Aircraft control yoke

• US 5,921,507 A
• Filed: 05/16/1994
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flight Safety Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Flight Safety Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kalberer, Robert Curtis, Goor, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/242,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728 R, 280/729, 280/731, 280/730 R, 280/730.1, 280/730 A, 280/730.2, 280/287.77, 244/121, 244/118.5, 244/234, 74/493, 74/552
• US Class Current: 244/234
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0423 yokes or steering wheels for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

An airbag module is positioned relative to an aircraft control yoke or shaft, the airbag being actuated by majority voting sensors that are responsive to acceleration forces upon the aircraft. The aircraft control yoke or control yoke post is constructed to telescope, extend, or move a limited distance toward the pilot as the airbag inflates. The yoke carries telescoping, extendable, or movable handle portions that allow left and right hand pilot grip handles to move, if necessary, under the force of the expanding airbag. Hand sleeves may be provided to help maintain the pilot'"'"'s hands on the grip handles during airbag expansion. The movable yoke and handle portions may be manually or automatically restored to normal operative positions after airbag deflation. The yoke may be formed so as to provide a U shaped section that accommodates a horizontal support or table for holding the airbag module, a map, or a like device. The U shaped yoke and table support members are structured such that the table remains horizontal during pivoting movement of the yoke to control aircraft roll, and during generally horizontal movement of the yoke to control aircraft pitch.

Claims

1. In an aircraft having a control yoke and having an airbag associated therewith, said airbag being subject to inflation as a function of forces exerted upon the aircraft, the improvement comprising;

said control yoke having first and second portions that are movable from a normal position to an extended position, to thereby form a control yoke of extended length, and

force means operable as a function of airbag inflation to effect movement of said control yoke to said extended position.

2. The improvement of claim 1 including;

reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended position to said normal position.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended position to said normal position subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

4. In combination;

a two-piece elongated aircraft control yoke, said two pieces of said control yoke having a normal relative position whereby said control yoke is operable to effect two modes of aircraft control,

an airbag associated with said control yoke, said airbag being subject to inflation as a function of an aircraft force, and

force means operable as a function of airbag inflation to effect movement of said two pieces of said control yoke to an extended length relative position, whereat said control yoke is operable to effect only one of said two modes of aircraft control.

5. The combination of claim 4 including;

manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to said normal relative position.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to said normal position subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

7. In combination;

an elongated aircraft control yoke comprising a two-piece tubular member having a central axis, said control yoke having a first piece extending from a control panel, and a second piece extending from said first piece and terminating at a T-shaped portion that includes a left-hand grip and a right-hand grip, said first piece of said control yoke being rotatable about said axis to control aircraft roll, and said first piece of said control yoke being movable along said axis to control aircraft angle of attack,

said two pieces of said control yoke having a normal relative position, whereby said hand grips are operable to effect control of both aircraft roll and aircraft angle of attack,

an airbag associated with said control yoke, said airbag being subject to inflation as a function of an aircraft force,

force means operable as a function of airbag inflation to effect relative movement of said two pieces of said control yoke to an extended length relative position, and

said control yoke being constructed to accommodate only rotation of said control yoke when in said extended length relative position, whereby said hand grips are operable to effect control of only aircraft roll.

8. The combination of claim 7 including;

reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to said normal relative position.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to said normal position subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

10. The combination of claim 7 including means associated with said T-shaped portion and operated to effect pivoting of at least one of said hand grips toward said axis and toward said control panel as a function of airbag inflation.

11. The combination of claim 10 including;

reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke and resetting of said at least one hand grip.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke and resetting of said at least one hand grip subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

13. The combination of claim 7 wherein said force means comprises an ignitable source of gas that is operable to generate gas pressure that is operable to effect relative movement of said two pieces of said control yoke to said extended length relative position, and including means for venting said gas pressure when said extended length relative position is achieved.

14. The combination of claim 13 including first locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said control yoke in said normal position, and means for releasing said locking means and igniting said source of gas.

