Mechanically linked active sidesticks
First Claim
1. An active hand controller system comprising:
- first and second active control handles each moveable along a pitch axis (x) and a roll axis (y), each of the first and second handles including;
sensor means for detecting movement of and force applied to the respective first and second active control handle along said pitch axis (x) and said roll axis (y) for generating a signal representative of said movement and force applied thereto;
control electronics means for receiving said signal from said sensor means and for generating a control signal in response thereto representative of the movement and force applied to the respective first and second active control handle, the control electronics means of the respective first and second control handles being coupled to one another; and
at least one servo motor connected to each of the pitch and roll axes of each of the first and second active control handles and to respective cable linkages connected to an aircraft flight control system, the servo motors being further connected to said control electronic means for moving said cable linkages in response to the control signal received from said control electronic means as a result of any one of the first and second active control handles being actuated by a user along at least one of said pitch axis (x) and said roll axis (y), the control signal being further communicated to the control electronics means of the first and second control handle unactuated by a user such that the servo motors of the unactuated first and second control handle cause movement of the unactuated control handle in concert with the control handle actuated by a user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Conventional column controls for aircraft flight control systems are replaced by active sidesticks which are connected to port and starboard aircraft mechanical, electrical or hydraulic systems by means of servo motors and cables. Movement of the active sidestick handles is detected and a signal generated to drive a servo motor in manner corresponding thereto, which in turn will drive cable assemblies which control aircraft flight control surfaces. Two sidesticks are provided, preferably with an electrical cross-cockpit interconnect to cause movement of one sidestick to result in a signal being transmitted to a second sidestick to cause the motor thereof to force the sidestick to track the movement of the first sidestick. In an alternative implementation, the sidesticks are employed in a fly-by-wire system with a conventional cable system as backup. The cable system is disengaged from the sidesticks by means of a disengage clutch whereupon failure of the fly-by-wire system, the clutch will engage the cable system and provide a mechanical backup to the fly-by-wire system in the event of failure thereof.
70 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An active hand controller system comprising:
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first and second active control handles each moveable along a pitch axis (x) and a roll axis (y), each of the first and second handles including; sensor means for detecting movement of and force applied to the respective first and second active control handle along said pitch axis (x) and said roll axis (y) for generating a signal representative of said movement and force applied thereto; control electronics means for receiving said signal from said sensor means and for generating a control signal in response thereto representative of the movement and force applied to the respective first and second active control handle, the control electronics means of the respective first and second control handles being coupled to one another; and at least one servo motor connected to each of the pitch and roll axes of each of the first and second active control handles and to respective cable linkages connected to an aircraft flight control system, the servo motors being further connected to said control electronic means for moving said cable linkages in response to the control signal received from said control electronic means as a result of any one of the first and second active control handles being actuated by a user along at least one of said pitch axis (x) and said roll axis (y), the control signal being further communicated to the control electronics means of the first and second control handle unactuated by a user such that the servo motors of the unactuated first and second control handle cause movement of the unactuated control handle in concert with the control handle actuated by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification