Device for controlling an engine

• US 6,973,915 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wittenstein GmbH & Co. KG.
• Original Assignee: Wittenstein GmbH & Co. KG.
• Inventors: Henle, Jorg
• Primary Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US10/009,006
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 123/399, 123/400, 318/628
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/04 actuated personally

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling an engine, in particular of an aircraft. The device has at least one throttle and a regulating device for additionally controlling the throttle automatically. A displacement of the throttle is transmitted permanently, in a direct or indirect manner to a position sensor.

Claims

1. An arrangement for controlling an engine, comprising:

a housing having a guide slot;

at least one gas lever (6) guided linearly in the guide slot (7) of the housing (1); and

a regulating device (9) for additional automatic driving of the gas lever (6), wherein movement of the gas lever (6) is transmitted permanently, directly or indirectly, to a displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), wherein linear, manual movement of the gas lever (6) is transmitted mechanically to the displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), wherein at least one of linear, mechanical and automatic movement of the gas lever (6) is coupled mechanically to the movement of a displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), and wherein the gas lever (6) is seated so as to be mounted in a linearly movable manner via a guide bush (5) of a rotatable spindle (2), the spindle (2) being a non-self-locking trapezoidal screw spindle having a large pitch and the guide slot (7) being arranged approximately parallel to the spindle (2); and

further comprising a force sensor operatively associated with the regulating device and assigned to at least one of the gas lever (6) and the guide bush (5) for switching on the regulating device upon sensing a force applied to the gas lever, whereby manual linear movement of the gas lever can be assisted.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle (2) is mounted so as to be rotatable in accordance with the movement of the guide bush (5) by a linear movement of the gas lever (6).

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the displacement measuring system (3.1) is arranged on one end of the spindle (2).

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the regulating device (9), as regulating motor having an associated displacement measuring system (3.2), acts directly or indirectly on the other end of the spindle (2).

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a drive disk (4) is arranged on one end of the spindle (2).

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a regulating motor (9) is connected to the drive disk (4).

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gas lever (6) is connected directly or indirectly to a guide element (10) which runs approximately parallel to the spindle (2).

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), is a displacement transducer of an inductive, magnetic or optical type.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), the force sensor (13) and the regulating device (9) is connected to a control (14) in order to assist a manual movement of the gas lever (6) by connecting the regulating device (9) to load, it being possible for the respective positions of the gas lever (6) to be transmitted via the displacement measuring systems (3.1, 3.2) to the engine in accordance with the operating state.

10. An arrangement for controlling an engine, comprising:

a housing having a guide slot;

at least one gas lever (6); and

a regulating device (9) for additional automatic driving of the gas lever (6), wherein movement of the gas lever (6) is transmitted to a displacement measuring system (3.1, 3.2), and wherein the gas lever (6) is seated so as to be mounted in a linearly movable manner via a guide bush (5) of a rotatable spindle (2) within the housing, the gas lever extending through and being guided linearly in the guide slot, and further comprising a force sensor positioned between the gas lever and the guide bush for sensing force applied to the gas lever, the force sensor further being operatively associated with the regulating device for switching on the regulating device upon sensing a force applied to the gas lever, whereby manual linear movement of the gas lever can be assisted.