15. The combination of claim 14 including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to a reset normal relative position, and second locking means for locking said first and second yoke pieces in said reset normal position.

16. The combination of claim 7 including first locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said control yoke in said normal position, and means for concurrently releasing said locking means and operating said force means.

17. The combination of claim 16 including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended length relative position to a reset normal relative position, and second locking means for locking said first and second yoke pieces in said reset normal position.

18. The combination of claim 10 wherein said two hand grips are arranged in a first spaced position whereat said hand grips may be gripped by the hands of an aircraft pilot during flight, force bias means associated with said hand grips and operable to maintain said hand grips in said first position, said airbag when inflated operating to physically engage said hand grips and to move said hand grips to a second spaced position providing access of said control handles for continued control of said aircraft.

19. The combination of claim 18 including a hand sleeve associated with at least on of said hand grips, said hand sleeve being operable to releasably hold the pilot'"'"'s hands on said one hand grip during inflation of said airbag.

20. An aircraft control yoke extending outward from a generally vertical aircraft instrument panel, comprising;

a first rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about a generally horizontal axis to control aircraft roll and movable toward and away from said instrument panel to control aircraft pitch, said first horizontal yoke member having a first end extending toward said instrument panel and having a second end,

a rigid, upward facing, U-shaped yoke post member having two horizontally spaced and vertically extending side legs whose bottom ends are joined together by a bottom leg, a top end of a first of said side legs being connected to said second end of said first horizontal yoke member,

first and a second elongated guide slots formed in said side legs so as to place said guide slots in parallel facing relation to each other,

a generally horizontal support member located within said U-shaped yoke post portion,

a rigid, elongated, guide rod carried by said support member, said guide rod having opposite ends thereof freely slidable in said first and second guide slots, and

extendable support means mounting said support member to be supported by said instrument panel.

21. The control yoke of claim 20 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

22. The control yoke of claim 21 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.

23. The control yoke of claim 20 wherein said extendable support means comprises;

a first and a second elongated, generally horizontal, generally parallel, and freely extendable support rods having first and second ends, said first ends of said support rods being mounted to said instrument panel, and said second ends of said support rods being mounted to said support member generally equidistant on opposites sides of said guide rod, said support rods extending generally parallel to said axis and to said guide rod.

24. The control yoke of claim 23 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

25. The control yoke of claim 24 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis, and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending generally downward from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.

26. An aircraft control yoke extending outward from a generally vertical aircraft instrument panel, comprising;

a first rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about a generally horizontal axis to control aircraft roll and movable toward and away from said instrument panel to control aircraft pitch, said first horizontal yoke member having a first end extending toward said instrument panel and having a second end,

a rigid, upward facing, U-shaped yoke member having two horizontally spaced and vertically extending side legs, whose bottom ends are joined together by a bottom leg, a top end of a first of said side legs being connected to said second end of said first horizontal yoke member,

first and a second elongated guide slots formed in said side legs so as to place said guide slots in parallel facing relation to each other,

a generally horizontal support member located within said U-shaped yoke portion, said support member having an upper surface,

a rigid, elongated, guide rod carried by said support member, said guide rod having opposite ends thereof freely slidable in said first and second guide slots,

extendable support means mounting said support member to be supported by said instrument panel,

an airbag mounted on said upper surface of said support member, said airbag being subject to inflation as a function of forces exerted upon the aircraft,

said first yoke member having first and second portions that are movable from a normal position to an extended position, to thereby form a control yoke of extended length, and

force means operable as a function of airbag inflation to effect movement of said control yoke to said extended position.

27. The control yoke of claim 26 including;

reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended position to said normal position.

28. The control yoke of claim 26 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said control yoke from said extended position to said normal position subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

29. The control yoke of claim 28 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

30. The control yoke of claim 29 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis, and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.

