Device for operating a controlled member on a rotary-wing aircraft, particularly a helicopter

• US 6,772,054 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: Achache, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROADHEAD, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/190,318
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 244/35.R, 244/17, 244/7.A, 244/8, 244/11, 244/13, 244/229, 244/232, 244/226, 244/227, 244/228, 244/230, 244/231, 244/233
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/64 using fluid pressure, e.g. having fluid power amplification
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/68 using electrical energy, e.g. having electrical power amplification
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

An apparatus for operating a controlled member on a rotary-wing aircraft is provided with at least one control intended to be subject to the action of a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft and capable of moving a linkage, a device connected to the linkage for operating the controlled member as a function of movement of the linkage, a ram incorporated into the linkage which is capable of influencing the movement of the linkage as a function of control commands received, a trim device capable of acting on the control and on the linkage as a function of control commands received, a computer determining the control commands which are transmitted to the ram and to the trim device, and at least one sensor which is capable of measuring the values of a parameter that represents an action exerted by a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft on an auxiliary control.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating a controlled member (2) on a rotary-wing aircraft, said apparatus (1) comprising:

at least one control (3) intended to be subject to the action of a pilot of said rotary-wing aircraft and capable of moving a linkage (4);

means (5) connected to said linkage (4) for operating said controlled member (2) as a function of movement of said linkage (4);

a first control device of a first type, said first control device comprising a ram (7) incorporated into the linkage (4) which is capable of influencing the movement of said linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a second control device of a second type different than said first type, said second control device comprising a trim means (13) capable of acting on the control (3) and on the linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a computer (9) determining said control commands which are transmitted to said ram (7) and to said trim means (13); and

at least one sensor (10) which is capable of measuring the values of a parameter that represents an action exerted by a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft on said control (3),

wherein said computer (9) uses the values measured by said sensor (10) to determine said control commands to create control objectives,

wherein the parameter measured by said sensor (10) is relative movement of said control (3) with respect to the position of the trim means (13).

2. An apparatus for operating a controlled member (2) on a rotary-wing aircraft, said apparatus (1) comprising:

at least one control (3) intended to be subject to the action of a pilot of said rotary-wing aircraft and capable of moving a linkage (4);

means (5) connected to said linkage (4) for operating said controlled member (2) as a function of movement of said linkage (4);

a first control device of a first type, said first control device comprising a ram (7) incorporated into the linkage (4) which is capable of influencing the movement of said linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a second control device of a second type different than said first type, said second control device comprising a trim means (13) capable of acting on the control (3) and on the linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a computer (9) determining said control commands which are transmitted to said ram (7) and to said trim means (13); and

at least one sensor (10) which is capable of measuring the values of a parameter that represents an action exerted by a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft on an auxiliary control (3, 18),

wherein said computer (9) uses the values measured by said sensor (10) to determine said control commands to create control objectives, and

wherein said control (3) and said auxiliary control (18) are set out on the rotary-wing aircraft in such a way as to be accessible and operable by one and the same pilot of said aircraft,

wherein the parameter measured by said sensor (10) is relative movement of said auxiliary control (3, 18) with respect to the position of the trim means (13).

3. An apparatus for operating a controlled member (2) on a rotary-wing aircraft, said apparatus (1) comprising:

at least one control (3) intended to be subject to the action of a pilot of said rotary-wing aircraft and capable of moving a linkage (4);

means (5) connected to said linkage (4) for operating said controlled member (2) as a function of movement of said linkage (4);

a first control device of a first type, said first control device comprising a ram (7) incorporated into the linkage (4) which is capable of influencing the movement of said linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a second control device of a second type different than said first type, said second control device comprising a trim means (13) capable of acting on the control (3) and on the linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a computer (9) determining said control commands which are transmitted to said ram (7) and to said trim means (13); and

at least one sensor (10) which is capable of measuring the values of a parameter that represents an action exerted by a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft on an auxiliary control (3, 18),

wherein said computer (9) uses the values measured by said sensor (10) to determine said control commands to create control objectives,

wherein, for a rotary-wing aircraft flown by two pilots, said control (3) is subject to the action of one of said pilots, and

wherein said auxiliary control (18) is subject to the action of the other pilot,

wherein the parameter measured by said sensor (10) is relative movement of said auxiliary control (3, 18) with respect to the position of the trim means (13).

4. An apparatus for operating a controlled member (2) on a rotary-wing aircraft, said apparatus (1) comprising:

at least one control (3) intended to be subject to the action of a pilot of said rotary-wing aircraft and capable of moving a linkage (4);

means (5) connected to said linkage (4) for operating said controlled member (2) as a function of movement of said linkage (4);

a first control device of a first type, said first control device comprising a ram (7) incorporated into the linkage (4) which is capable of influencing the movement of said linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a second control device of a second type different than said first type, said second control device comprising a trim means (13) capable of acting on the control (3) and on the linkage (4) as a function of control commands received;

a computer (9) determining said control commands which are transmitted to said ram (7) and to said trim means (13); and

at least one sensor (10) which is capable of measuring the values of a parameter that represents an action exerted by a pilot of the rotary-wing aircraft on an auxiliary control (3, 18),

wherein said computer (9) uses the values measured by said sensor (10) to determine said control commands to create control objectives, and

wherein said control (3) and said auxiliary control are adapted to one another so as to form a single assembly while being able to be operated separately,

wherein the parameter measured by said sensor (10) is relative movement of said auxiliary control (3, 18) with respect to the position of the trim means (13).