Sidestick flight control simulator

• US 4,861,269 A
• Filed: 03/30/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Meenen, Raymond P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Application Number:
  US07/175,377
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 434/45, 434/30, 273/148 B, 244/223, 74/491
• US Class Current: 434/45
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/28 Simulation of stick forces or the like

Abstract

A sidestick grip is slidably mounted to achieve adjustable fore-aft displacement. Separate spring devices are linked to the grip for simulating break-out force and force-deflection characteristics. Each spring device is linked to a damper for damping grip movement in the pitch and roll directions. The spring devices have (1) variable spring pre-load bias thereby enabling adjustments of the breakout forces; and (2) adjustable stick neutral position. Transducers measure grip deflection in roll and pitch for utilization by a computer.

Claims

1. A sidestick flight control simulator comprising:

a main stationary support;

a sidestick grip mounted to a separate support located in spaced relation to the stationary support;

a pitch assembly including

(a) a first clevis for pivotally mounting the grip support thereby allowing pitch deflection of the grip,

(b) first spring means for establishing break-away force and force-deflection characteristics, the spring means including a housing fastened to the first clevis and a displaceable rod pivotally mounted to a second clevis which is itself pivotally fastened to the grip support, the rod undergoing spring-loaded linked pitch displacement with the grip,

(c) a first damper having its housing fastened to the housing of the first spring means,

(d) first bracket means linking a rod of the damper to the spring means rod for damping motion of the spring means rod;

a roll assembly including

(a) means for pivotally mounting the first clevis in the roll direction, thereby allowing roll deflection of the grip,

(b) a third clevis extending to the main stationary support and pivotally mounting a second spring means,

(c) a rod of the second spring means having a first end pivotally mounted to the main stationary support while the housing thereof is pivotally mounted to the third clevis, wherein roll deflection of the grip results in spring-loaded linked displacement of the rod simulating force-displacement characteristics in the roll direction,

(d) a second damper having its housing fastened to the housing of the second spring means,

(e) second bracket means linking a rod of the second damper to the second spring means rod for damping motion of the second spring means.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with limit stops located in the first clevis for limiting pitch deflection of the grip;

and

further limit stops located in the main stationary support for limiting roll deflection of the grip.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with means connected to the first and second spring means for adjusting roll and pitch neutral position of the grip.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with means for adjusting the lateral position of the third clevis for varying the force versus deflection symmetry of the grip.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with means mounted to the first and second spring means for adjustably simulating the break-out forces thereof.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with means for slidably mounting the main stationary support thereby enabling diagonal fore-aft displacement of the grip.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with a wrist rest mounted to the main stationary support in aligned proximity to the grip.

8. A sidestick flight control simulator comprising:

a main stationary support;

a sidestick grip mounted to a separate support located in spaced relation to the stationary support;

means for slidably mounting the main stationary support thereby enabling diagonal fore-aft displacement of the grip;

a wrist rest mounted to the main stationary support in aligned proximity to the grip;

a pitch assembly including

(a) a first clevis for pivotally mounting the grip support thereby allowing pitch deflection of the grip,

(b) first spring means for establishing break-away force and force-deflection characteristics, the spring means including a housing fastened to the first clevis and a displaceable rod pivotally mounted to a second clevis which is itself pivotally fastened to the grip support, the rod undergoing spring-loaded linked pitch displacement with the grip,

(c) a first damper having its housing fastened to the housing of the first spring means,

(d) first bracket means linking a rod of the damper to the spring means rod for damping motion of the spring means rod;

a roll assembly including

(a) means for pivotally mounting the first clevis in the roll direction, thereby allowing roll deflection of the grip,

(b) a third clevis extending to the main stationary support and pivotally mounting a second spring means,

(c) a rod of the second spring means having a first end pivotally mounted to the main stationary support while the housing thereof is pivotally mounted to the third clevis, wherein roll deflection of the grip results in spring-loaded linked displacement of the rod simulating force-displacement characteristics in the roll direction,

(d) a second damper having its housing fastened to the housing of the second spring means,

(e) second bracket means linking a rod of the second damper to the second spring means rod for damping motion of the second spring means.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 together with:

means connected to the first and second spring means for adjusting roll and pitch neutral position of the grip;

means for adjusting the lateral position of the third clevis for varying the force versus deflection symmetry of the grip;

means mounted to the first and second spring means for adjustably simulating the break-out forces thereof;

limit stops located in the first clevis for limiting pitch deflection of the grip; and

further limit stops located in the main stationary support for limiting roll deflection of the grip.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9 together with transducer means for measuring deflection of the grip in pitch and roll.