31. The control yoke of claim 26 wherein said extendable support means comprises;

a first and a second elongated, generally horizontal, generally parallel, and freely extendable support rods having first and second ends, said first ends of said support rods being mounted to said instrument panel, and said second ends of said support rods being mounted to said support member generally equidistant on opposites sides of said guide rod, said support rods extending generally parallel to said axis and to said guide rod.

32. The control yoke of claim 31 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

33. The control yoke of claim 32 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis, and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending generally downward from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.

34. An aircraft control yoke extending outward from a generally vertical aircraft instrument panel, comprising;

an upward facing U-shaped yoke member having two horizontally spaced and vertically extending side legs having top ends and having bottom ends that are joined together by a bottom leg,

first and second elongated guide slots formed in said side legs so as to place said guide slots in parallel facing relation to each other,

a generally horizontal support table located within said U-shaped yoke portion,

a guide rod carried by said support table, said guide rod having opposite ends thereof freely slidable in said first and second guide slots,

extendable support means mounting said table to be supported by said instrument panel,

an airbag mounted on said table, said airbag being subject to inflation as a function of an aircraft force,

a two piece, horizontally extending yoke member rotatable about a generally horizontal axis to control aircraft roll and movable toward and away from said instrument panel to control aircraft pitch, a first piece of said two piece yoke member extending from said instrument panel, and a second piece of said two piece yoke member extending from said first piece to a top end of a first of said side members,

said two piece yoke member having a normal relative position whereby said two piece yoke member is operable to effect control of both aircraft roll and aircraft angle of attack,

force means operable as a function of airbag inflation to effect relative movement of said two pieces of said two piece yoke member to an extended length relative position, and

said two piece yoke member being constructed to accommodate only aircraft roll control when in said extended position.

35. The control yoke of claim 34 including;

reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said two piece yoke member from said extended length relative position to said normal relative position.

36. The control yoke of claim 34 wherein said airbag is subjected to an inflation/deflation sequence of short time duration, wherein said force means is controlled as a function of said airbag inflation/deflation sequence, and including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said two piece yoke member from said extended length relative position to said normal position subsequent to said airbag inflation/deflation event.

37. The control yoke of claim 34 wherein said force means comprises an ignitable source of gas that is operable to generate gas pressure that is operable to effect relative movement of said two pieces of said two piece yoke member to said extended length relative position, and including means for venting said gas pressure when said extended length relative position is achieved.

38. The control yoke of claim 37 including first locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said two piece yoke member in said normal position, and means for releasing said locking means and igniting said source of gas.

39. The control yoke of claim 38 including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said two piece yoke member from said extended length relative position to a reset normal relative position, and second locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said two piece yoke member in said reset normal position.

40. The control yoke of claim 34 including first locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said two piece yoke member in said normal position, and means for releasing said locking means and operating said force means.

41. The control yoke of claim 40 including manual reset means operable to accommodate resetting of said two piece yoke member from said extended length relative position to a reset normal relative position, and second locking means for locking said first and second pieces of said two piece yoke member in said reset normal position.

42. The control yoke of claim 34 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

43. The control yoke of claim 42 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending generally downward from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.

44. The control yoke of claim 34 wherein said extendable support means comprises;

a first and a second elongated, generally horizontal, generally parallel, and freely extendable support rods having first and second ends, said first ends of said support rods being mounted to said instrument panel, and said second ends of said support rods being mounted to said support table generally equidistant on opposites sides of said guide rod, said support rods extending generally parallel to said axis and to said guide rod.

45. The control yoke of claim 44 including pilot control handle means connected to a top end of a second of said side legs.

46. The control yoke of claim 45 wherein said handle means comprises;

a second rigid, elongated, and generally horizontal yoke member rotatable about said generally horizontal axis and having a first end connected to said top end of said second side leg,

a rigid, elongated, T member connected to a second end of said second horizontal yoke member, said T member extending generally perpendicular to said axis, said T member having first and second ends located generally equal distances on opposites side of said axis, and

first and second hand grips extending generally downward from said first and second ends respectively of said T member.