There are numerous elaborations on this theme beyond Peter Kembers "rod in
the slot" method, involving ratchets, plungers etc. but at the end of the day
why not adopt the "lever in gate" principle used for the undercarriage.
It only involves filing a wider section at the back of a tunnel plate and
biassing the lever.
If you bias the lever towards the gate you could conceivably have a problem
with repeaed heavy braking movements snagging the gate at the extreme So the
gate should be on side away from the pilot so then natural pull prevents
this. Otherwise (or as well) bias away from the gate, shaping the front of
it so that it cannot come out sidways again having been pushed in.
Adjustment when required is readily obtained by using slots in the plate
attachment bolt boles.
Graham C.
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