Instrument flight navigational apparatus and method

• US 5,214,855 A
• Filed: 12/10/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles W. Gibbs
• Original Assignee: Charles W. Gibbs
• Inventors: Gibbs, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US07/805,573
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 33/431, 33/15 D, 33/15 B, 235/61 B, 235/61 NV, 235/78 N
• US Class Current: 33/1.0SD
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 1/0052 for air navigation or sea navigation

Abstract

An instrument flight navigational apparatus includes a flat board having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, a circular holding pattern template of transparent material and having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, a compass protractor of transparent material having a center hole and indicia displayed on a front face relative to the center hole, and a flat elongated needle of transparent material having a center hole and a pointer displayed on a front face relative to the center hole. The apparatus also includes a plurality of annular spacers disposed between the board, template, protractor and needle for spacing the template from the board, the protractor from the template and the needle from the protractor so as to allow rotation of the template, protractor and needle independent of one another and relative to one another and to the board. The apparatus further includes a releasable fastener for extending through the center holes of the board, template, protractor and needle for aligning and overlaying the board, template, protractor and needle and releasably clamping them at any desired rotational angular position relative to one another. The first, second and third indicia and the pointer displayed on the respective board, template, protractor and needle are data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment.

Claims

1. An instrument flight navigational apparatus, comprising:

(a) first means for defining a first center point and a display of a first indicia arranged relative to said first center point;

(b) second means for defining a second center point and a display of a second indicia arranged relative to said second center point;

(c) third means for defining a third center point and a display of a third indicia arranged relative to said third center point;

(d) fourth means for defining a fourth center point and a display of a pointer arranged relative to said fourth center point;

(e) said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360°

compass about said first center point, a first direction-of-flight line extending through said first center point to said markings at 0° and

180°

of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said first center point between said compass and said first center point, and entry arcs about said first center point adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said second center point and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360°

scale extending about said third center point; and

(f) fifth means for positioning said first, second third and fourth means such that said first, second, third and fourth center points are aligned with one another and said displays of said first, second and third indicia and said display of said pointer are overlaid on one another for permitting relative rotational movement of said overlaid displays relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment;

(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) stations;

(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;

(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;

(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials; and

(v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means is a flat board having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, said first center point being a hold formed through a central location of an upper portion of said board, said display of said first indicia being imprinted on said front face of said board.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first

direction-of-flight line has arrowheads at opposite ends of said line pointing in the same direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first indicia also includes four 90°

quadrants containing prompts at 30° and

45°

angles.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means is a generally circular holding pattern template of transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, said second center point being a hole formed through a center of said template, said display of said second indicia being imprinted on said front face of said template.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second indicia further includes a plurality of markings defining 0°

, 90°

, 180° and

270°

points about said center hole of said template.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second second direction-of-flight line extends through said center point of said template to said markings at 0°

and 180°

thereof and has an arrowhead at one end of said line for pointing in an inbound direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third means is a compass protractor of transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, said third center point being a hole formed through a center of said protractor, said display of said third indicia being imprinted on said front face of said protractor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said 360°

scale of said third indicia encircles and is spaced radially outwardly from said center hole of said protractor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said scale is defined in 5°

and 10°

increments and in North, South, East and West cardinal headings.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth means is an elongated flat indicator needle of transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, said fourth center point being a hole formed through a middle portion of said needle, said display of said pointer being imprinted on said front face of said needle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first, second, third and fourth center points are holes through said first, second, third and fourth means; and

said fifth means is a fastener being operable for releasably and rotatably clamping said first, second, third and fourth means to one another at any desired angular position relative to one another.

13. An instrument flight navigational apparatus, comprising:

(a) a flat board having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a central location of an upper portion of said board, and a first indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said central hole of said board;

(b) a generally circular holding pattern template of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a center of said template, and a second indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said center hole of said template;

(c) a compass protractor of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a center of said protractor, and a third indicia displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said center hole of said protractor;

(d) a flat elongated needle of semi-rigid transparent material having a pair of opposite front and rear faces, a hole formed through a middle portion of said needle pointer, and a pointer displayed on said front face and arranged relative to said hole of said needle;

(e) said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360°

compass about said center hole of said board, a first direction-of-flight line extending from said central hole to said markings at 0° and

180°

of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said central hole between said compass and said central hole, and entry arcs about said central hole adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said center hole of said template and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said second direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360°

scale extending about said center hole of said protractor; and

(f) means for positioning said board, template, protractor and needle such that said holes thereof are aligned with one another and said displays of said first, second and third indicia and said display of said pointer are overlaid on one another and for permitting relative rotational movement of said overlaid displays relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment;

(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) stations;

(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;

(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;

(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials; and

(v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said positioning means includes a plurality of annular spacers disposed between said board, template, protractor and needle for spacing said template from said board, said protractor from said template and said needle from said protractor so as to facilitate rotation of said template, protractor and needle independent of one another and relative to one another and to said board.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said positioning means also includes a fastener extending through said holes of said board, template, protractor and needle such that said holes are aligned with one another and said displays of said first, second and third indicia and display of said pointer are overlaid on one another, said fastener being adjustable to a non-clamping condition for permitting relative rotational movement of said overlaid board, template, protractor and needle and thereby said displays thereon relative to one another for solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said fastener also being adjustable to a clamping condition for locking and retaining said board, template, protractor and needle and thereby said displays thereon at any desired rotational angular position relative to one another.

16. An instrument flight navigational method, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining separate first, second, third and fourth displays of first, second and third indicia and a pointer, each of said separate displays being arranged relative to a center point, said first, second and third indicia and said pointer being data and symbols adapted for use in solving navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment, said first indicia including a plurality of markings defining a 360°

compass about said center point of said first display, a first direction-of-flight line extending through said center point of said first display to said markings at 0° and

180°

of said compass, an ADF (automatic direction finder) dial about said center point of said first display between said compass and center point thereof, and entry arcs about said center hole adjacent to said compass for direct, parallel and teardrop types of entries to standard and non-standard holding patterns, said second indicia including a second direction-of-flight line extending through said center point of said second display and a pair of standard and non-standard holding patterns disposed along opposite sides of said second direction-of-flight line, said third indicia including a 360°

scale extending about said center point of said third display;

(b) overlaying said first, second, third and fourth displays on one another with said center points thereof aligned with one another; and

(c) selectively rotating and setting any one of said overlaid first, second, third and fourth displays of said first, second and third indicia and said pointer relative to one another for solving at least the following navigational problems encountered in an instrument flight environment;

(i) determining holding pattern entry procedures at VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range) and NDB (non-directional beacon) station;

(ii) determining intercept angle to VOR radial or NDB heading;

(iii) obtaining information for making procedure turn;

(iv) determining holding pattern at intersection of VOR radials; and

(v) determining NDB approach with vector to intercept.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first direction-of-flight line has arrowheads at opposite ends of said line pointing in the same direction.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said first indicia also includes four 90°

quadrants containing prompts at 30° and

45°

angles.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said second indicia further includes a plurality of markings defining 0°

, 90°

, 180° and

270°

points about said center point of said second display.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said second direction-of-flight line extends through said center point of said second display to said markings at 0°

and 180°

thereof and has an arrowhead at one end of said line for pointing in an inbound direction.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said 360°

scale of said third indicia encircles and is spaced radially outwardly from said center point of said third display.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said scale is defined in 5°

and 10°

increments and in the four cardinal headings of North, South, East and West.