Aircraft control surface controller and associated method
First Claim
1. An aircraft control surface controller for controlling aerodynamic control surfaces on an aircraft, comprising:
- a control surface interface having a range of motion for providing pilot input for positioning the aerodynamic control surfaces on an aircraft; and
a variable resistance damper mechanically interconnected to the pilot control surface interface, wherein the damper provides physical resistance to the control surface interface, the damper physical resistance increases proportional to a rate of movement of the control surface interface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control surface controller and a method of controlling a control surface interface includes a control surface interface for controlling one or more of the aerodynamic control surfaces on an aircraft, such as ailerons, spoilers, elevators, and a rudder. A control surface controller and a method of controlling a control surface interface also include a variable resistance damper that provides physical resistance to the control surface interface in proportion to control surface interface input rate. Accordingly, the resistance provided to the control surface interface may be selected in order to prevent the cause of pilot-induced-oscillation or airplane-pilot coupling. The resistance provided to the control surface interface may also be selected in order to limit the servovalve rate which reduces peak transient hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An aircraft control surface controller for controlling aerodynamic control surfaces on an aircraft, comprising:
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a control surface interface having a range of motion for providing pilot input for positioning the aerodynamic control surfaces on an aircraft; and
a variable resistance damper mechanically interconnected to the pilot control surface interface, wherein the damper provides physical resistance to the control surface interface, the damper physical resistance increases proportional to a rate of movement of the control surface interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An aircraft control surface controller, comprising:
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a control surface interface having a range of motion for providing pilot input;
at least two aerodynamic control surfaces responsive to the control surface interface based on the pilot input; and
a variable resistance damper mechanically interconnected to the control surface interface, wherein the damper provides physical resistance to the control surface interface, the damper physical resistance increases proportional to a rate of movement of the control surface interface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of controlling a control surface interface that controls an aerodynamic control surface on an aircraft, comprising:
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receiving an input rate from the control surface interface; and
applying an increasing physical resistance to the control surface interface proportional to the input rate. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification