G-load measuring and indicator apparatus

• US 3,895,521 A
• Filed: 06/12/1974
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Howard
• Original Assignee: James C. Howard
• Inventors: Howard, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US05/478,802
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 73/178R,178H,181 244/77D,77S,77G 340/27SS,27NA
• US Class Current: 73/178.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/005 Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/10 for indicating predetermined speeds
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0066 for limitation of acceleration or stress

Abstract

A g-load measuring apparatus for facilitating pilot control of g-load during maneuvering and to provide an indication of g-load constraint violations. The apparatus includes processing means for receiving the components of the linear acceleration and angular velocity of the aircraft and for generating the first output signal indicative of the critical velocity of the aircraft and a second output signal indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering velocity of the aircraft. Indicating means is connected to the processing means for receiving the two output generated signals such that the relative magnitude of the two signals are compared to provide an indication of the relative freedom of maneuverability of the aircraft and/or any g-load constraint violation that might exist.

Claims

1. A g-load measuring apparatus for indicating the instantaneous relationship between instantaneous critical velocity and instantaneous maneuvering velocity of an aircraft being maneuvered, comprising:

signal generating means for developing linear acceleration signals respectively corresponding to the three orthogonal components, ax, ay and az, of the instantaneous linear acceleration of the aircraft;

signal generating means for developing angular velocity signals respectively corresponding to the three orthogonal components, p, q and r, of the instantaneous angular velocity of the aircraft;

signal generating means for developing a reference signal representing the design maximum critical acceleration ac for said aircraft;

processor means for receiving and processing said linear acceleration, angular velocity and reference signals to generate a first signal indicative of the instantaneous critical velocity of the aircraft and a second signal indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering velocity of the aircraft; and

indicating means responsive to said first and second signals and operative to indicate the relationship of the instantaneous values of the critical velocity and the maneuvering velocity of the aircraft.

2. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes display means for visually displaying said instantaneous critical velocity and said instantaneous maneuvering velocity simultaneously.

3. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said indicating means further comprises circle means for generating signals for input to said display means to cause a circle to be displayed on said display means, the radius of said circle being a function of said first signal and indicative of said instantaneous critical velocity.

4. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said indicating means further comprises:

vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of said second signal and indicative of said instantaneous maneuvering velocity.

5. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said vector means further causes said line to begin at the center of said circle and extend radially outwardly therefrom.

6. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said indicating means further comprises vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of said second signal and indicative of said instantaneous maneuvering velocity.

7. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor means is comprised of a first means responsive to said linear acceleration signals and operative to generate a third signal indicative of the square of the instantaneous resultant linear velocity, V2;

a second means responsive to said angular velocity signals and operative to generate a fourth signal indicative of the square of the instantaneous resultant angular velocity, omega 2; and

a third means responsive to said linear accelerator signals and said angular velocity signals and operative to generate a fifth signal indicative of the dot product of the component of the linear velocity and the angular velocity.

8. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said processor further comprises a fourth means responsive to said third signal, V2, and said design critical acceleration signal, ac, and operative to generate a sixth signal indicative of the present instantaneous critical angular velocity, omega c;

and a fifth means responsive to said third signal, V2, said fourth signal, omega 2, and said fifth signal, (V omega )2, and operative to generate a seventh signal indicative of the instantaneous angular maneuvering velocity, omega m.

9. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said processor further comprises a fourth means responsive to said fourth signal, omega 2, and said design critical acceleration signal, ac, and operative to generate a sixth signal indicative of the instantaneous critical linear velocity, Vc;

and a fifth means responsive to said third signal, V2, said fourth signal, omega 2, and said fifth signal, (V. omega )2, and operative to generate a seventh signal indicative of the instantaneous linear maneuvering velocity, Vm.

10. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said indicating means includes display means for displaying said instantaneous critical angular velocity, omega c, and said instantaneous maneuvering angular velocity, omega m, simultaneously.

11. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said indicating means further comprises:

circle means for generating signals for input to said display means to cause a circle to be displayed on said display means, the radius of said circle being a function of said sixth signal and indicative of the instantaneous critical angular velocity, omega c.

12. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said indicating means further comprises vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of the said seventh signal and indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering angular velocity, omega m.

13. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said tenth means further causes said line to begin at the center of the circle generated by said ninth means and extend radially outwardly therefrom.

14. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said indicating means further comprises vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of said seventh signal and indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering angular velocity, omega m.

15. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said indicating means includes display means for displaying said instantaneous critical linear velocity, Vc, and said instantaneous maneuvering linear velocity, Vm, simultaneously.

16. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said indicating means further comprises circle means for generating signals for input to said display means to cause a circle to be displayed on said display means, the radius of said circle being a function of said sixth signal and indicative of the instantaneous critical linear velocity. Vc.

17. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said indicating means further comprises vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of said seventh signal and indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering linear velocity, Vm.

18. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said vector means further causes said line to begin at the center of said circle.

19. A g-load measuring apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said indicating means further comprises vector means for generating a signal for input to said display means to cause a line to be displayed on said display means, the length of said line being a function of said seventh signal and indicative of the instantaneous maneuvering linear velocity, Vm.