Test cart for aircraft control surface measurements

• US 5,077,671 A
• Filed: 07/05/1989
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Seegmiller, Lynn, Humphrey, Mark J., Schlotterbeck, Lyal K., Leslie, Daniel D., Rogers, Ted E., West, Andrew L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/375,870
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/578, 364/431.01, 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/579, 364/580, 371/15.1, 324/73.1
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system

Abstract

A test cart automatically measures the full range of motion of cockpit controls and the full range of responsive motion of airplane ailerons, rudder, elevators, spoilers, stabilizer and flaps/slats. A computer is electrically linked to these devices and automatically plots cockpit control motion, and responsive control surface motion, in order to determine that control surfaces function properly during aircraft assembly.

Claims

1. For use in connection with an aircraft having pilot or autopilot aircraft control devices connected to certain aircraft flight control surfaces including ailerons, rudder, elevators, spoilers, stabilizer and flaps/slats, wherein during flight said flight control surfaces move in response to movements of said control devices, a test cart for automated on-ground testing of flight control surface responsiveness to said movements of said control devices, comprising:

a data acquisition computer;

command sensing means, operatively connecting said computer to said aircraft control devices, for sensing both movements of said control devices and forces acting on said control devices;

surface movement sensing means, operatively connecting said computer to said aircraft flight control surfaces, for sensing responsive movements of said flight control surfaces to movements of said aircraft control devices; and

programming means operable to cause said data acquisition computer to receive from said command sensing means said sensed control device movements and said forces acting on said control devices, and operable to cause said data acquisition computer to receive from said surface movement sensing means said sensed responsive flight control surface movements, and operable to assimilate said sensed control device movements, said sensed forces acting on said control devices and said sensed responsive flight control surface movements into test data.

2. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control surface responsiveness to a particular movement of one of said control devices varies as a function of aircraft speed, and wherein said test cart includes

means, operated by said data acquisition computer, for simulating airspeed so that said control surface responsiveness reflects actual flight conditions.

3. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including at least one CRT touch terminal operatively connected to said data acquisition computer, for permitting a test cart user to input and receive test information.

4. The test cart as set forth in claim 3, wherein said at least one CRT touch terminal is normally located in the cockpit of said aircraft.

5. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including

an intercom system operatively connected to said data acquisition computer, for permitting communication between one test cart user and another user.

6. The test cart as set forth in claim 5, wherein said programming means of said computer further includes

voice synthesizer means causing said intercom system to provide said one test cart user certain audible warnings when one of said control surfaces under test is about to be moved.

7. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including a wheeled housing in which said data acquisition computer is housed.

8. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including a modem for connecting said data acquisition computer to a remote location.

9. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control devices include at least a captain'"'"'s control column and wheel, and a captain'"'"'s left rudder pedal and right rudder pedal, said control devices being located in the cockpit of said aircraft, and wherein said command-sensing means includes sensors operative to output electrical signals indicating movement of and forces acting on said control devices, said test cart further including

umbilical means for electrically connecting said test cart to said command-sensing means, and

cockpit interface assembly means for connecting said umbilical means to said sensors of said command-sensing means.

10. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including umbilical means for electrically connecting said test cart to an electrical and electronics bay of said aircraft.

11. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including umbilical means for electrically connecting said test cart to a cargo bay of said aircraft.

12. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, including remotely-located data storage means, operatively connected to said data acquisition computer, for receiving and storing said test data assimilated by said computer.

13. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programming means is further operable to cause said data acquisition computer to assimilate said sensed control device movements, said sensed forces acting on said control devices and said sensed responsive flight control surface movements into test data for a range of movements of said control devices.

14. The test cart as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programming means is further operable to cause said data acquisition computer to assimilate said sensed control device movements, said sensed forces acting on said control devices and said sensed responsive flight control surface movements into test data for a range of movements of said flight control surfaces.