Aircraft takeoff velocity indicator system

• US 6,133,857 A
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl W. Millard, Wayne C. Millard
• Original Assignee: Carl W. Millard, Wayne C. Millard
• Inventors: Millard, Wayne C., Millard, Carl W
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/461,356
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 340/959, 340/945, 340/969, 701/15, 701/3, 73/178 T
• US Class Current: 340/959
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0083 to help an aircraft pilot in the rolling phase

Abstract

An aircraft instrument system that informs the pilot of whether, during the takeoff roll, the aircraft'"'"'s acceleration rate is sufficient to ensure that V1 speed will be achieved at the expected time (and thus distance), and, if not, how far in distance the aircraft is lagging behind the required acceleration schedule.

Claims

1. An instrumentation system for use in aircraft, during takeoff roll from standstill to V1 speed, that shows the pilot continuously the airspeed at which the aircraft should be if it is meeting the acceleration required to be at V1 at the anticipated distance as presented in the manufacturers'"'"' approved curves of takeoff acceleration graphs, and

wherein a related computer database stores information on said curves of takeoff acceleration graphs of the type and model of said aircraft, with relation to speed versus time on said takeoff roll, and thus distance of the same, and an airspeed indicator continuously displaying the actual speed of said aircraft;

and

wherein during said takeoff roll up to V1 speed, the said computer continuously governs the progressive movement of a needle in said airspeed indicator that points to the speed at which the aircraft should be if it is meeting said computer-stored acceleration curves based on time.

2. An instrumentation system as claimed in claim 1, further including an instrument panel having a first needle to continuously indicate said actual speed of said aircraft, and a second needle to indicate the speed at which said aircraft should be if it is meeting said computer-stored acceleration curves based on time.

3. An instrumentation system as claimed in claim 2, further including a window in said instrument panel for displaying the computed distance that said aircraft is currently lagging behind when said actual speed is less than said speed at which said aircraft should be if it is meeting said computer-stored acceleration curves.

4. An instrumentation system for use in an aircraft, during acceleration of the aircraft from 0 velocity to V1, for continuously monitoring actual velocity of the aircraft versus target velocity of the aircraft required to accelerate to V1 within an anticipated distance from a standstill position comprising:

(a) input means for entering parameters affecting an anticipated distance from the standstill position required to accelerate to V1;

(b) computing means for calculating from said parameters;

(i) a V1 value for said aircraft;

(ii) anticipated distance from said standstill position required to accelerate to V1;

(iii) time required to accelerate to V1; and

(iv) target velocity continuously required to accelerate to V1 within said time required;

(c) means for operably storing said V1 value of said aircraft, anticipated distance from standstill position, time required to accelerate to V1, and target velocity continuously required to accelerate to V1 within said time required to accelerate to V1; and

(d) means for displaying the actual velocity of the aircraft;

(e) means for continuously displaying the target velocity required to accelerate to V1 based on said time.

5. An instrumentation system as described in claim 4 which further includes means for displaying continuously the distance said aircraft is lagging behind said aircraft'"'"'s current position and an anticipated position determined by the anticipated distance from the standstill position required to accelerate to V1.

6. An instrumentation panel for use in an aircraft, during acceleration of the aircraft from 0 velocity to V1, for continuously monitoring actual velocity of the aircraft versus target velocity of the aircraft required to accelerate to V1 within an anticipated distance from a standstill position comprising:

(a) input means for entering parameters affecting an anticipated distance from the standstill position required to accelerate to V1;

(b) computing means for calculating from said parameters;

(i) a V1 value for said aircraft;

(ii) anticipated distance from said standstill position required to accelerate to V1;

(iii) time required to accelerate to V1; and

(iv) target velocity continuously required to accelerate to V1 within said time required;

(c) means for operably storing said V1 value of said aircraft, anticipated distance from standstill position, time required to accelerate to V1, and target velocity continuously required to accelerate to V1 within said time required to accelerate to V1; and

(d) means for continuously and simultaneously displaying and monitoring the actual speed of the aircraft and the target velocity required to achieve V1 within said time required to achieve V1.

7. An instrumentation system as described in claim 6 which further includes means for displaying continuously the actual distance said aircraft is lagging said aircraft'"'"'s actual position behind an anticipated position determined by the anticipated distance from the standstill position to accelerate to V1.

8. An instrumentation system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said target velocity uniformly increases from 0 to V1 within said time required to accelerate to V1.