Aircraft trim safety system and backup controls
First Claim
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1. ) A method of controlling trim surfaces in an aircraft, responsive to a first operator input specifying a first direction for trim adjustment, and a second operator input specifying a second direction for trim adjustment, comprising:
- a) Determining if the first input is active and the second input is inactive, and then adjusting the trim according to the first direction;
b) Determining if the first input is inactive and the second input is active, and then adjusting the trim according to the second direction;
c) Determining if the first input is active and the second input is active, and then not adjusting the trim in either the first or the second direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses that control trim of an aircraft even in the presence of conflicting trim inputs, for example by disabling the trim input switches on the aircraft when conflicting switch inputs are received. When conflicting switch inputs are received and certain time conditions are met, the controller can disable the switch inputs and provide a backup and independent means to control the trim circuitry. The pilot can be allowed to re-enable the disabled inputs.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. ) A method of controlling trim surfaces in an aircraft, responsive to a first operator input specifying a first direction for trim adjustment, and a second operator input specifying a second direction for trim adjustment, comprising:
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a) Determining if the first input is active and the second input is inactive, and then adjusting the trim according to the first direction; b) Determining if the first input is inactive and the second input is active, and then adjusting the trim according to the second direction; c) Determining if the first input is active and the second input is active, and then not adjusting the trim in either the first or the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. ) A method of controlling trim surfaces in an aircraft, responsive to a trim input from a pilot, and a trim input from a co-pilot, comprising adjusting the trim such that, in the event that the pilot trim input conflicts with the co-pilot trim input, the trim is either adjusted according to the pilot trim input or the trim is not adjusted while such conflict exists.
- 14. ) An apparatus to facilitate control of trim surfaces in an aircraft, comprising a control system, adapted to be placed in operable relationship with a trim surface of the aircraft, and adapted to be placed in communication with a pilot trim input subsystem, wherein the pilot trim input subsystem is capable of indicating either of two trim adjustment directions, wherein the control system is adapted to cause adjustment of the trim surface in the direction indicated by the pilot trim input subsystem if only one of the two trim adjustment directions is indicated, and to cause no adjustment of the trim surface if both of the two trim adjustment directions are indicated.
Specification