency
hydraulic pressure lines. An adjustable terminal on
the piston rod provides for length variation.
When the cylinder extends, the internal lock is
hydraulically released, allowing the piston to move.
When the flaps raise, the hydraulic pressure on the
lock is relieved, and a compression spring engages the
lock mechanism with the piston when the cylinder
becomes fully retracted.
A relief valve installed in the normal flap down
line provides a blowup feature that prevents
overloading of the flaps and flap linkage. This valve
is adjustable to a narrow range between full flow and
reseat, providing a controlled blowup feature. As the
flaps blow up, the flap air load decreases, gradually
reseating the relief valve and preventing further flap
retraction.
In the landing configuration, the flaps are
partially or fully down. Safety microswitches
prevent folding of the wings until the flaps are in
the full up position.
To reduce the recovery
interval aboard ship, the aircraft wings must be
folded and the aircraft taxied forward as quickly
as possible. A wing flap retraction shutoff valve
installed in the flap down line expedites flap
retraction.
This normally closed, solenoid-
operated, hydraulic shutoff valve energizes only
when the weight of the aircraft is on the wheels.
When energized, the valve permits return fluid to
bypass the restrictor in the down pressure line,
permitting fast retraction of the flaps and quicker
wing-fold operation.
A relief valve is located in the pressure line
ahead of the flap normal system selector valve. The
valve relieves pressure from thermal expansion,
which may build up on the inlet side of the selector
valve.
An emergency system for flap down operation
includes a selector valve and an emergency dump
valve.
The emergency flap down selector valve is
usually in the NORMAL position. In this position,
the cylinder emergency line to return is vented. When
you move the emergency selector valve handle to the
FLAPS DOWN position, you can lower the flaps by
operating the hand pump. This action directs hand
pump pressure through the integral shuttle valve to
the actuating cylinder. At the same time, the
emergency dump valve is actuated. The emergency
dump valve opens the up side of the cylinder directly
to return and closes off its normal return line through
the selector valve.
9-38