Control systems to emulate jet aircraft in reciprocating engine-powered trainers

• US 20060240389A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Value Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven G. Testrake
• Inventors: Testrake, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/08 for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer

Abstract

This disclosure describes novel aircraft control systems for propeller-driven training aircraft, and methods for their use. In an aspect of some embodiments, a control system might comprise an integrated power control that takes a single power input from the pilot and translates that input into controls for a throttle, a propeller pitch setting, and a fuel/air mixture. In another aspect of some embodiments, a glass cockpit may be provided, with computer displays emulating the instruments of the aircraft for which the pilot is training. Advantageously, this allows a pilot in training to learn, from the beginning, the power controls and/or instrumentation for the aircraft for which the pilot is training, instead of having to learn one power control and instrumentation system, only to later have to learn another system. In a specific embodiment, the instrumentation displays may be reconfigurable, allowing the displays to emulate those of a variety of jet aircraft.

Claims

1. A control system for a reciprocating engine-powered aircraft, the control system emulating that of a turbine-powered aircraft, the control system comprising:

an integrated power controller configured to;

(a) accept a single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) based at least in part on the single input, provide a first control signal to control a throttle setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) based at least in part on the single input, provide a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for at least one propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(d) based at least in part on the single input, provide a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

a set of one or more computer displays that is configurable to emulate a set of instrument gauges used on the turbine-powered aircraft to display a set of information, the set of information comprising;

(a) information about an altitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) information about an attitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) information about an airspeed of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(d) information about information about a heading of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

2. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the set of information displayed by the set of one or more computer displays further comprises performance information about at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

3. A control system as recited by claim 2, wherein the performance engine is displayed as a percentage of maximum performance.

4. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein:

the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft comprises a plurality of engines, comprising a first engine and a second engine, and a plurality of propellers, comprising a first propeller and a second propeller;

the integrated power controller is a first integrated power controller configured to;

(a) accept a first single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) based at least in part on the first single input, provide a first control signal to control a throttle setting for the first engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) based at least in part on the first single input, provide a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for the first propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(d) based at least in part on the first single input, provide a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for the first engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

the control system comprises a second integrated power controller configured to;

(a) accept a second single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) based at least in part on the second single input, provide a fourth control signal to control a throttle setting for the second engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) based at least in part on the second single input, provide a fifth control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for the second propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(d) based at least in part on the second single input, provide a sixth control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for the second engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

5. A control system as recited by claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to provide directional input for the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

6. A control system as recited by claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a control stick.

7. A control system as recited by claim 6, further comprising a thrust actuator coupled with the integrated power controller, wherein the control stick and the thrust actuator are configured in a hands-on-throttle-and-stick (“

HOTAS”

) configuration.

8. A control system as recited by claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a yoke.

9. A control system as recited by claim 5, wherein the actuator can be configured in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration comprising a yoke and the second configuration comprising a control stick.

10. A control system as recited by claim 5, wherein the actuator is a plurality of actuators, including a first actuator comprising a yoke and a second actuator comprising a control stick.

11. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the set of one or more computer displays is configurable to emulate a plurality of sets of instrument gauges corresponding to a plurality of types of turbine-powered aircraft.

12. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the set of one or more computer displays is configured to emulate a set of analog gauges.

13. A control system as recited by claim 12, wherein the set of analog gauges comprises an artificial horizon indicator, a directional gyroscope indicator, an airspeed indicator, and an altitude indicator.

14. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the set of one or more computer displays is configured to emulate a set of digital instruments.

15. A control system as recited by claim 14, wherein the set of digital instruments comprises a horizontal situation indicator (“

HSI”

) and an attitude direction indicator (“

ADI”

).

16. A control system as recited by claim 14, wherein the set of digital instruments comprises an electronic flight information system (“

EFIS”

).

17. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft comprises a tandem seating configuration.

18. A control system as recited by claim 1, wherein the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft comprises a side-by-side seating configuration.

19. In a reciprocating-engine powered aircraft, a method of emulating a control system for a turbine-powered aircraft, the method comprising:

accepting, with an integrated power controller, a single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

providing, based at least in part on the single input, a first control signal to control a throttle setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

providing, based at least in part on the single input, a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for at least one propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

providing, based at least in part on the single input, a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

displaying, on a set of one or more computer displays that is configurable to emulate a set of instrument gauges used on the turbine-powered aircraft, a set of information comprising;

(i) information about an altitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(ii) information about an attitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(iii) information about an airspeed of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(iv) information about information about a heading of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

20. A control system for a reciprocating engine-powered aircraft, the control system emulating that of a turbine-powered aircraft, the control system comprising:

means for accepting a single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

means for providing, based at least in part on the single input, a first control signal to control a throttle setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

means for providing, based at least in part on the single input, a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for at least one propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

means for providing, based at least in part on the single input, a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

means for emulating a set of instrument gauges used on the turbine-powered aircraft to display a set of information comprising;

(i) information about an altitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(ii) information about an attitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(iii) information about an airspeed of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(iv) information about information about a heading of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

21. A method, comprising:

providing a control system configured to emulate a turbine-powered aircraft,

the control system comprising;

(a) an integrated power controller configured to;

(i) accept a single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(ii) based at least in part on the single input, provide a first control signal to control a throttle setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(iii) based at least in part on the single input, provide a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for at least one propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(iv) based at least in part on the single input, provide a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(b) a set of one or more computer displays that is configurable to emulate a set of instrument gauges used on the turbine-powered aircraft to display a set of information, the set of information comprising;

(i) information about an altitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(ii) information about an attitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(iii) information about an airspeed of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(iv) information about information about a heading of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

installing the control system in a reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.

22. A reciprocating engine powered aircraft comprising a control system configured to emulate a turbine-powered aircraft, the control system comprising:

an integrated power controller configured to;

(a) accept a single input from a pilot of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) based at least in part on the single input, provide a first control signal to control a throttle setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) based at least in part on the single input, provide a second control signal to control a propeller pitch setting for at least one propeller of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(d) based at least in part on the single input, provide a third control signal to control a fuel/air mixture setting for at least one engine of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

a set of one or more computer displays that is configurable to emulate a set of instrument gauges used on the turbine-powered aircraft to display a set of information, the set of information comprising;

(a) information about an altitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(b) information about an attitude of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft;

(c) information about an airspeed of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft; and

(d) information about information about a heading of the reciprocating engine-powered aircraft.