Copilot quick connect cyclic stick

• US 4,865,277 A
• Filed: 06/15/1987
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew, Wolstencroft, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiorito, L. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/132,949
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 244/234, 244/229, 244/220, 244/221, 244/237, 74/548, 74/523, 74/524, 74/471 XY, 403/322, 403/325
• US Class Current: 244/234
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0421 control sticks for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20612 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20762 Shaft connections

Abstract

An aircraft flight control stick is mounted on a gimbal which provides left, right, forward and aft pivotal motion of the stick. A pivot member that is mechanically linked to the aircraft flight controls is attached to the gimbal through a uni-ball bearing which allows the pivot member to pivot independently of the control stick. A bell-shaped housing is slidably mounted on the control stick. The housing is spring-biased downward toward the pivot member so that a stud protruding upward from the pivot member plugs into a socket in the housing. A lever assembly mounted on the control stick and attached to the housing can be actuated to slide the housing away from the pivot member, thereby unplugging the stud from the socket to disengage the control stick from the aircraft flight controls. The downward facing housing circumscribes all possible motion of the stud while the control stick is disengaged. Release of the lever assembly allows a spring to urge the housing downward toward the stud. The conical-shaped interior of the housing guides the stud into the socket to reconnect the control stick to the pivot member and the aircraft flight controls. The reconnection of the control stick is accomplished rapidly without the possibility of jamming the flight controls.

Claims

1. A disengageable aircraft control stick, comprising:

gimbal means for mounting the control stick in the aircraft;

a pivot assembly having a stud protruding upwardly therefrom;

a universal bearing for mounting said pivot assembly on said gimbal means and for providing pivotal movement of said pivot assembly independent of the control stick;

a bell-shaped housing attached to the control stick and having a socket for engaging said stud;

means for disengaging said socket from said stud to disconnect the control stick from said pivot assembly, said housing circumscribing the movement of said stud after disconnection of the control stick; and

means for urging said housing toward said stud, said housing guiding said socket onto said stud to reconnect the control stick to said pivot assembly.

2. The disengageable aircraft control stick of claim 1, wherein said pivot assembly is attached to a linkage connected to the aircraft flight controls.

3. The disengageable aircraft control stick of claim 1, further comprising:

means for releasably locking the disconnected control stick in a fixed position; and

means for releasing said locking means, thereby reconnecting the control stick to said pivot assembly.

4. A disengageable aircraft control stick, comprising:

gimbal means for pivotally mounting the control stick in the aircraft;

a pivot member connected to the aircraft flight controls, said pivot member having a stud protruding upwardly therefrom;

universal bearing means for mounting said pivot member on said gimbal means for pivotal movement independent of the control stick;

a bell-shaped housing attached to the control stick, said housing having a socket means for engaging said stud to provide a rigid connection between the control stick and said pivot member;

means for disengaging said socket means from said stud, thereby disconnecting the control stick from said pivot means;

said housing of the disconnected control stick circumscribing the movement of said stud;

means for releasably locking the disconnected control stick in a fixed position;

means for releasing said locking means; and

means for urging said housing toward said stud, said bell-shaped housing guiding said socket onto said stud, thereby reconnecting the control stick to said pivot member.

5. The disengageable aircraft control stick of claim 4, wherein the control stick includes a fork assembly for mounting the control stick to said gimbal means.

6. The disengageable aircraft control stick of claim 4, wherein said universal bearing means comprises a uni-ball bearing.

7. The disengageable aircraft control stick of claim 4, wherein said disengaging means comprises:

a sleeve connected to the control stick for slidably mounting said housing to the control stick; and

a lever assembly mounted on the control stick and attached to said housing, wherein actuation of said lever assembly slides said housing away from said stud to disconnect the control stick from said pivot member.

8. A copilot quick connect cyclic control stick, comprising:

a support assembly rigidly affixed to the aircraft;

a gimbal member for mounting the control stick on said support assembly, said gimbal member providing left, right, forward, and aft pivotal motion of the control stick with respect to said support assembly;

a pivot member having a stud protruding upward therefrom, said pivot member providing a linkage to the aircraft flight controls;

a uni-ball bearing connecting said pivot member to said gimbal member, said uni-ball bearing providing left, right, forward, and aft pivotal motion of said pivot member independent of the control stick;

a bell-shaped housing slidably mounted on the control stick, said housing having a socket for engaging said stud;

means for biasing said housing toward said pivot member to plug said stud into said socket, thereby joining the control stick and said pivot member for unitary pivotal movement;

a lever assembly mounted on the control stick and attached to said housing wherein actuation of said lever assembly slides said housing away from said pivot member to disengage said stud from said socket, thereby disconnecting the control stick from the aircraft flight controls;

means for releasably locking said actuated lever assembly to retain the control stick in a fixed position; and

means for releasing said locked lever assembly, thereby allowing said biasing means to urge said socket onto said stud to reconnect the control stick to said pivot member.

9. The copilot control stick of claim 8, wherein the control stick comprises a fork assembly for mounting on said gimbal member.

10. The copilot control stick of claim 9, wherein a shaft extends through and joins said fork assembly, said gimbal member, and said uni-ball bearing.