Apparatus for simulating aircraft control loading

• US 3,903,614 A
• Filed: 03/27/1970
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cae-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Amedeo A. Sylvester, Fred F. Carver, John A. Diamond
• Inventors: Diamond, John A., Sylvester, Amedeo A., Carver, Fred F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/023,153
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 35/12S 244/83D 200/47 74/506
• US Class Current: 434/45
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/28 Simulation of stick forces or the like

Abstract

An electro-mechanical system for providing an opposing force to movement of a simulated control member in a grounded flight trainer. The invention utilizes an electric motor connected to the control member by a flexible element which, in the disclosed embodiment, comprises a continuous cable with a predetermined amount of slack. This allows some degree of differential movement between the control member and motor, to which a pair of position potentiometers are respectively connected, thereby converting the differential position to an electrical signal which is used, together with other factors, to control movement of the motor.

Claims

1. A control loading system including motive means for providing a realistic opposing force to the manual movement of a simulated aircraft control member in a fixed-base flight simulator, said system comprising, in combination:

a. means for deriving a first electrical signal commensurate with the position of said control member;

b. means for deriving a second electrical signal commensurate with the position of said motive means;

c. means for deriving a control signal commensurate with the difference between said first and second signals to drive said motive means;

d. a flexible non-elastic cable connecting said control member and said motive means for transmission of motion and force from one to the other; and

e. said cable having a predetermined amount of slack, sufficient to allow differential movement between said control member and said motive means which produces a differential between said first and second electrical signals.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means for deriving first and second electRical signals comprise position potentiometers connected for direct movement with said control member and said motive means, respectively.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said motive means comprises an electric motor.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cable passes around a pulley connected for rotation by said motive means and further means are provided to prevent slippage of said cable on said pulley.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said means for deriving said second electrical signals comprises a rotary position potentiometer connected for rotation with said pulley.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein safety means are provided for interrupting the supply of power to said motive means in the event of rotation of said pulley beyond predetermined limits.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said safety means comprises a switch having contacts movable between open and closed positions in response to rotation of rotary cam means.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said cam means are affixed to the same shaft as said rotary potentiometer for coaxial rotation therewith.