Control apparatus equipped with back drive

• US 6,512,344 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Advanced Technology Institute of Commuter-Helicopter, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shuji, Konno, Mitsuo, Asada, Yoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/450,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 318/560, 318/566, 318/652, 318/653, 318/671, 244/220, 244/221, 244/223, 244/224, 244/228, 244/234, 744/69, 744/71.R, 744/731.2, 744/91, 744/95
• US Class Current: 318/560
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0421 control sticks for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20396 Hand operated

Abstract

A control apparatus comprises a control stick, a sensor for detecting the angular displacement amount of the stick and outputting a position signal, a spring for generating an operation force in accordance with the angular displacement amount based on a neutral point of the stick, a back drive unit coupled to the stick via the spring, for driving the stick to move the neutral point; and a controlling section for controlling the unit, the unit including a differential gear section having input shafts and an output shaft, a back drive motor coupled to the input shaft, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the input shaft, and an output arm coupled to the output shaft to drive the stick, and when the stick is being moved, the electromagnetic brake is put into disconnection to release the input shaft, the motor is rotated in the reverse direction, thereby preventing the occurrence of a transient.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a control section which is supported so as to be angularly displaceable to a housing;

a control amount sensor for detecting an angular displacement amount of the control section and outputting a control amount signal;

an elastic member for generating an operation force in accordance with the angular displacement amount based on a neutral point of the control section;

a back drive mechanism, coupled to the control section via the elastic member, for driving the control section to move the neutral point; and

a controlling section for controlling the back drive mechanism,

the back drive mechanism including a differential gear mechanism having a first input shaft, a second input shaft and an output shaft;

a motor coupled to the first input shaft;

a brake mechanism coupled to the second input shaft; and

a driving member coupled to the output shaft, for driving the control section, and

wherein when the control section is being moved, the brake mechanism is put into disconnection to release the second input shaft, the back drive mechanism rotates the motor in a reverse direction in order to prevent occurrence of a transient.

2. A control apparatus comprising:

a control section which is supported so as to be angularly displaceable to a housing;

a control amount sensor for detecting an angular displacement amount of the control section and outputting a control amount signal;

an elastic member for generating an operation force in accordance with the angular displacement amount based on a neutral point of the control section;

a back drive mechanism, coupled to the control section via the elastic member, for driving the control section to move the neutral point; and

a controlling section for controlling the back drive mechanism,

the back drive mechanism including a differential gear mechanism having a first input shaft, a second input shaft and an output shaft;

a motor coupled to the first input shaft;

a brake mechanism coupled to the second input shaft;

a driving member coupled to the output shaft to drive the control section; and

a back drive position sensor for detecting an angular displacement amount of the driving member and outputting a back drive position signal, and

wherein when the control section is being moved, the brake mechanism is put into disconnection to release the second input shaft, the back drive mechanism temporarily stops the second input shaft by putting the brake mechanism into connection at a time when a relative displacement amount between the control amount signal and the back drive position signal becomes zero, in order to prevent occurrence of a transient.